Issue - meetings

(i)       to note the content of the report;

(ii)       to note the limited time remaining for the Council to source match funding to retain the existing SEPA grant towards Detailed Design of the Den Burn Restoration Project, and continue the project; and

(iii)      to instruct the Chief Officer - Strategic Place Planning, following consultation with the Chief Officer - Finance and Chief Officer - Capital to explore funding options which may be available to support the project, and report the outcome to the Finance and Resources Committee on 6 August 2025.

The Committee had before it a report by the Executive Director City Regeneration and Environment which provided an update on the funding situation and project status for the Den Burn Restoration Project.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee –

(a)      note the content of the report regarding the current challenging external

funding climate alongside the various project options explored; and

(b)      instruct the Chief Officer - Strategic Place Planning to pause the Den Burn Restoration Project indefinitely, while maintaining a watching brief on potential future funding opportunities, and to report back to Committee should any external funding options become viable.

The Convener, seconded by Councillor Greig, moved:-

That the Committee:-

(a)      note the content of the report;

(b)      note the limited time remaining for the Council to source match funding to retain the existing SEPA grant towards Detailed Design of the Den Burn Restoration Project, and continue the project; and

(c)      instruct the Chief Officer - Strategic Place Planning, following consultation with the Chief Officer - Finance and Chief Officer - Capital to explore funding options which may be available to support the project, and report the outcome to the Finance and Resources Committee on 6 August 2025.

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

That the Committee:-

(a)      note the content of the report, noting the self-congratulatory position adopted by the SNP back in 2023 where they noted success of funding secured to date only to now confirm that there is currently a challenging external funding climate; and

(b)      agree instructing the Chief Officer - Strategic Place Planning to pause the Den Burn Restoration Project indefinitely, while maintaining a watching brief on potential future funding opportunities is a lost opportunity and confirms that this SNP administration continues to take one step forward then two steps back in its failure to move forward with this project, and refer the report to the Finance and Resources Committee to explore options for future support.

On a division, there voted:- for the motion (5) – the Convener; and Councillors Greig, Henrickson, Hutchison and McLellan; for the amendment (4) – Councillors Brooks, Malik, Nicoll and Tissera.

The Committee resolved:-

to adopt the motion.