Agenda, decisions and draft minutes

The Council had before it 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 section 62 Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 as amended and section 20 of the Local Government in Scotland Act 2003 as amended.”

Councillor Malik moved, seconded by Councillor Tissera:-

            That the Council -

1.      Notes the Council, in terms of the requisition, is entitled to make its own Standing Orders.

2.      Notes the decision by the Convener, Councillor Radley, at the Communities, Housing and Public Protection Committee who refused to allow a vote on referring the Viability Assessment of Proposals from Owners of Properties with RAAC to the full Council in breach of Standing Order 34.1.

3.      Notes this omission was confirmed in writing by the Chief Officer - Governance after the event.

4.      Agrees this matter is before Council today not because this matter was not progressed to Council but because the Convener, Councillor Radley, acted out with her powers as SO 36.2 makes it clear matters of competency and relevancy are matters for the Convener UNLESS otherwise specified. Clearly SO 34.1 is otherwise specified.

5.      Agrees that Officers as well as Members are guardians of governance and competency within the committee system. 

6.      Agrees despite Officers taking Members through changes to Standing Orders on 16^th April 2025 at Full Council, Officers were not afforded an opportunity to confirm their understanding of the Standing Order nor asked for advice.  Aberdeen Labour suggest that Officers should intervene when there is a potential breach of Standing Orders or legislation.

7.      Notes the Council in terms of the requisition has powers to advance well-being. 

8.      Agrees Elected Members were not advised about discretionary powers under section 20 Local Government in Scotland Act 2003 in February 2024 at the Urgent Business Committee meeting and if they had known about these discretionary powers a differing position might have been taken.

9.      Agrees to acknowledge the powers available to Council and instructs the Chief Officer - Governance to produce a note as to the legal position regarding the propositions put by the Torry RAAC Campaign Group Management Committee to the Communities, Housing and Public Protection Committee on 27^th May 2025.

Councillor Allard moved as an amendment, seconded by Councillor Greig:-

            That the Council take no action.

After eight Members had spoken, in terms of Standing Order 31.1, Councillor McLellan moved as a procedural motion, seconded by Councillor Henrickson:-

            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, Buchanan, 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 Blake, Bonsell, Boulton, Brooks, Crockett, Farquhar, Graham, Grant, Lawrence, McLeod, Malik, Massey, Nicoll, Thomson and Tissera.

Absent from the division  (1)  -  Councillor Kusznir.

The  ...  view the full minutes text for item 1.