Stirling’s SNP councillors have called for a probe into a decision to host a celebration of Britain’s armed forces on the same day as a commemoration of the anniversary of the battle of Bannockburn.
The simultaneous events are expected to attract upwards of 100,000 people to the city, which the council’s chief executive has admitted will present “practical and logistical challenges”.
The Scottish Government announced funding for Bannockburn Live more than a year before Stirling Council’s successful bid to host Britain’s Armed Forces Day on June 28 2014.
SNP councillors claim the Labour and Conservative administration’s decision to apply to host the armed forces event was not properly scrutinised.
A motion calling for an investigation will be debated at a council meeting on Thursday.
SNP councillor Jim Thomson said: “We need to understand how a decision for Stirling Council to spend in excess of £250,000 on National Armed Forces Day in 2014 came to be made, since the matter was not brought before council until the application had been submitted and Stirling selected to host the event.”
Nationalist councillor Graham Houston added: “This is not a question of being opposed to National Armed Forces Day but rather, concern over the surreptitious manner and lack of due process.”
However, Labour councillor John Hendry accused the SNP of attempting to “undermine an event to honour people past and present who have made sacrifices for their country”.
He said: “The administration will not allow the malicious and petty manoeuvring of the local SNP to disrupt the partnership working between the council and the SNP Scottish government or hijack our agenda for the celebrations that commemorate all significant historic events during 2014.
“Stirling Council has the vocal support of SNP Scottish Government ministers to deliver our joint programme of events and we remain focused upon achieving that aim.”