Highland councillors are furious that public scrutiny of major spending on an arts project is likely to be further delayed – three years after suspicions were first raised.
The Inverness Old Town Arts (Iota) project has been mired in controversy following complaints from councillors about the authority’s administration of the process.
The issue was discussed in private at a recent audit and scrutiny committee meeting and was expected to be aired in public at the next Inverness City Committee meeting in December.
However, it emerged yesterday (FRI) that the matter is unlikely to feature on the agenda.
The council’s Inverness manager David Haas has been extensively questioned by a senior council officer about his part in overseeing the project and has declined to comment publicly.
A spokeswoman for the council said earlier this month that a report on the issue would be presented “in public to a future meeting of the city committee”.
Audit and scrutiny committee members understood that to mean December.
A recent internal audit considered the council’s handling of the artworks project.
It covered Iota’s work for the council between 2006-12 and, according to several sources, unearthed alleged weaknesses in the local authority’s governance of the spending.
Iota was instrumental in securing funds for “streetscape” artworks in the city over several years.
Many councillors have offered Mr Haas their full support, suggesting that final decisions concerning spending were taken by more senior personnel.
SNP city councillor Ken Gowans raised issues about the handling of the project back in October 2012 with senior officer Steve Barron, who has since been promoted to chief executive.
Councillor Gowans said: “I would be very disappointed if this has been withdrawn from the agenda.
“The quicker this is in the public domain the better because the public have a right to know the facts. The longer it takes, the more unhelpful speculation there will be.”
No council official would comment yesterday.
