Agenda and minutes

The agenda and reports associated with this minute can be found at:-

http://councilcommittees/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=140&MId=1909&Ver=4

None at present.

The Committee had before it a request for deputation from Mr. Mike Shepherd in relation to item 3.2 (Motion by Councillor Kevin Stewart, MSP – Possible Referendum).

The Committee resolved:-

to hear the request for deputation from Mr. Mike Shepherd in relation to item 3.2 (Motion by Councillor Kevin Stewart, MSP – Possible Referendum) on the agenda.

The Committee had before it the minute of its previous meeting of 13 September, 2011.

The Committee resolved:-

to approve the minute as an accurate record.

The Committee had before it a statement of pending and outstanding Committee Business, which had been prepared by the Head of Legal and Democratic Services.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)     to delete item 10 (General Fund Revenue Budget 2011/2012 and Indicative 2012/2013 to 2015/2016 Budget);

(ii)    to delete items 1 (Strategic Transportation Projects), 7 (Night Time Bus Improvements), 12 actions (vii) and (viii) (Minute of Controlled Areas Parking Working Party), 13 (Securing the Benefits from the Next Energy Revolution Policy Statement), 16 (Driveway Application Appeals at 150 Bonnyview Drive and 40 Longview Terrace, Aberdeen), subject to the matters being dealt with later on the agenda;

(iii)   to note that a report on item 24 (Internal Audit - Summary of Audit Findings - Report by Pricewaterhouse Coopers) would be submitted to the Enterprise, Planning and Infrastructure Committee at its meeting on 15 November, 2011; and

(iv)   to otherwise note the updates contained within the statement.

The Committee had before it a statement of outstanding motions under the Committee’s remit which had been prepared by the Head of Legal and Democratic Services.

In relation to motion 1 (Former Councillor Cassie – Extension to Controlled Parking Zone in Garthdee), the Committee heard from Mr. Mike Cheyne, General Manager Operations, who advised that the matter was now being undertaken alongside the current development of the university’s campus.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)         in relation to motion 1 (Former Councillor Cassie – Extension to Controlled Parking Zone in Garthdee), to note the update from Mr. Mike Cheyne, General Manager Operations, and therefore to remove from the outstanding list; 

(ii)        to note that reports on motion 2 (Motion by Councillor Kevin Stewart, MSP – Possible Referendum) and motion 3 (Motion by Councillor Young – Signage at Ashwood Parade) were to be considered later on today’s agenda;  and

(iii)       to otherwise note the updates contained within the outstanding list.

“Council is asked to set up a working party to explore the possibility of changing the whole structure of traffic speed controls within the city of Aberdeen.

Such a study should start from the principle of having all housing sub divisions designated as 20mph traffic zones within arterial or main roads being designated as 30 or 40mph maximum speed zones.

The objective is to create standardisation in the interests of road safety and to alleviate confusion in the minds of drivers. This has become necessary due to the vast array of speed bumps, mandatory 20mph roads and advisory 20mph roads. As a result of these changes it is intended to educate the public in terms of safe driving.

The working group should comprise Council officers and token Councillor representation, reporting to Council or Committee as necessary.”

With reference to article 22 of the minute of the meeting of Council of 6 October, 2011, the Committee had before it the following motion which had been submitted by Councillor Farquharson:-

            “Council is asked to set up a working party to explore the possibility of changing the whole structure of traffic speed controls within the city of Aberdeen.   Such a study should start from the principle of having all housing sub divisions designated as 20mph traffic zones within arterial or main roads being designated as 30 or 40mph maximum speed zones.

            The objective is to create standardisation in the interests of road safety and to alleviate confusion in the minds of drivers. This has become necessary due to the vast array of speed bumps, mandatory 20mph roads and advisory 20mph roads. As a result of these changes it is intended to educate the public in terms of safe driving.

            The working group should comprise Council officers and token Councillor representation, reporting to Council or Committee as necessary.”

Councillor Farquharson was in attendance, and moved his motion during which he explained the rationale behind his request.

The Committee resolved:-

to agree that a Working Group should not be established for this purpose, and instead to request officers to submit a report on the terms of the motion to a future meeting of the Enterprise, Planning and Infrastructure Committee.

(A)       In terms of Standing Order 10(2), and as agreed at the beginning of the meeting (see article 1 above), the Committee received a deputation from Mr. Shepherd of Friends of Union Terrace Gardens, in relation to the above-named report.

Mr. Shepherd expressed Friends of Union Terrace Gardens support for a referendum being held in relation to the future of Union Terrace Gardens. He also recommended that should a referendum be held, that this be conducted by an independent body and advised that a question with only a yes/no answer option was unacceptable to Friends of Union Terrace Gardens. Mr. Shepherd emphasised the importance of a referendum being independent, fair and binding. Finally, he highlighted that a number of issues still required to be resolved, most notably the land ownership issue, and suggested that the option to hold an opinion poll, instead of a referendum, would be vastly unpopular.

(B)       With reference to article 9 of the minute of the meeting of the Enterprise, Planning and Infrastructure Committee of 13 September, 2011, the Committee had before it a report regarding the following motion which had been submitted by Councillor Kevin Stewart, MSP:-

“That this Council agrees, in principle, that a referendum on the future of Union Terrace Gardens be held after the City Garden Design competition was completed, calls on officers to produce a report about the practicalities and costings of holding a postal ballot of all Aberdeen electors and asked officers to investigate sourcing funding for the referendum from bodies other than the Council.”

The report recommended:-

that the Committee –

(a)       note the content of the report; 

(b)       agree to:-

                  (i)      hold a public referendum in accordance with Section 5.3(i)-(xxi) of the report, to gauge public support for the City Garden Project, and

                  (ii)     instruct officers to produce a further report for submission to the Finance and Resources Committee requesting that a budget of up to £250,000 be allocated, from the Council’s contingencies budget, to pay for the referendum;  and

(c)        instruct officers to produce a report for submission to Council at its meeting on 14 December, 2011, seeking approval for the wording of any referendum question, should the Finance and Resources Committee agree to allocate the necessary funding for the referendum.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)     to note the contents of the report, and to thank officers for the considerable work which had gone into its preparation;

(ii)    to agree to  refer the report to the consideration of Council on 14 December, 2011;

(iii)   to instruct officers to report to Council on 14 December, 2011, detailing the cost and feasibility of an independently conducted, statistically significant opinion poll as an alternative way of judging the level of public support for the project. This report should include the feasibility of including young people over the age of 16 in the sample, as well as information on the feasibility of holding a separate stand alone referendum for secondary school children;

(iv)   to instruct officers to produce a report  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

"That Council instructs officers to liaise with the Ashwood Parade business community in the Bridge of Don to investigate ways in which better signage and better awareness of their businesses can be obtained to the betterment of both the residents of Ashwood Parade and to the business community of Ashwood Parade."

With reference to article 10 of the minute of meeting of the Enterprise, Planning and Infrastructure Committee of 13 September, 2011, the Committee had before it a report regarding the following motion which had been submitted by Councillor Young:-

            "That Council instructs officers to liaise with the Ashwood Parade business community in the Bridge of Don to investigate ways in which better signage and better awareness of their businesses can be obtained to the betterment of both the residents of Ashwood Parade and to the business community of Ashwood Parade."

The report recommended:-

that the Committee –

(a)       note the content of the report and the measures that officers had recently discussed with the tenants of the business units; 

(b)       agree that no further action should be taken with regard to the implementation of additional signage until the owner of the shop units had applied for formal addresses to the properties;  and

(c)        instruct officers to agree, supply and implement additional signage from the Whitestripes Avenue area within the Bridge of Don if requested to and paid for by the businesses.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)         to approve the recommendations as contained in the report;  and

(ii)        to remove the motion from the outstanding motions list.

The Committee had before it a report by the Director of Corporate Governance which provided an update on the recommendation made at the last meeting of the Fairtrade City Working Group that the Group be disbanded and replaced with a Fairtrade City Steering Group.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee ratify the decision taken at the meeting of the Fairtrade City Working Group of 7 June, 2011 and therefore agree to disband the Working Group.

The Committee resolved:-

to approve the recommendation.

With reference to article 20 of the minute of the meeting of the Enterprise, Planning and Infrastructure Committee of 13 September, 2011, the Committee had before it a joint report by the Director of Enterprise, Planning and Infrastructure and the Head of Finance, which highlighted the current year revenue budget performance to date for the Services which related to the Committee and advised on any areas of risk and management action taken.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee –

(a)       note the performance to date;  the forecast outturn, and the information on risks and management action that was contained therein;

(b)       instruct officers to continue to review budget performance and report on Service strategies as required to ensure a balanced budget;  and

(c)        instruct officers to report, in due course, on the actual outturn compared to budget following completion of the 2011/2012 financial statements.

The Committee resolved:-

to approve the recommendations as contained in the report.

With reference to article 21 of the minute of the meeting of the Enterprise, Planning and Infrastructure Committee of 13 September, 2011, the Committee had before it a joint report by the Director of Enterprise, Planning and Infrastructure and the Head of Finance, which provided an update on the capital spend to date for the Enterprise, Planning and Infrastructure projects included within the Non-Housing Capital Programme.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee note the current position.

The Convener, seconded by Councillor Noble, moved:-

that the recommendation in the report be approved.

Councillor Allan, seconded by Councillor Adam, moved as an amendment:-

that the Committee recommend to the Finance and Resources Committee that £1million from the projected £2,188,000 under spend from the Marischal College  project be vired to the Education, Culture and Sport service budget for allocation to the upgrading of Tullos Swimming Pool.

On a division, there voted:- for the motion (10) – the Convener; and Councillors Boulton, Cormack, Jaffrey, Kiddie, MacGregor, McCaig, Noble, Penny and Yuill;  for the amendment (5) – Councillors Adam, Allan, Crockett, Leslie and Young.

The Committee resolved:-

to adopt the motion.

With reference to article 19 of the minute of the meeting of the Enterprise, Planning and Infrastructure Committee of 24 May, 2011, the Committee had before it a report by the Director of Enterprise, Planning and Infrastructure which provided an update regarding the implementation of the ‘Securing the Benefits from the Next Energy Revolution’ policy statement and also advised of both planned and current projects which would further pursue the policy statement.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee –

(a)       agree that officers pursue, participate, prepare bids and travel in connection to obtaining partners and funds from the European Smart Cities Programme, FP7 Projects HyTransit and Smart City Planning, HyTrEc Interreg IVB Project which were explained in Section 5.3 of the report, and pursue other funding for these projects, where possible, with the expenses being met from within existing revenue budgets; 

(b)       approve the submission of a capital bid for the Interreg HyTransit project to the Corporate Asset Group for consideration in the Non-Housing Capital Plans for 2012/2013 to 2015/2016.  The total £1.5 million bid would consist of £375,000 in each financial year, and should be included in the Council approved prioritisation process for future years’ Non-Housing Capital plans;  and

(c)        otherwise note the progress to date.

The Committee resolved:-

to approve the recommendations contained in the report.

The Committee had before it a report by the Director of Enterprise, Planning and Infrastructure which advised on proposals for the future deliveryof theBusiness Gatewayin Scotlandto beincorporated intonew contractsdue tobegin inSeptember, 2012.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee –

(a)       note the success of the Business Gateway arrangements over recent years;

(b)       continue to devolve business start-up activity to the Business Gateway;

(c)        continue to use Aberdeenshire as the management agent for Aberdeen City and Shire Business Gateway funding;

(d)       agree with the proposed new contract arrangements (and suggested local amendments), outlined in Appendix A to the report;  and

(e)       nominate two Councillors to participate in the Invitation to Tender (ITT) process, subject to legal advice being received.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)         to approve the recommendations as contained within the report;  and

(ii)        to agree that the Convener and Vice-Convener participate in the Invitation to Tender process, subject to advice from legal services being received.

With reference to article 24 of the minute of the meeting of the Enterprise, Planning and Infrastructure Committee of 13 September, 2011, the Committee had before it a report by the Director of Enterprise, Planning and Infrastructure which provided an update on the current position in relation to the establishment of Visit Aberdeen Limited, a Destination Marketing Organisation (DMO) for Aberdeen.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee –

(a)       note that regular reports on Visit Aberdeen Limited would be provided to the Enterprise, Planning and Infrastructure Committee for consideration and, where appropriate, action;  and

(b)       agree three Council members as Directors on the new Visit Aberdeen Limited Board;  and

(c)        otherwise note the content of the report.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)         to approve the recommendations contained in the report;  and

(ii)        to agree that the three Directors on the new Visit Aberdeen Limited Board be appointed on the basis of one SNP member, one Liberal Democrat member and one opposition member, with the opposition member being Councillor Allan.

The Committee had before it a report by the Director of Enterprise, Planning and Infrastructure which sought approval for the City Events and Twinning Programme of events and activity for 2012/2013.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee –

(a)       support the revised City Events and Twinning Programme of events and activity for 2012/2013;

(c)        support an increase in financial support from the Common Good Fund as detailed in the report, to ensure the continued success of Aberdeen’s existing annual events programme, as well as additional activities that grow and develop the City’s events offering;

(c)        refer the report to the Finance and Resource Committee to consider the request for monies from the Common Good Fund;  and

(d)       otherwise note the content of the report.

The Committee resolved:-

to approve the recommendations as contained in the report.

The Committee had before it a report by the Director of Enterprise, Planning and Infrastructure which sought approval for a new item of draft Supplementary Guidance relating to domestic or householder development, to be issued for public consultation, which would commence on Friday, 25 November, and end on 20 January, 2012.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee –

(a)       approve the Householder Development Guide draft Supplementary Guidance document for eight weeks public consultation;  and

(b)       agree that following completion of the relevant consultation, any comments received and subsequent amendments to the draft Supplementary Guidance be presented to a future meeting of the Enterprise, Planning and Infrastructure Committee.

The Committee resolved:-

to approve the recommendations as contained in the report.

The Committee had before it a report by the Director of Enterprise, Planning and Infrastructure which sought approval for a new item of draft Technical Advice, on the repair and replacement of windows and doors, to be issued for public consultation, with the consultation period running from 25 November, 2011 until 20 January, 2012.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee –

(a)       approve the Repair and Replacement of Windows and Doors Technical Advice Note document for an eight week public consultation;  and

(b)       agree that following completion of the relevant consultation, any comments received and subsequent amendments to the draft advice be presented to a future meeting of the Enterprise, Planning and Infrastructure Committee.

The Committee resolved:-

to approve the recommendations as contained in the report.

The Committee had before it a report by the Director of Enterprise, Planning and Infrastructure which sought approval for a new item of draft Supplementary Guidance, on wind turbines, to be issued for public consultation, with the public consultation running from 25 November, 2011 until 20 January, 2012.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee –

(a)       approve the draft Wind Turbines Supplementary Guidance document for an eightweek public consultation;  and

(b)       agree that following completion of the relevant consultation, any comments received and subsequent amendments to the draft guidance be presented to a future meeting of the Enterprise, Planning and Infrastructure Committee.

The Committee resolved:-

to approve the recommendations as contained in the report.

With reference to article 26 of the minute of the meeting of the Enterprise, Planning and Infrastructure Committee of 24 May, 2011, the Committee had before it a report by the Director of Enterprise, Planning and Infrastructure which advised of the responses received to the consultation exercise on the Energetica Placemaking documents (Supplementary Guidance, Advice and Overview) that took place between 1 August, 2011 and 23 September, 2011.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee –

(a)       agree the changes to the Energetica Placemaking Supplementary Guidance as detailed in Appendices 1 and 2 to the report, and to approve the document as interim planning advice pending adoption of the Aberdeen Local Development Plan, at which time it would become supplementary guidance to that plan;  and

(b)       agree, in principle, the recommended changes to the Energetica Placemaking Planning Advice and Overview documents as detailed in Appendices 3 and 4 to the report respectively to be amended in partnership with Aberdeenshire Council and Scottish Enterprise and agree that the Planning Advice be promoted as a guide to how the Supplementary Guidance might be delivered.

The Committee resolved:-

to approve the recommendations as contained in the report.

The Committee had before it a report by the Director of Enterprise, Planning and Infrastructure which proposed various small scale traffic management measures for the above locations.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee –

(a)       approve the proposals, in principle, and instruct officers to commence the necessary legal procedures of the preliminary statutory consultation for the traffic orders as required, and if no significant objections were received, then to progress with the public advertisement and report the results to a future meeting of the Enterprise, Planning and Infrastructure Committee;  and

(b)       instruct officers to commence the combined statutory consultation for the traffic order for the list of Blue Badge parking spaces and report back to a future meeting of the Enterprise, Planning and Infrastructure Committee.

The Committee resolved:-

to approve the recommendations as contained in the report.

With reference to article 4 of the minute of the meeting of the Enterprise, Planning and Infrastructure Committee of 15 March, 2011, the Committee had before it a report by the Director of Enterprise, Planning and Infrastructure which advised of the results of the proposed traffic management scheme on Rose Street, Chapel Street and Marischal Street.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee –

(a)       agree that no further action be taken on the introduction of a one-way operation on Rose Street and Chapel Street;  and

(b)       consider the introduction of a northbound one-way system onto Marischal Street and that the existing any time parking restrictions be revised to provide additional pay and display parking should the one-way operation be approved.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)         to approve recommendation (a) above;  and

(ii)        to take no further action on introducing a one-way system to Marischal Street.

With reference to article 4 of the minute of the meeting of the Enterprise, Planning and Infrastructure Committee of 15 March, 2011, the Committee had before it a report by the Director of Enterprise, Planning and Infrastructure which advised of the updated parking survey information carried out on Albert Terrace as previously agreed by the Committee.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee –

(a)       agree to maintain the existing parking layout on Albert Terrace;  and

(b)       otherwise note the content of the report.

The Committee resolved:-

to approve the recommendation as contained in the report.

With reference to article 4 of the minute of the meeting of the Enterprise, Planning and Infrastructure Committee of 13 September, 2011, the Committee had before it a report by the Director of Enterprise, Planning and Infrastructure which provided a comprehensive explanation of the policy, operational and day-to-day parking patterns in relation to the two driveway applications at 158 Bonnyview Drive and 40 Longview Terrace, Aberdeen.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee refuse both applications for a driveway at 158 Bonnyview Drive and 40 Longview Terrace, Aberdeen, as access in both cases would be from a public parking area which was against the approved policy for driveways and would be detrimental to the general parking provision for the area.

The Committee resolved:-

to defer consideration of the applications until the next meeting of the Committee on 31 January, 2012.

With reference to article 47 of the minute of the meeting of the Enterprise, Planning and Infrastructure Committee of 13 September, 2011, the Committee had before it a report by the Director of Enterprise, Planning and Infrastructure which advised of the progress made to date on various strategic transportation projects within Aberdeen City and the wider area. 

The report recommended:-

that the Committee –

(a)       agree that the Bridge of Don Park and Ride site option short list would be taken forward for further investigation; 

(b)       endorse its development through Nestrans as outlined in Section 15 of the report;  and

(c)        otherwise note the contents of the report.

The Committee resolved:-

to approve the recommendations as contained in the report.

- KATE DEAN, Convener.