Agenda, decisions and minutes

Councillor Houghton advised that he had a connection in relation to agenda item 10.3 (Notice of Motion by Councillors Cooke and Houghton) by virtue of being a veteran of the Royal Air Force (RAF), however having applied the objective test he did not consider that he had an interest and would not be withdrawing from the meeting.

Councillor Hutchison declared an interest in relation to agenda item 10.3 by reason of his position as an Army Reservist. Councillor Hutchison confirmed that he would be withdrawing from the meeting prior to the Council’s consideration of the item.

Councillor Nicoll advised that he had a connection in relation to agenda item 9.8 (Piper Alpha Memorial) having been involved in the Piper Alpha Inquiry and the recovery, identification and repatriation of the victims, however having applied the objective test he did not consider that he had an interest and would not be withdrawing from the meeting.

Councillor Nicoll further advised that he had a connection in relation to agenda item 10.3 by reason of having a close family member who served in the Armed Forces, however having applied the objective test he did not consider that he had an interest and would not be withdrawing from the meeting.

Councillor Grant declared an interest in relation to agenda items 11.1 and 11.2 (City Centre Masterplan Update - exempt appendix; and Beach Masterplan Update - exempt appendix) by reason of his employment by Aberdeen Inspired. Councillor Grant confirmed that he would be withdrawing from the meeting prior to the Council’s consideration of those items.

Councillor Henrickson advised that he had a connection in relation to agenda item 10.3 by virtue of being a veteran of the RAF, however having applied the objective test he did not consider that he had an interest and would not be withdrawing from the meeting.

Councillor Boulton advised that former Councillor Andy Finlayson had sadly passed away at the weekend after a short illness. She advised that Andy had been an independent Councillor from 2012 to 2017 for the Kincorth/Nigg/Cove ward and had been a Community Councillor for a very long time in the area as well. Councillor Boulton expressed her sadness at his passing and recorded her thanks for his friendship.

Councillors Yuill, Grant and Nicoll echoed Councillor Boulton’s comments on behalf of their respective groups.

The Council resolved:-

to concur with the remarks of Councillor Boulton, to thank Andy for his services to the Council and express condolences to his friends and family.

The Council had before it a report by the Chief Officer - Early Intervention and Community Empowerment which sought approval of a scheme to deliver the £1,000,000 Aberdeen Fuel Poverty Fund, setting out national and local context and proposing that the fund is used for wider anti-poverty measures in the city.

The report recommended:-

that the Council approve that the £1,000,000 Fuel Poverty Fund be considered in the wider Cost of Living Support report due to be heard at the Operational Delivery Committee on 31 August 2022.

Councillor Allard moved, seconded by Councillor Greig:-

That the Council approve the recommendation contained within the report.

Councillor Houghton moved as an amendment, seconded by Councillor Farquhar:-

          That the Council -

(1)       note that the previous Administration’s budget agreed by Council introduced a £1,000,000 Fuel Poverty Fund for the current financial year;

(2)       agree that residents of Aberdeen will suffer further with SNP/Green austerity measures imposed by the Scottish Government as intimated in the Scottish Government’s 2022 Resource Spending Review and oppose any reduction in our funding settlement from the Scottish Government;

(3)       agree with comments by Kate Forbes MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Economy, that now is not the time to be holding large reserves, therefore; and

(4)       instruct the Chief Officer - Early Intervention and Community Empowerment to report to Council in August 2022 with details of a scheme to allocate the Fund as part of the wider Cost of Living Support by the Council to help the most vulnerable in our community, setting out the financial implications and options available for different allocations up to the full amount of £3million.

Councillor Grant moved as a further amendment, seconded by Councillor Macdonald:-

          That the Council -

(1)       note the decision taken at the Council Budget meeting in March 2022 in relation to establishing a £1million Fuel Poverty Fund which was intended to support thousands of hard-pressed Aberdeen households;

(2)       note that the Chief Officers - Early Intervention and Community Empowerment and Customer Experience were instructed to prepare the details of a scheme in a report for approval by Full Council at its meeting in June 2022 on how those most vulnerable could be further supported with rising energy costs;

(3)       agree that rising energy costs present a significant and immediate challenge to thousands of hard-pressed families; and

(4)       reiterate Council’s commitment to the original instruction of the previous Aberdeen Labour-led administration and instruct the Chief Officers - Early Intervention and Community Empowerment and Customer Experience to progress, as soon as possible, options for the disbursement of the funds to households in receipt of means tested benefits.

At this juncture, Councillor Brooks advised that he had a connection as a Trustee of a Foodbank, following matters that had been raised in debate, however having applied the objective test he did not consider that he had an interest and did not require to withdraw from the meeting.

There being a motion and two amendments, the Council first divided between the amendment  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

The Council had before it a report by the Chief Officer - Early Intervention and Community Empowerment which set out work that had been undertaken jointly between Aberdeen City Council and the Department of Work and Pensions to develop a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at preventing homelessness and improving outcomes and sought approval of the MoU.

The report recommended:-

that the Council -

(a)           approve the MoU;

(b)           agree that a co-leader of the Council countersign the MoU on behalf of the Council; and

(c)           agree that update reports for the MoU be submitted on a six-monthly basis to the relevant committee.

The Council resolved:-

to approve the recommendations subject to both Co-Leaders countersigning the MoU on behalf of the Council.

The Council had before it a report by the Chief Officer - Operations and Protective Services which provided an update on the current situation regarding the Piper Alpha Memorial and the North Sea Memorial Rose Gardens at Hazlehead Park.

The report recommended:-

that the Council -

(a)           note the contents of the report; and

(b)           instruct the Chief Officer - Operations and Protective Services, to connect with, meet with, and agree next steps, with all relevant parties with the outcome of the meeting to be reported back to the Operational Delivery Committee in August 2022.

The Council resolved:-

(i)             to note the contents of the report;

(ii)           to instruct the Chief Officer - Operations and Protective Services to connect with, meet with, and agree next steps with, all relevant parties, including survivors of and families affected by the Piper Alpha disaster and trade unions, with the outcome of the meetings to be reported back to the Operational Delivery Committee in August 2022; and

(iii)          to instruct the Chief Officer - Operations and Protective Services to prepare a cost estimate for the planting of the rose beds as an interim measure and report to the Operational Delivery Committee in August 2022 including the options on how this could be funded.

The Council had before it a report by the Chief Officer - City Growth which sought approval for immediate overseas travel required to support relevant City Growth activities in 2022/23.

The report recommended:-

that the Council -

(a)           note the current Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) with international partner cities that are supported by the Council;

(b)           note the support provided to international trade activity led by Scottish Development International (SDI) and the Department for International Trade (DIT);

(c)           note the submission of the H2 Twin Cities application under the US Government Clean Energy Ministerial with the city of Kobe in May 2022;

(d)           approve international travel as detailed below and subject to the maximum expenditure as detailed in paragraph 4.2 of the report:

(1)       two officers to attend ONS event in Stavanger, Norway, between 29 August - 1 September 2022;

(2)       the Lord Provost and one officer to attend WECP Annual General Meeting in Esbjerg, Denmark, between 5 - 8 October 2022; and

(3)       up to two officers to attend CERA Week Conference in Houston, USA, between 6 - 10 March 2023;

(e)           delegate authority to the Chief Officer - City Growth to authorise necessary and appropriate travel documentation and associated expenditure for the travel noted in recommendation (d) above, provided the cost thereof does not exceed the budget referred to in section 4 of the report, and note that all international travel was in line with current Council travel policies and international travel and Covid-19 guidance;

(f)             agree that additional international travel would be discussed with the Council Co-Leaders and a report brought to the appropriate committee if a decision to travel was required; and

(g)           agree that an annual service update would be circulated to members reporting on the outcomes of all the overseas activity proposed in the report.

Councillor Radley moved, seconded by Councillor Bouse:-

That the Council approve the recommendations contained within the report.

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

That the Council approve the recommendations contained within the report subject to -

(1)       deleting recommendation (d)(1) and replacing with - the Lord Provost (whom failing a political representative nominated by the Lord Provost) and one officer to attend ONS event in Stavanger, Norway, between 29 August and 1 September 2022; and

(2)       deleting recommendation (d)(3) and replacing with - the Lord Provost and one officer to attend CERA Week Conference in Houston between 6 - 10 March 2023.

On a division, there voted:-

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

For the amendment  (16)  -  Councillors Ali, Bonsell, Boulton, Brooks, Crockett, Cross, Farquhar, Graham, Grant, Houghton, Macdonald, Malik, Massey, Thomson, Tissera and Watson.

Absent from the division  (1)  -  Councillor McRae.

The Council resolved:-

to adopt the motion.

That Council -

1.               Notes the B999/ Shielhill Road junction improvements project is to be part-funded by developer contributions, provided by the developers of the ongoing north Dubford housing development.

2.               Agree the B999/ Shielhill Road junction improvements project is a priority investment within the Council’s Capital Programme.

3.               Instruct the Chief Officer - Capital to review the project’s current planned timeline and identify options to accelerate its delivery.

4.               Instruct the Chief Officer - Capital to report these options to Council in August, identifying any impacts these may have on the wider Capital Programme. 

The Council had before it a notice of motion by Councillors Alphonse and Mennie in the following terms:-

          “That Council -

1.    notes the B999/Shielhill Road junction improvements project is to be part-funded by developer contributions, provided by the developers of the ongoing north Dubford housing development;

2.    agrees the B999/Shielhill Road junction improvements project is a priority investment within the Council’s Capital Programme;

3.    instructs the Chief Officer - Capital to review the project’s current planned timeline and identify options to accelerate its delivery; and

4.    instructs the Chief Officer - Capital to report these options to Council in August, identifying any impacts these may have on the wider Capital Programme.

The Council resolved:-

to approve the notice of motion.

That Council instructs the Chief Officer - Operations and Protective Services, to take the necessary steps to amend the current advisory 20mph speed limit on Angusfield Avenue, between its junctions with Queen’s Road and King’s Gate, to a mandatory 20mph speed limit.

The Council had before it a notice of motion by Councillors Cooke and Greig in the following terms:-

“That Council instructs the Chief Officer - Operations and Protective Services, to take the necessary steps to amend the current advisory 20mph speed limit on Angusfield Avenue, between its junctions with Queen’s Road and King’s Gate, to a mandatory 20mp speed limit.”

The Council resolved:-

to approve the notice of motion.

In accordance with Article 1 of this minute, Councillor Hutchison left the meeting for the following item of business.

That this Council:

(i)              renews its commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant, which is based on the premise that those who serve or have served, and their families deserve respect, support and fair treatment. In particular, it states that: “Those who serve in the Armed Forces, whether regular or Reserve, those who have served in the past, and their families, should face no disadvantage compared to other citizens in the provision of public and commercial services. Special consideration is appropriate in some cases, especially for those who have given most such as the injured and the bereaved.”;

(ii)             notes the Gold accreditation for the Council’s Armed Forces Covenant through the Defence and Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS);

(iii)               is proud to be Armed Forces friendly and recognises the enormous contribution and sacrifices that members of the Armed Forces and their families make every day for the safety and security of our country; 

(iv)               values the service of all British Armed Forces personnel, past and present, including those from Commonwealth Nations;

(v)            agrees to re-establish an Advisory Working Group, with its purpose being to ensure the commitments contained in the Armed Forces Covenant continue to be met, to appoint five Councillors (three partnership/two opposition) to the Advisory Working Group and invite the Chief Officer - Early Intervention and Community Empowerment to appoint three officers from education services, housing services and social work services to join the Advisory Working Group;

(vi)           requests the Chief Officer - Early Intervention and Community Empowerment to report to the relevant committee setting out what the Council is doing to support our serving and veteran community across the full range of services we provide and strengthen partnerships with the Armed Forces Community; and

(vii)          prepares for the new duty to give due regard to the Armed Forces Covenant in policy development and decision making.

The Council had before it a notice of motion by Councillors Cooke and Houghton in the following terms:-

              “That this Council:

(i)         renews its commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant, which is based on the premise that those who serve or have served, and their families deserve respect, support and fair treatment. In particular, it states that: “Those who serve in the Armed Forces, whether regular or Reserve, those who have served in the past, and their families, should face no disadvantage compared to other citizens in the provision of public and commercial services. Special consideration is appropriate in some cases, especially for those who have given most such as the injured and the bereaved.”;

(ii)        notes the Gold accreditation for the Council’s Armed Forces Covenant through the Defence and Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS);

(iii)         is proud to be Armed Forces friendly and recognises the enormous contribution and sacrifices that members of the Armed Forces and their families make every day for the safety and security of our country; 

(iv)         values the service of all British Armed Forces personnel, past and present, including those from Commonwealth Nations;

(v)        agrees to re-establish an Advisory Working Group, with its purpose being to ensure the commitments contained in the Armed Forces Covenant continue to be met, to appoint five Councillors (three partnership/two opposition) to the Advisory Working Group and invite the Chief Officer - Early Intervention and Community Empowerment to appoint three officers from education services, housing services and social work services to join the Advisory Working Group;

(vi)      requests the Chief Officer - Early Intervention and Community Empowerment to report to the relevant committee setting out what the Council is doing to support our serving and veteran community across the full range of services we provide and strengthen partnerships with the Armed Forces Community; and

(vii)     prepares for the new duty to give due regard to the Armed Forces Covenant in policy development and decision making.”

The Council resolved:-

to approve the notice of motion subject to an invitation being extended to the NHS to be represented on the Advisory Working Group.

That the Council -

(a)           notes the role of the council in protecting tenants in the private rented housing sector through licensing, registration and enforcement;

(b)           agrees that everyone living in the rented sector should be able to have an expectation of safe, secure and good-quality housing, and that this is undermined where landlords fail to meet their legal obligations;

(c)           instructs the Chief Officer - Early Intervention and Community Empowerment to report to a future committee on the operation of the private landlord registration and HMO licensing schemes, and short term lets legislation preparedness in Aberdeen. This should include the action taken when complaints are received about unlicensed landlords, and options to ensure that the public are aware of how to raise complaints.

The Council had before it a notice of motion by Councillor Hutchison in the following terms:-

          "That the Council -

(a)       notes the role of the Council in protecting tenants in the private rented housing sector through licensing, registration and enforcement;

(b)       agrees that everyone living in the rented sector should be able to have an expectation of safe, secure and good-quality housing, and that this is undermined where landlords fail to meet their legal obligations; and

(c)       instructs the Chief Officer - Early Intervention and Community Empowerment to report to a future committee on the operation of the private landlord registration and HMO licensing schemes, and short term lets legislation preparedness in Aberdeen. This should include the action taken when complaints are received about unlicensed landlords, and options to ensure that the public are aware of how to raise complaints.”

The Council resolved:-

to refer the notice of motion to the Operational Delivery Committee in the first instance, noting that it may also need to be considered by the Licensing Committee thereafter.

At this juncture, Councillor Crockett declared an interest in relation to the following item of business by virtue of his close friendship with Sir Jimmy Milne. Councillor Crockett advised that the nature of his interest required him to leave the meeting and took no part in the Council’s deliberations thereon.

That Council -

Congratulates Lower Deeside resident Sir Jimmy Milne CBE, DL, DHC Hon, FRIAS on his recent honour of a Knight Bachelor in the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Birthday Honours 2022 for services to business and charity.  

Notes the success of the Balmoral Group under the leadership of Sir Jimmy Milne.

Agrees that Sir Jimmy Milne’s charity work as joint founder and chairman of Friends of ANCHOR, a charity established in 1997 which supports Aberdeen’s cancer and haematology care unit, as well as financing many ground-breaking research programmes makes Sir Jimmy Milne a worthy recipient of this honour.

Further notes that since 1997 the Balmoral Group has funded all the fundraising team and administrative costs of Friends of ANCHOR. The charity, being in its 25^th year, is on course to reach a record project target of £2m that will help make the difference in Aberdeen’s new cancer care centre due to open in 2023.

The Council had before it a notice of motion by Councillor Malik in the following terms:-

          “That Council -

Congratulates Lower Deeside resident Sir Jimmy Milne CBE, DL, DHC Hon, FRIAS on his recent honour of a Knight Bachelor in the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Birthday Honours 2022 for services to business and charity.

Notes the success of the Balmoral Group under the leadership of Sir Jimmy Milne.

Agrees that Sir Jimmy Milne’s charity work as joint founder and chairman of Friends of ANCHOR, a charity established in 1997 which supports Aberdeen’s cancer and haematology care unit, as well as financing many ground-breaking research programmes makes Sir Jimmy Milne a worthy recipient of this honour.

Further notes that since 1997 the Balmoral Group has funded all the fundraising team and administrative costs of Friends of ANCHOR. The charity, being in its 25^th year, is on course to reach a record project target of £2m that will help make the difference in Aberdeen’s new cancer care centre due to open in 2023.”

The Council resolved:-

to approve the notice of motion.

That Council notes the Policy Statement considered at its meeting on 18 May 2022, and instructs the Chief Officer - Governance to bring forward proposals to the meeting of Full Council on 24 August 2022 with recommended changes to the Scheme of Governance [Full details are contained within the attachment within the agenda at page 757]

The Council had before it a notice of motion by Councillors Nicoll and Yuill in the following terms:-

“That Council notes the Policy Statement considered at its meeting on 18 May 2022, and instructs the Chief Officer - Governance to bring forward proposals to the meeting of Full Council on 24 August 2022 with recommended changes to the Scheme of Governance to incorporate the following:-

Terms of Reference

• Dis-establish the Capital Programme Committee and transfer the remit to the City Growth and Resources Committee
• Dis-establish the Strategic Commissioning Committee and transfer the remit to Full Council and any other committee as appropriate
• Extend the scope of the Education Operational Delivery Committee to include children’s services and rename it Education and Children’s Services Committee to reflect its expanded remit
• Dis-establish the Operational Delivery and Public Protection Committees, and create:

• Establish an Anti Poverty Committee for addressing poverty in the city
• Rename the City Growth and Resources Committee as the Finance and Resources Committee

Powers Delegated to Officers

• To review the Planning Scheme of Delegation with a view to exploring the possibilities for ward members to direct that applications be determined by the Planning Development Management Committee rather than be determined under officer delegation.

Standing Orders

• Amend Standing Order 13 to remove Administration Leaders from the list of people to whom draft reports must be submitted except for reports to the Council and City Growth and Resources Committee
• Amend Standing Order 16 to reflect that any local member can speak at a committee without the need for consent from the Convener
• Amend Standing Order 34 to reflect that where one third of committee refers a matter to Full Council, and the next Full Council meeting is too late, the matter can be considered at a meeting of the Urgent Business Committee
• Amend Standing Order 40 regarding the length of meetings to reflect that meetings cannot last any longer than 6 hours (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any adjournments), unless Standing Orders are suspended

Scheme of Governance

• Remove all references to Business Manager and Depute Business Manager

Council Diary

• Meetings to be on an eight-week cycle, including Full Council, other than those which meet more frequently (e.g. PDMC) or less frequently (e.g. Pensions Committee)
• Change all committee start times to 10.00am

Webcasting

• Bring forward a proposal on how all Full Council and committee meetings could be made hybrid and webcast from the Chamber or Committee Room 2.”

Councillor Nicoll moved, seconded by Councillor Yuill:-

          That the Council -

(1)       approve the notice of motion;

(2)       note that at the Budget Meeting in March 2022 as noted in the Business Planner, Council agreed to instruct the Chief Executive to bring forward a refreshed Target Operating Model to the August Council meeting; and

(3)       agree the Chief Executive’s refreshed Target Operating Model report should set out in a manner which allows for the discharge by the Council of its different functions  ...  view the full minutes text for item 12.

The Lord Provost noted that the reports in relation to the exempt appendices had been dealt with at the Council meeting on 29 June 2022, therefore the Council did not require to consider them with the press and public excluded.

The Lord Provost thanked members for their attendance and highlighted that the Lord Dean of Guild had been unable to attend the meeting as she was receiving an honorary degree from the Robert Gordon University, and congratulated her on the achievement.

In accordance with Article 1 of this minute, Councillor Grant left the meeting for the following two items of business.

Amended appendix

With reference to Article 5 of the minute of its meeting of 29 June 2022, the Council had before it an exempt appendix relating to the City Centre Masterplan Update report.

The Council resolved:-

to note the exempt appendix.

With reference to Article 14 of the minute of its meeting of 29 June 2022, the Council had before it an exempt appendix relating to the Beachfront Masterplan Update report.

The Council resolved:-

to note the exempt appendix.