Agenda, decisions and minutes

The agenda and reports associated with this minute can be located at the following link:

http://committees.aberdeencity.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=143&MId=2891&Ver=4

Please note that if any changes are made to this minute at the point of approval, these will be outlined in the subsequent minute and this document will not be retrospectively altered.

The Committee had before it two requests for deputation.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)         to hear the deputation from Mr Alex Mess in relation to item 7.6 of the agenda (Community Centres) as the first item of business; and

(ii)        to hear the deputation from Victoria Moore, Caren Masson and John Thomson in relation to item 6.1 of the agenda (Statutory Consultation – Proposals to amalgamate Bramble Brae and Quarryhill school, to amalgamate Glashieburn and Middleton Park schools and to vary the catchment area of Middleton Park School) as the second item of business, and the corresponding report immediately thereafter.

The Convener advised the Committee of a number of good news stories as follows –

• Commonwealth Games Legacy – Four young people had been appointed as Youth Legacy Ambassadors for the city; they were trained with the Youthscot team at Rosemount Community Council and have now started collaborating with Active Schools, Sport Aberdeen, the ACC Sport and Physical Activity Development Officer and the Aberdeen City Youth Council to discuss partnerships and ideas.
• Aberdeen City Centre Through Time – a new book which told the story of Aberdeen city centre over the past 200 years went on sale in December. Aberdeen City Centre Through Time explained the history of the Granite City, from the Bridge of Dee, through the city centre to Old Aberdeen. The book was compiled and written by Chris Croly, a Historian at Aberdeen Art Gallery and Museums, Fiona Musk and Martin Hall, Archivists at Aberdeen City Archives, and Catherine Taylor, Team Librarian within the Council’s Library Service.
• Aberdeen Pupil Voice Group – will be showcased their work during a visit to the Scottish Parliament on 30 January 2014. During their meeting with the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning, Mike Russell they will chair discussions on involving young people and will be grilling the Cabinet Secretary on his plans for Curriculum for Excellence.
• Hazlehead Primary – Micro Tyco/ Wild Hearts and Anderson Anderson Brown – Primary 5, 5/6 and 6 participated in Micro Tyco throughout November 2013. The challenge was to turn the £1 capital, given by Wild Hearts, into as much money as possible during the month of November. The school has developed a partnership with chartered accountants Anderson Anderson Brown, who also participate in the business section of the competition. The pupils planned and organised a number of events including bag packing in Tesco, weekly car washing and a bring and buy sale. The month ended with a “Touch of Tartan” disco and auction. The pupils turned their £1 into £6000, and were placed first in the schools category. The school and its pupils are now looking to plan a joint assembly with Anderson Anderson Brown to receive their award from Colin Downie at Wild Hearts.
• Aberdeen Learning Festival – will take place at the AECC on Tuesday 18 February 2014. This major professional learning event will bring together staff from across the whole of the Education, Culture and Sport Service, providing opportunities for staff in a wide range of roles to share practice and explore their development priorities. It is anticipated that there being over 1000 members of staff in attendance on the day. The theme for this year’s event is “Raising Attainment and Achievement: Improving Outcomes for all Learners”.
• Zoey Clark – University of Aberdeen student Zoey Clark contributed to a fantastic performance by Scotland’s 4x400m relay team at the Sainsbury’s indoor international track and field meeting at Glasgow’s Emirates Arena at the weekend. Zoey, who is coached by Reverend McKenna, finished second and set a Scottish National and Native record in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.

The Convener proposed that item 7.6 of today’s agenda (Community Centres - article 19 of this minute refers) be considered with the press and public excluded.

The Committee resolved:

in terms of Section 50(A)(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, to exclude the press and public from the meeting for item 7.6 of the agenda (article 19 of this minute) so as to avoid disclosure of information of the class described in paragraph 4 of Schedule 7(A) to the Act.

With reference to article 1 of this minute, the Committee heard from Mr Mess who advised as to the current situation of Powis Gateway Community Centre as he understood it.

The Committee resolved:-

to thank Mr Mess for his contribution.

With reference to article 3 of the minute of its meeting of 7 February 2013, the Committee had before it a report by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport advised members of the outcome of the statutory consultation which had been undertaken on the proposals to (1) close Bramble Brae and Quarryhill Schools and to establish a new amalgamated school within the existing Quarryhill building and campus; (2) close Glashieburn and Middleton Park Schools and establish an amalgamated school within the existing Glashieburn building and campus; and (3) vary the delineated (catchment) area of Middleton Park School and the adjacent Brimmond (formerly Bucksburn) School and Bucksburn Academy.

With reference to article 1 of this minute, the Committee heard Victoria Moore, Caren Masson and John Thomson who thanked officers for listening to the communities affected by the proposals, and welcomed the recommendations in the report. They stated that they would be keen to work collaboratively with members and officers going forward. The Convener thanked Ms Moore, Ms Masson and Mr Thomson for their contribution.

At this juncture, the Committee heard from Councillor Jaffrey as a local member, who welcomed the report before members. 

The report recommended –

that the Committee –

(a)       discontinue proceeding with the proposal to close Bramble Brae and Quarryhill Schools and to establish a new amalgamated school within the existing Quarryhill building and campus;

(b)       discontinue proceeding with the proposal to close Glashieburn and Middleton Park Schools and establish an amalgamated school within the existing Glashieburn building and campus; and

(c)        discontinue proceeding with the proposal to vary the delineated (catchment) area of Middleton Park School and the adjacent Brimmond (formerly Bucksburn) School and Bucksburn Academy.

The Committee resolved:

to approve the recommendations.

The Committee had before it the minute of its previous meeting of 21 November 2013.

The Committee resolved:

(i)         to note that page 4 should have read “Friends of Aberdeen International Youth Festival”; and

(ii)        to otherwise approve the minute as a correct 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 remove items 5 (Committee Structures, Standing Orders and Governance Arrangements), 6 (Policing Museum for North East Scotland) and 7 (Community Centres) from the business statement; and

(ii)        to otherwise note the updates provided.

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

The Committee resolved:

to note the update provided.

“This Council commends Aberdeen Domestic Abuse Partnership in its work to eliminate violence/abuse towards women in relationships and further deplores the commercial sexual exploitation of women especially for the purpose of prostitution and Council recognises the abhorrence of human trafficking to meet the demand within the 'sex industry'. Council also recognises that both sexes can be victims of abuse and commercial sexual exploitation and whilst acknowledging that much good work is already being done instructs officers to research and establish an appropriate education programme to be delivered in academies within the city to increase awareness, change attitudes and guard against the dangers of ever increasing access to extreme pornographic material via the internet.”

With reference to article 24 of the minute of meeting of Council of 18 December, the Committee had before it a motion from Councillor Townson in the following terms:

“This Council commends Aberdeen Domestic Abuse Partnership in its work to eliminate violence/abuse towards women in relationships and further deplores the commercial sexual exploitation of women especially for the purpose of prostitution and Council recognises the abhorrence of human trafficking to meet the demand within the 'sex industry'. Council also recognises that both sexes can be victims of abuse and commercial sexual exploitation and whilst acknowledging that much good work is already being done instructs officers to research and establish an appropriate education programme to be delivered in academies within the city to increase awareness, change attitudes and guard against the dangers of ever increasing access to extreme pornographic material via the internet.”

Councillor Townson spoke to his motion and advised that positive discussions had taken place with officers, and that he was content that the terms of the motion were already being addressed.

The Committee resolved:

to note the work currently being undertaken and work planned in relation to the terms of the motion.

With reference to article 8 of the minute of its previous meeting of 21 November 2013, the Committee had before it a report by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport which advised members of the current year revenue budget to date for the Service, and outlined any areas of risk and management action being taken in this regard.

The report recommended –

that the Committee –

(a)       note the report on the forecast outturn on the revenue budget and the information on areas of risk and management action that was contained within the report; and

(b)       instruct that officers continue to review budget performance and report on service strategies.

The Committee resolved:

to approve the recommendations.

With reference to article 7 of the minute of its previous meeting of 21 November 2013, the Committee had before it a report by the Director of Enterprise, Planning and Infrastructure which detailed the capital spend to date for Service projects included within the non housing capital plan.

The report recommended –

that the Committee note the current position.

The Committee resolved:

to approve the recommendation.

With reference to article 9 of the minute of its previous meeting of 21 November 2013, the Committee had before it a report by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport, which provided a summary of performance data up to and including 31 December 2013.

The report recommended –

that the Committee approve the Education, Culture and Sport performance report for the period October to December 2013.

The Committee resolved:

(i)         to note that comparative figures from other local authorities could be used to compare absence figures;

(ii)        to request that tables be produced in colour and larger font for future meetings; and

(iii)       to approve the recommendation.

Councillor Boulton declared an interest in the subject matter of the following article by virtue of her position as Council appointed Board member of Sport Aberdeen. Councillor Boulton chose to remain in the meeting as Sport Aberdeen had a specific exclusion in terms of the Councillors’ Code of Conduct. 

Councillor Townson declared an interest in the subject matter of the following article by virtue of his association with Garthdee Alpine Sports Board. Councillor Townson did not feel it was necessary to withdraw from the meeting.

With reference to article 11 of the minute of meeting of Council of 21 August 2013, the Committee had before it a report by the Director of Corporate Governance which outlined proposals for a positive framework of governance with the Arms Length External Organisations (ALEOs) of the Council. The report had also been presented to the Enterprise, Strategic Planning and Infrastructure Committee and the Social Care and Wellbeing Committee, and would be presented to the Audit and Rick Committee at the end of the Committee cycle.

The report recommended that this Committee –

note the arrangements for scrutiny of the ALEOs as set out in the report, with specific reference to the creation of a Council Governance Hub for the Service and its relationship with the Committee and the Audit and Risk Committee.

The Committee resolved:

to approve the recommendation.

          The Convener directed, in terms of Section 50(B)(4)(b) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, that the following item of business be considered as a matter of urgency, in order that a decision could be taken to implement from this cycle.         

With reference to the previous article of this minute, the Committee had before it a report by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport which proposed a revised remit for the Culture and Sport Sub Committee, to take account of the changes in responsibility regarding Arms Length External Organisations which had been agreed in the aforementioned report.

The report recommended –

that the Committee –

(a)       approve the revised remit of the Culture and Sport Sub Committee; and

(b)       instruct officers to incorporate within the remit the relevant arrangements for the scrutiny of Arms Length Organisations (ALEOs) further to the meeting of full Council of 5 March 2014 on the proposals on the paper Governance of Arms Length Organisations.

Councillor Boulton declared an interest in the subject matter of the following article by virtue of her position as Council appointed Board member of Sport Aberdeen. Councillor Boulton chose to remain in the meeting as Sport Aberdeen had a specific exclusion in terms of the Councillors’ Code of Conduct. 

With reference to article 12 of the minute of meeting of the Audit and Risk Committee of 4 June 2013 and article 6 of the minute of meeting of the Urgent Business Committee of 11 July 2013, the Committee had before it a report by internal audit, which was being presented to this Committee prior to being submitted to the Audit and Risk Committee of 27 February 2014, in terms of the decision taken at the aforementioned meeting of the Urgent Business Committee.

The Committee resolved:

to note the content of the internal audit report.

Councillor Boulton declared an interest in the subject matter of the following article by virtue of her position as Council appointed Board member of Sport Aberdeen. Councillor Boulton chose to remain in the meeting as Sport Aberdeen had a specific exclusion in terms of the Councillors’ Code of Conduct. 

The Committee had before it a report by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport which advised that the Sport Aberdeen Board currently had two vacancies, and Council approval was required to enable Sport Aberdeen to fill these vacancies.

The report recommended –

that the Committee –

(a)       note the process that has been followed by Sport Aberdeen to identify potential Directors of the company; and

(b)       agree to the appointment of Moyra Cowie and Stephen Wilson to the Board of Sport Aberdeen.

Reverend McKenna declared an interest in the subject matter of the following article by virtue of his membership of Aberdeen Amateur Athletics Club and withdrew from the meeting prior to consideration of the report.

Councillors Cameron and Yuill declared interests by virtue of them being social members of Aberdeen Cricket Club. Both members withdrew from the meeting at the point this application was considered.

In accordance with the Data Protection Act 1988 (Principle 1), the press and public were excluded from the meeting at this point.

With reference to article 17 of the minute of its previous meeting of 21 November 2013, the Committee had before it a report by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport which presented applications for financial assistance from a number of individuals and organisations.

The report recommended –

that the Committee:

(a)       consider the applications through the development grants and approve the following recommendations:

(b)       considers the application through the significant sporting events grant programme and approve the following recommendation:

(c)        consider the application through the talented athlete grants programmeand approves the following recommendations:

The Committee resolved:

to approve the recommendations.

In accordance with the decision taken at article 3 of this minute, the Committee considered the following item of business with the press and public excluded.

With reference to article 7 of the minute of its meeting of 12 September 2013  and article 4 of this minute, the Committee had before it a report by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport which provided further information on the occupation of a commercial childcare provider in part of Powis Gateway Community Centre. 

The report recommended that:

the Committee –

(a)       note the current negotiations with Stompers regarding the move towards a commercial lease arrangement;

(b)       note the wishes of Powis Gateway Community Centre Management Committee that they would wish for all rental income (even if greater than the currently level of rental income) from Stompers to go to the Management Committee and this to be guaranteed for a period of 10 years;

(c)        instruct officers to conclude the current negotiations with Stompers with a view to entering into an acceptable commercial lease agreement for the entire first floor, one room on ground floor and specified storage areas in the attic floor of Powis Community Centre;

(d)       instruct officers to offer Powis Gateway Community Centre Management Committee the option to sign up to a month to month licence to occupy the building (except for the rooms occupied by Stompers), on the same basis as the Council’s agreed Lease and Management Agreement, this offer to be open until 31 March 2014; subject to their constitution being approved;

(e)       instruct officers to increase the development grant provided to Powis Gateway Management Committee by £14,100 per annum to compensate for the loss of rental income currently received by Stompers, for the period while Stompers is in a commercial lease with the Council and paying at least this level of annual rent, for the duration of the license to occupy agreement;

(f)        in the event that the rental income received from Stompers is greater than £14,100 per annum, instruct officers to place remaining income into a grant pot for local organisations/ groups to bid into to fund the delivery of identified needs of the local community (St Machar ASG area; this recommendation to be dependent on resource being available after any associated costs incurred by the Council are covered; and

(g)       in respect of those Leased Community Centres on long term old style leases, instruct officers to write formally to the affected Management Committees to ask them to reconsider signing up to the new style Lease and Management Agreement by 31 March 2014.

The Committee resolved:

(i)         to approve recommendations (a), (b), (d), (f) and (g);

(ii)        to instruct officers to conclude the current negotiations with Stompers with a view to entering into an acceptable commercial lease agreement for the entire first floor and specified storage areas in the attic floor of Powis Community Centre; and

(iii)       to instruct officers to increase the Development Grant provided to Powis Gateway Management Committee by £14,100 per annum to compensate for the loss of rental income currently received by Stompers, for the period while Stompers is in a commercial lease with the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 18.

The Convener reminded members that this would be Patricia Cassidy’s last meeting before taking up her new post as Corporate Director for Education, Communities and Organisational Development at Inverclyde Council. She thanked Mrs Cassidy for her hard work, passion and commitment to improving communities, culture and sport within Aberdeen.

The Committee resolved:

to concur with the Convener’s comments.

- JENNIFFER LAING; Convener