Company’s treat for councillors

SNP COUNCILLORS enjoyed trips to Six Nations rugby matches laid on by ExxonMobil at the same time as the energy giant’s chemical plant was pumping thousands of tons of unreported carbon emissions into the skies above Fife.

It is understood the councillors were picked up from their homes and whisked to Edinburgh Castle for a four-course meal with former Scotland rugby stars prior to kick-off.

Husband and wife Alistair and Anne Bain went to encounters with the Auld Enemy at Murrayfield in 2008 and 2010, while George Kay, who chairs a community liaison committee responsible for scrutinising Exxonmobil, was a guest of the company at the stadium in 2009.

In February it came to light that ExxonMobil was fined £2.8 million for failing to report 33,000 tonnes carbon dioxide emissions from its ethylene plant at Mossmorran, near Cowdenbeath.

Exxonmobil spokeswoman Catherine Cubitt was keen to point out that ExxonMobil is “fully compliant with all relevant legislation, such as the UK Bribery Act”.

“All instances of hospitality are recorded as a matter of public record in the minutes of the local Mossmorran and Braefoot Bay Community Safety Committee meetings,” added Ms Cubitt.

SNP councillor George Kay, who chairs the community safety committee, denied a conflict of interest.

“I know that both companies offer a wide range of hospitality to MPS, MSPS and councillors. At no time would I consider my involvement to be difficult.”

The Courier contacted Cowdenbeath councillor Alistair Bain and his wife Anne, who represents the neighbouring Lochs ward, but neither responded.

Lochgelly councillor Mark Hood said the new Labour administration now running Fife Council will offer greater scrutiny of Exxonmobil and Shell.

He said: “I have no wish to comment on what any councillor thinks is appropriate in terms of hospitality offered by Exxonmobil.

“However, on the issue of Mossmorran and the way public scrutiny and accountability of the site is done, I want us to look at it again.

“Given the issues of emissions, excessive flaring and noise, and the massive fine that no one seemed to know about, I think the time is right for a more open and challenging approach in dealing with these companies and their activities on the Mossmorran site.”

A spokesperson for the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) said: “Exxonmobil Chemical Limited was issued a civil penalty in 2010, following the discovery of a mis-reporting incident which occurred in 2008.

“The penalty was a mandatory consequence of breaching the EU Emissions Trading Scheme regulations.

“The resultant fine was received by Sepa and passed on to Scottish Ministers.

“We have always monitored activity at the Exxonmobil site at Mossmorran and will continue to do so to ensure all environmental regulations are complied with.”