Agenda, decisions and minutes

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

In terms of Standing Order 28(6)(vi), and in accordance with Section 50B(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.

The Committee had before it a report by the Chief Executive which considered the Council’s option to veto the BID renewal proposals submitted by Aberdeen Inspired, and if the ballot was to go ahead, the date on which it would be held.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee -

(a)          resolve not to veto the BID renewal proposals drawn up by Aberdeen Inspired in respect of the Aberdeen City Centre Business Improvement District and instruct the Chief Executive to arrange for issue of the appropriate notices under section 42 of the Planning etc. (Scotland) Act 2006; and

(b)          in the event of recommendation (a) being approved, instruct the Chief Executive as Returning Officer to hold a BID renewal ballot on 17 March 2016 in relation to the BID renewal proposals and to take any other actions which may be required in connection with this process.

The Committee resolved:-

to approve the recommendations.

The Committee had before it a report by the Director of Communities, Housing and Infrastructure which sought approval for the establishment of an Appointment Panel for recruitment to the vacant Chief Officer post of Head of Planning and Sustainable Development.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee -

(a)          agree to establish an Appointment Panel comprising nine members in total (3+3+1+1+1) to appoint to the Head of Planning and Sustainable Development, and to identify a Panel Convener;

(b)          delegate powers to the Appointment Panel to agree all matters relating to the recruitment process, including role profile, person specification and salary;

(c)          in respect of the timescale for recruitment processes, to agree that powers be delegated to relevant officers to finalise this timeline, in consultation with the Convener of the Panel;

(d)          appoint external recruitment consultants for the purposes of supporting the recruitment to the post where appropriate;

(e)          invoke Standing Order 1(6)(a) of the Council’s Standing Orders relating to Contracts and Procurement to dis-apply the requirements of Standing Order 5, thereby allowing a contract to be entered into with a recruitment consultancy to support the recruitment process for this post, without the need to undertake a competitive tendering exercise; and

(f)           agree the estimated expenditure associated with this recruitment exercise, which was estimated to be no more than £50,000, and that these costs be met from contingencies.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)           to approve the recommendations, agreeing that the Appointment Panel would appoint a Convener at its first meeting and noting that the SNP members would be Councillors Corall, Dickson and MacGregor; and

(ii)          to instruct officers to report to the next meeting of the Finance, Policy and Resources Committee in regard to tendering for the provision of external recruitment services.