Agenda, decisions and minutes

The Lord Provost advised that the meeting was being filmed for live and subsequent broadcast via the Council’s website, and that all of the public part of the meeting was planned to be filmed for this purpose.

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:-

            Leonard Coote, Retired Mechanical Engineer, Aberdeen

            Douglas A Higgins, Oil Industry Manager, Aberdeen

            Norman G McPherson, Retired Drilling Fluids Engineer, Aberdeen

            Mollie A Mennie, Headteacher, Aberdeen

            Gladys Sangster, Retired Tax Inspector, Aberdeen

            Harvey S Smith, Sales, Marketing and Event Manager, Aberdeen

            Robert G Walker, Insurance Broker, Aberdeen

            Dr Stephen Wedderburn, General Medical Practitioner, Aberdeen

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:-

            9(a)     Sport Aberdeen - Appointment of Board Members

            9(b)     Broadford Works

9(c)     Minutes of Meetings of Social Work Complaints Review Committee of 13 and 20 May 2015

9(d)     Aberdeen City Centre Masterplan and Delivery Programme - Appendices C and D

The Council 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 the aforementioned items of business (Articles 20 to 23 of this minute refer) so as to avoid disclosure of exempt information of the classes described in paragraphs 1, 8, 9 and 12 of Schedule 7(A) of the Act.

Item 7(a) - a combined request from Robert Collier (Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce), Sir Ian Diamond (University of Aberdeen) and Ferdinand von Prondzynski (The Robert Gordon University)

In terms of Standing Order 10(1), the Council had before it a request for deputation from Mr Robert Collier, Sir Ian Diamond and Professor Ferdinand von Prondzynski in respect of the report on the Aberdeen City Centre Masterplan and Delivery Programme.

The Council resolved:-

to hear the deputation immediately before consideration of the item.

The Council had before it the minute of meeting of Aberdeen City Council of
13 May 2015.

The Council resolved:-

to approve the minute.

The Council had before it a statement of Council business which had been prepared by the Head of Legal and Democratic Services.

The Council resolved:-

to note the statement.

 The Council had before it a list of outstanding motions which had been prepared by the Head of Legal and Democratic Services.

The Council resolved:-

(i)           to delete item 1 - motion by Councillor Thomson on armed forces; and

(ii)          otherwise to note the motions list.

The Council had before it the minute of meeting of the City Centre Regeneration Working Group of 17 February 2015.

The Council resolved:-

to note the minute.

Background papers are available at:-

http://www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/council_government/shaping_aberdeen/City_Centre_Masterplan.asp

 (A)      In terms of Standing Order 10(2), the Council received a deputation from Sir Ian Diamond (University of Aberdeen), Professor Ferdinand von Prondzynski (The Robert Gordon University) and Mr Robert Collier (Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce).

Sir Ian introduced his colleagues, explained that they also represented Steve Harris, Robert Noble and Colin Crosby as the external members of the City Centre Regeneration Working Group, and stated that the consultation exercise in relation to the Masterplan had been very good.

Professor von Prondzynski emphasised that the Masterplan was not just for the Council but for the wider community of Aberdeen. He added that there had been a number of false starts in terms of city centre regeneration, however now it was time for action. He concluded that a number of specific projects had been widely agreed and called on the Council to give the Masterplan its strong support.

Mr Collier stated that the Masterplan was not a perfect document; however an improved city centre was much needed. He concluded that the Council had built widespread support during the consultation and urged members to back the Masterplan.

Members thanked Sir Ian, Professor von Prondzynski and Mr Collier for their contribution.

            (B)       The Council then received a presentation from Mr Francis Glare of Building Design Partnership (BDP), who was accompanied by Mr Russell Henderson of AECOM, Mr Chris Paddock of Regeneris and Mr Malcolm Hewines of Montagu Evans.

Members asked a number of questions of Mr Glare, Mr Henderson, Mr Paddock and Mr Hewines and thanked them for their contribution.

            (C)       With reference to Article 20 of the minute of its meeting of 25 June 2014, the Council had before it a report by the Chief Executive which presented the Aberdeen City Centre Masterplan and Delivery Programme which had been completed on behalf of the Council by BDP and their consortium of multi-disciplinary consultants.

The report recommended:-

that the Council -

(a)          agree the Aberdeen City Centre Masterplan and Delivery Programme;

(b)          note the impact the City Centre Masterplan will have in informing all relevant policies, strategies and plans either for which the Council has a statutory responsibility or which the Council itself agrees and implements;

(c)          agree that officers will undertake a review of the Council’s financial strategies in relation to the capital plan, the Common Good and asset acquisition and disposal in light of the City Centre Masterplan and Delivery Programme and report to committee with recommended changes as necessary;

(d)          agree in principle the interventions set out in the City Centre Masterplan and Delivery Programme, noting that due diligence will be undertaken in relation to the financial, legal and all other implications on each project or programme of activity contained within the City Centre Masterplan that it falls to the Council to deliver with the results of this due diligence being reported to committee ahead of any decision being taken to proceed;

(e)          agree that the Chief Executive will report to Council at its meeting on 19 August 2015  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

The Council had before it a report by the Director of Communities, Housing and Infrastructure which provided an update on developments in relation to Community Planning Aberdeen over the past six months.

The report recommended:-

that the Council note the content of the report and the actions being taken.

The Council resolved:-

to approve the recommendation

The Council had before it a report by the Director of Communities, Housing and Infrastructure which provided an update on progress in relation to the Fairer Aberdeen Fund programme and projects being funded in the current financial year.

The report recommended:-

that the Council -

(a)          note the information at appendix 1 listing the initiatives being funded in 2015/16; and

(b)          consider and advise the Fairer Aberdeen Board of the Council’s comments on the proposal to confirm funding for one year and provide indicative budgets for subsequent years, subject to the Council’s annual budget process, and on organisations meeting terms and conditions of grant and delivering progress on indicators and targets agreed by the board.

The Council resolved:-

(i)           to approve recommendation (a); and

(ii)          to confirm funding for one year and provide indicative budgets for subsequent years, subject to the Council’s annual budget process, and on organisations meeting terms and conditions of grant and delivering progress on indicators and targets agreed by the board.

With reference to Article 11 of the minute of its meeting of 21 August 2013, the Council had before it a report by the Interim Director of Corporate Governance which reviewed the operation of the Petitions Committee and considered the involvement of young people in the petitions process.

The report recommended:-

that the Council -

(a)          note the feedback received through the City Voice in relation to the operation of the Petitions Committee and the action being taken by officers in response, as outlined in the report;

(b)          instruct officers to amend the petitions guidance to allow a petition to be considered at the subsequent meeting if the petitioner is unavailable to attend on the original committee date;

(c)          retain the current petitions criteria but instruct officers to review the number of petitions submitted in a year’s time to ascertain if the requirement for 250 signatures is proving to be a barrier to engagement;

(d)          agree that petitions submitted by young people be accepted under the petitions process where they have a minimum of five signatories which have been verified either by the school to which the pupils belong or the Youth Council;

(e)          agree that Education and Children’s Services, pupil councils and the Youth Council be asked to support and promote the petitions process;

(f)           agree to establish a small sub committee of five members which could visit schools to hear petitions to avoid the need for schools to arrange visits during the school day to present petitions to the committee at the Town House; and

(g)          authorise officers to amend the Orders of Reference accordingly.

The Council resolved:-

(i)            to approve recommendations (a), (b), (d), (e) and (g) contained within the report;

(ii)          to amend the petitions criteria so that the required number of signatures is reduced to 100;

(iii)         that the petitions criteria stating that a petition will not be accepted if the matter is related to a decision taken by Aberdeen City Council in the previous twelve months be reviewed in one year;

(iv)         to instruct the Head of Communications and Promotion to devise a strategy to promote the petitions process and raise awareness of it throughout the city; and

(v)          that the Petitions Committee visit schools to hear petitions unless schools preferred for the petition to be presented at the Town House.

The Council had before it a report by the Chief Executive which provided an update on progress in relation to the notice of motion by Councillor Thomson regarding the Local Authority Community Covenant.

The report recommended:-

that the Council agree to receive a report at a future meeting once the Scottish Government has reviewed the Scottish Veterans Commissioner’s report Transition in Scotland and decided how it wishes to take its recommendations forward.

The Council resolved:-

to approve the recommendation.

The Council had before it a report by the Chief Executive which advised of changes to previously agreed appointments and sought new appointments.

The report recommended:-

that the Council -

(a)          agree the appointment of four representatives to sit on the board of governors of Robert Gordon’s College; and

(b)          agree the appointment of Councillor Jackie Dunbar as a representative on NESTRANS.

The Council resolved:-

(i)    to agree the appointment of Councillors Cormie, Jean Morrison, Thomson and Yuill to sit on the board of governors of Robert Gordon’s College;

(ii)  to approve recommendation (b) contained within the report; and

(iii) to agree the appointment of Councillor Lesley Dunbar as replacement for Councillor Forsyth as the Council’s substantive member on the Northern Community Justice Authority, and the appointment of Councillor Donnelly as replacement for Councillor Young as the Council’s substitute member on the Northern Community Justice Authority.

The Council had before it a report by the Director of Education and Children’s Services which provided an update on the work currently being undertaken by Sistema Scotland to implement the Big Noise Torry initiative, and advised of the membership of the Big Noise Torry Strategy Group.

The report recommended:-

that the Council -

(a)  note the progress of Big Noise Torry;

(b)  note the current membership of the Big Noise Torry Strategy Group and Operational Group; and

(c)  agree to future progress reports being included in the Council Information Bulletin.

The Council resolved:-

to approve the recommendations.

With reference to Article 9 of the minute of meeting of the Finance, Policy and Resources Committee of 9 June 2015, the Council had before it, by way of remit, a report by the Interim Director of Corporate Governance which provided an update on the treasury management activities undertaken during 2014/15.

The Finance, Policy and Resources Committee recommended that the Council:-

note the treasury management activities undertaken in 2014/15 as detailed in the report.

The Council resolved:-

to approve the recommendation.

The Council had before it a report by the Chief Executive which fulfilled the statutory requirement of submitting the written decision of the recent Standards Commission hearing to Council for consideration.

The report recommended:-

that the Council consider the written decision of the Standards Commission and notify the Commission of any actions or decisions taken by 7 August 2015.

Councillor Young moved, seconded by Councillor Crockett:-

That the Council welcomes the decision of the Hearing Panel of the Standards Commission for Scotland and highlights paragraphs 8, 13, 16, 20 and 21 of the decision of the Hearing Panel as evidence as to the compliance of the Councillors’ Code of Conduct by the seven members involved in the hearing.

Councillor Townson moved as an amendment, seconded by Councillor Jackie Dunbar:-

That the Council notes the decision of the Hearing Panel of the Standards Commission for Scotland.

On a division, there voted:-

For the motion  (19)  -  Lord Provost; Depute Provost; and Councillors Allan, Boulton, Carle, Cooney, Crockett, Lesley Dunbar, Finlayson, Graham, Grant, Ironside, Laing, Lawrence, Milne, Jean Morrison, Nathan Morrison, Taylor and Young.

For the amendment  (13)  -  Councillors Cameron, Cormie, Delaney, Dickson, Jackie Dunbar, Jaffrey, Kiddie, MacGregor, Noble, Samarai, Sandy Stuart, Townson and Yuill.

Declined to vote  (4)  -  Councillors Donnelly, Greig, Jennifer Stewart and Thomson.

The Council resolved:-

to adopt the motion.

“That this Council congratulates Alan McRae on his election as President of the Scottish Football Association and encourages the Scottish Football Association to continue to work with the Council to foster football in our communities within Aberdeen at youth, amateur and professional level.”

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

“That this Council congratulates Alan McRae on his election as President of the Scottish Football Association and encourages the Scottish Football Association to continue to work with the Council to foster football in our communities within Aberdeen at youth, amateur and professional level.”

The Council resolved:-

to approve the terms of the motion.

The Lord Provost advised that this was the last Council meeting for Mrs Liz Taylor, who was shortly to be leaving the Council after joining in 2006 as a Head of Service and latterly being promoted to Director of Social Care and Wellbeing in 2013. The Lord Provost thanked Mrs Taylor for her service and wished her well in her future endeavours.

The Lord Provost further advised that this was the last Council meeting before Councillor May stood down during the summer recess, however he was unable to be in attendance. He added that Councillor May had first been elected in 2003 and thanked him for his valued contribution over the past twelve years. Lastly, the Lord Provost noted that he had missed the previous Council meeting and had been unable to record his thanks to former Councillors Blackman and McCaig for their service following their election as Members of Parliament. Councillor Jackie Dunbar responded on behalf of Councillor May and former Councillors Blackman and McCaig and advised that she would pass on the Lord Provost’s thanks.

The Council resolved:-

to concur with the remarks of the Lord Provost.

Councillor Dickson declared an interest in relation to the following item of business by virtue of his position as a Council appointed Director to the Board of Sport Aberdeen, and considered that the nature of his interest required him to leave the meeting and took no part in the Council’s deliberations thereon.

Councillors Boulton and Lawrence also declared interests by virtue of their position as Council appointed Directors to the Board of Sport Aberdeen but chose to remain in the meeting as Sport Aberdeen was a body being a company established wholly or mainly for the purpose of providing services to the local authority, and which had entered into a contractual arrangement with the local authority for the supply of goods and/or services to the local authority, as set out in paragraph 5.18(2)(d)(i) and (ii) of the Councillors’ Code of Conduct.

The Council had before it a report by the Director of Education and Children’s Services which advised of the outcome of the selection process undertaken by Sport Aberdeen to fill the two Aberdeen City Council Director vacancies on the Board of Sport Aberdeen.

The report recommended:-

that the Council -

(a)  note the process followed by Sport Aberdeen to identify potential Directors of the company; and

(b)  agree the appointment of Alan Forsyth and Paul Adderton to the Board of Sport Aberdeen.

The Council resolved:-

to approve the recommendations.

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 to enable the Council to consider the matter at the earliest opportunity following recent events in relation to the site.

With reference to Article 10 of the minute of meeting of the Planning Development Management Committee of 28 May 2015, the Council had before it a report by the Director of Communities, Housing and Infrastructure which provided an update on enforcement in relation to Broadford Works.

The report recommended:-

that the Council note the content of the report and agree that officers report back to a future meeting on any further action that may be required.

The Council resolved:-

to approve the recommendation.

The Council had before it the minutes of meetings of the Social Work Complaints Review Committee of 13 and 20 May 2015, and forewords by the Chief Social Work Officer which set out the actions to be taken to respond to the recommendations.

The Council resolved:-

(i)    to approve the recommendations; and

(ii)  otherwise to note the Chief Social Work Officer’s comments in the forewords.

With reference to Article 9 of this minute, the Council had before it appendices C and D of the Aberdeen City Centre Masterplan and Delivery Programme.

The Council resolved:-

to note the appendices.

- GEORGE ADAM, Lord Provost.