Issue - meetings

(i)       to instruct the Chief Officer – Strategic Place Planning with the approval of the Convener of City Growth and Resources to submit a bid in line with Appendix 1 on behalf of the North East Bus Alliance, of which Aberdeen City Council is a partner;

(ii)       to note, that if successful, the funding will enable a step change in public transport, which will help support the Council’s ambitious Net Zero Carbon plans for Aberdeen;

(iii)      to note that, if successful, Aberdeen City Council will be the lead and Accountable Officer for the North East Bus Alliance Fund; and

(iv)      to instruct the Chief Officer – Strategic Place Planning, to report back to this Committee on the success or otherwise of this bid, on any additional resource requirements to deliver a successful bid and, in consultation with the Chief Officer Governance and Chief Officer Finance, with recommendations for appropriate governance arrangements should the bid be successful, at its meeting on 10 August 2021;

(v)      to instruct the Chief Officer - Strategic Place Planning, that in the context of the corridor options within the bid terminating in the City Centre, and in light of the recommendations from Economic Policy Panel and ongoing transport projects, to seek to accelerate the City Centre elements of the bid. This should include any necessary enabling works for approved schemes, for example South College Street and Berryden, to help drive recovery, improve the transport system and ensure integration of current transport projects; and

(vi)      to instruct the Chief Officer - Strategic Place Planning, to explore options to improve access and integration of the Aberdeen bus station as part of the bid, to help improve the customer experience.  

With reference to article 25 of the minute of the previous meeting of 28 October 2020, the Committee had before it a report by the Chief Officer – Strategic Place Planning which sought approval for the submission of a bid to the Scottish Government’s Bus Partnership Fund (BPF) of up to £200 million on behalf of the North East Bus Alliance, of which the Council is a partner.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee –

(a)      instruct the Chief Officer – Strategic Place Planning with the approval of the Convener of City Growth and Resources to submit a bid in line with Appendix 1 on behalf of the North East Bus Alliance, of which Aberdeen City Council is a partner;

(b)      note, that if successful, the funding will enable a step change in public transport, which will help support the Council’s ambitious Net Zero Carbon plans for Aberdeen;

(c)      note that, if successful, Aberdeen City Council will be the lead and Accountable Officer for the North East Bus Alliance Fund; and

(d)      instruct the Chief Officer – Strategic Place Planning, to report back to this Committee on the success or otherwise of this bid, on any additional resource requirements to deliver a successful bid and, in consultation with the Chief Officer Governance and Chief Officer Finance, with recommendations for appropriate governance arrangements should the bid be successful, at its meeting on 10 August 2021.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)       to approve the recommendations contained within the report;

(ii)       to instruct the Chief Officer - Strategic Place Planning, that in the context of the corridor options within the bid terminating in the City Centre, and in light of the recommendations from the Economic Policy Panel and ongoing transport projects, to seek to accelerate the City Centre elements of the bid. This should include any necessary enabling works for approved schemes, for example South College Street and Berryden, to help drive recovery, improve the transport system and ensure integration of current transport projects; and

(iii)      to instruct the Chief Officer - Strategic Place Planning, to explore options to improve access and integration of the Aberdeen bus station as part of the bid, to help improve the customer experience.