Decision details

With reference to article 31 of the minute of its meeting of 25 April 2013, the Committee had before it a report by the Director of Enterprise, Planning and Infrastructure which provided members with an update on activities in relation to properties which had been declared surplus to the Council’s requirements or were currently vacant awaiting a decision on future use.

The report recommended –

that the Committee –

(a)       note the position in relation to all the vacant and surplus assets, as identified in appendices A, B and C of the report;

(b)       in relation to the former Causewayend School, note that substantial progress had been made following ultimatums from Asset Management officers and a conditional missive should be concluded shortly;

(c)        in relation to Devil’s Den Woodside, note that discussions were continuing with the adjacent owners with the intension to report to the next meeting of this Committee with details of the risks associated with taking the development forward, the parties carrying the risks and the potential mechanism for sharing the development return;

(d)       in relation to Victoria Road School, Torry, approve the request by Torry Community Council to place the demolition and marketing of the building on hold for six months while they undertake a feasibility study on the property;

(e)       note the sale of the former Cairnfield Community Centre held on the Housing Revenue Account/General Services Account for £105,000, concluded since the Committee’s meeting on 25 April 2013;

(f)        note the lease of the following properties held on the tenanted non residential portfolio, concluded since the Committee’s meeting on 25 April 2013:-

·         Building, Faulds Row, Kincorth £2,500

·         Unit 19 Woodlands Drive, Kirkhill industrial estate, Dyce £27,500

·         24-28 Belmont Street £28,000

(g)       in relation to the Grove Nursery Site, Hazledene Road, to note that the Housing and Environment Committee would like to make representations in the local development plan review to have the site re-designated for use as ‘a garden centre with associated horticultural uses’.  The deadline for making such submission to the Local Development Plan Review was 14 June 2013.  No officer had delegated powers to make such applications without Committee approval and therefore the Committee were asked to consent to such submission being made by the Head of Asset Management and Operations.

The Committee received an oral update from the Property Estates Manager in relation to the following properties:  Causewayend School, Mile End School and Victoria Road School.

The Convener then moved, seconded by Councillor Forsyth:-

That the Committee approve the recommendations and the further oral recommendations from the Property Estates Manager.

Councillor Noble moved as an amendment, seconded by Councillor McCaig:-

That the Committee approve recommendations (a), (b), (c), (d), (e) and (f) and the further oral recommendations from the Property Estates Manager.

Further to clarification from the Property Estates Manager in relation to the Grove Nursery Site, Hazledene Road, Councillor Noble withdrew his amendment.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)         to approve recommendations (a), (b), (c), (e), (f) and (g);

(ii)        in relation to the former Causewayend School, to note that despite efforts from Asset Management officers to conclude the conditional missive this had not been possible and as such the property would be re-marketed, the outcome of which would be reported to Committee in due course;

(iii)       to approve recommendation (d) and to instruct officers to continue to liaise with the Community Council and to report back on progress to the next meeting of the Committee;

(iv)       in relation to Westburn House, and the limited response from marketing to instruct officers undertake a review of activities and report back to this Committee with a revised marketing strategy and options appraisal, such report to be circulated to all local members; and

(v)        to note the oral updates by the Property Estates Manager.