Issue - meetings

(i)       to note that the Planning Service Review has taken account of the requirement previously instructed by this Committee;

(ii)      to note the progress on the Investigation Report’s Recommendations in respect of the project at Wellington Brae;

(iii)      to note that Audit Scotland would not be taking any further action in respect of the Wellington Brae project; and

(iv)     to agree that there was no misuse of public funds by former Councillor Willie Young

The Committee had before it a report by the Interim Director of Communities, Housing and Infrastructure which provided an update in relation to how the wider Service Review of the Planning and Sustainable Development Service was taking full account of the need to implement additional safeguards to ensure that any debatable land ownership and contract procurement issues were appropriately escalated, resolved and recorded.

The report recommended:

That the Committee notes –

(a)      the Planning Service Review had taken account of the requirement previously instructed by the Committee;

(b)      the progress on the Investigation Report’s recommendations in respect of the project at Wellington Brae; and

(c)      that Audit Scotland would not be taking any further action in respect of the Wellington Brae project.

Councillor Donnelly sought guidance as to whether Councillors would be informed of projects in their areas in the future, wherein the Interim Director advised that all Councillors would receive training and would be informed of projects in their areas.

Councillor Duncan sought information in relation to the governance arrangements for all projects to gain assurance that they were being managed without the Project Management Software which was still to be sourced. The Interim Director advised that all projects should be managed and reporting arrangements in place.  She further advised that an internal audit report would be submitted to this Committee in May which would highlight any areas requiring additional management.

Councillor Graham sought approval to add an additional recommendation “to agree that there was no misuse of public funds by former Councillor Willie Young” which was agreed by the Committee.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)       to agree that there was no misuse of public funds by former Councillor Willie Young; and

(ii)      to otherwise approve the recommendations contained in the report.