Council bosses have been ordered to release an audio recording of a highly controversial planning meeting, after twice refusing requests from a local watchdog group.
Scone and district community council had asked the local authority for a tape of talks held in May last year, when councillors approved plans for a major expansion of the village.
Developers A&J Stephen won planning consent for 700 new houses to the north of Scone, despite widespread opposition from residents.
Community council members – who led a protest against the development – asked for audio of the development management committee meeting after finding out proceedings had been recorded.
They want to analysis the talks to better understand how the committee reached its decision.
However, Perth and Kinross Council refused to hand over the recording, claiming it would breach strict data protection rules. It said the meeting was taped for training purposes only.
Now the Scottish Information Commissioner has overturned the decision and demanded the council hand over the recording.
Following a complaint from the community council, the commissioner ruled that local authority chiefs had failed to comply with information regulations by withholding the recording.
In his findings, he stated: “In its submissions, the council confirmed that the meeting had been open to the public and that no part of the meeting had been held in private.
“However, it questioned the necessity of disclosure of the recording to meet SDCC’s legitimate interests.”
The report continued: “It is clear to the commissioner, having viewed the relevant part of the recording, that a number of points discussed at the meeting are not included in the minute.
“While it is not for the commissioner to comment on what level of detail ought to be minuted, it is a matter of fact that there is further information in the recording that is not otherwise publicly available.”
A spokeswoman for the community council said: “This is good news, and we are pleased to see good sense has prevailed.
“We hope this recording of meetings will continue as it will allow us all to clarify uncertainties regarding the process, which inevitably arise when recordings are not available and the minutes brief.”
The council has confirmed it will not appeal against the ruling. “We note the decision of the Scottish Information Commissioner and will comply with their instructions,” a spokeswoman said.
More than 1,000 people objected to the Scone North development.
At the meeting, Lib Dem councillor Willie Wilson called for the scheme to be approved “with heavy heart”, after hearing if no decision was taken A&J Stephen would submit an appeal to Scottish Ministers.
