Issue - meetings

Please note that an exempt appendix is located within the Exempt Appendices Section of this agenda.

(i)       to note the high level results of the Feasibility Study on a city region freeport model;

(ii)       that based on the final prospectus guidance published by the Scottish Government, and the invitation to bid, notes that a decision on whether to bid rests with port operators;

(iii)      that subject to decision making processes by potential operators, supports the development of a single regional bid from the Aberdeen City Region;

(iv)      to note that a formal governance is not required at the time of a bid and that the informal steering group involving officers of the Council will continue to assess the case for a bid, if a decision is made to proceed, in the form of an agreed ‘co-operation plan’;

(v)      to agree that Aberdeen City Council is represented on any subsequent formal governance at implementation stage if there is a successful bid, and that one of the Council Co-Leaders is the Council’s representative; and

(vi)      to instruct the Chief Officer - City Growth to report back to this Committee on the development and outcome of any proposals if they progress.

The Committee had before it a report by the Chief Officer – City Growth which provided an update on the results of a feasibility study on a city region freeport/greenport model.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee –

(a)      note the high level results of the Feasibility Study on a city region freeport model;

(b)      based on the final prospectus guidance published by the Scottish Government, and the invitation to bid, notes that a decision on whether to bid rests with port operators;

(c)      subject to decision making processes by potential operators, supports the development of a single regional bid from the Aberdeen City Region;

(d)      note that a formal governance is not required at the time of a bid and that the informal steering group involving officers of the Council will continue to assess the case for a bid, if a decision is made to proceed, in the form of an agreed ‘co-operation plan’;

(e)      agree that Aberdeen City Council is represented on any subsequent formal governance at implementation stage if there is a successful bid, and that one of the Council Co-Leaders is the Council’s representative; and

(f)       instruct the Chief Officer - City Growth to report back to this Committee on the development and outcome of any proposals if they progress.

The Committee resolved:-

to approve the recommendations.