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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Council's property sales probed | Council's property sales probed |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Aberdeen City Council has been criticised in a report into the sale of some of its most valuable property assets. | Aberdeen City Council has been criticised in a report into the sale of some of its most valuable property assets. |
| An Audit Scotland report has highlighted deals going through for millions of pounds below market value. | An Audit Scotland report has highlighted deals going through for millions of pounds below market value. |
| The inquiry centred on several sales over a period of many years. | The inquiry centred on several sales over a period of many years. |
| Grampian Police told BBC Scotland it was approached by the council about the inquiry and that officers were in liaison with the procurator fiscal. | Grampian Police told BBC Scotland it was approached by the council about the inquiry and that officers were in liaison with the procurator fiscal. |
| Audit Scotland said that some transactions made by Aberdeen City Council suggested "serious weaknesses". | Audit Scotland said that some transactions made by Aberdeen City Council suggested "serious weaknesses". |
| The report states that senior officers at the council are "taking remedial action" in response to the concerns. | The report states that senior officers at the council are "taking remedial action" in response to the concerns. |
| 'Considerable concern' | |
| A police spokesman confirmed the council had approached them regarding the audit investigation into council property sales. | A police spokesman confirmed the council had approached them regarding the audit investigation into council property sales. |
| He added: "We are in liaison with the Grampian area procurator fiscal and it would be inappropriate to comment further at this time." | He added: "We are in liaison with the Grampian area procurator fiscal and it would be inappropriate to comment further at this time." |
| Aberdeen Central Labour MSP Lewis Macdonald said he first became aware of the problem when a constituent raised concerns over a 2003 sale. | |
| He said: "What I did not know at the time was how many properties were sold in this way, which I think will be shocking to everyone." | |
| Brian Adam, SNP MSP for Aberdeen North, said: "Although this happened quite some time ago, it is a matter of considerable concern, and I hope the council will look very closely at the recommendations." | |
| The council has already faced criticism for seeking £27m of budget cuts, and the Accounts Commission is due to conduct a public hearing into its affairs in May. | The council has already faced criticism for seeking £27m of budget cuts, and the Accounts Commission is due to conduct a public hearing into its affairs in May. |