Fife Council accused of 'maladministration' of common good property

Jonny Tepp accused them of "maladministration" and was one of a number of councillors who said the local authority had a history of neglecting prized assets to the point that expensive repairs were needed to save them.

There was also a furore over the suggestion that revenue generated from common good assets could be siphoned off into a central pot to fund condition surveys, maintenance and repairs, which would "short-change" communities by reducing the amount of money available to them in grants.

In 2020-21, the West Fife Common Good Fund had almost £240,000 to give out.

Cllr Tepp, who represents the Tay Bridgehead ward for the Lib Dems, said: "Clearly, there seems to be a history of what you might possibly call maladministration and certainly community grievances about how Common Good funds have been administered and I think those need to be aired."

At the policy and co-ordination committee last week, he said a report should be produced on the history of the council's stewardship "to the extent that we know why it's gone wrong".

Cllr Tepp added: "If we're unable to disentangle the past, however trite it may seem, someone needs to make an apology to the communities.

"For now, it seems that top-slicing of Common Good funds is not the way forward. It's adding salt to old wounds and the proposal should be withdrawn."

Paul Vaughan, head of communities and neighbourhoods, responded: "I find 'maladministration' quite a strong term."

"I think there's more than sufficient scrutiny of what goes on with the Common Good."

He added: "The use of the buildings is something I know has caused concern across a number of communities, we feel what we're proposing can make an actual difference to the future use of those Common Good buildings."

Common Good funds are made up of the land, buildings and moveable assets, such as paintings and furniture, that belonged to the former burghs of Scotland.

On local government reorganisation in 1975, the burghs were abolished and the assets and funds passed to the district and regional councils.

Overall, 105 properties and 662 hectares of land are now under the council's responsibility.

The 10 buildings and 15 plots of land in Dunfermline's register, for example, includes Carnegie Leisure Centre, City Chambers, Carnegie Hall, Baldridgeburn Community Centre, Dunfermline Carnegie Library & Galleries, Public Park, the Glen Bridge car park and the allotments at Whirlbut Street.

Mr Vaughan said they had no up-to-date information on the condition of Common Good property and a survey, which could take three years and cost £450,000, will inform them of where money needs to be spent.

Cllr John Beare said: "If our revenue income is going to be swallowed up for three years so we can assess what we've got, that might short-change our communities in terms of the grants available to them."

It was also pointed out that Common Good funds from a particular area should not be spent in any other area of Fife.

Cllr Linda Holt said: "It's clear Fife Council hasn't been looking after Common Good property as well as it should have been. This report says Common Good properties should be maintained to the same or similar standard as non-Common Good properties also owned by the council.

"That manifestly hasn't taken place for decades."

Mr Vaughan conceded that "not all of those buildings have been getting looked at" and that was why the surveys were needed.

As well as using income generated from Common Good assets and investments to fund maintenance and repairs, the council is proposing better management of Common Good assets – some are 'unallocated' and not looked after by any particular council service.

Forced onto the back foot, Mr Vaughan said further options could be added to the proposals in the public consultation, which is likely to run from May to September.