Agenda, decisions and minutes

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

http://committees.aberdeencity.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=334&MId=3330&Ver=4

The Convener advised that he had received an urgent motion in accordance with Standing Order 21(9), and that he had accepted this onto the agenda, the details of which would be considered later in the meeting (Article 5 of this minute refers).

In terms of Standing Order 28(5)(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 this day with decisions taken thereon.

The Council was requested to determine that the report by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport on the Belmont Media Centre, which contained exempt information as described in Schedule 7(A) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, be taken in private.

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 4 of this minute refers) so as to avoid disclosure of exempt information of the class described in paragraph 6 of Schedule 7(A) of the Act.

The Convener moved as a procedural motion, seconded by Councillor Young:-

That the urgent motion be considered in private to enable the Council to receive legal advice.

On a division, there voted:-

For the procedural motion (7) - Convener; and Councillors Cooney, Forsyth, Grant, Laing, Thomson and Young; against the procedural motion (6) - Councillors Dickson, Jackie Dunbar, Kiddie, McCaig, Noble and Yuill.

The Committee further resolved:-

to adopt the procedural motion, and thereby, 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 5 of this minute refers) so as to avoid disclosure of exempt information of the class described in paragraph 12 of Schedule 7(A) of the Act.

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

DECLARATION OF INTEREST

Councillor Forsyth declared an interest in the following item of business by reason of his wife being a Friend of the Belmont Cinema. Councillor Forsyth considered that the nature of his interest did not require him to leave the meeting.

The Committee had before it a report by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport which provided an update on the future operation of the Belmont Media Centre and requested approval to allocate £120,000 towards the purchase of digital projection equipment and the inclusion of an additional £10,000 per annum in the payment for services.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee -

(a)          approve the allocation of £120,000 to the Centre for the Moving Image towards the purchase of digital projection equipment for the Belmont Media Centre; and

(b)          approve the inclusion of additional expenditure of £10,000 per annum in the payment for services, making the total annual payment to the Centre for the Moving Image £85,000.

The Committee resolved:-

to approve the recommendations.

Prior to the circulation of the urgent motion, the Committee was issued with written legal advice by the Head of Legal and Democratic Services in connection with the text of a letter in the name of the Council Leader which was intended to be issued along with the Council tax statements. There being no questions from members, the copies of the legal advice were returned to the Head of Legal and Democratic Services.

In the absence of Councillor McCaig to move his urgent motion, it was not circulated and the Committee noted the requirement to consider the substantive matter and take a decision thereon.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)           to agree that it is unacceptable for the Council funds to be used for political campaigning;

(ii)          to agree that the letter being sent to the citizens of Aberdeen from the Council Leader reiterates Council policy; and

(iii)         to instruct the Chief Executive to send the letters alongside the Council tax statements.

- BARNEY CROCKETT, Convener.