Issue - meetings

The Committee resolved:-

(i)       to note that officers would circulate information to Members when it was available in relation to the timescale for the full business case for the Bucksburn Academy extension;

(ii)       to note that officers would circulate information to Members in relation to the trigger numbers for the Grandhome primary school provision to be built;

(iii)      to note the updates to the School Estate Plan which were provided at Appendix 1 of the report;     

(iv)      to instruct the Chief Officer – Corporate Landlord to continue to implement the School Estate Plan in accordance with the updated timeline, presented at Appendix 1 of the report;

(v)      to note that the review of sports facilities at Harlaw Road and Rubislaw sports fields would now be incorporated within the feasibility study for improving the suitability of facilities at Harlaw Academy (Recommendation H1); and

(vi)      to instruct the Chief Officer - Corporate Landlord to carry out a public consultation on a proposal to alter the school catchment areas for Greenbrae School and Scotstown School, so that they aligned with the city boundary and no longer extended beyond it into Aberdeenshire. (Recommendation O4/BD2).

The Committee had before it a report by the Director of Resources which presented the 2023 annual update to the School Estate Plan, providing updates on progress with implementation of the Plan, and highlighting new priorities which had been identified since the School Estate Plan was first approved in September 2022.

Members also received an update from the Chief Officer – Corporate Landlord on the work which was being undertaken in relation to the Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) situation.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee –

(a)      note the updates to the School Estate Plan which were provided at Appendix 1 of the report;     

(b)      instruct the Chief Officer – Corporate Landlord to continue to implement the School Estate Plan in accordance with the updated timeline, presented at Appendix 1 of the report;

(c)      note that the review of sports facilities at Harlaw Road and Rubislaw sports fields would now be incorporated within the feasibility study for improving the suitability of facilities at Harlaw Academy (Recommendation H1); and

(d)      instruct the Chief Officer - Corporate Landlord to carry out a public consultation on a proposal to alter the school catchment areas for Greenbrae School and Scotstown School, so that they aligned with the city boundary and no longer extended beyond it into Aberdeenshire. (Recommendation O4/BD2).

The Convener, seconded by Councillor Al-Samarai, moved the recommendations as set out in the report.

Councillor Blake, seconded by Councillor Grant, moved as an amendment:-

That the Committee –

(a)      notes officer recommendations;

(b)      notes with concern the reports about RAAC concrete being identified in seven schools in Aberdeen City Council and that in the school estate plan all of these schools received a B rating for condition;

(c)      instructs the Chief Officer - Corporate Landlord to report back to the next Committee on where the school estate plan might require to be amended in light of the changing risk to our schools and pupils; and

(d)      instructs the Interim Director of Children’s and Family Services, in consultation with the Convener of the Finance and Resources Committee, to write to the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills expressing concern at the continued delays to the announcement of LEIP 3 funding and asking for an updated timeline, advising members of the Committee by email as soon as possible and reporting back to the Education and Children’s Services Committee thereafter on any implications for the LEIP funded projects on the Education and Children’s Services Committee business planner.

On a division, there voted:- for the motion (9) – the Convener; the Vice Convener; Councillors Al-Samarai, Bouse, Hazel Cameron, MacGregor, McLellan and Radley; and Mrs Smith; for the amendment (4) – Councillors Blake, Boulton, Brooks and Grant; declined to vote (3) – Mrs Cardno, Mr Crawford and Mr Haywood; absent from the division (3) – Councillor McLeod, Mr Murray and Mr Regmi.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)       to note that officers would circulate information to Members when it was available in relation to the timescale for the full  ...  view the full minutes text for item 16