Agenda and minutes

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

http://committees.aberdeencity.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=334&MId=3012&Ver=4

It was agreed that Councillor Young chair the meeting in the absence of Councillor Crockett.

The Acting Convener advised that he had agreed to accept an additional item of business onto the agenda, namely a report by the Director of Corporate Governance entitled Extension to Enterprise Agreement, which was then circulated to the Committee (Article 9 of the minute refers).

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 requested 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.

Councillor McCaig moved as a procedural motion, seconded by Councillor Dickson:-

that the report entitled Senior Councillors was not of an urgent nature and should not be considered this day.

On a division, there voted:-  for the procedural motion (6) – Councillors Dickson, Jackie Dunbar, McCaig, Malone, May and Noble; against the procedural motion (7) – The Acting Convener; and Councillors Boulton, Cooney, Lesley Dunbar, Forsyth, Len Ironside CBE and Taylor.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)         to reject the procedural motion and thereby agree that the item was of an urgent nature and required to be considered this day, and a decision taken thereon; and

(ii)        to agree that the remaining items were of an urgent nature and required to be considered this day, and decisions taken thereon.

The Committee was requested to determine that the following items of business which contained exempt information as described in Schedule 7(A) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, be taken in private:-

·         Conference in Aberdeen – Report by Director of Enterprise, Planning and Infrastructure

·         Extension to Strategic Enterprise Agreement – Report by Director of Corporate Governance

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 items of business (Articles 8 and 9 of this minute refer) so as to avoid disclosure of exempt information of the classes described in paragraphs 6 and 8 of Schedule 7(A) of the Act.

The Committee had before it a report by the Chief Executive which presented a change to the Senior Councillor appointments agreed at the Statutory Council meeting of 16 May 2012.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee -

(a)       consider the changes suggested by the Administration and decide whether to approve them; and

(b)       should the changes be approved, resolve that the new arrangements come into force on 1 April 2013.

The Acting Convener moved, seconded by Councillor Taylor:-

that the Committee approve the changes to Senior Councillors, as outlined within the appointments below, and that the new arrangements come into force on 1 April 2013.

Councillor McCaig moved as an amendment, seconded by Councillor Dickson:-

that the Committee defer consideration of changes to appointments until the Council meeting in June 2013 pending the review of the committee structure, and agree to reduce remuneration for Conveners by 5% and Vice Conveners to £20,000 in line with the pay cuts taken by Councillors McCaig and Malone, and what was taken in the previous Council term with the exception of Councillor Crockett.

On a division, there voted:-  for the motion (7) – Acting Convener; and Councillors Boulton, Cooney, Lesley Dunbar, Forsyth, Len Ironside CBE and Taylor; for the amendment (6) – Councillors Dickson, Jackie Dunbar, McCaig, Malone, May and Noble.

The Committee resolved:-

to adopt the motion.

The Committee had before it a report by the Director of Corporate Governance which presented an application from students of The Robert Gordon University for financial assistance towards the cost of organising a fashion show in support of CLAN.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee review the application and suggested funding level, and approve funding from the financial assistance budget as considered appropriate.

The Committee resolved:-

to approve the application and award £1,500 from the financial assistance budget.

With reference to Article 33 of the minute of meeting of the Enterprise, Planning and Infrastructure Committee of 19 March 2013, the Committee had before it (1) a report by the Director of Enterprise, Planning and Infrastructure which sought approval to implement revised car parking charges for 2013/14 to deliver the budgeted income identified within the Council’s five year business plan; and (2) the decision of the Committee, that, amongst other things, residents’ parking permits be capped at 2009 levels, and that the associated financial implications be referred to the Urgent Business Committee.

The Acting Convener moved, seconded by Councillor Forsyth:-

that the financial implications associated with capping residents’ parking permits at 2009 levels be met from the Council’s contingencies.

Councillor McCaig moved as an amendment, seconded by Councillor Dickson:-

that the financial implications associated with capping residents’ parking permits at 2009 levels be met from underspend in the Enterprise, Planning and Infrastructure budget.

On a division, there voted:-  for the motion (7) – Acting Convener; and Councillors Boulton, Cooney, Lesley Dunbar, Forsyth, Len Ironside CBE and Taylor; for the amendment (6) – Councillors Dickson, Jackie Dunbar, McCaig, Malone, May and Noble.

The Committee resolved:-

to adopt the motion.

In accordance with the decision recorded under Article 3 of this minute, the following items were considered with the press and public excluded.

DECLARATION OF INTEREST

During consideration of the following item of business, Councillor Malone declared an interest by virtue of her position as a Council appointed Director to the Board of Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre and left the meeting; Councillor Townson joined the meeting as her substitute.

The Committee had before it a report by the Director of Enterprise, Planning and Infrastructure which sought approval for financial support towards a particular conference being hosted at the Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre in April 2015.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee agree -

(a)       that the Council support the hosting of the conference in Aberdeen; and

(b)       to provide a maximum of £50,000 from the Enterprise, Planning and Infrastructure 2012/13 budget to support the organisation and delivery of the conference.

The Committee resolved:-

to approve the recommendations.

The Committee had before it a report by the Director of Corporate Governance which sought approval for a one year extension to an existing Enterprise Agreement (EA).

The report recommended:-

that the Committee -

(a)       authorise a one year extension to the EA to be funded from the existing approved budget for 2013/14;

(b)       approve the estimated expenditure of £252,720;

(c)        apply the provisions of Standing Order 1(6)(a) and exempt the contract from the provisions of Standing Order 4 – EU Procurement; and

(d)       instruct officers to undertake a review of the current architecture to determine the best long term value proposition for the Council.

Councillor McCaig expressed his extreme concern in relation to the report and the fact that it had only been circulated to the Committee at the start of the meeting, and requested that this be recorded in the minute.

The Committee resolved:-

to approve the recommendations.

- WILLIAM YOUNG, Acting Convener.