Newry Council is refusing to share a report on transforming old dumps into green energy sources claiming it’s commercially sensitive.
Council’s environment committee officers say they are “not permitted” to provide findings on the use of solar panels with other local authorities.
A motion to engage in forums to share information was agreed this week, however, a financial report to convert closed down municipal dumps is being kept confidential.
Alliance rep, Cadogan Enright, brought forward his proposal, saying: “Council commits to finding and sharing knowledge on best practice projects with other councils to both tackle climate change and to benefit the financial situation for council and ratepayers.
“The council notes other councils like West Suffolk, Dundee, Warrington and many others have generously shared detailed financial figures on best practice with NMDDC.”
He added: “I would also like to propose that management look in to documents, one in particular our council had a report saying it could make a lot of money by converting its mothballed municipal dumps into solar farms.
“Because I know there are 18 other mothballed dumps across Northern Ireland also connected to the grid and it would be useful to share that information that we have discovered with other councils.
“If that document was heard in committee (confidential session) and we are not able to share it at the moment, then if we could do a summary or may be even hear it out of committee, as there was no commercial data in it, it would be very useful.
“Could a version of the report without commercial affairs even be provided.
“Other councils who have mothballed dumps such as Derry and Strabane, Mid-Ulster, and Fermanagh and Omagh could benefit from our learning.”
A council officer responded: “I would like to reiterate that, that report has matters that relate to financial business affairs and were held in closed session and not permitted to be published.
“I will review the report and come back to the committee.
“However, I am not sure of the value of the report with the financial information removed.”
