After last-minute vote, Moray Council makes discussion of major planned works to Forres Academy and Buckie High School private, due to Buckie by-election
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MORAY Council members discussed major Forres Academy and Buckie High Scool improvements in private after a last-minute vote to exclude the public.
Originally scheduled for the public section of the full council meeting on Wednesday, councillors voted 14-10 to make discussions private despite documents already being published.
The vote came after council leader Kathleen Robertson received legal advice from monitoring officer Alasdair McEachan, who said the discussion could influence the upcoming Buckie by-election.
Any prioritisation of either Forres Academy or Buckie High School over the other was also delayed until after the election.
Mr McEachan said open discussion about either school being favoured could impact the election result.
He said: "The question of choosing a priority between them is something that would be published following this meeting, which I think would give concerns with the fairness of the election on November 3."
The proposed works are required to bring Forres Academy and Buckie High School, Moray's worst-condition secondary schools, up to an acceptable level.
A report published before the meeting said the council could apply to the Scottish Government's Learning Estate Investment Programme (LEIP) to help fund the works.
To receive LEIP funding the school works would have to be completed by the end of 2027.
However, a council report said the challenges of delivering improvements to both schools by 2027 "should not be underestimated".
The report went on to say that, if only one school could receive LEIP funding, then "the Forres Academy project is the recommended priority option."
Cllr Robertson said: "A decision on the prioritisation of schools could influence the outcome of the Buckie by-election on November 3.
"In an ideal world we would postpone consideration of this report until after the by-election. However, the bid must be in by the end of October and it is important that the council have an opportunity to make a bid.
"As a way around this concern, I propose that firstly, we move the report into the confidential section of the debate.
"Secondly, we amend the report recommendations to allow any prioritisation between projects to take place after the by-election."
Joint SNP group leader Councillor Graham Leadbitter said he disagreed with the decision to consider the item in private.
He said: "It has already been in the public domain and the public have had a chance to see it.
"Because of that, I think it really needs to stay in the public domain, because whatever we do now will set ears running.
"I think that, because it has been published, it needs to stay in the public domain.
"That is is important for transparency and scrutiny."
Buckie independent member Councillor Neil McLennan said: "I would agree with Cllr Leadbitter that we should be discussing this in public but amendments should be made to ensure there is fairness.
"I agree that as the papers are in the public domain and there has already been a lot of public angst about this – so there does need to be a discussion in terms of fairness – but that we should then seek to change some of these recommendations in line with what you have opened up with."
The condition of Forres Academy has been rated as a D, the worst category possible.
Essential parts of the school building were described as "life expired and/or at serious risk of imminent failure", including: the roof; floors and stairs; ceilings; external walls, windows and doors; internal walls and doors; and sanitary services.
Buckie High School, while rated as a C, received a D rating for its roof; floors and stairs; and sanitary services.
Returning officer Denise Whitworth said she would have been "extremely concerned" about a public discussion of the school estate improvements.
She said: "In the run-up to the information being considered today, it is clear that there are some points of controversy and one of those in particular has an impact on the Buckie area, where there is a by-election.
"I would be extremely concerned if those issues were to be made public about the implications for the election.
"While I think the report, which is a neutral report, is in the public domain it presents the information about potential projects it does not express views which may impact upon the election.
"Therefore I think that it is perfectly reasonable for the report to be in the public domain and for the public to be aware of the matters under consideration but I would urge the council to consider the impact on the election, our responsibilities in that area and to have the debate in private."
