Issue - meetings

(i)           to approve the expenditure by Aberdeen City Council of up to £850,000 per year (for 3 years) to secure the WRC event subject to the benefit to each constituent authority to increase visibility, visitor footfall and global profiling; and

(ii)          to agree that the outcome of the bid be reported to the Finance and Resources Committee as soon as it was known.

With reference to Article 5 of the minute of meeting of the Finance and Resources Committee of 6 November 2025, the Committee had before it a report by the Chief Officer - City Development and Regeneration which provided an update on funding and sought a decision on whether the Council should underwrite the funding required to help secure the WRC event, with increased benefits and visibility for Aberdeen.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee -

(a)           note Appendix 1, and the anticipated increased benefits to the city, including increased event visibility, visitor footfall, and global profiling opportunities;

(b)           approve the expenditure by Aberdeen City Council of up to £850,000 per year (for 3 years) to secure the WRC event, with Aberdeen City to benefit from additional event elements; and

(c)           agree any expenditure approved under recommendation (b) above may be recovered against the Aberdeen Visitor Levy once the scheme was in place and operational.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)             to note with disappointment the update with regard to funding contained within paragraph 3.5 of the report;

(ii)           to approve the recommendations contained within the report; and

(iii)          to agree that the outcome of the bid be reported to the Finance and Resources Committee as soon as it was known.

The Committee resolved:-

to approve the recommendations as contained within the exempt report.

With reference to the minute of its meeting of 19 September 2025, the Committee had before it a report by the Chief Officer - Commercial and Procurement which sought urgent approval of various matters relating to a contract and for the terms of a variation to an Inter Authority Agreement, as appended to the report.

Officers provided an overview of the latest position and responded to questions from Members.

The Vice Convener moved, seconded by Councillor Greig:-

That the Committee approve the recommendations contained within the exempt report.

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

          That the Committee -

(1)       note the report;

(2)       agree it is becoming the norm for the SNP to delegate more and more authority to officers, as they struggle to control their brief;

(3)       agree the draft variation to the Inter Authority Agreement, on the proviso that the other local authorities agree to the substance contained within the draft variation or to any amendment to the variation; and

(4)       agree under no circumstances to delegate powers to officers to further vary the Inter Authority Agreement, and to instruct the Chief Officer - Operations to seek Council approval on all matters relating to any future  variation of the Agreement.

On a division, there voted:-   for the motion  (4)  - Convener; Vice Convener; and Councillors Greig and Radley;  for the amendment  (3)  -  Councillors Blake, Brooks and Malik.

The Committee resolved:-

to adopt the motion.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)           to approve the recommendations contained within the report; and

(ii)          to agree that there be a verbal update to Council meetings as and when required on the subject.

The Council had before it a report by the Chief Officer - Commercial and Procurement which provided an update with regard to a contract and sought approval for the recommended next steps.

Officers provided an overview of the situation and responded to various questions from Members.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)           to approve the recommendations contained within the exempt report; and

(ii)          to agree that there be a verbal update to Council meetings as and when required on the subject.