Councillors warned not to attend protest meeting

THE council's legal chief has warned councillors not to attend a protest meeting against a controversial firm bidding to run city services.

WARNING: Edinburgh Council

All councillors have received guidance that attending the meeting about French multinational Veolia could appear "discriminatory" - and lead to costly legal action.

Veolia is in the running to take over a raft of public services in the city, including rubbish collection, street cleaning and ground maintenance.

But it has faced protest over its controversial work with Israeli authorities in occupied Palestine, where it provides waste and transport services to Israel's illegal settlements.

A public meeting to discuss the company's bid for Edinburgh services has been organised by the Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign (SPSC), and it invited councillors to attend to "air their views".

In a letter, the council's head of legal and administrative affairs, Alastair Maclean, stated: "The council is legally obliged to treat all bidders in an equal and non-discriminatory manner. Veolia may perceive that the councillors' accommodation of this meeting . . . amounts to discriminatory treatment against it."

While it was noted that "the meeting would not be illegal nor would your participation in it be", it added that any councillors attending could "expose the council to an increased risk of legal challenge."

Despite this at least two councillors are planning to attend the meeting. Labour councillor Angela Blacklock said: "This legal advice is over-cautious to say the least and as I have had more than 100 calls from members of the public concerned about this company I feel it is only proper that I attend this meeting."

Green councillor Maggie Chapman has also told campaigners she will attend, and organisers are hopeful representatives of the Lib Dems and the SNP will also be there.

The Conservative group has refused to attend, saying it would be "unhelpful".

SPSC chair, Mick Napier, said he was "outraged" at "the attempt to stifle public debate".

"Democracy only works if the public is engaged in the political process," he said.

The council is investigating Veolia's activities in Israel and the legal ramifications of following councils such as Swansea and Dublin, which have boycotted the firm. The report will go before councillors next month. A council spokeswoman confirmed the legal advice had been sent out and said: "It explained that ... there are legal risks associated with participating in a public meeting to discuss one of the bidders in an ongoing procurement process."

The public meeting is on December 1, in the Augustine United Church Centre, George IV Bridge, at 7.30pm.