The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Companies’ hospitality revealed
EXXONMOBILE and Shell offer corporate hospitality and keepsakes to members of a community group set up to scrutinise work done at the Mossmorran chemical plant near Cowdenbeath, it has been revealed.
The companies run annual junkets to Murrayfield, Edinburgh Castle, the Edinburgh Military Tattoo and four-star Balbirnie House Hotel for members of Mossmorran and Braefoot Bay Community and Safety Committee and the chairpersons of local community councils.
Minutes of the most recent behindclosed-doors committee meeting on March 8 reveal that Exxonmobil held a “successful” Burns supper at Balbirnie House on January 27 and “hospitality had also been offered at the RBS Six Nations Scotland versus England rugby match in February”.
The record of the private meeting between plant bosses and community leaders also shows that Shell has handed out just £50 to community groups since the turn of the year and the firm failed to reply to a request for funding from a local drama group.
The Courier revealed yesterday that Exxonmobil treated three SNP councillors to slap up meals at Edinburgh Castle and seats at Six Nations matches while the chemical company’s Mossmorran ethylene plant was pumping out thousands of tonnes of unreported carbon emissions.
At a meeting of Lochgelly Community Council in March, chairman Ernest Mcpherson is believed to have publicly denied accepting corporate hospitality from Shell or Exxonmobil Chemical when challenged, but other community councillors have since admitted taking up the offers.
The chairman of Cardenden Community Council, David Taylor, said: “All of the community council representatives are invited to Burns suppers and any outings that are going. Politicians and other officials go too. I’ve been to Murrayfield with them once but it was many years ago.
The chairwoman of Lumphinnans Community Council, Amelia Howie, who also sits on the community and safety committee, said: “I’ve had invitations from Shell and Exxonmobil in the past. Nothing too grand though. Myself and another community councillor attended the Burns supper for the first time this year.”
Another member of the community and safety committee, Alex Haddow, who also chairs Cowdenbeath Community Council, supplied the Courier with a list of hospitality laid on by both companies.
He said: “Rugby pre-match hospitality was either at the castle or I believe this year it was Murrayfield itself. You get a meal and pre-match drinks and a seat in stand — no special box area — and transport to and from Murrayfield, three guests to one car.
“Every community council chairperson is part of the Mossmorran and Braefoot Bay liaison committee and also gets invited to a Christmas meal after our December meeting, which is held in St Colme House.”
It is understood community councillors were also offered gifts after some dinners laid on by Shell.
Amelia Howie said: “A few years ago I received a small travelling jewellery case. The men received a similar gift from Shell, after a dinner.”
Alex Haddow said: “The only present I have ever received has been items such as a pen or an empty box to hold cufflinks. I have never specifically asked for items nor received anything of high monetary value.”
Cardenden Community Council chairman David Taylor added: “I know they’re trying to keep us sweet but I wouldn’t like to think they’re trying to influence or bribe us.”
Exxonmobil Chemical’s spokeswoman Catherine Cubitt said the company is “fully compliant” with the UK Bribery Act.
She added: “On the rare occasions we offer hospitality to some of our most regular business partners and community contacts, this is relatively low-cost and represents a tiny fraction of our overall spend from this budget.”
A Shell spokesperson said: “On occasion, Shell offers a limited amount of corporate hospitality to our local business and community partners as part of our ongoing efforts to build good relationships with our neighbours. Our code of conduct sets strict rules regarding such activity.”
The Courier also contacted the chairs of community councils inaberdour, Auchtertool, Burntisland, Crossgates, Dalgety Bay, Inverkeithing, Lochgelly, North Queensferry and Rosyth but received no response.