Edinburgh Council still hasn't contacted families whose memorial benches were burned by staff

Family members of those whose memorial benches were burned by city council staff are yet to be contacted by the authority, the council leader has confirmed.

Council leader Cllr Adam McVey said families who's memorial benches were burned have not been contacted yet

Council leaders have been blasted after indicating they do not know how many memorial benches were burned by staff in an “unacceptable” act – while no contact has yet been made with families affected.

Last month, the Edinburgh Evening News revealed that around 70 memorial benches have been burned by Edinburgh City Council workers. An insider claimed the benches, some of which had been memorials to Victoria Cross holders, had sat at the authority’s Inch depot for more than a year before being set alight.

It was thought that instead of the benches being repaired, staff were told by managers to burn the benches on a bonfire in a bid to make budget savings.

Pictures provided to the Evening News which show the benches on fire (Photo: Contributed)

The council immediately branded the incident “unacceptable” and confirmed an internal investigation had been launched into the controversial act.

At Thursday’s full council meeting, Conservative group chairman, Cllr Jason Rust, put forward formal questions to council leader, Cllr McVey, seeking more information about the incident.

Cllr Rust asked the council leader “what contact has been made with relatives or organisations associated with memorialised benches” in relation to an ongoing investigation?

The memorial benches being burned at one of the council's depots

In a written answer, Cllr McVey said: “There has been no contact made with donors in relation to this investigation to date. If the investigation identifies that there has been a breach of council policy which gives reason to do so, then contact will be made with those affected.”

After being pressed by Cllr Rust for more information, Cllr McVey added: “Until we know all the information about how many times this has occurred and how many benches are involved, we can then assess what our response is.

“The information to date suggests the process and policy, which was approved unanimously by the transport and environment committee on presentation benches, was followed – but that won’t be fully confirmed until the investigation concludes.”

Cllr McVey also confirmed that the findings of the internal investigation are likely to be made public to “provide assurance to elected members and public that this, or similar, will not be repeated”.

Key questions to be covered in the inquiry include whether the policy was “followed properly throughout”, up until the point the benches being burned, which “was clearly not in line with policy”. The probe will also investigate why the benches were not dismantled and either recycled or reused instead of being burned and whether there was a “management instruction given to burn the benches”.

Cllr Rust has criticised the council for not making contact with families and organisations affected by the incident.

He said: “I find it very troubling that it appears the council does not appear to know how many benches were burned.

“I would have hoped by now that aside from the investigation that contact would at least have been made with all affected donors. I welcome that the investigation is underway. While I appreciate operational staffing issues require to be dealt with through correct process, I firmly believe as much information as possible should be placed in the public domain once the investigation completes.”