Answers demanded over council payment for Gloag case

Jul 4 2008 by Our Correspondent, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

COUNCILLOR Alexander Stewart, leader of the Conservative Group on Perth and Kinross Council, has expressed concern at the decision by the local authority to fight a high-profile, but ultimately doomed, Right to Roam case involving Stagecoach tycoon Ann Gloag’s Kinfauns Estate.

Councillor Stewart said: “This action and eventual court case has caused considerable disquiet.

“And now I learn through newspaper reports that Perth and Kinross Council agreed to pay 75 per cent of the legal costs when it was understood that these costs would be shared on a 50/50 basis between the council and the Ramblers’ Association.

“Therefore many questions require to be answered regarding this whole situation.

“The council considered that the decision to oppose the action and take it to court was justified, because this was the first time that such action regarding the act was challenged in court.

“But it was always the possibility that the winning party would be entitled to have their costs covered.

“I will therefore be asking chief executive Bernadette Malone to clarify the situation so that I can inform my group members and concerned constituents.

“I am aware that correspondence has been received by the council on this matter but that no real explanations have been given to date.

“Many people believe that this is a considerable waste of taxpayers’ money when budgets are tight and savings are required to be made in numerous areas.”