Calls for transparency on public funds used in inquiry

It has been previously revealed that the Council has set aside upwards of £700,000 of ratepayers’ money to pay for a barrister and external specialist consultants to oppose the Dalradian proposal at the upcoming Public Inquiry which is due to commence on January 13, 2025.

According to the Planning Appeals Commission’s website, who are conducting the Public Inquiry, any interested parties in the inquiry were required to submit their Statements of Case on the proposal by October 18, 2024. With a further date of November 18 given as an opportunity to rebut those Statement of Case.

During a meeting held behind closed doors in October 2023, a majority of Sinn Féin and Alliance Councillors voted through a decision that the council would actively oppose the Dalradian proposal at the Public Inquiry through the employment of external consultants and a barrister.

Following the passing of the Statements of Case deadline in October of this year, it has been revealed that through their external specialist consultants, the Council have submitted at least four separate and detailed Statements of Case, covering individual topics such as visual impact of the mine, whether the mine operations are carbon neutral, the potential ecology impact of the mine, and any hydrology effect of the min operating.

At the November Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, Ulster Unionist Councillor Mark Ovens asked for an overview of what the spend has been to date on the Council’s participation in preparations for the public inquiry.

He warned his fellow elected representatives and the management team about the public image of conducting business in confidential session.

“The more this Council tries to do under confidential session, the worse it gets and the worse the impact is.”

He was speaking via Webex video link in the chamber of Enniskillen Townhall.

“The one thing I asked about last month was how much this Council had spent so far in terms of its participation in the public enquiry that hasn’t been resolved and there is huge public concern in relation to this.”

Referencing reports in this newspaper which he described as “another hammering” he continued: “I note, unfortunately but entirely avoidably that this council got another hammering in one of the papers locally because of the perceived lack of transparency.

Requesting figures on the issue he asked: “How much have we budgeted this year, is it still £300,000  with the £100,000 from last year or is that figure still valid? I appreciate there is another lump sum within reserves, have we touched that and how much costs have been incurred to date?"

Again referencing negative media coverage of the Council he said: “It is important that this is done openly and transparently. We have learnt the hard way over recent months, that the more this council tries to do under confidential session, the worse it gets and the worse the impact is.”

Chief Executive Alison McCullagh spoke from the chamber and stated that “there are certain requirements and provisions under the law about when we go into committee [confidential business].

“Those are the only requirements when we do so and that is the only time we have done so in relation to the Dalradian public enquiry.”

She described the estimates process as “extremely open, detailed and thorough”.

Ms. McCullagh added: “Certainly any information is available there for any member or member of the public who wishes to access it.”

Councillor Ovens requested that a further update be brought to the policy and resources committee on “how much ratepayers' money we have spent” on the Dalradian enquiry.

The Chief Executive stated that to the “best of her knowledge, no invoices have been recorded in the intervening period, if that situation has changed, we would report accordingly to Policy and Resources (Committee) or indeed depending on the nature of the report, to the planning committee”.