Agenda, decisions and draft minutes

The Lord Provost advised that the urgent notice of motion by Councillor Boulton (item 10.2) had been withdrawn.

Carried forward from December and February Council meetings

The Council had before it a report by the Chief Officer - Governance which presented the annual effectiveness report for Council to enable Members to provide comment on the data contained within.

The report recommended:-

that the Council -

(a)           provide comments and observations on the data contained within the Council effectiveness report as appended to the report; and

(b)           note that the annual effectiveness reports of the committees had been reported to the various committees from 5 November to 13 December 2024 inclusive.

Councillor Greig moved, seconded by Councillor Allard:-

That the Council approve the recommendations contained within the report.

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

That the Council -

1.    Note the contents of the report;

2.    Disagree with the Lord Provost’s comments in the introduction in respect of RAAC and Scheme of Governance;

3.    Note under Reports and Decisions there is no mention of the number of times Members queried Officers’ responsibilities under the Member-Officer Relations Protocol;

4.    Note there is also no mention of the number of times officers refused to provide members with written copies of legal advice despite having legislative powers to do so;

5.    Agree there is no mention under Code of Conduct Declarations and Transparency Statements of Councillor Malik’s successful appeal to the Sheriff Principal Grampian Highland and Islands over his unjust suspension by the Standards Commission;

6.    Agree under Civic Engagement there is no mention of the times where the SNP/Liberal Democrat Administration voted against allowing deputation voices to be heard especially around library closures and the Bucksburn swimming pool closure: and

7.    Note Council Terms of Reference especially point 12 “The approval of an Administration’s political priorities.” Which underlines Aberdeen Labour’s position regarding Officers referring to the Administration as a Partnership when it is an Administration in terms of the Council’s own terms of reference.

Councillor Kusznir moved as a second amendment, seconded by Councillor Massey:-

          That the Council -

1.    Notes the recommendations of the report.

2.    Note under Reports and Decisions there are omissions:

a.    Items/decisions that led to Judicial Review(s)

b.    last-minute decision by the First Minister to freeze council tax (a juxtaposition of item 1 of the ToR (page 72 of the pack), also recognising the fantastic support from the Chief Officer - Finance in helping members with this sudden change.

c.     Note also that input by the Aberdeen citizens in the public consultation process were overtaken by this last minute decision recorded in (b).  

3.    Note the increasing number of council meetings (Section 5, P61/62)

4.    Note members’ attendance at a council meeting that are split across two days are classed as two separate council meetings when in fact they are an extension of an existing council meeting.

5.    Agree that recording would be more accurately portrayed as 0.5per day for meetings extended into 2 days, thus penalising a member just 0.5 if they are not free for the unplanned second day.

6.    Agree to modify ‘Civic Engagement’ to include the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.

“That Council:

1.    Acknowledges the importance of the United Nations Summit of the Future held on 22 September 2024, when world leaders adopted a Pact for the Future that includes a Global Digital Compact and a Declaration on Future Generations.

2.    Agrees that, by adopting the Pact, countries demonstrate that they are committed to an international system with the United Nations at its centre where Leaders set out a clear vision of a multilateralism that can deliver on its promises, is more representative of today’s world and draws on the engagement and expertise of governments, civil society and other key partners.

3.    Commends the Aberdeen Branch of the United Nations Association for organising an event to discuss the Pact in the St Nicholas Room, Town House, on 27March 2025.

4.    Endorses the spirit of the Pact for the Future.

5.    Instructs the Chief Officer - Education and Lifelong Learning to bring a report to a future Council meeting outlining what the Council can do to promote the involvement of our young people in expanding and strengthening youth participation in global decision-making.”

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

“That Council:

1. Acknowledges the importance of the United Nations Summit of the Future held on 22 September 2024, when world leaders adopted a Pact for the Future that includes a Global Digital Compact and a Declaration on Future Generations.
2. Agrees that, by adopting the Pact, countries demonstrate that they are committed to an international system with the United Nations at its centre where Leaders set out a clear vision of a multilateralism that can deliver on its promises, is more representative of today’s world and draws on the engagement and expertise of governments, civil society and other key partners.
3. Commends the Aberdeen Branch of the United Nations Association for organising an event to discuss the Pact in the St Nicholas Room, Town House, on 27March 2025.
4. Endorses the spirit of the Pact for the Future.
5. Instructs the Chief Officer - Education and Lifelong Learning to bring a report to a future Council meeting outlining what the Council can do to promote the involvement of our young people in expanding and strengthening youth participation in global decision-making.”

Councillor Macdonald moved, seconded by Councillor Bonsell:-

          That the Council approve the notice of motion.

Councillor Kusznir moved as an amendment, seconded by Councillor Massey:-

          That the Council -

1.    Considers that the Pact for the Future is not an appropriate issue for a local authority Notice of Motion;

2.    Recognises that foreign affairs is not within the purview of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973; and

3.    Therefore will take no action on Cllr Macdonald’s Notice of Motion and encourages any Councillor to stand for the House of Commons if they want to pontificate on foreign affairs rather than focus on the issues they actually have responsibility for.

Councillor Greig moved as a second amendment, seconded by Councillor Allard:-

          That the Council -

a.    Agree parts 1 to 4 of the notice of motion; and

b.    Agree 5 as follows: Instructs the Chief Officer - Education and Lifelong Learning to bring a report to a future meeting of the Education and Children's Services Committee outlining what the Council can do to promote the involvement of our young people in expanding and strengthening youth participation in global decision-making.

There being a motion and two amendments, the Council first divided between the amendment by Councillor Kusznir and the amendment by Councillor Greig.

On a division, there voted:-

For the amendment by Councillor Kusznir  (5)  -  Councillors Boulton, Farquhar, Kusznir, Massey, and Mrs Stewart.

For the amendment by Councillor Greig  (22)  -  Lord Provost; Depute Provost; and Councillors Al-Samarai, Allard, Alphonse, Hazel Cameron, Clark, Cooke, Copland, Cormie, Davidson, Fairfull, Greig, Henrickson, Hutchison, MacGregor, McLellan, McRae, Mennie, Radley, van Sweeden and Yuill.

Declined to vote  (13)  -  Councillors Ali, Blake, Bonsell, Crockett, Graham, Grant, Lawrence, Macdonald, Malik, Nicoll, Thomson, Tissera and Watson.

Absent from the division  (1)  -  Councillor Bouse.

The Council then divided between the motion and the amendment  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.