Agenda, decisions and draft minutes

The Lord Provost advised that he was reordering the agenda, as a result of the General Election being held on 4 July 2024, and that the referrals from committees (items 7.1 to 7.4) would be moved to the end of the agenda. The Lord Provost further advised that the meeting would conclude today and that any items which had not been considered would be carried forward to the Council meeting on 21 August 2024.

Councillor Houghton moved as a procedural motion, seconded by Councillor Malik:-

That the Council suspend Standing Order 36.9 to enable agenda item 7.3 (The Aberdeen City Council (City Centre, Aberdeen) (Traffic Management) (Experimental) Order 2023 - Statutory Public Consultation - Net Zero, Environment and Transport Committee - 11 June 2024) to be considered today.

On a division, there voted:-

For the procedural motion  (20)  -  Councillors Ali, Bonsell, Boulton, Brooks, Crockett, Cross, Farquhar, Graham, Grant, Houghton, Kusznir, Lawrence, Macdonald, McLeod, Malik, Massey, Mrs Stewart, Thomson, Tissera and Watson.

Against the procedural motion  (22)  -  Lord Provost; Depute Provost; and Councillors Al-Samarai, Allard, Alphonse, Bouse, Hazel Cameron, Clark, Cooke, Copland, Davidson, Greig, Henrickson, Hutchison, MacGregor, McLellan, McRae, Mennie, Nicoll, Radley, van Sweeden and Yuill.

Absent from the division  (1)  -  Councillor Blake.

The Council resolved:-

(i)             to reject the procedural motion; and

(ii)           to therefore reorder the agenda as advised by the Lord Provost.

In terms of Standing Order 32.8, Councillors Boulton, Crockett, Mrs Stewart and Tissera intimated their dissent against the foregoing decision.

The Council was requested to determine that the following item of business, which contained exempt information as described in Schedule 7(A) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, be taken in private:-

11.1    Culture Delivery and Funding Review - exempt appendices

The Council resolved:-

in terms of Section 50A(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, to exclude the press and public from the meeting during consideration of item 11.1 so as to avoid disclosure of exempt information of the classes described in paragraphs 4 and 9 of Schedule 7A of the Act.

Councillor Cooke advised that he had a connection in relation to agenda item 7.1 (Council Financial Performance - Quarter 4, 2023/24 - Finance and Resources Committee of 8 May 2024) by virtue of his position of Chairperson of the Integration Joint Board, however having applied the objective test he did not consider that he had an interest and would not be withdrawing from the meeting.

Councillor Yuill advised that he had a connection in relation to agenda items 7.1 and 9.7 (Refreshed Local Outcome Improvement Plan 2016-26 and Refreshed Locality Plans for North, South and Central 2021-26) as the Council’s appointed member of the Board of NHS Grampian, however having applied the objective test he did not consider that he had an interest and would not be withdrawing from the meeting. Councillor Yuill further advised that he had a connection in relation to agenda item 7.3 by reason of his membership of Cycling UK and the AA (Automobile Association), however having applied the objective test he did not consider that he had an interest and would not be withdrawing from the meeting.

Councillor Houghton advised that he had a connection in relation to agenda item 7.1 by reason of his spouse being a doctor at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, however having applied the objective test he did not consider that he had an interest and would not be withdrawing from the meeting.

Councillor Macdonald advised the she had a connection in relation to agenda item 11.1 (Culture Delivery and Funding Review) as a member of Belmont Community Cinema Limited, however having applied the objective test she did not consider that she had an interest and would not be withdrawing from the meeting.

Councillor Grant declared an interest in relation to agenda items 7.3, 9.10 (Culture Delivery and Funding Review) and 11.1 by reason of his employment by Aberdeen Inspired and advised that he would leave the meeting for those items.

Councillor Grant advised that he had connections in relation to agenda item 9.12 (Aberdeen Market Update) by reason of his employment by Aberdeen Inspired and agenda item 10.4 (Joint Notice of Motion by Councillors Macdonald and Malik) as Aberdeen’s Purple Flag Co-ordinator, however having applied the objective test he did not consider that he had an interest would not be withdrawing from the meeting for those items.

Councillor Boulton advised that she had a connection in relation to agenda items 9.10 and 11.1 as an observer to the Board of Peacock Visual Arts, however having applied the objective test she did not consider that she had an interest and would not be withdrawing from the meeting.

The Council had before it the minute of the special meeting of Aberdeen City Council of 17 April 2024.

The Council resolved:-

to approve the minute.

The Council had before it the minute of meeting of Aberdeen City Council of 17 April 2024.

The Council resolved:-

to approve the minute.

The Council had before it the minute of the special meeting of Aberdeen City Council of 14 May 2024.

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:-

(i)             to remove item 3 (Standards Commission for Scotland - Written Decision - Councillor Malik);

(ii)           to note the reasons for the delays to items 10 (Scheme of Governance Review), 11 (Nuclear Free Local Authorities) and 22 (North East Population Health Alliance Strategic Partnership Agreement) and that they would be reported to the subsequent Council meetings to which they were originally scheduled; and

(iii)          to otherwise note the business planner.

With reference to Article 3 of the minute of the meeting of the Urgent Business Committee of 29 February 2024, the Council had before it a report by the Chief Officers - Capital, Housing and Corporate Landlord which provided an update on the work underway and highlighted some of the key findings at this stage of the options appraisal.

The report recommended:-

that the Council -

(a)           note the information contained within the report about the various options under consideration;

(b)           agree and approve that Option 1: Bearing Shelf Extension be ruled out as a viable remedial option (paragraphs 3.37 - 3.39);

(c)           approve that engagement on the remaining three options, be planned to be held during July 2024, which would be open to all Council tenants as required by the Housing Act 2021 (Appendix B: Proposed Stakeholder Engagement);

(d)           note that it was proposed that private owners/tenants should be invited to participate in that engagement as noted in recommendation (c) above;

(e)           note that the information collated from the tenant engagement as intimated in recommendations (c) and (d) above would be considered alongside the technical evaluation of options;

(f)             note that from a construction perspective, officers continued to reinforce the need for tenants to be rehomed irrespective of the outcome of the option consideration;

(g)           note that the intention was to come back with a recommended option to the next Council meeting which was scheduled to take place on 21 August 2024;

(h)           note the reference to the expected levels of consequential costs because of carrying out remedial measures for the options which retained the existing properties, as intimated in section 4 of the report;

(i)             note that intrusive surveys of RAAC impacted properties were still progressing as part of an ongoing mitigation strategy to allay any assurance concerns to existing Council tenants (paragraph 3.6);

(j)             note that 138 of the properties identified with RAAC in the Balnagask area were privately owned (Appendix A: Property Ownership and Housing Mix); and

(k)           note with regard to Private or Registered Landlord properties, 40 buildings were not adjoining any Council owned property, 61 building were adjoined and there were 33 addresses which shared a building with the Council (Appendix A: Property Ownership and Housing Mix).

Councillor Watson moved as a procedural motion, seconded by Councillor Malik:-

That the Council suspend Standing Order 14.1 to hear the deputation in relation to the report.

On a division, there voted:-

For the procedural motion  (21)  -  Councillors Ali, Blake, Bonsell, Boulton, Brooks, Crockett, Cross, Farquhar, Graham, Grant, Houghton, Kusznir, Lawrence, Macdonald, McLeod, Malik, Massey, Mrs Stewart, Thomson, Tissera and Watson.

Against the procedural motion  (22)  -  Lord Provost; Depute Provost; and Councillors Al-Samarai, Allard, Alphonse, Hazel Cameron, Clark, Cooke, Copland, Cormie, Davidson, Greig, Henrickson, Hutchison, MacGregor, McLellan, McRae, Mennie, Nicoll, Radley, van Sweeden and Yuill.

Absent from the division  (1)  -  Councillor Bouse.

The Council resolved:-

to reject the procedural motion.

The Council received a presentation from the Chief Officer - Capital and the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

With reference to Article 14 of the minute of its meeting of 17 April 2024, the Council had before it a report by the Executive Director of Corporate Services which proposed revisions to the Budget Protocol in response to the lessons learned within the first year of operation.

The report recommended:-

that the Council approve the revised Budget Protocol at appendix A.

Councillor McLellan moved, seconded by Councillor Yuill:-

          That the Council approve the recommendation.

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

That the Council approve the recommendation subject to the following proposed changes (as shown below in bold) being made to the Budget Protocol:-

1.    TEN working days prior to the Council meeting, agenda papers (including the budget options) will be published. This is ahead of the statutory deadline for the publication of Council papers (e.g. for a Wednesday meeting, agenda papers must be published on the Wednesday, fourteen calendar days prior to the meeting). 

2.    By noon on the 4^th working day prior to the date of the meeting (e.g. for a Wednesday meeting, such submission must take place by noon on the preceding Thursday), Elected Members will submit their Draft proposed budgets to the Chief Officer - Finance, complying with the requirements for a General Fund Budget listed below. This is referenced in Standing Order 29.2, which may be subject to change following the August 2024 meeting. 

3.    Elected Members will work with the Chief Officer - Finance to make adjustments required to ensure the competency of their budgets; and with the Chief Officer - People and Citizen Services to finalise equalities impact assessments. 

4.    Elected Members will provide their final competent budget and final sign-off for publication to the Chief Officer - Finance, complying with the requirements for a General Fund Budget listed below by no later than 12 noon on the last working day before the meeting (e.g. for a Wednesday meeting, such sign-off will be given no later than 12 noon on Tuesday). 

5.    The Chief Officer - Governance will publish all competent budgets no later than noon on the last working day before the meeting (e.g. for a Wednesday meeting, such publication will take place no later than noon on Tuesday).

6.    Only budgets published following these stages will be considered at the Budget Meeting.

7.    Officers should ensure that press releases issued following budgets are accurate.

On a division, there voted:-

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

For the amendment  (20)  -  Councillors Ali, Blake, Bonsell, Brooks, Crockett, Cross, Farquhar, Graham, Grant, Houghton, Kusznir, Lawrence, Macdonald, McLeod, Malik, Massey, Mrs Stewart, Thomson, Tissera and Watson.

Absent from the division  (1)  -  Councillor Bouse.

The Council resolved:-

to adopt the motion.

With reference to Article 11 of the minute of meeting of the Anti-Poverty and Inequality Committee of 12 June 2024, the Council had before it a report by the Executive Director of Corporate Services which sought approval for the allocation of funds by the Anti-Poverty and Inequality Committee to mitigate the ongoing cost of living crisis.

The report recommended:-

that the Council -

(a)           approve the allocation of funds agreed by the Anti-Poverty and Inequality Committee on 12 June 2024; and

(b)           agree that the remaining funding balance be allocated by the Anti-Poverty and Inequality Committee without the need for further approval from the Finance and Resources Committee or Council.

Councillor Allard moved, seconded by Councillor Greig:-

          That the Council approve the recommendations.

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

That the Council approve the recommendations subject to the addition of the following:-

1.      to provide Aberdeen Cyrenians with £250,000 to help towards fuel poverty; and

2.      to provide AberNecessities with £100,000 to help towards winter clothes for children.

Councillor Kusznir moved as a further amendment, seconded by Councillor Houghton:-

          That the Council -

(1)       agrees the allocation of funds that do not include staffing costs;

(2)       believes that in general, staffing costs for arm’s length charitable organisations should not be met by Aberdeen City Council; and

(3)       further agrees that officers will ask CFINE, SCARF and SHMU for the implications of not awarding staffing costs so that a future Anti-Poverty and Inequality Committee can decide.

There being a motion and two amendments, the Council first divided between the two amendments.

On a division, there voted:-

For the amendment by Councillor Malik  (13)  -  Councillors Ali, Blake, Bonsell, Crockett, Graham, Grant, Lawrence, Macdonald, Malik, Mrs Stewart, Thomson, Tissera and Watson.

For the amendment by Councillor Kusznir  (8)  -  Councillors Boulton, Brooks, Cross, Farquhar, Houghton, Kusznir, McLeod and Massey.

Declined to vote  (22)  -  Lord Provost; Depute Provost; and Councillors Al-Samarai, Allard, Alphonse, Hazel Cameron, Clark, Cooke, Copland, Cormie, Davidson, Greig, Henrickson, Hutchison, MacGregor, McLellan, McRae, Mennie, Nicoll, Radley, van Sweeden and Yuill.

Absent from the division  (1)  -  Councillor Bouse.

The Council then divided between the motion and the amendment by Councillor Malik.

On a division, there voted:-

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

For the amendment by Councillor Malik  (13)  -  Councillors Ali, Blake, Bonsell, Crockett, Graham, Grant, Lawrence, Macdonald, Malik, Mrs Stewart, Thomson, Tissera and Watson.

Declined to vote  (8)  -  Councillors Boulton, Brooks, Cross, Farquhar, Houghton, Kusznir, McLeod and Massey.

Absent from the division  (1)  -  Councillor Bouse.

The Council resolved:-

to adopt the motion. 

The Council had before it a report by the Executive Director of Corporate Services which sought approval of the appointment of new external advisers to the Anti-Poverty and Inequality Committee.

The report recommended:-

that the Council approve the appointment of two external advisers, as named in the report, to the Anti-Poverty and Inequality Committee.

The Council resolved:-

to approve the recommendation.

The Council had before it a report by the Chief Officer - Strategic Place Planning which advised of the Evidence Report for the Local Development Plan 2028 and sought authority to carry out consultations and produce the Report.

The report recommended:-

that the Council -

(a)           instruct the Chief Officer - Strategic Place Planning to carry out engagement to inform the production of the draft Evidence Report and associated documents;

(b)           instruct the Chief Officer - Strategic Place Planning to carry out a formal

consultation on the draft Evidence Report once produced; and

(c)           instruct the Chief Officer - Strategic Place Planning to report the results of the consultation (including any unresolved issues) and finalised Evidence Report back to Full Council in mid-2025, prior to being sent to the Scottish Ministers for Gate Check.

The Council resolved:-

to approve the recommendations. 

The Council had before it a report by the Executive Director of Corporate Services which introduced the Volunteer Charter and recommended that Aberdeen City Council become a Charter Champion.

The report recommended:-

that the Council -

(a)           agree that Aberdeen City Council become a Volunteer Charter Champion; and

(b)           agree that the Council Co-Leaders pledge their support for the Volunteer Charter.

The Council resolved:-

(i)             to note that the Chief Officer - People and Citizen Services would liaise with Councillor Lawrence following the meeting regarding his query about volunteers at community learning centres in Bucksburn and Dyce; and

(ii)           to approve the recommendations.

The Lord Provost advised that he was bringing forward agenda item 9.9 to be considered at this point.

With reference to Article 13 of the minute of its meeting of 7 February 2024, the Council had before it a report by the Chief Officer - Governance which sought final approval of the list of polling districts and polling places following public consultation.

The report recommended:-

that the Council -

(a)           agree the recommended changes to polling districts outlined in the report to Council of 7 February 2024 (COM/24/033) without alteration;

(b)           agree the recommended changes to polling places outlined in the report to Council of 7 February 2024 (COM/24/033) with two alterations as described in section 3.6 of the report.

The Council resolved:-

(i)             to approve the recommendations; and

(ii)           to note that officers were continuing to search for an alternative polling place to use instead of Broomhill Primary School, and to welcome any suggestions in that regard.

The Council had before it a report by the Executive Director of Corporate Services which presented the refreshed Local Outcome Improvement Plan (LOIP) 2016-26 and three underpinning Locality Plans for North, South and Central approved by the Community Planning Aberdeen (CPA) Board on 29 April 2024.

The report recommended:-

that the Council -

(a)           endorse the refreshed LOIP 2016-26 presented at Appendix 1; and

(b)           endorse the three refreshed Locality Plans for North, South and Central presented at Appendices 4, 5 and 6.

The Council resolved:-

to approve the recommendations.

The Council had before it a report by the Chief Officer - Finance which provided an update on Treasury Management activities undertaken during the financial year 2023/24.

The report recommended:-

that the Council consider and note the Treasury Management activities undertaken in the 2023/24 financial year as detailed in the report.

The Council resolved:-

(i)             to note the Treasury Management activities undertaken in the 2023/24 financial year as detailed in the report; and

(ii)           to agree that the next report should include information about the service concession monies used in the 2024/25 budget.

In accordance with Article 3 of the minute, Councillor Grant left the meeting for the following item.

With reference to Article 16 of the minute of its meeting of 7 February 2024, the Council had before it a report by the Chief Officer - City Development and Regeneration which presented the completed Culture Delivery and Funding Review with recommendations on issues identified.

The report recommended:-

that the Council -

(a)           note the findings and recommendations of the Cultural Funding and Delivery Review Report as detailed in Appendix 1;

(b)           note the progress in developing a Culture Investment Framework and application process, which would be presented to the August Finance and Resources Committee for approval; and

(c)           instruct the Chief Officer - City Development and Regeneration to undertake work to develop the Creative Industries Action Plan to build capacity and resilience within the creative sector and provide clarity of vision.

The Council resolved:-

to approve the recommendations.

The Lord Provost advised that he was bringing forward the notices of motion (agenda items 10.1 to 10.4) to be considered at this point.

Council notes the unprecedented housing and homelessness issues affecting tenants and potential tenants in Aberdeen.

Recognises the extreme pressures facing housing and homelessness services in Aberdeen today. 

These pressures exist despite the best endeavours and professionalism of officers within the Council that have seen a number of positive achievements. These include:

The Aberdeen Labour decisions alongside our coalition partners 2017-2022 to build 2,000 new Council homes on top of procuring over 4,000 Affordable homes with Registered Social Landlords.

This has resulted in

·          Dyce new Builds Completed

·          Auchmill Road New builds Completed.

·          Summerhill New Build has now achieved Practical Completion for all blocks

·          Tillydrone New Build has now achieved Practical Completion for all blocks

·          Cloverhill New Build is progressing as planned

·          Kaimhill New Build is nearing completion,

·          Greenferns and Greenferns Landward are progressing to achieve RIBA 3 completion

·          Craighill New Build is out to tender

·          Kincorth New Build tender documentation is being finalised; and

·          206 Union Street works have commenced

However, the number of households assessed as homeless or in housing need waiting for a home to call their own remains of significant concern.

As detailed in the reports to the Communities, Housing and Public Protection Committee:

·          Homeless applications are at a 13 year high at the end of March 2024, with levels recorded (1,481) not seen since the same period in 2010/11

·          442 Statutory Homeless Households Residing in Temporary Accommodation at end March 2024.

·          Only 30 % of Unintentional homeless decisions reached within 21 Days

·          161 days the Average length of journey in days for applicants assessed as unintentionally homeless at the end of March.

·          The Council are now breaching our duties in accordance with the Unsuitable Accommodation Order, by having households in unsuitable accommodation for longer than 7 days.

·          237.7 The YTD Average time taken to re-let all properties (Citywide - days) against a target of 125 days at the end of March 2024.

·          The YTD Void Rent Loss figure for 2023/24 is £7,805,806 this equates to 7.91% of the gross debit (rent due) which is a significant increase when compared with the same period last year where the figure stood at £5,271,632 (5.70%).

·          Planned maintenance projects such as in Summerhill have been put on hold.

·          In April 2022, 4,750 applications were on the waiting list for housing, this has grown to 6,658 in May 2024

These issues have been exasperated by the following.

·          We have 366 houses identified as uninhabitable due to RAAC and a massive transfer operation in place for Council tenants.

·          Of the 366 houses, 138 are privately owned properties whose owners have been virtually neglected by ACC, The Scottish Administration and the UK Government, families face ruin and bankruptcy and this should not be allowed to happen in a Civil Society.

·          The Housing Revenue account is funding the majority of the costs currently being incurred and faces unprecedented financial pressures. .

This a perilous situation and one that requires action today. 

That the Council therefore agrees to:-

-           Declare a Housing Emergency in Aberdeen today.  ...  view the full agenda text for item 18.

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

“Council notes the unprecedented housing and homelessness issues affecting tenants and potential tenants in Aberdeen.

Recognises the extreme pressures facing housing and homelessness services in Aberdeen today. 

These pressures exist despite the best endeavours and professionalism of officers within the Council that have seen a number of positive achievements. These include:

The Aberdeen Labour decisions alongside our coalition partners 2017-2022 to build 2,000 new Council homes on top of procuring over 4,000 Affordable homes with Registered Social Landlords.

This has resulted in

·     Dyce new Builds Completed

·     Auchmill Road New Builds Completed.

·     Summerhill New Build has now achieved Practical Completion for all blocks

·     Tillydrone New Build has now achieved Practical Completion for all blocks

·     Cloverhill New Build is progressing as planned

·     Kaimhill New Build is nearing completion,

·     Greenferns and Greenferns Landward are progressing to achieve RIBA 3 completion

·     Craighill New Build is out to tender

·     Kincorth New Build tender documentation is being finalised; and

·     206 Union Street works have commenced

However, the number of households assessed as homeless or in housing need waiting for a home to call their own remains of significant concern.

As detailed in the reports to the Communities, Housing and Public Protection Committee:

·       Homeless applications are at a 13 year high at the end of March 2024, with levels recorded (1,481) not seen since the same period in 2010/11

·       442 Statutory Homeless Households Residing in Temporary Accommodation at end March 2024.

·       Only 30% of Unintentional homeless decisions reached within 21 Days

·       161 days the Average length of journey in days for applicants assessed as unintentionally homeless at the end of March.

·       The Council are now breaching our duties in accordance with the Unsuitable Accommodation Order, by having households in unsuitable accommodation for longer than 7 days.

·       237.7 the YTD Average time taken to re-let all properties (Citywide - days) against a target of 125 days at the end of March 2024.

·       The YTD Void Rent Loss figure for 2023/24 is £7,805,806 this equates to 7.91% of the gross debit (rent due) which is a significant increase when compared with the same period last year where the figure stood at £5,271,632 (5.70%).

·       Planned maintenance projects such as in Summerhill have been put on hold.

·       In April 2022, 4,750 applications were on the waiting list for housing, this has grown to 6,658 in May 2024

These issues have been exasperated by the following.

·     We have 366 houses identified as uninhabitable due to RAAC and a massive transfer operation in place for Council tenants.

·     Of the 366 houses, 138 are privately owned properties whose owners have been virtually neglected by ACC, The Scottish Administration and the UK Government, families face ruin and bankruptcy and this should not be allowed to happen in a Civil Society.

·     The Housing Revenue Account is funding the majority of the costs currently being incurred and faces unprecedented financial pressures.

This a perilous situation and one that requires action today.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 18.

That the Council:-

1.    Notes the resignation of the Rt Hon Humza Yousaf MSP as First Minister of Scotland;

2.    Considers that as First Minister Humza Yousaf spent little time in Aberdeen beyond attending SNP Conference and never formally met with the Council Co-Leaders; and

3.    Therefore agrees to instruct the Chief Executive to write to the new First Minister of Scotland:

                          i.       reconfirming the Council’s willingness to work with the devolved administration in delivering projects of benefit to the people of Aberdeen;

                         ii.      outlining the contribution of Aberdeen to Scotland and the UK’s economy;

                        iii.       noting the historic underfunding of Aberdeen City Council by Holyrood and calling for remedial action; and

                       iv.       asking them to meet with the Co-Leaders at the earliest opportunity given the failure of both previous First Ministers to meet the Co-Leaders.

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

“That the Council:-

1.    Notes the resignation of the Rt Hon Humza Yousaf MSP as First Minister of Scotland;

2.    Considers that as First Minister Humza Yousaf spent little time in Aberdeen beyond attending SNP Conference and never formally met with the Council Co-Leaders; and

3.    Therefore agrees to instruct the Chief Executive to write to the new First Minister of Scotland:

                             i.       reconfirming the Council’s willingness to work with the devolved administration in delivering projects of benefit to the people of Aberdeen;

                            ii.        outlining the contribution of Aberdeen to Scotland and the UK’s economy;

                           iii.       noting the historic underfunding of Aberdeen City Council by Holyrood and calling for remedial action; and

                          iv.       asking them to meet with the Co-Leaders at the earliest opportunity given the failure of both previous First Ministers to meet the Co-Leaders.”

The Council resolved:-

to refer the notice of motion to the Finance and Resources Committee.

That the Council:

1. Notes with concern Stagecoach's announcement on 13 June 2024 of the proposed cancellation of its 22A and 22B bus routes which service Torry and Lochside Academy with the 21A bus route from Cove to Lochside Academy also facing being scrapped;
2. Recognises that this follows on from Aberdeen City Council cutting its subsidy of the route for pupils; and
3. Instructs the Chief Executive to (a) write to Stagecoach's North Scotland Managing Director David Beaton noting the impact on local pupils; and (b) respond to the consultation noting the negative impact on the Torry community; and
4. Instructs the Executive Director of Families and Communities to prepare an impact report to be submitted to the Education and Children's Services Committee with proposed actions to ameliorate.

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

“That the Council:

1. Notes with concern Stagecoach's announcement on 13 June 2024 of the proposed cancellation of its 22A and 22B bus routes which service Torry and Lochside Academy with the 21A bus route from Cove to Lochside Academy also facing being scrapped;
2. Recognises that this follows on from Aberdeen City Council cutting its subsidy of the route for pupils;
3. Instructs the Chief Executive to (a) write to Stagecoach's North Scotland Managing Director David Beaton noting the impact on local pupils; and (b) respond to the consultation noting the negative impact on the Torry community; and
4. Instructs the Executive Director of Families and Communities to prepare an impact report to be submitted to the Education and Children's Services Committee with proposed actions to ameliorate.”

The Council resolved:-

to refer the notice of motion to the Finance and Resources Committee.

That Aberdeen City Council:

1.    notes that anti-social behaviour includes street drinking, fist fights, drug taking and dealing, aggressive begging and recognises that anti-social behaviour incidents in the city centre are causing increasing concern to residents, businesses and those who work, shop and visit the area;

2.    notes that Aberdeen holds Scotland's only Purple Flag accredited city centre status and that efforts should continue to retain this accreditation; and

3.    instructs the Chief Officer - Governance to co-ordinate a further report from the Community Safety Partnership to the Communities, Housing and Public Protection Committee on current efforts to manage anti-social behaviour in the city centre and on approaches to offering wider system awareness and understanding of the issues.

The Council had before it a joint notice of motion by Councillors Macdonald and Malik in the following terms:-

“That Aberdeen City Council:

1.    notes that anti-social behaviour includes street drinking, fist fights, drug taking and dealing, aggressive begging and recognises that anti-social behaviour incidents in the city centre are causing increasing concern to residents, businesses and those who work, shop and visit the area;

2.    notes that Aberdeen holds Scotland's only Purple Flag accredited city centre status and that efforts should continue to retain this accreditation; and

3.    instructs the Chief Officer - Governance to co-ordinate a further report from the Community Safety Partnership to the Communities, Housing and Public Protection Committee on current efforts to manage anti-social behaviour in the city centre and on approaches to offering wider system awareness and understanding of the issues.”

The Council resolved:-

to refer the joint notice of motion to the Communities, Housing and Public Protection Committee.

In accordance with Article 2 of the minute, the Council considered the following item of business with the press and public excluded.

With reference to Article 17 of this minute, the Council had before it exempt appendices relating to the abovementioned report.

The Council resolved:-

to note the exempt appendices.

The Lord Provost advised that the meeting was approaching the six hour time limit as specified within Standing Order 40.2 and therefore the meeting would finish at this juncture, with items which had not been considered to be carried forward to subsequent Council meetings.

The Lord Provost noted that six Councillors were standing as candidates in the General Election on 4 July and wished them well.