Issue - meetings

(i)       note the status of delivery of the Section 3 highlighted programmes/projects contained within the approved Capital Programme;

(ii)      note Council on 23 August 2023 considered the Medium Term Financial Strategy which outlined the continued financial challenges facing the Council over the next 5 years;

(iii)      approve the reprofiled General Fund Capital funded projects/programmes as shown in Appendix B – Table 2, noting the use of the existing contingency budget in the programme; and

(iv)     that in relation to Aberdeen Art Gallery, to instruct the Chief Officer – Capital to circulate to members of the Committee details relating to the funding contribution from the UK Government.

The Committee had before it a report by the Director of Resources which (1) summarised the general progress of delivery of key capital expenditure projects identified within the approved Capital Programme from the General Fund and Housing Revenue Accounts; (2) highlighted those issues considered worthy of particular note which were specific to individual programmes/projects; and (3) incorporated the outcome of the recent reprofiling of the General Fund Capital Programme, which had been carried out to take account of the year end position for 2022/23 and other current project related factors.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee –

(a)      note the status of delivery of the Section 3 highlighted programmes/projects contained within the approved Capital Programme;

(b)      note that Council on 23 August 2023 considered the Medium Term Financial Strategy which outlined the continued financial challenges facing the Council over the next 5 years; and

(c)      approve the reprofiled General Fund Capital funded projects/programmes as shown in Appendix B – Table 2, noting the use of the existing contingency budget in the programme.

The Convener, seconded by the Vice Convener moved:-

that the Committee approve the recommendations contained within the report.

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

          that the Committee –

(1)    approve recommendations 2.1 to 2.3 within the report; 

(2)    agree that the projects outlined within the report were all instigated by the previous Labour led Administration and that it is wonderful to see Council bringing forward the previous administrations vision for the city including the building of 2,000 Council homes as promised; and

(3)    agree that as the Council may require to change/reprofile its 2023/24 budget following the decision to re-look at Library and Bucksburn Pool closures, and instruct the Chief Officer – Capital to report to Council in December 2023 of any capital impact to coincide with any decision that is required following the review into Libraries and Bucksburn Pool.

On a division, there voted:- for the motion (10) – the Convener, the Vice Convener and Councillors Allard, Cooke, Fairfull, Farquhar, Greig, Houghton, Hutchison and Radley; for the amendment (3) – Councillors Malik, Thomson and Watson.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)       to adopt the motion; and

(ii)      that in relation to Aberdeen Art Gallery, to instruct the Chief Officer – Capital to circulate to members of the Committee details relating to the funding contribution from the UK Government.