Agenda, decisions and minutes

The Lord Provost extended his congratulations to Councillors Jackie Dunbar, Lumsden and Audrey Nicoll on their recent election to Holyrood as Members of the Scottish Parliament and wished them well for their term of office.

The Council resolved:-

to concur with the Lord Provost’s remarks.

The Lord Provost advised that he had accepted a notice of motion by Councillor Houghton as a matter of urgency in terms of Section 50B(4)(b) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, which would be considered as the last item of business on the agenda.

The Council resolved:-

to note the position.

Councillor Laing declared an interest in agenda item 9.3 (Ballot on Aberdeen City Centre Business Improvement District Proposals 2021-2026) by virtue of her position as a Council appointed member of the Board of Aberdeen BID Company Limited and advised that it was her intention to withdraw from the meeting prior to the Council considering the matter.

Councillor Grant also declared an interest in agenda item 9.3 by reason of his employment by Aberdeen Inspired and advised that it was his intention to withdraw from the meeting prior to the Council considering the matter.

Councillor Yuill declared an interest in the urgent notice of motion by Councillor Houghton as he had been contacted by Police Scotland in connection with the matter. Councillor Yuill did not consider that the nature of his interest required him to leave the meeting.

The Council had before it the minute of meeting of Aberdeen City Council of 3 March 2021.

The Council resolved:-

to approve the minute.

The Council had before it the minute of meeting of Aberdeen City Council of 10 March 2021.

The Council resolved:-

to approve the minute.

The Council had before it the minute of meeting of the Urgent Business Committee of 12 April 2021.

The Council resolved:-

to approve the minute.

The Council had before it the minute of meeting of the Urgent Business Committee of 13 May 2021.

The Council resolved:-

to approve the minute.

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

The Council resolved:-

to note the business planner.

The Council had before it a report by the Chief Officer - Governance which presented a proposed calendar of Council and committee meetings for 2022 for approval and sought approval for the appointment of a new primary/ASN parent representative to the Education Operational Delivery Committee.

The report recommended:-

that the Council -

(a)           approve the proposed calendar of meetings from January to December 2022 as set out in Appendix 1; and

(b)           agree the appointment of Mr Duncan Milne as the new primary/ASN parent representative on the Education Operational Delivery Committee with immediate effect, subject to a satisfactory Disclosure Scotland check being undertaken.

The Council resolved:-

to approve the recommendations.

The Council had before it a report by the Director of Resources which provided an update on the Treasury Management activities undertaken during the 2020/21 financial year.

The report recommended:-

that the Council consider and note the Treasury Management activities undertaken in the 2020/21 financial year as detailed in the report.

The Council resolved:-

to approve the recommendation.

In accordance with Article 3 of the minute, Councillors Grant and Laing withdrew from the meeting prior to consideration of the following item and took no part in the Council’s deliberations thereon.

With reference to Article 5 of the minute of meeting of the Urgent Business Committee of 12 April 2021, the Council had before it a report by the Chief Officer - City Growth which provided an update on the activities and achievements of the Aberdeen Inspired Business Improvement District (BID) over the last five years and sought a decision on how the Council would vote in the BID ballot which closed on 24 June 2021.

The report recommended:-

that the Council -

(a)           note the achievements and progress of the Aberdeen Inspired Aberdeen City Centre Business Improvement District during its 2016-2021 term;

(b)           note the proposed BID objectives for the next five years and the complementary work of Aberdeen Inspired in relation to the City Centre Masterplan Review to support local economic recovery; and

(c)           resolve to vote in favour of the Aberdeen City Centre BID Proposals 2021-2026 and instruct the Chief Officer - City Growth to vote accordingly (or arrange for or instruct such voting) on behalf of the Council.

The Council resolved:-

to approve the recommendations.

With reference to Article 9 of the minute of its meeting of 2 March 2020, the Council had before it a report by the Director of Commissioning which presented the representations received on the Proposed Aberdeen Local Development Plan and the Council responses to the unresolved issues.

The report recommended:-

that the Council -

(a)           note the representations received on the Aberdeen Local Development Plan - Proposed Plan;

(b)           approve the Schedule 4 Summaries of Unresolved Issues, subject to any necessary minor drafting changes to satisfy the requirements of the Examination process;

(c)           authorise officers to update the Environmental Report in line with the outcome of the consultation process and the subsequent examination process;

(d)           authorise the submission of the Aberdeen Local Development Plan - Proposed Plan and appropriate supporting documentation to the Scottish Ministers for Examination; and

(e)           authorise officers to respond to any requests for further information or hearings issued by the Planning and Environmental Appeals Division of the Scottish Government during the course of the Aberdeen Local Development Plan - Proposed Plan Examination.

The Council resolved:-

(i)             to approve the recommendations; and

(ii)           to note that the Director of Commissioning would arrange for training to be made available to elected members regarding the supplementary guidance documents and any relevant changes.

That Council:

1.    Notes the  progress of Aberdeen City Council in promoting and encouraging the biodiversity of Aberdeen through the North East Scotland Biodiversity Partnership and further work as outlined in the Council’s triennial Biodiversity Duty Report (2020).

2.    Agrees Council officers, our partners and our communities have and continue to collectively undertake often extensive, critically important, and highly valued work across the nature agenda in and beyond Aberdeen.

3.    Notes that the COVID-19 crisis has demonstrated the critical value of our natural environments and open spaces to the physical and mental wellbeing of the citizens of Aberdeen, especially in times of crisis.

4.    Recommends that Community Planning Aberdeen continue to embed the UN Sustainable Development Goals pathway of action to 2030 within their strategies and plans to accelerate action on climate and biodiversity, while delivering the many co-benefits of a sustainable city to our people, place and economy; and

5.    Agrees to instruct Chief Officers to work across the Council, with Community Planning Aberdeen, other partners and stakeholders to embed the commitments of the Edinburgh Declaration into their strategies, plans and workstreams.

6.    Agrees that the Lord Provost signs the Edinburgh Declaration on behalf of the Council and in recognition of its partnership roles with the North East Biodiversity Partnership.

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

“That Council:

1.    Notes the  progress of Aberdeen City Council in promoting and encouraging the biodiversity of Aberdeen through the North East Scotland Biodiversity Partnership and further work as outlined in the Council’s triennial Biodiversity Duty Report (2020).

2.    Agrees Council officers, our partners and our communities have and continue to collectively undertake often extensive, critically important, and highly valued work across the nature agenda in and beyond Aberdeen.

3.    Notes that the COVID-19 crisis has demonstrated the critical value of our natural environments and open spaces to the physical and mental wellbeing of the citizens of Aberdeen, especially in times of crisis.

4.    Recommends that Community Planning Aberdeen continue to embed the UN Sustainable Development Goals pathway of action to 2030 within their strategies and plans to accelerate action on climate and biodiversity, while delivering the many co-benefits of a sustainable city to our people, place and economy; and

5.    Agrees to instruct Chief Officers to work across the Council, with Community Planning Aberdeen, other partners and stakeholders to embed the commitments of the Edinburgh Declaration into their strategies, plans and workstreams.

6.    Agrees that the Lord Provost signs the Edinburgh Declaration on behalf of the Council and in recognition of its partnership roles with the North East Biodiversity Partnership.”

The Council resolved:-

to approve the notice of motion.

That the Council:-

1.    Notes the decision of the City Growth and Resources Committee on 11 May 2021 to formulate a Beach Masterplan and the scope of the area being considered (Area A in appendix 1 - map circulated within the agenda);

2.    Instructs the Chief Officer - City Growth look at what medium and long-term strategic interventions could be made in the area that includes Queens Links Leisure Park (Area B), together with the area bounded by Wellington Street, York Place and Beach Esplanade (Areas C & D);

3.    Instructs the Chief Officer - Corporate Landlord, supported by the Chief Officer - City Growth, to progress discussions with the existing owners/occupiers of the properties at Queens Links Leisure Park as to opportunities to improve accessibility to beach front access from existing and future properties; and

4.    Instructs the Chief Officer - City Growth to consider funding options that may qualify to support strategic interventions that could supplement a Beach Masterplan and to bring back a report on this, incorporating the findings of ii & iii above, to the City, Growth and Resources Committee in due course.

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

“That the Council:-

1.    Notes the decision of the City Growth and Resources Committee on 11 May 2021 to formulate a Beach Masterplan and the scope of the area being considered (Area A in appendix 1 - map circulated within the agenda);

2.    Instructs the Chief Officer - City Growth look at what medium and long-term strategic interventions could be made in the area that includes Queens Links Leisure Park (Area B), together with the area bounded by Wellington Street, York Place and Beach Esplanade (Areas C & D);

3.    Instructs the Chief Officer - Corporate Landlord, supported by the Chief Officer - City Growth, to progress discussions with the existing owners/occupiers of the properties at Queens Links Leisure Park as to opportunities to improve accessibility to beach front access from existing and future properties; and

4.    Instructs the Chief Officer - City Growth to consider funding options that may qualify to support strategic interventions that could supplement a Beach Masterplan and to bring back a report on this, incorporating the findings of 2 & 3 above, to the City Growth and Resources Committee in due course.”

The Council resolved:-

to refer the notice of motion to the meeting of the City Growth and Resources Committee on 25 August 2021. 

That the Council instruct the Chief Officer - Operations and Protective Services to report to the Operational Delivery Committee on the next steps following discussions with Podback (which is operated and financed by the coffee pod manufacturers at no cost to this authority) with a view to Aberdeen City Council becoming the first local authority in Scotland to introduce the recycling of coffee pods.

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

“That the Council instruct the Chief Officer - Operations and Protective Services to report to the Operational Delivery Committee on the next steps following discussions with Podback (which is operated and financed by the coffee pod manufacturers at no cost to this authority) with a view to Aberdeen City Council becoming the first local authority in Scotland to introduce the recycling of coffee pods.”

The Council resolved:-

to refer the notice of motion to the next meeting of the Operational Delivery Committee.

That Council -

1.    Notes with concern the removal of granite and other items from Union Terrace Gardens (UTG) into a private residence without Aberdeen City Council’s knowledge or consent.

2.    Notes the referral from Council officers to Police Scotland.

3.    Agrees following the conclusion of Police Scotland’s investigation, to instruct the Chief Officer - Capital and Chief Officer – Governance to bring a report to the next meeting of the Audit, Risk and Scrutiny Committee detailing the events relating to the removal of granite and other items from the UTG site to a private residence, as well as providing details of Elected Member(s) involvement with any of the parties involved in the removal of granite from UTG before the granite was removed from the private residence on the instructions of the main contractor, and to provide the Committee with a full audit of all the granite and other items removed from UTG to ensure that the main contactor can provide Council with a guarantee that all granite and other items from Union Terrace Gardens can be accounted for.

The Council had before it an urgent notice of motion by Councillor Houghton in the following terms:-

“That Council -

1. Notes with concern the removal of granite and other items from Union Terrace Gardens (UTG) into a private residence without Aberdeen City Council’s knowledge or consent.

2. Notes the referral from Council officers to Police Scotland.

3. Agrees following the conclusion of Police Scotland’s investigation, to instruct the Chief Officer - Capital and Chief Officer - Governance to bring a report to the next meeting of the Audit, Risk and Scrutiny Committee detailing the events relating to the removal of granite and other items from the UTG site to a private residence, as well as providing details of Elected Member(s) involvement with any of the parties involved in the removal of granite from UTG before the granite was removed from the private residence on the instructions of the main contractor, and to provide the Committee with a full audit of all the granite and other items removed from UTG to ensure that the main contactor can provide Council with a guarantee that all granite and other items from Union Terrace Gardens can be accounted for.”

The Council resolved:-

(i)             to approve the urgent notice of motion; and

(ii)           to note the assurance by the Chief Officer - Governance regarding the extent of the audit instructed.