SNP welcome new opportunity for Aberdeen

The opening of a public hearing into years of financial mismanagement at Aberdeen City Council and the decision of the current Chief Executive to step down offer a new opportunity for Aberdeen said SNP MSP for Aberdeen North Brian Adam.

The Accounts Commission hearings follow a report  in which the Commission described the position of the city’s finances following previous Lib Dem, Tory and Labour administration’s as “precarious”. Council Chief Executive Douglas Paterson announced his decision to stand down on the first day of the inquiry.

Mr Adam said; “It is understandable that Douglas Paterson has decided to step down in what must have been a difficult personal decision after years of service to Aberdeen.

“This decision will allow someone new to take the council forward and to build strong foundations for Aberdeen City Council in the 21st century.

“A new Chief Executive will be able to work with the city administration to take on the recommendations of the Accounts Commission once this public hearing has identified exactly what went wrong in the past – particularly the £50 million of deficit spending from 2002-2007 under the administrations of Labour, Tory and Lib Dems.

“Clearly, as well as focussing on the role of officials, the political responsibility of the previous council administrations must also be scrutinised, and no doubt the Accounts Commission process will examine that.

“This inquiry offers Aberdeen the chance to get to the bottom of how these previous administrations left the city with an overspend of £50 million. The new administration are working hard to bring the city’s finances into balance, with the Scottish Government also playing a helpful and constructive role, as the saving of the Aye Can project illustrates.”