Agenda 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=146&MId=2783&Ver=4

The Committee 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:-

• St Nicholas House – Structural Demolition

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 during consideration of the aforementioned item of business (Article 2 of this minute refers) so as to avoid disclosure of exempt information of the class described in paragraph 8 of Schedule 7(A) of the Act.

In accordance with the decision recorded under article 1 of this minute, the following item was considered with the press and public excluded.

With reference to article 11 of the minute of the meeting of Council of 6 October 2011, the Committee had before it a report by the Director of Enterprise, Planning and Infrastructure which sought approval of the expenditure of £3,692,134 for the work associated with the demolition of St Nicholas House, and provided an update on the demolition process and the appointment of Safedem Limited as demolition contractor for the structural demolition/deconstruction of the building following a tender process.

The report recommended:

that the Committee -

(a)       approve expenditure of £3,692,134 for the work associated with the demolition of St Nicholas House, to be met from the Council’s Capital Fund and available within the Council’s current financial position;

(b)       subject to the approval of recommendation (a), to instruct the Head of Finance to track the spend of this project and ensure that the funding package for these works was in line with the Council’s overall financial strategy which was to continue to de-risk the Council’s balance sheet, reduce overall levels of debt and maintain adequate reserves and provisions;

(b)       note that the strategic review would also include determination of what costs might be capitalised as appropriate and would be reported as part of the Council’s statutory accounts; and

(c)        note the update on the demolition process for St Nicholas House and the appointment of the contractor.

The Committee resolved:

(i)         to approve the recommendations; and

(ii)        to refer the changes in the demolition costs for St Nicholas House (from an original indicative sum of £4,000,000 in 2007 and 2009 to £2,000,000 in 2011 and thereafter to £3,692,134 in 2013) and the timescale for the works to the Audit and Risk Committee for consideration.

- COUNCILLOR WILLIE YOUNG, Convener.