The council’s top boss has fired a stern warning to councillors in an attempt to plug the leak of “exempt reports”.
The caution comes after it was confirmed local authority chiefs plan to open talks with the owners of Chivas Brothers over the potential purchase of the whisky giant’s Paisley site.
In an email to elected members on Wednesday - which has been leaked to the Local Democracy Reporting Service - Renfrewshire Council chief executive Sandra Black told of the seriousness of “commercially sensitive information” being made public.
She said: “You will be aware from press coverage that information contained in an exempt report on the agenda of last week’s meeting of the Infrastructure, Land and Environment Policy Board was made public.
“This was the second instance of information from an exempt report being published in a local newspaper this year.
Renfrewshire Council looking to buy Chivas Brothers site in Paisley
“It was also clear from the press article published last week which contained information about the vote on the report, that prior to publication the journalist had spoken with someone who was present at the Board meeting when the item was being considered.
“The release of information contained in exempt reports is a serious matter.
“The Council only seeks to have reports listed as exempt in very limited circumstances where there are legitimate concerns that the release of details concerning the subject matter of the report could cause significant prejudice to the Council or to another party.”
Elected members were reminded they risked breaching the Councillors’ Code of Conduct, which states they should “respect and comply” with keeping such information private.
The report explained that it had become apparent there was emerging interest from third parties in purchasing the Renfrew Road site.
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It also outlined the reasons behind the council’s interest, such as its belief the site is of “strategic importance” and represents an opportunity to rethink and regenerate the north of Paisley.
Ms Black went on to say in her email that publication of an exempt report could result in “negotiations being terminated with the loss of opportunity to secure a deal that may be in the best interests of our community.”
She added: “There is also a risk that the Council would be subject to a claim for compensation for any loss that may have been caused by the disclosure of the exempt report.
“At a more practical level, if organisations do not believe that they can deal with the Council in confidence, it will become increasingly difficult for the Council to convince those organisations to engage with the council.
“This can only be a hinderance (sic) to our ambitions to promote the successful regeneration of our area.”
