Issue - meetings

The Council resolved:-

(i)           to note the conclusion of the Outline Business Case (OBC) and agree the recommendation to progress with Option 5: Urban Park with landscaping to north-west development area and development to south-east on site of former Police HQ; and

(ii)          to instruct the Director of Resources to:-

·           proceed with the detailed design, consultation and engagement with stakeholders, obtain necessary consents, negotiate parking and access changes and develop a detailed cost and delivery programme required to deliver Phase 1 of the Urban Park as detailed in the OBC;

·           update the business case for the site of the former Police HQ to determine suitability for refurbishment, rebuild, or as Urban Park Phase 2, depending on the outcome of market testing; and

·           report progress to Council in December 2023.

The Council had before it a report by the Director of Resources which presented the Outline Business Case (OBC) for the redevelopment of the Queen Street area as an urban park.

The report recommended:-

that the Council -

(a)           note the conclusion of the OBC and agree the recommendation to progress with Option 5: Urban Park with landscaping to north-west development area and development to south-east on site of former Police HQ; and

(b)           instruct the Director of Resources to:

(i)             proceed with the detailed design, consultation and engagement with stakeholders, obtain necessary consents, negotiate parking and access changes and develop a detailed cost and delivery programme required to deliver Phase 1 of the Urban Park as detailed in the OBC;

(ii)            update the business case for the site of the former Police HQ to determine suitability for refurbishment, rebuild, or as Urban Park Phase 2, depending on the outcome of market testing; and

(iii)          report progress to Council in December 2023.

Councillor Hutchison moved, seconded by Councillor Bouse:-

          That the Council approve the recommendations.

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

That the Council note the conclusion of the OBC and agree to market the site and to report progress to Council in December 2023.

On a division, there voted:-

For the motion  (25)  -  Lord Provost; Depute Provost; and Councillors Al-Samarai, Allard, Alphonse, Boulton, Bouse, Hazel Cameron, Clark, Cooke, Copland, Cormie, Davidson, Fairfull, Greig, Henrickson, Hutchison, MacGregor, McLellan, McRae, Mennie, Nicoll, Radley, van Sweeden and Yuill.

For the amendment by Councillor Malik  (19)  -  Councillors Ali, Blake, Bonsell, Brooks, Crockett, Cross, Farquhar, Graham, Grant, Kusznir, Lawrence, Macdonald, McLeod, Malik, Massey, Mrs Stewart, Thomson, Tissera and Watson.

Absent from the division  (1)  -  Councillor Houghton.

The Council resolved:-

to adopt the motion.