Takeover plan for centre

ABERDEEN councillors will meet in private next week to discuss controversial proposals for the local authority to take over the running of Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre (AECC).

Nine months ago, the council agreed to push back the deadline for repayment of a 7.5 million loan by seven years and to convert a 2m debt due to the council into shares in the centre, which is owned by the council and run by a board made up of councillors and private sector representatives.

A report, to be debated at the council's enterprise, planning and infrastructure committee, recommends taking over control of AECC and its assets.