Provost attacks Press over Perth and Kinross Council coverage

Dec 11 2009 by Alison Lowson, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

PROVOST John Hulbert used the Perth High Constables’ annual dinner on Wednesday night as a platform to pillory the Press.

With “sadness,” he attacked what he described as the “negative publicity” to which Perth and Kinross Council had been subjected recently.

That was in “stark contrast” to the positive picture he had presented in his speech – backed up by the independent assessment of government agencies.

In replying to the toast to “The Provost and Councillors of Perth and Kinross Council” at the dinner in the Salutation Hotel, Perth, he said: “Last year, when I spoke to you, I referred to the same problem.

“The headlines then were – and I quote precisely – ‘council in chaos,’ ‘council finances a mess’ and ‘leadership failing.’

“In fact, as time has proved, none of these headlines, nor the stories behind them, were true.

“And the chaos they predicted did not materialise. On the contrary, the council’s leadership and its financial management have been commended.”

The Provost said that if Jack Straw, the Lord Chancellor and Minister of Justice, or his Minister of State Michael Wills, MP – who will decide Perth’s city status bid – had come to Perth and read the local Press, their city campaign would be “dead in the water.”

Turning to the controversial incinerator proposals, the civic head acknowledged that in all professions – medical, legal political and even town planning – mistakes were made.

But he added: “The test is whether there was negligence or not.

“I am satisfied that, in the case of the Shore Road application, proper procedures were followed and the outcome of the appraisal was reasonable, although, with hindsight, unwise.

“Sadly, it happens now and then. In this case, I am satisfied there was no negligence ... and there is time to rectify the situation.

“Incidentally, there were no objections to the outline application. Where was ‘Revoke the Smoke’ then?”

The question was what to do next and they didn’t want to fall victim to the old adage ‘act in haste – repent at leisure.’

“We know that we are dealing with companies with deep pockets and long time horizons,” acknowledged Provost Hulbert.

“We also know that anything involving lawyers takes a long time and that meticulous negotiations are more likely to be fruitful than yielding to impatient calls from the sidelines for immediate action – whatever the cost.”

The Provost concluded: “I am confident that if I am asked to speak to you again next year, I will be able to report positive progress, if not a conclusion, on both the City Hall and Shore Road.

“I also hope that I will also be able to report a successful outcome to our city status bid but I am not quite so confident. Perhaps it will take a little longer.”

The toast to the Provost and councillors was proposed by Pete Wishart, MP for Perth and North Perthshire.

He reflected on what had been a “horrible year” for Westminster politicians who had been mired in the expenses scandal.

“Never before has the trade of politics been so diminished,” he said.

“The challenge for us is to find new and innovative ways to engage with the public and ensure they have a stake in political debate and political choices.”