Issue - meetings

The Council resolved:-

to note the Population Needs Assessment 2023 as contained at Appendix 1.

The Council had before it a report by the Chief Officer - Data and Insights which presented the 2023 Population Needs Assessment for Aberdeen City.

The report recommended:-

that the Council note the Population Needs Assessment 2023 as contained at Appendix 1.

Councillor Yuill moved, seconded by Councillor Allard:-

          That the Council approve the recommendation.

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

          That the Council -

(1)       note the Population Needs Assessment 2023 as contained at Appendix 1;

(2)       note from the report all households in Scotland will be affected by increases in the cost of living, a report by the Scottish Government suggests that it is those with lower incomes and little or no savings who will be most impacted as they spend a higher proportion than average on energy, food and transport and they therefore have less flexibility in their budget to cope with price rises. Therefore, agree a Council Tax freeze can only be supported if it is fully funded by the Scottish Government;

(3)       note the Joseph Rowntree Foundation report Poverty In Scotland 2023;

(4)       agree with the Joseph Rowntree Foundation that Aberdeen City Council are unlikely to meet its poverty reduction targets without significant additional Scottish Government action; and

(5)       agree without significant longer-term actions planned by the Scottish Government, it is difficult to see how the Aberdeen City Local Outcome Improvement Plan 2016-2026 stretch outcome of “no one will suffer due to poverty by 2026” will be met under current plans.

At this juncture, Councillor Yuill advised that he had a connection in relation to the item by virtue of a friend who worked as a senior manager at the National Records of Scotland, however having applied the objective test he did not consider that he had an interest and would not be withdrawing from the meeting.

On a division, there voted:-

For the motion  (27)  -  Lord Provost; Depute Provost; and Councillors Al-Samarai, Allard, Alphonse, Bouse, Brooks, Hazel Cameron, Clark, Cooke, Copland, Cormie, Fairfull, Farquhar, Greig, Henrickson, Hutchison, MacGregor, McLellan, McLeod, McRae, Massey, Mennie, Nicoll, Radley, van Sweeden and Yuill.

For the amendment  (11)  -  Councillors Ali, Bonsell, Crockett, Graham, Grant, Lawrence, Macdonald, Malik, Thomson, Tissera and Watson.

Absent from the division  (2)  -  Councillors Boulton and Davidson

The Council resolved:-

to adopt the motion.