Issue - items at meetings - Notice of Motion by Councillor Graham

Notes that Council passed a notice of motion on 13 December 2023 recognising the importance of holding out a hand to those outwith our direct area. It called for an immediate ceasefire in Palestine/Israel, and for urgent humanitarian relief for the citizens of Gaza.

Since then, nine months have passed and tens of thousands more civilians have died. In March 2024 the United Nations Special Rapporteur found that “There are reasonable grounds to believe that the threshold indicating the commission of the crime of genocide…has been met.” In July 2024, the prestigious medical journal The Lancet stated that “it is not implausible to estimate that up to 186,000 [7.9% of the total population in the Gaza strip] or even more deaths could be attributable to the current conflict in Gaza”. Later in July, the International Court of Justice, the United Nations' highest court, ruled that “Israel’s continued presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory is unlawful” and that Israel “is under an obligation to bring to an end its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory as rapidly as possible” and “is under an obligation to cease immediately all new settlement activities, and to evacuate all settlers from the Occupied Palestinian Territory”.

This Council reaffirms its place as part of the common family of humanity, and:

1. Reiterates our call for a permanent ceasefire;

2. Calls on the Lord Provost to fly the Palestinian Flag on 29 November 2024, International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People;

3. Follows Barcelona and other cities and instructs the Chief Officer - Governance to report to Council by the end of 2024 on any direct or indirect links that Aberdeen City Council have with the State of Israel, with a view to stopping these;

4. Asks the North East Scotland Pension Fund to commission a study to identify any investments in companies that supply arms to Israel, as these investments may be at high risk due to the political instability;

5. Recognises the UK Labour Government’s suspension of 30 licences for arms sales to Israel;

6. Endorses the Scottish Government’s 2024 call for an arms embargo on Israel, and calls for the Scottish Government to act in all its available capacities to help prevent the production and transfer of weapons components for Israel from arms companies in Scotland; and

7. Instructs the Chief Executive to write to other Scottish Local Authorities informing them of this motion, and encouraging them to take similar actions.

The Committee resolved:-

(i) to note that this Council is proud of its first mission of serving local people, but also of its international solidarity in holding out a helping hand to those in need elsewhere, and hosting many refugees;

(ii) to note that the conflict in the State of Palestine, the State of Israel and the Republic of Lebanon has caused huge suffering and following the horrific acts of terror by Hamas on 7th October 2023, the escalation of violence in Gaza and Lebanon has led to the death and suffering of many civilians;

(iii) to note that Aberdeen City Council recognises the need for justice to underly a sustainable peace, and the internationally accepted need for a two-state solution to be implemented. All human lives should be valued equally, and human rights respected for all; and

(iv) to call for an immediate cessation of all hostilities in the State of Palestine, State of Israel and Republic of Lebanon, the immediate release of hostages, and for international support for huge and urgent UN-led humanitarian relief for citizens of Gaza.

The Committee had before it a Notice of Motion from Councillor Watson, referred from Council on 11 October 2024, in the following terms:-

That the Council –

Notes that Council passed a notice of motion on 13 December 2023 recognising the importance of holding out a hand to those outwith our direct area. It called for an immediate ceasefire in Palestine/Israel, and for urgent humanitarian relief for the citizens of Gaza.

Since then, nine months have passed and tens of thousands more civilians have died. In March 2024 the United Nations Special Rapporteur found that “There are reasonable grounds to believe that the threshold indicating the commission of the crime of genocide…has been met.” In July 2024, the prestigious medical journal The Lancet stated that “it is not implausible to estimate that up to 186,000 [7.9% of the total population in the Gaza strip] or even more deaths could be attributable to the current conflict in Gaza”. Later in July, the International Court of Justice, the United Nations' highest court, ruled that “Israel’s continued presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory is unlawful” and that Israel “is under an obligation to bring to an end its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory as rapidly as possible” and “is under an obligation to cease immediately all new settlement activities, and to evacuate all settlers from the Occupied Palestinian Territory”.

This Council reaffirms its place as part of the common family of humanity, and:

1. Reiterates our call for a permanent ceasefire;

2. Calls on the Lord Provost to fly the Palestinian Flag on 29 November 2024, International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People;

3. Follows Barcelona and other cities and instructs the Chief Officer - Governance to report to Council by the end of 2024 on any direct or indirect links that Aberdeen City Council have with the State of Israel, with a view to stopping these;

4. Asks the North East Scotland Pension Fund to commission a study to identify any investments in companies that supply arms to Israel, as these investments may be at high risk due to the political instability;

5. Recognises the UK Labour Government’s suspension of 30 licences for arms sales to Israel;

6. Endorses the Scottish Government’s 2024 call for an arms embargo on Israel, and calls for the Scottish Government to act in all its available capacities to help prevent the production and transfer of weapons components for Israel from arms companies in Scotland; and

7. Instructs the Chief Executive to write to other Scottish Local Authorities informing them of this motion, and encouraging them to take similar actions.

Councillor Watson spoke in support of his Notice of Motion and in accordance with Standing Order 12.16, amended his Notice of Motion with revised dates, namely that 29 November 2024 would change to 29 November 2025 and that point 3 be amended to as soon as possible.

Councillor Watson moved, seconded by Councillor Malik:-

That the Committee approve the Notice of Motion.

The Convener ... view the full minutes text for item 7

Council notes the unprecedented housing and homelessness issues affecting tenants and potential tenants in Aberdeen.

Recognises the extreme pressures facing housing and homelessness services in Aberdeen today.

These pressures exist despite the best endeavours and professionalism of officers within the Council that have seen a number of positive achievements. These include:

The Aberdeen Labour decisions alongside our coalition partners 2017-2022 to build 2,000 new Council homes on top of procuring over 4,000 Affordable homes with Registered Social Landlords.

This has resulted in

Dyce new Builds Completed
Auchmill Road New builds Completed.
Summerhill New Build has now achieved Practical Completion for all blocks
Tillydrone New Build has now achieved Practical Completion for all blocks
Cloverhill New Build is progressing as planned
Kaimhill New Build is nearing completion,
Greenferns and Greenferns Landward are progressing to achieve RIBA 3 completion
Craighill New Build is out to tender
Kincorth New Build tender documentation is being finalised; and
206 Union Street works have commenced

However, the number of households assessed as homeless or in housing need waiting for a home to call their own remains of significant concern.

As detailed in the reports to the Communities, Housing and Public Protection Committee:

· Homeless applications are at a 13 year high at the end of March 2024, with levels recorded (1,481) not seen since the same period in 2010/11

· 442 Statutory Homeless Households Residing in Temporary Accommodation at end March 2024.

· Only 30 % of Unintentional homeless decisions reached within 21 Days

· 161 days the Average length of journey in days for applicants assessed as unintentionally homeless at the end of March.

· The Council are now breaching our duties in accordance with the Unsuitable Accommodation Order, by having households in unsuitable accommodation for longer than 7 days.

· 237.7 The YTD Average time taken to re-let all properties (Citywide - days) against a target of 125 days at the end of March 2024.

· The YTD Void Rent Loss figure for 2023/24 is £7,805,806 this equates to 7.91% of the gross debit (rent due) which is a significant increase when compared with the same period last year where the figure stood at £5,271,632 (5.70%).

· Planned maintenance projects such as in Summerhill have been put on hold.

· In April 2022, 4,750 applications were on the waiting list for housing, this has grown to 6,658 in May 2024

These issues have been exasperated by the following.

· We have 366 houses identified as uninhabitable due to RAAC and a massive transfer operation in place for Council tenants.

· Of the 366 houses, 138 are privately owned properties whose owners have been virtually neglected by ACC, The Scottish Administration and the UK Government, families face ruin and bankruptcy and this should not be allowed to happen in a Civil Society.

· The Housing Revenue account is funding the majority of the costs currently being incurred and faces unprecedented financial pressures. .

This a perilous situation and one that requires action today.

That the Council therefore agrees to:-

- Declare a Housing Emergency in Aberdeen today. ... view the full agenda text for item 7

The Committee resolved:-

(i) to acknowledge that in May 2024 the Scottish Government declared that Scotland has a national housing emergency;

(ii) to recognise the seriousness of the housing situation facing the city, which is causing far too many families to experience housing insecurity and homelessness;

(iii) to acknowledge the significant challenges being posed by the Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) emergency in the city and the additional pressure this has placed upon housing supply in Aberdeen;

(iv) to note that a roundtable meeting with both the Scottish and UK Governments has been requested to discuss the financial impact of RAAC on the Council and seek any additional funding to help meet the short-term rehoming costs and the longer-term rebuild phases;

(v) to note the ongoing work being carried out by officers, Registered Social Landlords and other sector partners within the city to deliver the homes and services which people rely on, through our existing Local Housing Strategy, Strategic Housing Investment Plan, Rapid Rehousing Transition Plan, empty homes work, and work as part of the Homewards Programme;

(vi) to recognise the impact that the housing crisis was having on communities across Aberdeen, due to the shortage of affordable homes, changing housing need and demand, and decades of under investment in our housing stock;

(vii) to note that, as outlined in report F&C/24/176, the Housing Board was established in late March 2024 to identify risks through the Housing Service, oversee improvements and establish an action plan, the first bi-annual report on progress towards this would be presented to the Communities, Housing and Public Protection Committee in November 2024;

Therefore, this Committee:

Agrees we are in a Housing Emergency;
Commits to the creation and implementation of a Housing Emergency Action Plan, through the work of the Housing Board, which will be refreshed and reported bi-annually to the Communities, Housing and Public Protection Committee – this Action Plan will draw together ongoing work, existing strategies and council teams, aligning these behind the shared goal of tackling the housing emergency;
Recommends to Council to establish a cross-party working group to monitor the progress of the Housing Emergency Action Plan, to be chaired by the Convener of the Communities, Housing and Public Protection Committee;
Will take a human rights-based approach to delivering the Action Plan, embedding participation, accountability, non-discrimination and empowerment into the process; and
Commits to working with communities, individuals with lived experience of the housing emergency, and internal and external partners to deliver the Action Plan and develop solutions to the housing emergency.

The Committee had before it a Notice of Motion from Councillor Graham, referred from Council on 3 July 2024, in the following terms:-

Council notes the unprecedented housing and homelessness issues affecting tenants and potential tenants in Aberdeen;

Recognises the extreme pressures facing housing and homelessness services in Aberdeen today;

These pressures exist despite the best endeavours and professionalism of officers within the Council that have seen a number of positive achievements. These include:

The Aberdeen Labour decisions alongside our coalition partners 2017-2022 to build 2,000 new Council homes on top of procuring over 4,000 Affordable homes with Registered Social Landlords.

This has resulted in

Dyce new Builds Completed
Auchmill Road New builds Completed.
Summerhill New Build has now achieved Practical Completion for all blocks
Tillydrone New Build has now achieved Practical Completion for all blocks
Cloverhill New Build is progressing as planned
Kaimhill New Build is nearing completion,
Greenferns and Greenferns Landward are progressing to achieve RIBA 3 completion
Craighill New Build is out to tender
Kincorth New Build tender documentation is being finalised; and
206 Union Street works have commenced