Issue - meetings

The Council resolved:-

(i)             to approve the allocation of funds agreed by the Anti-Poverty and Inequality Committee on 12 June 2024; and

(ii)           to agree that the remaining funding balance be allocated by the Anti-Poverty and Inequality Committee without the need for further approval from the Finance and Resources Committee or Council.

With reference to Article 11 of the minute of meeting of the Anti-Poverty and Inequality Committee of 12 June 2024, the Council had before it a report by the Executive Director of Corporate Services which sought approval for the allocation of funds by the Anti-Poverty and Inequality Committee to mitigate the ongoing cost of living crisis.

The report recommended:-

that the Council -

(a)           approve the allocation of funds agreed by the Anti-Poverty and Inequality Committee on 12 June 2024; and

(b)           agree that the remaining funding balance be allocated by the Anti-Poverty and Inequality Committee without the need for further approval from the Finance and Resources Committee or Council.

Councillor Allard moved, seconded by Councillor Greig:-

          That the Council approve the recommendations.

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

That the Council approve the recommendations subject to the addition of the following:-

1.      to provide Aberdeen Cyrenians with £250,000 to help towards fuel poverty; and

2.      to provide AberNecessities with £100,000 to help towards winter clothes for children.

Councillor Kusznir moved as a further amendment, seconded by Councillor Houghton:-

          That the Council -

(1)       agrees the allocation of funds that do not include staffing costs;

(2)       believes that in general, staffing costs for arm’s length charitable organisations should not be met by Aberdeen City Council; and

(3)       further agrees that officers will ask CFINE, SCARF and SHMU for the implications of not awarding staffing costs so that a future Anti-Poverty and Inequality Committee can decide.

There being a motion and two amendments, the Council first divided between the two amendments.

On a division, there voted:-

For the amendment by Councillor Malik  (13)  -  Councillors Ali, Blake, Bonsell, Crockett, Graham, Grant, Lawrence, Macdonald, Malik, Mrs Stewart, Thomson, Tissera and Watson.

For the amendment by Councillor Kusznir  (8)  -  Councillors Boulton, Brooks, Cross, Farquhar, Houghton, Kusznir, McLeod and Massey.

Declined to vote  (22)  -  Lord Provost; Depute Provost; and Councillors Al-Samarai, Allard, Alphonse, Hazel Cameron, Clark, Cooke, Copland, Cormie, Davidson, Greig, Henrickson, Hutchison, MacGregor, McLellan, McRae, Mennie, Nicoll, Radley, van Sweeden and Yuill.

Absent from the division  (1)  -  Councillor Bouse.

The Council then divided between the motion and the amendment by Councillor Malik.

On a division, there voted:-

For the motion  (22)  -  Lord Provost; Depute Provost; and Councillors Al-Samarai, Allard, Alphonse, Hazel Cameron, Clark, Cooke, Copland, Cormie, Davidson, Greig, Henrickson, Hutchison, MacGregor, McLellan, McRae, Mennie, Nicoll, Radley, van Sweeden and Yuill.

For the amendment by Councillor Malik  (13)  -  Councillors Ali, Blake, Bonsell, Crockett, Graham, Grant, Lawrence, Macdonald, Malik, Mrs Stewart, Thomson, Tissera and Watson.

Declined to vote  (8)  -  Councillors Boulton, Brooks, Cross, Farquhar, Houghton, Kusznir, McLeod and Massey.

Absent from the division  (1)  -  Councillor Bouse.

The Council resolved:-

to adopt the motion.