Issue - meetings

(a)      approve the design and layout of the public realm improvements as detailed in Appendix A; and

(b)      instruct the Chief Officer – Capital, following consultation with the Chief Officer – Commercial & Procurement Services, to negotiate and execute contracts for delivery of the construction programme in line with the previously approved total project budget as detailed in paragraph 4.1, reporting progress through the Chief Officer – Capital’s regular capital programme monitoring reports to this committee; and

(c)      to instruct the Chief Officer – Operations to circulate to Councillor Brooks, a statement of the work planned to be carried out to improve the maintenance in Union Terrace Gardens.

With reference to article 21 of the minute of meeting of 7 August 2024, the Committee had before it a report by the Executive Director of City Regeneration and Environment which provided an update on the final design and layout for public realm improvements in the Castlegate.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee –

(a)      approve the design and layout of the public realm improvements as detailed in Appendix A; and

(b)      instruct the Chief Officer – Capital, following consultation with the Chief Officer – Commercial & Procurement Services, to negotiate and execute contracts for delivery of the construction programme in line with the previously approved total project budget as detailed in paragraph 4.1, reporting progress through the Chief Officer – Capital’s regular capital programme monitoring reports to this committee.

The Convener, seconded by Councillor Greig, 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)    note the current general lack of maintenance and weed control across the city;

(2)    further note the state of Aberdeen’s Green Spaces and garden areas - namely Union Terrace Gardens;

(3)    instruct the Chief Officer - Capital to report back to the next meeting of the Finance and Resource Committee in November,  the projected additional operational expenditure burden (Operation & Maintenance) of the plant and greenery design as a supplement to the capital expenditure costs outlined in today’s committee papers; and

(4)    thus, agree that any approval of the design and layout of the ‘public realm improvements’ must wait until the projected operational expenditure burden is made available.

On a division, there voted:- for the motion (5) – the Convener and Councillors Allard, Cooke, Greig and Radley; for the amendment (4) – Councillors Brooks, Farquhar, Malik and Watson.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)       to adopt the motion; and

(ii)      to instruct the Chief Officer – Operations to circulate to Councillor Brooks, a statement of the work planned to be carried out to improve the maintenance in Union Terrace Gardens.