Agenda and minutes

It was agreed that Councillor Kevin Stewart would chair the meeting in the absence of Councillor John Stewart.

In terms of Standing Order 28(3)(vi), and in accordance with Section 50(B)(4)(b) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, the Committee was informed that it had to determine (1) that the items on the agenda were of an urgent nature; and (2) that the Committee required to consider the items and take decisions thereon.  

The Committee resolved:-

to agree that the items were of an urgent nature and required to be considered and decisions taken thereon.

The Committee was requested to determine that the housing case by the Director of Housing and Environment, which had been circulated to the Committee at the commencement of the meeting, contained exempt information as described in Schedule 7(A) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973.

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 Article 5 of this minute so as to avoid disclosure of exempt information of the class described in paragraph 2 of Schedule 7(A) of the Act.

The Committee had before it a report by the Director of Housing and Environment which demonstrated the case for developing an additional building at Sclattie Transfer Station to create a disposal point for refuse collected in the north of the city following the closure of the Hill of Tramaud landfill site.

The report stated that the Council currently delivered refuse collected from the north of the city to the Hill of Tramaud landfill site, however it was due to close in December 2010 or January 2011, and capacity at the Sclattie Transfer Station in Bankhead was currently fully committed to recycling and composting activities.

The report explained that under the Waste Management Services Contract (WMSC), it was envisaged that once the Hill of Tramaud landfill site closed, and in the absence of the Altens Environmental Park, SITA UK Limited would provide disposal facilities at the Stoneyhill landfill site, near Peterhead. The Council would deliver its waste to the Sclattie Transfer Station and SITA would transport it to Stoneyhill. The report advised that there would be an increase in rates of approximately £13.50 per tonne for the provision of this service.

The report then presented the following alternative options:-

(1)               To develop an additional building at Sclattie Transfer Station and create capacity for refuse disposal alongside recycling and composting activities.

(2)               To develop an additional building at the Hill of Tramaud landfill site and create capacity for refuse transfer.

(3)               To deliver all waste from the north of the city to alternative, private transfer stations in the south of the city.

(4)               To deliver waste to Stoneyhill directly.

The report evaluated each option and concluded that option 1, to develop an additional building at Sclattie Transfer Station, was the preferred solution. The financial impact, £450,000 project cost, compared favourably with the other options, was deliverable and provided an asset for future use by the Council. The WMS contractor had obtained planning permission and undertaken a competitive tendering exercise to select a preferred works contractor. The report added that a contract variation was therefore required, the text of which had been discussed and agreed.

Lastly, the report advised that there was scope within the WMSC to make payment for service in a variety of ways, and recommended that a direct payment for the construction of the additional facility from existing General Fund revenue provision be made.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee -

(a)              approve option 1 as outlined in the report;

(b)              approve that the payment method be a direct payment for the construction of the facility from existing General Fund revenue provision;

(c)               instruct the Director of Housing and Environment to proceed with a contract variation agreement in this regard; and

(d)              agree that a briefing note be presented to the Housing and Environment Committee on 24^th August 2010.

The Committee resolved:-

to approve the recommendations.

In accordance with the decision taken under Article 3 of this minute, the following item was considered with the press and public excluded.

The Committee had before it a report by the Director of Housing and Environment which provided details of an application for Council housing which fell outwith the scheme of allocation.

The Acting Convener moved, seconded by Councillor Cassie:-

That the Committee approve option 1, as contained with the report, to grant the applicants a priority offer of alternative low demand two bedroomed plus sheltered accommodation suitable for their current needs outwith the scheme of allocation.

Councillor Malone moved as an amendment, seconded by Councillor Yuill:-

That the Committee approve options 2 and 3, as contained within the report, to grant the applicants two priority offers of alternative accommodation at either a ground floor four-in-a-block type property or a ground floor flatted property in an area of their choice outwith the scheme of allocation.

On a division, there voted:-   for the motion  (6) - Acting Convener; and Councillors Cassie, Corall, John West, Wisely and Young;  for the amendment  (6) - Councillors Clark, Cormack, Leslie, McDonald, Malone and Yuill.

There being an equality of votes, in accordance with Standing Order 15(5) the Acting Convener exercised his casting vote in favour of the motion.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)                 to adopt the motion; and

(ii)               to instruct the Director of Housing and Environment, in liaison with the Director of Social Care and Wellbeing, to review the current policy of not allowing children to live within sheltered accommodation unless they were full time carers of the tenant, and to report to the Housing and Environment Committee accordingly.

- KEVIN STEWART, Acting Convener.