Issue - meetings

(a)      instruct the Chief Officer – Corporate Landlord to advise Grampian Housing Association (GHA) that the Council do not wish to enter into discussions to exercise the option to buy-back the site of the former Victoria Road School site;

(b)      note the challenges with development variability on the site and the holding costs which are having to be met by GHA at this time; and

(c)      note the situation with the Regeneration Capital Grant Fund.

With reference to article 32 of the minute of meeting of the City Growth and Resources Committee of 18 September 2018, the Committee had before it a report by the Director of Families and Communities which provided details of a request from Grampian Housing Association to ascertain whether the Council would seek to buy-back the Former Victoria Road School site in Torry.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee –

(a)      instruct the Chief Officer – Corporate Landlord to advise Grampian Housing Association (GHA) that the Council do not wish to enter into discussions to exercise the option to buy-back the site of the former Victoria Road School site;

(b)      note the challenges with development variability on the site and the holding costs which are having to be met by GHA at this time; and

(c)      note the situation with the Regeneration Capital Grant Fund.

The Convener, seconded by the Vice Convener, moved:-

that the Committee approve the recommendations contained within the report.

Councillor Brooks, seconded by Councillor Farquhar, moved as an amendment:-

that the Committee –

(1)       recognise the previous Council Administration’s positive commitment to The Victoria Road School (VRS) project, which is a partnership between Grampian Housing Association (GHA) and Torry Development Trust;

(2)       understand that the project required a mix of funding to be assembled to meet the negotiated tenders for a start on site in 2024;

(3)       note that Grampian Housing Association now has no plans for the site and its Board took the decision on 27 August 2024 to offer the site back into Council ownership as required by the original site transfer agreement;

(4)       believe that the VRS project was a unique opportunity to redevelop an iconic Torry building while providing social housing and community space;

(5)       therefore, regret the decision of Aberdeen City Council to not prioritise funding the social housing element of the VRS project, although understands that this follows on from The Scottish Government cutting the affordable housing supply programme by almost £4m for Aberdeen in 2024/2025;

(6)       further regret that Torry/Ferryhill Ward members were not advised that funding for the project was not prioritised in this financial year due to the large costs of delivery for a key local development;

(7)       believe that Torry has been let down by the current SNP led Council Administration who previously defunded and demonised Big Noise Torry and are now not prioritising a key local community redevelopment project;

(8)       welcome the decision of The Scottish Government to reprofile or roll over the £1.4m of funding from its Regeneration Capital Grant Fund (RCGF) for the community element of the project into 2024/25; and

(9)       instructs the Chief Officers City Development and Regeneration and Housing to engage with other partners and funders to secure funding for the development of the Victoria Road School project.

Councillor Malik, seconded by Councillor Watson, moved as a further amendment:-

that the Committee –

(1)       note with despair the SNP record on bringing forward Council housing, 2 and ½ years into this  ...  view the full minutes text for item 17