Issue - meetings

to approve the Fees and Charges proposals for 2026/27 within Appendix A to the report subject to:-

1)    freezing off street parking charges at 2025/26 rates;

2)    limiting the increase in on street parking charges to 5%, rounded to the nearest 5 pence;

3)    limiting the increase in fixed and flexible residents parking permit charges to 5%, rounded to the nearest pound;

4)    making no increase in school meal charges;

5)    maintaining free access to the Winter Gardens at Duthie Park;

6)    confirming that there will continue to be no charge for the collection of each household’s first garden / food waste bin; and

7)    agreeing to include the net increase in income of £0.349m in the final 2026/27 General Fund budget model to be presented to the Council in March 2026.

The Council had before it a report by the Chief Officer - Finance which sought approval of a list of General Fund Fees and Charges for 2026/27.

The report recommended:-

that the Council approve the Fees and Charges proposals for 2026/27 within Appendix A to the report.

Councillor Yuill moved, seconded by Councillor Henrickson:-

That the Council approve the Fees and Charges proposals for 2026/27 within Appendix A to the report subject to:

(1)      freezing off street parking charges at 2025/26 rates;

(2)      limiting the increase in on street parking charges to 5%, rounded to the nearest 5 pence;

(3)      limiting the increase in fixed and flexible residents parking permit charges to 5%, rounded to the nearest pound;

(4)      making no increase in school meal charges;

(5)      maintaining free access to the Winter Gardens at Duthie Park;

(6)      confirming that there will continue to be no charge for the collection of each household’s first garden / food waste bin; and

(7)      agreeing to include the net increase in income of £0.349m in the final 2026/27 General Fund budget model to be presented to the Council in March 2026.

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

            That the Council

(1)      approve the recommendation subject to the following:-

(a)   reduce car park off street parking by 25%

(b)   reduce on street car park charges by 25%

(c)   no increase in Business Exemption Permits

(d)   reduce fixed parking and flexible parking permits by 25%

(e)   no increase in monthly parking permits

(f)     School meals no increase

(g)   Child care services and IJB all no increase

(2)      increase by 10% the charges on all fees and charges within Public Infrastructure and Environment road and street work categories;

(3)      note the effect of these decisions will require consideration in the 2026/27 General Fund and Aberdeen City IJB budgets, to be presented to the Council and Aberdeen City IJB in March 2026; and

(4)      agree that there is no charge for entering the award-winning Union Terrace Gardens and notes the petty nature of the SNP who refused to hold an opening ceremony for this much loved park saved by the previous Administration from the brutal cement mixer. 

During the course of summing up, Councillor Yuill advised that he had a connection in relation to the item as the Council’s appointed member of the Board of NHS Grampian, however having applied the objective test he did not consider that he had an interest and would not be withdrawing from the meeting.

On a division, there voted:-

For the motion   (23)  -  Lord Provost; Depute Provost; and Councillors Al-Samarai, Allard, Alphonse, Buchanan, Hazel Cameron, Clark, Cooke, Copland, Cormie, Davidson, Fairfull, Greig, Henrickson, Hutchison, MacGregor, McLellan, McRae, Mennie, Radley, van Sweeden and Yuill.

For the amendment   (19)  -  Councillors Ali, Blake, Bonsell, Brooks, Crockett, Cross, Farquhar, Grant, Houghton, Kusznir, Lawrence, Macdonald, McLeod, Malik, Massey, Nicoll, Thomson, Tissera and Watson.

Declined to vote  (1)  -  Councillor Boulton.

Absent from the division  (1)  -  Councillor Graham.

The Council  ...  view the full minutes text for item 14