The city council has been accused of learning nothing from the V&A spending “debacle”, after it discussed another waterfront matter in private.
Councillor Richard McCready, Labour group deputy leader, raised concerns following a recent meeting of the policy and resources committee.
A late agenda item to discuss developer interest in site five at the waterfront was put in front of the committee prior to the meeting.
The council’s chief executive, David Martin, said the committee convener, Councillor Ken Guild, had agreed that the matter be considered “as a matter of urgency”.
He then asked the committee to exclude the press and public from the meeting while the matter was discussed.
Mr Martin said this was because discussion on the item “involved the likely disclosure of exempt information”.
Mr McCready said he was not elected to take decisions in secret, adding: “Opposition councillors were presented with a late item, which was to be held in private, as we arrived for Monday’s meeting.
“This is unacceptable. The item was about the development of the waterfront. It appears that no lessons have been learnt from the V&A debacle.”
Mr McCready said he understands the need for privacy at meetings when the council is discussing commercially confidential items, but added: “This should be kept to a minimum.”
The council was criticised last year when it agreed, in a closed-doors meeting, to provide £5 million worth of funding for the running of the V&A after it opens.
It then emerged, earlier this year, that the Scottish Government had been told about the V&A being over-budget months before it was made public.
SNP councillor Willie Sawers, deputy committee convener, said: “At no time did Councillor McCready ask for the item to be discussed in public.
“Did it not occur to him on Monday evening to ask for the report to be held in public?
“Perhaps he feels that trying to make cheap jibes is more important than getting on with the job of regenerating our city.”