A PERTH councillor has branded the local authority’s handling of controversial A frames as “scandalous”.
Peter Barrett made his comments after documents gleaned by The Courier through the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act revealed Perth and Kinross Council have not resolved the matter, despite recommendations being made to do so two years ago.
At a meeting of the council’s enterprise and infrastructure committee in November 2010, Jim Valentine, the council’s depute director (environment), outlined various options for council members and these included not placing A frames near pedestrian crossings or bus stops.
The Courier had requested details of all correspondence from/to Councillor John Kellas and council officers regarding A frames in November 2010. Some of the information requested was deemed to be exempt in terms of the confidentiality element of Section 36 (1) of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002.
However, details were provided on the meeting of the council’s enterprise and infrastructure committee in November 2010 at which a series of measures were recommended to council members.
These included contacting other local authorities to obtain information on their A frame policies.
As a result, a decision on the matter was deferred.
Yesterday, in the latest spat between the two local politicians, Mr Barrett claimed the council has not sent a “single email or letter” to any local authority asking about details on A frames since November 2010.
“Officers were tasked by councillors to do a job over two years ago but apparently have done absolutely nothing to carry out the committee’s instruction,” he said.
“Not a single email or letter has been sent to any local authority requesting information on A frames and other councils’ policies towards them. I find it quite astonishing.”
“Councillor Kellas has stated that the council has been ‘examining how other authorities have dealt with the issue and gathering information’ but the council can provide no evidence to back up these claims.
“I think Councillor Kellas and the council must have bungled The Courier’s FOI request. If not, then what The Courier has unearthed through its investigation is nothing short of scandalous.
“We urgently need the facts of this matter. What is abundantly clear is Councillor Kellas’s abject failure to ensure that his committee’s instruction was carried out.
“There is not a memo, an email or a letter from him, no requests for progress, yet Councillor Kellas has the gall to deny he has been dragging his heels on this issue and claims that no stonewalling is going on.”
However, Mr Kellas denied Mr Barrett’s claims and said a meeting will take place this month regarding the A frames.
He said: “Councillor Barrett failed to say that approximately six weeks ago a senior council officer provided him with information that a report was due to come to the January council enterprise and infrastructure committee covering the A frame board issue, making nonsense of his contention that not a finger was raised in progressing this issue.
“This report details the evidence that has been gathered and the difficulties experienced by other councils.
“We must weigh up the impact that any ban might have on many Perthshire businesses, particularly those who are smaller and not in prime locations.
“I consider that this shabby attempt by Councillor Barrett to mislead about what work was being done and pre-empt the committee’s report is not of any value in the debate.
“Given the cross-party representation on the committee, it will be for that committee to assess the content of the report and to decide the best way forward.”
preoch@thecourier.co.uk