European Parliament Takes the Biscuit

HUDGHTON VISITS BUCKIE BAKERS

SNP Member of the European Parliament Ian Hudghton will take time out from his surgery tour of Banffshire on Thursday 8 November at 9.00am when he visits local bakers The Home Bakery, Well Road, Buckie.

Mr Hudghton is arranging for products from The Home Bakery to be the ‘official’ baker of the European Parliament’s EFA Group St Andrew’s Day celebrations and will ‘seal the deal’ whilst in Buckie on Thursday.

The SNP MEP will be accompanied by Buckie councillor Gordon McDonald, who suggested The Home Bakery for the accolade and will be met by Director, Mr Jim Johnston.

Mr Hudghton commented:

“I am delighted to be able to assist the company in promoting their excellent products in this way.

“I firmly believe in giving local firms the opportunity to get their products into places where it may not always be possible to do so and I will be extremely proud to point out to guests and dignitaries in the European Parliament that the bakery goods come from my constituency.” 

Questions Raised Over Councillor's Planning Role

“Objectivity in planning is critical” - Gordon McDonald
The SNP’s Opposition Spokesperson on Planning and Regulatory Services, Cllr Gordon McDonald, has questioned the role of the Vice Chair of the Council’s Planning Committee, Cllr Chris Tuke, in considering wind turbine applications.

In a meeting of the Committee on Tuesday Cllr McDonald revealed that Cllr Tuke had recently signed a petition entitled ‘Call a halt to windfarm development in Moray’. Cllr McDonald said Cllr Tuke should consider declaring an interest, however Cllr Tuke did not do so and went on to take part in 5 separate applications for wind turbines.

The Standards Commission for Scotland clearly states in the Councillors Code of Conduct that the objective test is ‘whether a member of the public, with knowledge of the relevant facts, would reasonably regard the interest as so significant that it is likely to prejudice your discussion or decision making in your role as a councillor’.

Clearly, in the case of planning, that test must be considered for all parties involved whether it is the applicant, objectors or the general public.

Speaking after the meeting Cllr McDonald said:

“Maintaining objectivity in planning is critical to the transparency and integrity of the system. It does not matter whether the application is for a small extension to a house, a new commercial development or a wind turbine, both applicants and objectors must have confidence that councillors are basing their decisions on the facts in front of them and that they have not pre-judged any application they will consider.

“By signing this petition Cllr Tuke has, in my view, a clearly declared position against windfarms and, therefore, he should declare an interest and remove himself from consideration of turbine applications in the same way that his Administration colleague Cllr Fiona Murdoch rightly and correctly does.

“The Council’s decision making process in planning must minimise the risk of challenge or there is a serious risk of the Council incurring substantial legal costs defending challenges. That could have a serious impact on the Council’s wider budget and, therefore, the delivery of a wide-range of important public services.

“There has been plenty of training for Councillors, including those recently elected, about the pitfalls of not declaring interests so there can be no excuse for it. Actions like this could undermine the process and could also leave the council wide open to expensive planning appeals.”

Moray SNP MP & Buckie Councillor Comment On Buckie Blaze

Moray’s MP Angus Robertson and Buckie SNP Councillor, Gordon McDonald, have commented on the major blaze which ripped through the former Haldane’s store in Buckie this morning [Wednesday].

Westminster MP for Moray, Mr Robertson, said:

“This is the latest in a series of significant fires in Buckie in recent weeks. This blaze was particularly large and has destroyed a major building in Buckie’s town centre.

“While no conclusions can be drawn as yet, it is causing a great deal of concern in the community. It is extremely fortunate that no one was seriously injured today and the firefighters have to be praised for their bravery in situations like this.

“If it transpires that this blaze has been started deliberately, as other fires in the town have then it cannot be emphasised enough the sheer stupidity of such actions and the danger it can cause.”

Buckie SNP Councillor, Gordon McDonald, said:

“I have spoken to numerous people in Buckie about this shocking blaze, which caused huge disruption to residents and businesses today.

“People in Buckie are very worried about the recent spate of fires and while it is not certain that this huge blaze was deliberately started that is, not surprisingly, the concern of local people.”

In his capacity as Chair of the Buckie Regeneration Group Cllr McDonald continued:

“This was an important building that could have attracted investment into Buckie and created significant numbers of jobs. That opportunity has been lost in the short term, as the building is absolutely gutted beyond any hope of salvage.”