Decision details

The Committee had before it a report by the Executive Director for City Regeneration and Environment provided an update on the implementation of the Aberdeen City Region Hydrogen Strategy 2015–2025 and outlined key achievements to date including the recent success of the H2 Valley bid proposal to reach grant agreement stage and award of funding from Transport Scotland to secure training of hydrogen technicians.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee –

(a)      note progress to date in delivering the Aberdeen City Region Hydrogen Strategy and Action Plan 2015-2025 as detailed in Appendix A;

(b)      note the success of the H2 Valley Th2istle bid that has now progressed to the grant agreement stage with the Clean Hydrogen Partnership for a €9m grant that is expected to leverage total regional spend of €22m;

(c)      delegate authority to the Chief Officer – City Development and Regeneration to sign documentation relating to accepting and delivering this grant funding, including Consortium Agreement with all other Partners and any other associated legal agreements as required for delivery of the project provided that terms and conditions have been approved by Chief Officer - Finance and Chief Officer - Commercial and Procurement Services;

(d)      note the success in receiving £60,000 grant funding from Transport Scotland through the Heavy Duty Vehicle Skills Challenge Fund that will progress Aberdeen City Council hydrogen technician training for Fleet colleagues;

(e)      delegate authority to Chief Officer – City Development and Regeneration and Chief Officer – Operations, following consultation with the Chief Officer – Commercial and Procurement Services and with the Executive Director of Corporate Services for approval of business cases for procurement, legal agreements and associated spend, subject to available budget, in relation to the operation of the Council owned hydrogen buses; and

(f)       delegate authority to the Chief Officer – City Development and Regeneration following consultation with Chief Officer – Commercial and Procurement Services to approve the proposed subsidy to First Bus as detailed in the report.

The Convener, seconded by Councillor Allard, moved:-

that the Committee approve the recommendations contained within the report.

Councillor Malik, seconded by Councillor Tissera, moved as an amendment:-

that the Committee –

(1)    note the report;

(2)    agree the hydrogen strategy adopted and approved by the previous administration before the UK government had a Hydrogen Strategy has been neglected by the SNP, leading to other cities overtaking ACC on Hydrogen and putting Aberdeen’s position as the energy capital of Europe in jeopardy. The reasons are set out in Appendix A, A3 of the report; 

(3)    agree it is an absolute disgrace from the SNP that the much-envied hydrogen production and refuelling Stations have been out of action for over 12 months.  meaning the 25 Hydrogen buses have been out of use for all of that time;

(4)    agree, under the Councillors’ Common Law right of access to information (the “need to know” principle), details of the contract between ACC and First Bus must be disclosed to Members so they better know the position on liability in order to make proper financial judgement based on full facts at the March 2026 budget; and

(5)    agree Councillor Ian Yuill, Convener of the Net Zero, Environment and Transport Committee, should consider his position given the neglect of our Hydrogen strategy which confirms little has been done since May 2022, once again highlighting spin over substance.

On a division, there voted:- for the motion (5) – the Convener and Councillors Allard, Hazel Cameron, Radley and van Sweeden; for the amendment (4) – Councillors Brooks, Malik, Nicoll and Tissera.

The Committee resolved:-

to adopt the motion.