Agenda, decisions and draft minutes

The Lord Provost invited Councillor Tissera to introduce two guests who were in the public gallery. Councillor Tissera welcomed Dr JAP Jayasinghe, a Professor at the University of Aberdeen Dental School, and Major General Sajith Liyanage of the Sri Lankan Army.

The Council resolved:-

to welcome Dr Jayasinghe and Major General Liyanage.

Councillor Hutchison advised that he had a connection in relation to the agenda item as he was the owner-occupier of a property within the city centre footprint, however having applied the objective test he did not consider that he had an interest and would not be withdrawing from the meeting.

Councillor Cooke advised that he had a connection as he was a Council appointed observer to the Board of Sport Aberdeen, however having applied the objective test he did not consider that he had an interest and would not be withdrawing from the meeting.

Councillor Henrickson advised that he had a connection as a minor shareholder in Aberdeen Football Club, 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 advised that he had a connection by reason of his employment by Aberdeen Inspired, however having applied the objective test he did not consider that he had an interest would not be withdrawing from the meeting.

The Council had before the wording of the written request for this special Council meeting which had been signed by 12 members in accordance with Standing Order 8.2.2:-

“The business to be transacted relates to the business regarding City Centre and Beach Masterplan.”

Councillor Malik moved, seconded by Councillor Blake:-

          That the Council -

(a)       notes the City Centre Masterplan was unanimously agreed by Council in 2015.

(b)       notes that the City Centre Masterplan outlines a 20 year development strategy for Aberdeen city centre and notes it identifies a series of ambitious but deliverable projects that support future economic growth and will help secure more benefits and opportunities for the communities of Aberdeen.

(c)        notes that the multi-million projects include the creation of a new city market and the revitalisation of the beach area with plans for a pier, new green hub and a state of the art sports area which could include a new stadium for Aberdeen FC.

(d)       agrees that the Beach Development Framework is designed to capitalise on the built and natural assets of the area which is a tourism priority in its own right.

(e)       agrees that the SNP administration has got itself into a complete mess with the City Centre and Beach Masterplan undoing all the good work of the previous administration which worked with citizens, businesses, organisations and cross party to deliver for the people of Aberdeen.

(f)         agrees that the SNP administration are making a huge and expensive mistake by not investing sufficiently in the beach redevelopment.

(g)       agrees that, for the Council to move forward with confidence, officers must provide clarity to citizens of Aberdeen in the budget process on the total cost of projects outlined in Appendix 1 of the report CR&E/24/231 - City Centre and Beach Masterplan that is now destined for Finance and Resources Committee.

Councillor McLellan moved as an amendment, seconded by the Depute Provost:-

Council notes that the Council agreed to refer a report on the City Centre and Beach Masterplan to the Finance and Resources Committee for consideration on 12 September 2024 and therefore that no action be taken at this time. 

After ten Members had spoken, in terms of Standing Order 31.1, Councillor Greig moved as procedural motion, seconded by Councillor Cooke:-  

          That no further debate take place.

On a division, there voted:-

For the procedural 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, McRae, Mennie, Radley, van Sweeden and Yuill.

Against the procedural motion  (15)  -  Councillors Ali, Blake, Bonsell, Boulton, Brooks, Crockett, Farquhar, Graham, Grant, Lawrence, Macdonald, McLeod, Malik, Tissera and Thomson. 

The Council resolved:-

to adopt the procedural motion and therefore proceed to summing up.

In terms of Standing Order 32.8, Councillors Brooks and Crockett intimated their dissent against the foregoing decision.

On a division, there voted:-

For the motion  (13)  -  Councillors Ali, Blake, Bonsell, Brooks, Farquhar, Graham, Grant, Lawrence,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.