A Councillor has warned his fellow elected representatives and the management team of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council about the public image of conducting business in confidential session.

Ulster Unionist Councillor Mark Ovens cautioned: “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 on Tuesday evening (November 5) about a discussion on the Dalradian public enquiry.

The council’s lack of transparency hit headlines in this newspaper on October 10 when it was reported that the Council has put aside £710,000 of rate payers’ money to pay for consultants and legal representation to oppose the proposed Dalradian Mine in County Tyrone.

Erne West Councillor Ovens has raised the issue before and speaking at the meeting he said: “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.