The Conservative Group on Moray Council has highlighted its concern that the Scottish Government’s different policy from the rest of the UK on its advice to the construction sector could cost the council hundreds of thousands of pounds as well as undermining its efforts to safeguard the environment.
Leader of the Conservative Group Councillor Tim Eagle(Buckie ward) said: “Following a battle with the SNP Scottish Government to get the £155million given through Barnett Consequentials for councils, we are now hearing about the likely further cost because of divergence on policy by Scot Gov.”
“The Scottish Government’s different advice on construction to the rest of the UK’s is threatening us with further financial difficulties.”
“Currently Moray Council is involved in the building or a an energy from waste project in Aberdeen but site closure means the project at best might be 3 months behind schedule with a potential cost in excess of £250k. This will also mean that we need to keep sending waste to landfill for that period of time hurting our environmental efforts.
“Also, major school projects are ongoing such as Lossiemouth High and Linkwood Primary. Letters are already going out to parents informing them that Linkwood will not now open from August, the same is likely to apply to Lossiemouth High. The question that remains for both of these is what will it mean in terms of extra costs and who will pay them?
“We also have affordable housing projects and work to centralise services at Moycroft ongoing facing lengthy delays.
“While I recognise the importance of keeping staff safe, the rest of the UK has adopted a more flexible position where construction can continue with appropriate social distancing and safety measures in place. It is absolutely critical than employers do everything to minimise the risk of COVID-19 but just as the Scottish Government allow hospital construction to continue so they should allow other construction to continue especially ones which will help meet environmental targets or schools.”
“The Scottish Government needs to sort this out as we seem to be being badly penalised just for the sake of doing things differently north of the border.”
