Agenda and minutes

The agenda and reports associated with this minute can be found at:-

http://committees.aberdeencity.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=122&MId=1972&Ver=4

The persons undermentioned were admitted into the presence of the Council and passed as Burgesses of Guild in respect of their respective Acts of Admission in the Guild Burgess Book:-

Alistair C Blues, Financial Manager, Aberdeen

Professor Christopher Gane, Vice Principal and Head of College, Aberdeen

Duncan Hendry, Chief Executive, Aberdeen

Susan L Muncer, Head Teacher, Aberdeen

John Derek Sanderson, Musician/Musical Director, Aberdeen.

The Lord Provost advised that the Business Improvement District (BID) ballot process had recently concluded, with 291 votes cast - 182 voting yes and 109 voting no, which represented a 62.54% yes vote. The Economic and Business Development Programme Director emphasised that the vote represented a solid recommendation for the future of the city. Councillor Kevin Stewart MSP expressed his gratitude to John Michie who had chaired the BID Board.

The Council resolved:-

to thank all officers who had been involved in the process and John Michie for his work as Chairperson.

The Council was requested to determine that the following items of business, which contained exempt information as described in Schedule 7(A) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, be taken in private:-

10(a)   City Events - Report by Director of Enterprise, Planning and Infrastructure

10(b)   Electronic Monitoring System for Care at Home Services - Report by Director of Social Care and Wellbeing

Councillor Young moved as a procedural motion, seconded by Councillor Cooney:-

            That the Council consider item 10(a) in public.

The following vote was taken by roll call after it became apparent that there were idiosyncrasies with the electronic voting system, and therefore the vote required to be retaken.

On a division, there voted:-

For the procedural motion  (11)  -  Councillors Adam, Allan, Collie, Cooney, Crockett, Donnelly, Graham, Hunter, Ironside, Laing and Young.

Against the procedural motion  (29)  -  Lord Provost Peter Stephen; Depute Provost Cormie; and Councillors Corall, Cormack, Dean, Dunbar, Fletcher, Greig, Jaffrey, Kiddie, Leslie, MacGregor, McCaig, McDonald MSP, Malone, May, Milne, Noble, Penny, Reynolds, Robertson, Jennifer Stewart, John Stewart, Kevin Stewart MSP, Wendy Stuart, Townson, John West, Kirsty West and Yuill.

Declined to vote  (3)  -  Councillors Boulton, Farquharson and Wisely.

The Council resolved:-

(i)                 to reject the procedural motion; and

(ii)               in terms of Section 50(A)(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, to exclude the press and public from the meeting during consideration of the aforementioned item of business (Article 17 of this minute refers) so as to avoid disclosure of exempt information of the class described in paragraph 6 of Schedule 7(A) of the Act.

The Council further resolved:-

in terms of Section 50(A)(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, to exclude the press and public from the meeting during consideration of item 10(b) (Article 18 of this minute refers) so as to avoid disclosure of exempt information of the classes described in paragraphs 6 and 8 of Schedule 7(A) of the Act.

The Council had before it the minute of meeting of Aberdeen City Council of 29^th June 2011.

Councillor Young moved as a procedural motion, seconded by Councillor Graham:-

That the words “and also possible Council representation on the City Gardens Trust” be removed from the first resolution within Article 9 pertaining to the City Garden Project within the Council Business Statement.

The following vote was taken by roll call after it became apparent that there were idiosyncrasies with the electronic voting system, and therefore the vote required to be retaken.

On a division, there voted:-

For the procedural motion  (10)  -  Councillors Adam, Allan, Collie, Cooney, Crockett, Graham, Hunter, Ironside, Laing and Young.

Against the procedural motion  (27)  -  Lord Provost Peter Stephen; Depute Provost Cormie; and Councillors Cormack, Dean, Donnelly, Dunbar, Fletcher, Greig, Jaffrey, Kiddie, Leslie, MacGregor, McCaig, Malone, May, Noble, Penny, Reynolds, Robertson, Jennifer Stewart, John Stewart, Kevin Stewart MSP, Wendy Stuart, Townson, John West, Kirsty West and Yuill.

Declined to vote  (6)  -  Councillors Boulton, Corall, Farquharson, McDonald MSP, Milne and Wisely.

The Council resolved:-

(i)                 to reject the procedural motion, and thereby approve the minute; and

(ii)               to request that the Council Business Statement be updated for the next meeting in relation to the 50m Pool regarding clarification from Aberdeenshire Council that their revenue funding contribution remained intact.

The Council had before it the minute of meeting of the Urgent Business Committee of 19^th July 2011.

The Council resolved:-

to approve the minute.

The Council had before it a pamphlet of standing committee minutes from 24^th May to 7^th July 2011.

The Council resolved:-

to note the minutes.

With reference to Article 15 of the minute of its meeting of 29^th June 2011, the Council had before it a report by the Chief Executive which sought approval of the Aberdeen City Council Business Plan 2011/12 - 2015/16.

The report recommended:-

that the Council -

(a)              approve the business plan for 2011/12 - 2015/16; and

(b)              instruct the Director of Corporate Governance, in conjunction with the Corporate Management Team, to report to the Corporate Policy and Performance Committee on a six-monthly basis on progress with the delivery of the business plan.

Councillor McCaig moved, seconded by Councillor Malone:-

That the Council approve the recommendations contained within the report, and agree to call a meeting of the Local Government Employees Joint Consultative Committee to discuss the implementation of the business plan following a review of the Joint Consultative Committee procedures by the next meeting of the Corporate Policy and Performance Committee.

Councillor Crockett moved as an amendment, seconded by Councillor Graham:-

            That the Council -

(i)                 defer consideration of the Business Plan 2011/12 - 2015/16 to the next Council meeting;

(ii)               arrange for the Local Government Employees Joint Consultative Committee to meet within the next four weeks to discuss the business plan and how it is to be implemented; and

(iii)             instruct the Chief Executive to report the comments from the above said meeting to the next Council meeting in order for the Council to consider any recommendations that come from the said meeting.

During the course of debate, Councillor John West questioned whether the Labour Group actually had an opinion on the matter and speculated that they were asking the trade unions for their opinion so that they could be told what to think. Councillor Crockett requested that Councillor John West’s comments be recorded in the minute and this was agreed.

The following vote was taken by roll call as the electronic voting system was still not operational.

On a division, there voted:-

For the motion  (33)  -  Lord Provost Peter Stephen; Depute Provost Cormie; and Councillors Boulton, Corall, Cormack, Dean, Donnelly, Dunbar, Farquharson, Fletcher, Greig, Jaffrey, Kiddie, Leslie, MacGregor, McCaig, McDonald MSP, Malone, May, Milne, Noble, Penny, Reynolds, Robertson, Jennifer Stewart, John Stewart, Kevin Stewart MSP, Wendy Stuart, Townson, John West, Kirsty West, Wisely and Yuill.

For the amendment  (10)  -  Councillors Adam, Allan, Collie, Cooney, Crockett, Graham, Hunter, Ironside, Laing and Young.

The Council resolved:-

to adopt the motion.

With reference to Article 4 of the minute of its meeting of 29^th June 2011, the Council had before it a report by the Director of Corporate Governance which asked the Council to (1) consider the composition of its committees following the by-election results, and the formation of the Independent Alliance Group within the Council; (2) take a number of decisions on outstanding issues relating to various positions; and (3) approve revised Orders of Reference for the Corporate Policy and Performance and Finance and Resources Committees.

The report recommended:-

that the Council -

(a)              agree the composition of the various committees, being guided by the indicative calculations as outlined in section 6.2 of the report;

(b)              appoint members to those committees;

(c)               appoint replacement members for the vacant positions as outlined in section 6.3 of the report; and

(d)              approve the revised Orders of Reference for the Corporate Policy and Performance and Finance and Resources Committees as appended to the report.

The Council resolved:-

(i)                 to agree the committee compositions as outlined below:-

(ii)               that Councillor McCaig replace Councillor Kevin Stewart MSP on NESTRANS;

(iii)             that Councillor John Stewart replace Councillor Kevin Stewart MSP on the COSLA Resources and Capacity Executive Group;

(iv)             that Councillor McCaig replace Councillor Kevin Stewart MSP on the COSLA Strategic Human Resource Management Executive Group;

(v)               that Councillor Robertson replace Councillor Leslie as a substitute member of the Northern Community Justice Authority, and as a member of the Community Health Partnership, the Alcohol and Drugs Partnership and the Disabled Persons Housing Service;

(vi)             that the vacancy on the Aberdeen Prison Visiting Committee remain vacant;

(vii)           that Councillor MacGregor replace former Councillor Clark on the Aberdeen Airport Consultative Committee;

(viii)         that all other vacancies pertaining to former Councillor Clark be left to the Administration to determine;

(ix)             that Councillor Townson replace former Councillor Cassie on the Board of Garthdee Alpine Sports;

(x)               that Councillor Kiddie replace Councillor McDonald MSP on the COSLA Community Wellbeing and Safety Executive Group, with Councillor Malone sharing the position;

(xi)             that Councillor MacGregor replace Councillor McDonald MSP on the Grampian Fire and Rescue Board;

(xii)           that the vacancies on the East Grampian Coastal Partnership Management Group and Scotland Excel, pertaining to Councillor McDonald MSP, be left to the Administration to determine;

(xiii)         that Councillor McCaig replace Councillor John Stewart on  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

The Council had before it a report by the Director of Corporate Governance which presented the proposed Council diary for the period January to June 2012.

The report recommended:-

that the Council -

(a)              agree that no paper diary inserts be produced for 2012, noting that paper diaries could be purchased in place of inserts if required by individual members; and

(b)              approve one option from the five diary proposals appended to the report, making any amendments as appropriate.

Councillor McCaig moved, seconded by Councillor John Stewart:-

That the Council approve option 5 as appended to the report, noting that the Social Care and Wellbeing Committee would be held on 26^th January 2012, and agreeing that an additional meeting of the Licensing Committee be held on 17^th April 2012, and an additional meeting of the Development Management Sub Committee be held on 19^th April 2012.

Councillor Hunter moved as an amendment, seconded by Councillor Allan:-

            That the Council approve option 1 as appended to the report.

On a division, there voted:-

For the motion  (30)  -  Lord Provost Peter Stephen; Depute Provost Cormie; and Councillors Corall, Cormack, Dean, Donnelly, Dunbar, Fletcher, Greig, Jaffrey, Kiddie, Leslie, MacGregor, McCaig, McDonald MSP, Malone, May, Noble, Penny, Reynolds, Robertson, Jennifer Stewart, John Stewart, Kevin Stewart MSP, Wendy Stuart, Townson, John West, Kirsty West, Wisely and Yuill.

For the amendment  (13)  -  Councillors Adam, Allan, Boulton, Collie, Cooney, Crockett, Farquharson, Graham, Hunter, Ironside, Laing, Milne and Young.

The Council resolved:-

(i)                 to adopt the motion; and

(ii)               to request that all committee appointments on the groupwise email system be sent to all members for information in view of the decision that no paper diary inserts be produced.

(Note that the Council requires to determine whether the Council meeting should be held on 28^th March 2012 or 4^th April 2012)

(1)               Due to the full time Youth Worker complement being reduced to four for the whole city, can I be advised of the programme for youth work in Torry?

The Council had before it the following questions, of which due notice had been given in terms of Standing Order 20(2), which had been placed on the agenda as the questioners had indicated they were unhappy with the responses.

Councillor Allan

QUESTION -

To ask the Chief Executive

“Due to the full time Youth Worker complement being reduced to four for the whole city, can I be advised of the programme for youth work in Torry?”

ANSWER (by the Chief Executive) -

The work to implement the decision to reduce the communities’ team budget by £1.4m in 2011/12 is underway. The staffing budget available for staff, including Community Learning and Development, Youth Workers, Community Training and Economic Development and Neighbourhood Community Planning staff has been reduced by approximately 67%.

A new management and operational structure is developed and the job matching process almost complete. The team has completed approximately 150 matching interviews during June 2011 for posts within the new structure.

Officers are working to manage the transformation of the service and to support the transition to leased community centres. Within the new structure, a member of staff has been appointed to the new post of Development Manager for Young People. This post holder will have a team of four youth development officers, a small team of community learning youth workers and a small budget for session staff. The team will support the delivery of youth work across the city, including providing support for leased centre committees who want to commission youth work in their areas.

The transition process is underway between those staff leaving and those staff taking up the new posts and reviewing how services will be delivered. A meeting is scheduled on 25^th August 2011 to finalise the plans for the delivery of youth work across the city, including in the Torry area. The available resources will be used to target priority areas which will include Torry.

The programme at Tullos has stopped as normal, over the summer break. It is likely that this will continue, but as part of the achievement programme with schools. The work of the Torry Youth project will operate with limited funds which will require to be targeted. The facilities at Torry Youth project will continue to be available for use.

Officers will work with community centre management to facilitate their support for the delivery of youth work in their area. The city wide plan for youth work is being finalised during August.

The Council resolved:-

to note the details.

Councillor Young

QUESTION -

To the Vice Convener of the Finance and Resources Committee

“To ask the former Vice Convener for Corporate Policy and Performance and now Vice Convener for Finance and Resources if he can provide an explanation as to why a decision taken under his convenership in March 2011 at the Corporate Policy and Performance and Committee regarding Aberdeen City Gardens Trust Limited Board Membership Invitation which stated “The membership invitation will be considered by Council on 29  ...  view the full minutes text for item 11.

"That, given the ongoing difficulties caused by HGVs using Broomhill Road as a through route, Council instructs officers to report to the appropriate committee on the introduction of an 'except for access' weight or width restriction on some or all of Broomhill Road between Holburn Street and South Anderson Drive."

Councillor Yuill, pursuant to notice, moved:-

“That given the ongoing difficulties caused by HGVs using Broomhill Road as a through route, Council instructs officers to report to the appropriate committee on the introduction of an ‘except for access’ weight or width restriction on some or all of Broomhill Road between Holburn Street and South Anderson Drive.”

The Council resolved:-

to refer the motion to the Enterprise, Planning and Infrastructure Committee.

"That this Council instructs officers to report to the appropriate committee on the extension westwards to a point west of Northcote Road of the 30mph speed limit on North Deeside Road, Mannofield."

Councillor Yuill, pursuant to notice, moved:-

“That this Council instructs officers to report to the appropriate committee on the extension westwards to a point west of Northcote Road of the 30mph speed limit on North Deeside Road, Mannofield.”

The Council resolved:-

to refer the motion to the Enterprise, Planning and Infrastructure Committee.

"That, given the ongoing difficulties caused by lorries using Morningside Road, Cranford Road and Duthie Terrace as through routes so as to avoid the junction of Great Western Road and South Anderson Drive, Council instructs officers to report to the appropriate committee on the introduction of an 'except for access' weight restriction on these roads plus that part of Hammerfield Avenue not already covered by such a restriction."

Councillor Yuill, pursuant to notice, moved:-

“That, given the ongoing difficulties caused by lorries using Morningside Road, Cranford Road and Duthie Terrace as through routes so as to avoid the junction of Great Western Road and South Anderson Drive, Council instructs officers to report to the appropriate committee on the introduction of an ‘except for access’ weight restriction on these roads plus that part of Hammerfield Avenue not already covered by such a restriction.”

The Council resolved:-

to refer the motion to the Enterprise, Planning and Infrastructure Committee.

"That, given the significant inconvenience and difficulties caused to householders and others by bollards opposite the entrance from Deeside Drive to the rear lane lying between the rear of properties on Deeside Drive and Deeside Crescent, Council instructs officers to report to the appropriate committee on the removal of these bollards."

Councillor Yuill, pursuant to notice, moved:-

“That, given the significant inconvenience and difficulties caused to householders and others by bollards opposite the entrance from Deeside Drive to the rear lane lying between the rear of properties on Deeside Drive and Deeside Crescent, Council instructs officers to report to the appropriate committee on the removal of these bollards.”

The Council resolved:-

to refer the motion to the Enterprise, Planning and Infrastructure Committee.

"Council agrees that in order to provide proper scrutiny over an area of land currently under the City Council's direct control, and to ensure that no citizen or citizens of Aberdeen can accuse the Council of "losing control" over the City Garden Project, as well as to ensure beyond reasonable doubt that there will be a local democratic audit of plans for an area of the city centre that many Aberdonians care passionately about, Council undertakes without delay to determine a design brief to be provided to architects which meets the requirements of the citizens of Aberdeen as approved by elected members, the democratically elected guardians of this fine city."

Councillor Young, pursuant to notice, moved:-

“Council agrees that in order to provide proper scrutiny over an area of land currently under the City Council’s control, and to ensure that no citizen or citizens of Aberdeen can accuse the Council of “losing control” over the City Gardens Project, as well as to ensure beyond reasonable doubt that there will be a local democratic audit of plans for an area of the city centre that many Aberdonians care passionately about, Council undertakes without delay to determine a design brief to be provided to architects which meets the requirements of the citizens of Aberdeen as approved by elected members, the democratically elected guardians of this fine city.”

The Council resolved:-

to refer the motion to the Enterprise, Planning and Infrastructure Committee.

In accordance with the decision recorded under Article 3 of this minute, the following items of business were considered with the press and public excluded.

The Council had before it a report by the Director of Enterprise, Planning and Infrastructure which sought approval to reinstate the City of Aberdeen Hogmanay fireworks celebration and to support a homecoming parade for the 4^th Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland (Highlanders).

The report recommended:-

that the Council -

(a)              support the reinstatement of the City of Aberdeen Hogmanay fireworks celebration;

(b)              agree the sponsorship proposal by Rainbow City Taxis and Central Coaches of £30,000 per annum;

(c)               agree that a maximum of £15,000 for one year only be approved from the Common Good Fund to support the reinstatement of the City of Aberdeen Hogmanay fireworks celebration in December 2011;

(d)              agree to support a homecoming parade for the 4^th Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland (Highlanders) on 30^th November 2011; and

(e)              agree that a maximum of £3,500 be approved from the Common Good Fund to support the delivery of the aforementioned homecoming parade.

The Council resolved:-

(i)                 to approve the recommendations; and

(ii)               to request officers to take on board Councillor Hunter’s concerns regarding damage to vehicles in the area as a result of fireworks.

MATTER OF URGENCY

The Lord Provost intimated that he had directed in terms of Section 50(B)(4)(b) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, that the following item be considered as a matter of urgency as a delay in considering the report could result in an adverse affect in the delivery of savings.

The Council had before it a report by the Director of Social Care and Wellbeing which sought approval to purchase an Electronic Monitoring System (EMS) for care at home services together with the relevant estimated expenditure.

The report recommended:-

that the Council -

(a)              approve the purchase of an EMS for care at home services by extension of an existing contract as detailed in the report;

(b)              invoke Standing Order 1(6)(A) relating to contracts and procurement, thereby exempting the contract from the requirements of those Standing Orders which require a competitive procurement to be undertaken, as applicable, on the grounds that the exemption is justified by special circumstances;

(c)               agree that the special circumstances referred to above are -

(i)                  that the service requires to replace the CareTime module of CareFirst, the service’s electronic case management system;

(ii)                that the service requires to purchase the provider’s enhanced replacement product for CareTime, an EMS, in order to retain the full benefits of the integrated CareFirst product suite; and

(iii)              that there is a degree of urgency to the implementation of the CareTime replacement with the new EMS product, to ensure that PBB savings can be achieved; and

(d)              approve the estimated expenditure of £700,000 over five years for this purpose.

The Council resolved:-

to refer the report to the next meeting of the Social Care and Wellbeing Committee, delegating authority to enable the committee to make the necessary decisions.

- PETER STEPHEN, Lord Provost.