Issue - meetings

(i)       to note that the Chief Officer – Strategic Place Planning would liaise with the Chief Officer – Commercial and Procurement Services to circulate information to Members outwith the meeting on how long the hydrogen buses had been off the road, the financial implications of this and who was responsible for any cost, and confirmation of when the two hydrogen plants would be up and running;

(ii)       in relation to page 48 (bike storage) and whether users could be surveyed, to note that this could be considered for future iterations of the scheme;

(ii)       in relation to page 56 (refurbished bike scheme), to request that officers circulate any information available in relation to the numbers involved to Members outwith the meeting;

(iii)      in relation to page 59 (GP practices in Aberdeen training with RSPB Scotland), to note that officers would provide information on this initiative to Members outwith the meeting;

(iv)      to note that the SCIS Annual Emissions Inventory Report for Aberdeen City would be provided on an annual basis in future, and to request that officers circulate a copy of the next report to Members when available;

(v)      to note the summary of key collaborative actions progressed between April 2024 and March 2025; and

(vi)      to endorse the content of the Appendix A – Net Zero Aberdeen & Aberdeen Adapts: Progress Summary 2024/25.

The Committee had before it a report by the Executive Director City Regeneration and Environment which provided the 2024/25 annual update on progress of collaborative place-based climate change work for Aberdeen, in line with the objectives of the Net Zero Aberdeen Routemap and Aberdeen Adapts: Climate Adaptation Framework.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee –

(a)      note the summary of key collaborative actions progressed between April 2024 and March 2025; and

(b)      endorse the content of the Appendix A – Net Zero Aberdeen & Aberdeen

Adapts: Progress Summary 2024/25.

The Convener, seconded by Councillor van Sweeden, moved the recommendations as set out in the report.

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

That the Committee –

(a)      note the summary of key collaborative actions progressed between April 2024 and March 2025;

(b)      note the content of the Appendix A – Net Zero Aberdeen & Aberdeen Adapts: Progress Summary 2024/25;

(c)      agree the Aberdeen Net Zero and Adaptation Board does not reflect the needs and aspirations of Aberdeen as the Energy Capital of Europe, agrees that the board should include a representative from OEUK or similar organisation in order to fully represent the city’s aspirations on NET Zero targets;

(d)      agree the SNP Administration has lost sight of hydrogen with the fact remaining that the Hydrogen sites are still not working and the Hydrogen buses remain unused locked in a garage; and

(e)      agree the proposed Aberdeen Rapid Transport will not be delivered unless the SNP Scottish Government unlocks the financial purse following the mammoth £50billion settlement from the UK Labour Government.

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

The Committee resolved:-

(i)       to note that the Chief Officer – Strategic Place Planning would liaise with the Chief Officer – Commercial and Procurement Services to circulate information to Members outwith the meeting on how long the hydrogen buses had been off the road, the financial implications of this and who was responsible for any cost, and confirmation of when the two hydrogen plants would be up and running;

(ii)       in relation to page 48 (bike storage) and whether users could be surveyed, to note that this could be considered for future iterations of the scheme;

(iii)      in relation to page 56 (refurbished bike scheme), to request that officers circulate any information available in relation to the numbers involved to Members outwith the meeting;

(iv)      in relation to page 59 (GP practices in Aberdeen training with RSPB Scotland), to note that officers would provide information on this initiative to Members outwith the meeting;

(v)      to note that the SCIS Annual Emissions Inventory Report for Aberdeen City would be provided on an annual basis in future, and to request that officers circulate a copy of the next report to Members when available; and

(vi)      to adopt the motion.