Issue - meetings

That the Committee:-

(1)        Agree it was simply outrageous for Elected Members to find out via the press regarding the ongoing closure of the Energy from Waste Plant;  

(2)        Agree it has now been established that Council officers knew about this closure on 27 June 2025, yet despite there being a Council meeting on 2 July 2025, all Elected Members were not informed;  

(3)        Agree that most, if not all of the problems the Council currently has to face such as Bus gates, Energy from Waste, and RAAC has come through either the Net Zero Environment and Transport Committee or through Urgent Business Committee both convened by Councillor Ian Yuill;  ? 

(4)        Agree officers must inform Elected Members when they advised Administration leaders on the closure of the plant and explain why all Elected Members were not appraised of the reasons for closure before it made its way to the press;  

(5)        Agree that changes to staff terms and conditions as part of the 35-hour week may have contributed to bin collections not being undertaken as before and instructs the Chief Officer - Operations to bring forward a report to the relevant committee, into any impacts that the 35-hour week has had on the management of bin collections following its implementation; and  

(6)        Instructs the Chief Officer - Operations to bring forward a report to the Council meeting on 20 August 2025, providing Elected members with information as to how the Council intends to ensure the Energy for Waste Plant gets back up running and the knock-on effects the closure is having on residents and communities throughout Aberdeen.?  

(1)      note the North East Scotland Shared (NESS) Energy from Waste Project (EfW) is a shared service between Aberdeen City Council, Aberdeenshire Council and Moray Council to treat the residual waste from the three Councils;

(2)      note that EFW Ness Ltd (Acciona) is the contractor responsible for delivering that service for the three authorities and it has sub-contracted the operation of the facility to Indaver, and that EFW Ness Ltd recently notified Indaver of their intention to terminate the operating sub-contract;

(3)      note the ongoing contractual negotiations between Council officers and Acciona to ensure the Energy from Waste facility is fully operational as soon as possible;

(4)      note that any changes in the delivery of waste management will be reported to the Net Zero, Environment and Transport Committee, through the performance report; and

(5)      instruct the Chief Officer – Operations to provide an update to the Net Zero, Environment and Transport Committee when the Energy from Waste facility is operational, outlining any potential environmental impact and any contractual implications for the Council.

The Committee had before it an urgent Notice of Motion by Councillor Tissera in the following terms:-

that the Committee:-

(1)    agree it was simply outrageous for Elected Members to find out via the press regarding the ongoing closure of the Energy from Waste Plant;  

(2)    agree it has now been established that Council officers knew about this closure on 27 June 2025, yet despite there being a Council meeting on 2 July 2025 all Elected Members were not informed; 

(3)    agree that most if not all of the problems the Council currently has to face such as Bus gates, Energy from Waste, and RAAC has come through either the Net Zero Environment and Transport Committee or through Urgent Business Committee both convened by Councillor Ian Yuill;  ? 

(4)    agree officers must inform Elected Members when they advised Administration leaders on the closure of the plant and explain why all Elected Members were not appraised of the reasons for closure before it made its way to the press;  

(5)    agree that changes to staff terms and conditions as part of the 35-hour week may have contributed to bin collections not being undertaken as before and instructs the Chief Officer - Operations to bring forward a report to the relevant committee, into any impacts that the 35-hour week has had on the management of bin collections following its implementation; and   

(6)    instruct the Chief Officer - Operations to bring forward a report to the Council meeting on 20 August 2025, providing Elected members with information as to how the Council intends to ensure the Energy for Waste Plant gets back up running and the knock-on effects it the closure is having on residents and communities throughout Aberdeen.? 

Councillor Tissera moved her motion and explained the rationale behind it and was seconded by Councillor Malik.

The Convener, seconded by Councillor Greig, moved as an amendment:-

that the Committee:-

(1)    note the North East Scotland Shared (NESS) Energy from Waste Project (EfW) is a shared service between Aberdeen City Council, Aberdeenshire Council and Moray Council to treat the residual waste from the three Councils;

(2)    note that EFW Ness Ltd (Acciona) is the contractor responsible for delivering that service for the three authorities and it has sub-contracted the operation of the facility to Indaver, and that EFW Ness Ltd recently notified Indaver of their intention to terminate the operating sub-contract;

(3)    note the ongoing contractual negotiations between Council officers and Acciona to ensure the Energy from Waste facility is fully operational as soon as possible;

(4)    note that any changes in the delivery of waste management will be reported to the Net Zero, Environment and Transport Committee, through the performance report; and

(5)    instruct the Chief Officer – Operations to provide an update to the Net Zero, Environment and Transport Committee when the Energy from Waste facility is operational, outlining any potential environmental impact and any contractual implications for the Council.

On a division, there voted:- for the motion (4) – Councillors Farquhar,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3

That the Committee:-

(1)           Instruct the Chief Officer - City Development and Regeneration to continue to provide support to Castlegate Arts to help them to achieve the cultural investment framework requirements and meet the Council’s criteria for Following the Public Pound, and provide them with a monthly funding stream up to an annual amount in 2025/26 of £100k, to be taken from the General Fund Contingencies budget;

(2)           Note that an offer of a long-term lease remains available to Castlegate Arts on current terms;

(3)           Instruct the Chief Officer - Corporate Landlord to instruct and update the building condition survey (previous version has been shared with Castlegate Arts) and make these costs available to Elected Members to assist budget setting process for 2026/27. The General Fund Contingencies budget will provide funding of up to £15k to secure any specialist or other works required  in completing the survey work; and

(4)           Agree that the above measures are needed to ensure that the charity Castlegate Arts can continue its good work in the city for a wide range of our citizens.

(i)       note the Liberal Democrat and SNP Partnership is committed to the long term future of the Arts Centre as a cultural venue in Aberdeen which is currently leased and operated by Castlegate Arts Ltd;

(ii)      note Castlegate Arts Ltd continue to not comply with the ‘Code of Guidance On Funding External Bodies and Following the Public Pound’ published by the Accounts Commission and Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (CoSLA);

(iii)      note that Aberdeen City Council awarded £1.45 million to cultural organisations across the city through the Cultural Investment Framework 2025/26;

(iv)     note the Chief Officer - City Development and Regeneration, through the External Funding Teams, continues to provide support to any organisation interested in accessing funding;

(v)      note the £8,000 annual rent of Aberdeen Arts Centre is currently funded by the Common Good Fund;

(vi)     instruct the Chief Officer – Corporate Landlord to continue  to offer a new lease to Castlegate Arts reflecting the current lease conditions, for a term to be agreed;

(vii)     note Aberdeen City Council has carried out initial works to the clock tower (which is excluded from the lease) funded through the Repairs and Maintenance budget; and

(viii)    to note that the Executive Director of City Regeneration and Environment would liaise with the Chief Officer – Corporate Landlord to circulate further details to members in relation to (1) the Council’s lease arrangement with Castlegate Arts Ltd, specifically regarding repairs and (2) the amount of grant funding community centres receive on an annual basis.

The Committee had before it a Notice of Motion by Councillor Boulton in the following terms:-

(1)    Instruct the Chief Officer - City Development and Regeneration to continue to provide support to Castlegate Arts to help them to achieve the cultural investment framework requirements and meet the Council’s criteria for Following the Public Pound, and provide them with a monthly funding stream up to an annual amount in 2025/26 of £100k, to be taken from the General Fund Contingencies budget;

(2)    Note that an offer of a long-term lease remains available to Castlegate Arts on current terms;

(3)    Instruct the Chief Officer - Corporate Landlord to instruct and update the building condition survey (previous version has been shared with Castlegate Arts) and make these costs available to Elected Members to assist budget setting process for 2026/27. The General Fund Contingencies budget will provide funding of up to £15k to secure any specialist or other works required in completing the survey work; and

(4)    Agree that the above measures are needed to ensure that the charity Castlegate Arts can continue its good work in the city for a wide range of our citizens.

Councillor Boulton moved her motion and explained the rationale behind it and was seconded by Councillor Brooks.

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

that the Committee:-

(1)    Agree the Lord Provost determined that Councillor Boulton’s notice of motion was urgent on 16th April 2025, the fact that it is being heard 86 days after it was deemed urgent confirms the contempt in which the SNP hold opposition members with and the contempt they hold Standing Orders too;

(2)    Agree the grassroots support from the Arts Community to save Aberdeen Arts Centre is simply overwhelming;

(3)    Agree the campaign to Save Aberdeen Arts Centre has already received backing from a host of famous faces including actors Laura Main, Amy Lennox and Brian Cox; Hollywood director Jon S Baird; magician Barry Jones; and virtuoso percussionist Dame Evelyn Glennie;

(4)    Agree Aberdeen Arts Centre is an independent arts venue, operated by a registered charity (Castlegate Arts Ltd) in the heart of Aberdeen. For over 60 years, it has played a crucial role in the north east’s vibrant arts scene through its programme of performances, Creative Learning Programme for children and adults, and an Artist Development Programme to support local professional creatives;

(5)    Agree the SNP Administration has deliberately ignored requests from Castlegate Arts Ltd to help support it, despite previous administrations understanding the need to support the Arts in this city;

(6)    Notes that the Council agreed to provide £8,000 in rent from the Common Good fund to Castlegate Arts Ltd to cover the said rent for the Aberdeen Arts Centre, despite according to the Administration, that Castlegate Arts Ltd currently does not comply with following the public pound regulations; and

(7)    Agree to provide a grant of £100,000 for this year and the two subsequent budgets subject to Council budget approval to be taken this year  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2