Agenda, decisions and minutes

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

https://committees.aberdeencity.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=122&MId=7372&Ver=4

Please note that if any changes are made to this minute at the point of approval, these will be outlined in the subsequent minute and this document will not be retrospectively altered.

(A)         The Lord Provost advised that he had received a number of letters, from Group Leaders, amongst others, regarding invitations to civic events. The Lord Provost had reviewed the methods for such invitations, and therefore would be widening civic participation involving more burgesses and other civic organisations and invitations to Elected Members would now be issued through Group Leaders. The Lord Provost also advised that Councillor Donnelly would not be attending any civic events during time any procedures were ongoing either legally or through the Standards Commission.

(B)         The Lord Provost congratulated Councillor Flynn on being elected as the the MP for Aberdeen South in December’s General Election.

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:-

Professor George Boyne, University Principal & Vice Chancellor, Aberdeen

Rona Grimmer, Disaster Management Consultant, Aberdeen

Susan Renee, Photographer, Aberdeen

Adrian Thomson, Business Owner (Retired), Aberdeen

Linda Anne Thomson, Personal Assistant (Retired), Aberdeen

Audrey Wood, Senior Practice Nurse, Aberdeen.

The following declarations of interest were intimated at this stage:

·         Councillor Mason MSP declared a general interest by virtue of his position as a Member of the Scottish Parliament for North East Scotland.

·         Councillor Yuill declared an interest in item 9.3 (Proposed Aberdeen Local Development Plan) by virtue of him being a Council appointed member of Robert Gordon’s College Board of Governors but did not consider the nature of his interest required him to leave the meeting and therefore chose to remain in the meeting for consideration of the item; and

·         Councillor Jackie Dunbar declared an interest in item 10.1 (Joint Notice of Motion by Councillor Copland and Councillor Lesley Dunbar) by virtue of a family connection to Dennis Law but did not consider that the nature of her interest required her to leave the meeting and therefore chose to remain in the meeting for consideration of the item.

The Council had before it the minute of meeting of Aberdeen City Council of 9 December 2019.

The Council resolved:-

to approve the minute as a correct record.

The Council had before it the minute of meeting of the Urgent Business Committee of 19 December 2019.

The Council resolved:-

(i)               to approve the minute as a correct record; and

(ii)             to instruct the Chief Officer – Governance to provide members, by way of email, with an update on the status of the actions agreed by the urgent Business Committee on 19 December 2019.

The Council had before it the business planner as prepared by the Chief Officer - Governance.

The Council resolved:-

(i)               to agree to remove item 15 (Policy that Specifies the Existing Granite Sett and Lock Block Streets – NOM Former Councillor Corall) on the basis that there was to be a service standard relating to setts, rather than a Policy and the proposed service standard was to be considered at item 5.2 of the Council Budget meeting on 3 March 2020; and 

(ii)             to otherwise note the business planner.

The Council had before it a report by the Director of Resources which outlined the Treasury Management Policy and Strategy for 2020/21 to 2022/23, for approval.

The report recommended:-

that the Council -

(a)             approve the Council’s Treasury Management Policy Statement for 2020/21 to 2022/23 as detailed at Appendix 1;

(b)             approve the Council’s Borrowing Strategy for 2020/21 to 2022/23 as detailed at Appendix 2;

(c)             approve the Council’s Investment Strategy for 2020/21 to 2022/23 as detailed at Appendix 3; and

(d)             approve the Council’s Counterparty list as detailed at Appendix 4.

The Council resolved:-

to approve the recommendations as contained in the report.

The Council had before it a report by the Director of Resources which advised of an approach by Greyhope Bay Ltd to lease ground within and adjacent to the Torry Battery.

The report recommended:-

that the Council acting in their capacity as trustee of the Lands of Torry (charity number SC021299) to:

1.            approve the recommendation to grant a 5 year lease of ground in and adjacent to the Torry Battery to Greyhope Bay Ltd at a proposed peppercorn rent of £1.00 per annum; and

2.            instruct the Chief Officer – Governance to conclude the appropriate legal agreements incorporating various qualifications as necessary to protect the Council’s and Trust’s interests.

The Council resolved:-

(i)            to approve the recommendation as contained in the report; and

(ii)          to instruct the Chief Officer – Corporate Landlord to advise members, by way of email, of the discussions held in respect of the proposal with the University of Aberdeen.

Please note that Appendices 2 to 12 associated with this item can be viewed here.

The Council had before it a report by the Chief Officer – Strategic Place Planning which presented the Proposed Aberdeen Local Development Plan (the Proposed Plan) and Delivery Programme for approval.

The report recommended:-

that the Council –

(a)          approve the Aberdeen Local Development Plan – Proposed Plan and Delivery Programme;

(b)          instruct the Chief Officer of Strategic Place Planning to publish the Proposed Plan for a 12 week period for representations;

(c)          instruct the Chief Officer of Strategic Place Planning to publish the Delivery Programme, and other technical documents which support the Proposed Plan;

(d)          instruct the Chief Officer of Strategic Place Planning to complete the Environmental Report including Habitats Regulations Appraisal and Strategic Environmental Assessment in consultation with Scottish Natural Heritage, and publish and consult on both of them alongside the Proposed Plan;

(e)          instruct the Chief Officer Strategic Place Planning to work with NHS Grampian public health to ensure that the Health in All policy approach was implemented in Aberdeen Planning Guidance and delivered through the development management process;

(f)           instruct the Chief Officer Strategic Place Planning to work with relevant stakeholders to prepare a Child Friendly version of the Plan when adopted; and

(g)          instruct the Chief Officer Strategic Place Planning to correct any drafting errors as might be necessary.

Councillor Boulton moved, seconded by Councillor Jennifer Stewart, the Depute Provost:-

            That the Council –

(i)               approves the Aberdeen Local Development Plan and Delivery Programme subject to the following changes as per the appended maps which can be viewed here:

a)  Remove Berryhill from OP2 Cloverhill and Berryhill and reduce the allocation to 550 houses;

b)  Rezone Berryhill from Residential to Business and Industry and identify as OP45 Berryhill (for Business and Industrial uses);

c)  Remove OP114 Milltimber South (60 houses) and re-zone from Mixed Use to Green Belt and Green Space Network;

d)  Identify B09/16 Craigton as opportunity site OP54 for 10 houses and rezone from Green Belt and Green Space Network to Residential;

e)  Identify B13/08 Royal Devenick Park as opportunity site OP46 for 150 houses and rezone from Green Belt and Green Space Network to Residential;

f)   Identify B09/48 Tillyoch as opportunity site OP53 for 250 houses and rezone from Green Belt and Green Space Network to Residential, but retain Green Space Network on the woodland in the south east of the site and rezone a remaining area of Green Belt to the south of the site to Residential; and

g)  Amend the HMO overprovision policy from a 15% to 12% threshold;

(ii)             instructs the Chief Officer – Strategic Place Planning to make any further consequential changes to the Proposed Plan, Action Programme and other supporting documents as necessary to reflect the above;

(iii)            notes that urgent action, supported by large scale investment such as an Energy Transition Zone, was required if Aberdeen was to meet UK and Scottish government net zero targets by 2045;

(iv)            agrees the proposed Energy Transition Zone was developed as Scotland’s Energy Transition Zone and that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

DECLARATION OF INTEREST

Further to a question from Councillor Allard during the course of discussion of the following item, Councillor Reynolds declared an interest by virtue of his position as a Council appointed member on the North Sea Commission and Vice Chair of that body. Councillor Reynolds did not consider that the nature of his interest required him to leave the meeting.

Due to a technical error, some of the tracked changes in the appendices did not display correctly in the original agenda circulation therefore for completeness and ease of reference, we have reissued all of item 9.4.

The Council had before it a report by the Chief Officer – Strategic Place Planning which presented the Proposed Aberdeen Local Development Plan (the Proposed Plan) and Delivery Programme for approval.

The report recommended:-

that the Council –

(a)          approves Appendix A, the introduction to the Scheme of Governance, with effect from 1 April 2020;

(b)          approves Appendix B, the revised Committee Terms of Reference, with effect from 1 April 2020;

(c)          approves Appendix C, Powers Delegated to Officers, with effect from 1 April 2020, subject to recommendation (d) below;

(d)          instructs the Chief Officer - Strategic Place Planning to seek approval from the Scottish Ministers to amend the Planning Scheme of Delegation under Section 43A of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 (as amended) - which relates to “Local Developments”;

(e)          approves Appendix D, the revised Standing Orders for Council, Committee and Sub Committee Meetings, with effect from 1 April 2020;

(f)           approves Appendix E, the revised Financial Regulations, with effect from 1 April 2020;

(g)          approves Appendix F, the revised Procurement Regulations, with effect from 1 April 2020;

(h)          approves Appendix G, the revised Member Officer Relations Protocol, with effect from 1 April 2020;

(i)           authorises the Chief Officer - Governance, following consultation with the Business Manager, to amend the Scheme of Governance as necessary to take account of the decisions at the Council Budget meeting on 3 March 2020;

(j)           approves the membership number for each committee as proposed at paragraph 5.2; and sets a composition for each committee and appoints members on the basis that names of members shall be provided to the Chief Officer - Governance after this meeting and that the Chief Officer - Governance be authorised to finalise membership of committees where required;

(k)          appoints a Convener and Vice Convener to the committees listed in paragraph 5.2, as appropriate;

(l)            makes appointments to the following positions:-

                              i.                Lord Provost;

                            ii.                Depute Provost;

                           iii.                Leader or Co-Leaders of the Council;

                           iv.                Depute Leader of Council (if applicable);

                            v.                Business Manager; and

                           vi.                Depute Business Manager;

(m)        approves the remuneration of the Lord Provost and one post of Council Leader and the allocation, and amount in each case, of senior councillor allowances, on the basis of the guidance contained in paragraphs 7.2 to 7.3 of the report;

(n)          notes that the membership number and composition of the sub committees detailed in Appendix H would be determined by the respective committees;

(o)          approves the membership number for each working group as detailed in Appendix I; sets a composition for each and appoints members on the basis that names can be provided to the Chief Officer - Governance after the meeting and that he be authorised to finalise membership where required;

(p)          agrees to disband the working groups contained at Appendix J;

(q)          appoints 9 members to the Appointment Panel and agrees the composition of the Panel and appoints members on the basis that names can be provided to the Chief Officer -  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.

That Council -

1. notes that Denis Law was born in Aberdeen on 24th February 1940 and was awarded the Freedom of the City of Aberdeen in 2017;

2. notes that Denis Law is the only Scottish Footballer to have won the prestigious FIFA Ballon d’Or award;

3. recognises the outstanding contribution made by the Denis Law Legacy Trust supporting and empowering young people to be confident, capable independent and responsible citizens within their own communities through sport the arts and culture and also recognises the work done by the Trust and thanks to Denis Law himself in being able to attract the Johan Cruyff Foundation to work collaboratively with the council in providing Cruyff Courts in the city - further proof of the standing Denis Law is held in throughout the world;

4. notes that the Denis Law legacy Trust have outlined a Printfield 10 Project (A copy of proposed Printfield 10 Project is attached) which if implemented would celebrate, and recognise, Mr Law’s roots and contribution to the city for years to come; and

5. welcomes the Printfield Community Forum working in partnership with the Denis Law Legacy Trust to promote Denis Law’s childhood roots at Printfield and instructs the Chief Officer – City Growth to discuss with the Denis Law Legacy Trust the proposed Printfield 10 Project to include public art work and report back, if applicable to the City Growth and Resources Committee for its consideration.

The Council had before it the following notice of motion by Councillors Copland and Lesley Dunbar:-

That Council -

1.    notes that Denis Law was born in Aberdeen on 24th February 1940 and was awarded the Freedom of the City of Aberdeen in 2017;

2.    notes that Denis Law was the only Scottish Footballer to have won the prestigious FIFA Ballon d’Or award;

3.    recognises the outstanding contribution made by the Denis Law Legacy Trust supporting and empowering young people to be confident, capable independent and responsible citizens within their own communities through sport the arts and culture and also recognises the work done by the Trust and thanks to Denis Law himself in being able to attract the Johan Cruyff Foundation to work collaboratively with the council in providing Cruyff Courts in the city - further proof of the standing Denis Law is held in throughout the world;

4.    notes that the Denis Law legacy Trust have outlined a Printfield 10 Project (A copy of proposed Printfield 10 Project is attached) which if implemented would celebrate, and recognise, Mr Law’s roots and contribution to the city for years to come; and

5.    welcomes the Printfield Community Forum working in partnership with the Denis Law Legacy Trust to promote Denis Law’s childhood roots at Printfield and instructs the Chief Officer – City Growth to discuss with the Denis Law Legacy Trust the proposed Printfield 10 Project to include public art work and report back, if applicable to the City Growth and Resources Committee for its consideration.

The Council resolved:-

to approve the notice of motion.

That Council

1.         believes everyone should have a safe, secure and affordable home;

2.         supports the aims of the Shelter Scotland Charter for Change housing rights campaign “Are you with us?” to demonstrate our support for laws to be strengthened to ensure there is a right to safe, secure and affordable homes for all;

3.         instructs the Chief Executive to write to Shelter Scotland expressing the Council’s support for the campaign’s aims; and

4.         instructs the Chief Executive to write to the Scottish Government expressing the Council’s support for the campaign’s aims and seeking the Scottish Government’s support in delivering them by providing sufficient resources to meet current and new legislation.

The Council had before it the following notice of motion by Councillor Macdonald:-

That Council -

1.    believes everyone should have a safe, secure and affordable home;

2.    supports the aims of the Shelter Scotland Charter for Change housing rights campaign “Are you with us?” to demonstrate our support for laws to be strengthened to ensure there is a right to safe, secure and affordable homes for all;

3.    instructs the Chief Executive to write to Shelter Scotland expressing the Council’s support for the campaign’s aims; and

4.    instructs the Chief Executive to write to the Scottish Government expressing the Council’s support for the campaign’s aims and seeking the Scottish Government’s support in delivering them by providing sufficient resources to meet current and new legislation.

The Council resolved:-

to approve the notice of motion.

- BARNEY CROCKETT, Lord Provost.