Issue - meetings

(i)       to note the findings of the 2025 Air Quality Progress Report (APR) for Aberdeen City Council; and

(ii)      to agree that subsequent Air Quality Annual Progress Reports revert to being provided to Members through Service Updates.

The Committee had before it a report by the Executive Director – Corporate Services which provided an update on the annual air quality monitoring results for 2024.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee -

(a)      note the findings of the 2025 Air Quality Progress Report (APR) for Aberdeen City Council; and

(b)      agree that subsequent Air Quality Annual Progress Reports revert to being provided to Members through Service Updates.

The Convener, seconded by the Vice Convener, moved the recommendations contained in the report.

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

that the Committee:-

(a)      notes the findings of the 2025 Air Quality Progress Report (APR) for Aberdeen City Council; and

(b)      instructs the Chief Officer – Strategic Place Planning following consultation  with the Chief Officer – Governance to provide a quantitative and qualitative report into the findings of the 2025 (APR) for Aberdeen City Council to compare and contrast if the LEZ is making a difference to Air Quality within its impacted areas, and to report the outcomes of this quantitative and qualitative report back to this Committee by Summer 2026, with this work to be funded by General Fund contingency budget.

Councillor Brooks, seconded by Councillor Nicoll, moved as a further amendment:-

that Committee:-

(a)      note the findings of the 2025 Air Quality Progress Report (APR) for Aberdeen City Council;

(b)      agree that this report is not degraded to a Service Update because the APR provides important information to the Committee; and

(c)      therefore instructs the Chief Officer – Governance to continue reporting the findings of the Air Quality Progress Report to this Committee on an annual basis. 

There being a motion and two amendments, the Committee first divided between the two amendments.

On a division, there voted:- for the amendment by Councillor Tissera (2) – Councillors Ali and Tissera; for the amendment by Councillor Brooks (2) – Councillors Brook and Nicoll; declined to vote (5) – the Convener; the Vice Convener and Councillors Henrickson, Hutchison and van Sweeden.

As there was a tied vote, in terms of Standing Order 32.7, the Convener had the casting vote, however in terms of Standing Order 32.7.1, the Convener chose not to exercise his casting vote, therefore the Clerk advised that a lot would be drawn to decide the outcome of the tied vote. Following which, the amendment by Councillor Tissera was successful and would be put to the vote against the motion.

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

The Committee resolved:-

to adopt the motion.