What happened when, and how could the finances of Hanstholm Port end up in a place where Thisted Municipality has had to take the port back under municipal control since the turn of the year. It is a question that is of great concern to Peter Skriver Nielsen, who has been on the Thisted municipal council since the municipal merger for the Social Democrats. Even as an extremely seasoned municipal politician, the port's problems somehow come as a surprise to him.
- As an ordinary municipal council member, you don't have full insight into what is happening, says Peter Skriver Nielsen.
But after the last city council election, the politician joined the municipality's central finance committee, where the finances and even central appointments are decided under a duty of confidentiality. Still, he has a feeling that not all information has come to light.
- Maybe there is something that we were not told at the time when the loan for the port expansion was taken. The problem comes when the port needs to generate more growth after the expansion. I still firmly believe it can, the politician concludes.
But there is something missing, he believes.
- I would like to have an open debate about the port and its economy. I also have the feeling that we have not been informed enough by the port's board chairmen, except for Micheal Svane as the last board chair, says Peter Skriver Nielsen.
There is also no doubt for the politician that there is a significant difference between being a city council member and being a member of the finance committee.
- I would not have been informed enough without my place in the finance committee, says Peter Skriver Nielsen.
The port on the agenda
The feeling that the port situation has developed under his nose as a city council politician has meant that the political veteran in the finance committee has demanded that the port be a permanent item on the agenda at every single meeting. However, that has not been the case.
- I could have imagined that we would have had the port's finances on the agenda at every single monthly meeting. It has ended up happening every other month, and that's fine, says Peter Skriver Nielsen.
Despite his position on the finance committee, Peter Skriver is left with a clear feeling that not all information has been presented to him. That is why he has sought access to the port's board minutes over the past ten years, and a lot has come of it.
- I received a full 1034 pages of board minutes, says Peter Skriver Nielsen, who has read the many pages in his investigative approach to political life.
But his investigation of what has happened did not stop there.
- I will seek access to the audit reports as well, even though they have all been approved by the port's board, he explains.
Peter Skriver believes that this is something that he owes to the citizens of the municipality.
- It is appropriate that critical questions are asked up to that point. That is the only way we can get people to believe in the port. There must be honesty about the port. Then I'm sure things will go well with the port, says Peter Skriver Nielsen.
However, he doesn't let go of the constructive critical approach so easily.
- I could easily apply for access to documents for another ten years and get 1034 more pages, he says.
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