Issue - meetings

to note the deputations and thank them for their contributions.

(A)      The Council received a deputation from Ms Gayle Stephen and Mr Kenny Anderson from UCAN in relation to agenda item 7.1. Ms Stephen advised that she was the Office Manager with UCAN, which was a local cancer charity established in 2005 and summarised its aims. She emphasised that one in three men in Scotland diagnosed with a urological cancer were diagnosed too late, and that if urological cancers were caught early, it relieved pressures on other services. She added that UCAN had minimal financial outgoings - she was the organisation’s only employee and the Board were all volunteers, and emphasised that every pound raised went directly to front line services.

Mr Anderson advised that he was a Director on the Board of UCAN and he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2018, but having benefited from UCAN’s robotic surgery, he was given the all clear, following which he made a donation to UCAN and joined the Board last year. Mr Anderson stated that they were seeking the Council’s support to adapt an existing space at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary (Ward 209) to provide a rapid diagnostic centre, which would provide a one stop diagnostic process for patients, both male and female.

Ms Stephen emphasised that this would help build on the existing success of Aberdeen’s robotic surgery and enhance Aberdeen’s global reputation as a centre of excellence and provide lifesaving outcomes. Mr Anderson noted that the total cost of the project was £2.5m, with donations received and work under way on funding applications, however they were seeking £250,000 from the Council which would allow them to commence the first phase of the unit, which would start delivering benefits for patients and their families.

Ms Stephen emphasised that they could not wait any longer and begged the Council for their help.

During the course of questions to the deputation, Councillor Yuill advised that he was changing his transparency statement, made within Article 3 of the minute, to a declaration of interest and withdrew from the meeting.

Councillor Blake advised that she had a connection by reason of her husband having had testicular cancer and benefitting from support from UCAN, however having applied the objective test she did not consider that she had an interest and would not be withdrawing from the meeting.

Councillor Watson advised that he had a connection by reason of his mother having passed away due to bladder cancer, however having applied the objective test he did not consider that he had an interest and would not be withdrawing from the meeting.

Councillor Ali advised that he had a connection by reason of his wife having had Professor N’Dow as her surgeon, however having applied the objective test he did not consider that he had an interest and would not be withdrawing from the meeting.

Councillor Kusznir advised that he had a connection by virtue of Professor N’Dow having been mentioned, as Professor N’Dow was an NHS appointed trustee on a trust that he managed, however having  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4