Issue - meetings

These will be recorded in full in the minute.

Members were requested to intimate any declarations of interest or transparency statements in respect of the items on the agenda, thereafter the following were intimated:-

·       Councillor Blake advised that she had a connection in relation to agenda item 7.1 (School Streets – Notice of Motion by Councillor Blake) by virtue of her being a volunteer for Bikeability, however having applied the objective test, she did not consider that she had an interest and would not be withdrawing from the meeting.

·       Also in relation to item 7.1, the Convener advised that he was a member of Cycling UK, however he did not consider that this amounted to an interest which would require him to withdraw from the meeting during consideration of this item.  The Convener further advised that the same connection also applied at item 11.2 (North East Scotland Active Travel Network Review).

·       Councillor Al-Samarai advised that she had a connection in relation to item 8.1 (Low Emission Zone – Time-Limited Exemption for Taxis and Private Hire Cars), as she was Convener of the Licensing Committee which had referred the matter on to the Net Zero, Environment and Transport Committee, but she did not consider this amounted to an interest which would require her to withdraw from the meeting during that item.

·       The Convener advised that he had a connection in relation to item 10.3 (Low Emission Zone Penalty Charge Notice – Net Surplus Income Policy), as his current vehicle would not be compliant with the Low Emission Zone, however having sought advice from Legal Services, he did not consider that this amounted to an interest which require him to withdraw from the meeting during that item of business.

·       Councillor Blake advised that she had a connection in relation to item 10.4 (Biodiversity Duty Report), as her husband worked at NatureScot, but she did not consider this amounted to an interest which would require her to withdraw from the meeting during that item of business.

·       Councillor Blake advised that she had a connection with item 11.4 (Aberdeen Royal Infirmary Parking) as she was a member of UNISON, however she did not consider this amounted to an interest and would be remaining in the meeting during consideration of the item.

·       Finally, the Convener declared an interest in item 11.4 (Aberdeen Royal Infirmary Parking) by virtue of being a member of the NHS Grampian Board, and having applied the objective test, he advised that he would be withdrawing from the meeting during consideration of this item.