City councillors were not shown Christmas market garden plan
An emergency report is to be prepared for Edinburgh councillors after the company behind the Christmas market in Princes Street Gardens was handed a two-year contract extension.
The deal was signed off by the city council’s culture convener and his deputy without elected members seeing the design of a controversial steel platform, which has yet to receive planning permission.
Planning officials have opened an “enforcement file” on Underbelly’s construction of its festive market in East Princes Street Gardens because no planning application has been submitted, leaving city centre Green councillor Claire Miller “shocked and appalled”.
Conservative city centre councillor Jo Mowat, the convener of the council’s governance, risk and best value committee, tabled an emergency motion yesterday that requires officials to report on process and timelines by 26 November.
She said: “I’m not clear that process has been followed in a way that I think I can say I’m happy with that accountability.”
Last week a heritage watchdog, the Cockburn Association, called for the £110 million Christmas market not to open on 16 November as intended unless a planning application was approved or another solution found.
In a briefing note to councillors, the council’s director of place, Paul Lawrence, confirmed that Underbelly had “agreed to meet the capital costs” of the steel scaffolding, the subject of a public outcry – but “sought the agreement of a two-year extension to the contract to allow them time to recover the capital investment”.
The contract extension was approved by Mr Lawrence in discussion with the culture and communities convener, Councillor Donald Wilson, and his deputy, Councillor Amy Mcneese-mechan.
The decision – but not the “detailed design” – was then retrospectively reported to councillors in June.
Mr Lawrence revealed that, due to “several delays” with the Scottish National Gallery development in the gardens, Underbelly had “requested to move a section of the market” to “the area of the gardens south of the railway line”, which was again approved by Mr Wilson and Ms Mcneesemechan.
This has meant “the overall number of stalls has increased in the gardens” following the move.
Underbelly declined to comment on Mr Lawrence’s briefing note.
“I’m not clear that process has been followed in a way thatithinkicansay I’m happy with that accountability”
COUNCILLOR JO MOWAT