Agenda, decisions and minutes

The Convener advised that she had submitted two urgent motions in accordance with Standing Order 21(9) and that she had accepted them onto the agenda. The urgent motions were then circulated to the Committee accordingly.

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:-

(i)           to agree that the first urgent motion by Councillor Laing was of an urgent nature and required to be considered this day, as a result of the revised business rates due to be introduced on 1 April 2017, and potentially a number of actions to be undertaken prior to then and reported to the Council Budget meeting on 22 February 2017;

(ii)          to agree that the second urgent motion by Councillor Laing was of an urgent nature and required to be considered this day, in order that consideration be given to sending the letter to the relevant households as soon as possible to help them prepare for paying their Council Tax from April 2017, and make them aware of the option to apply for low income household relief where applicable;

(iii)         to agree that the Strategic Development Planning Authority (SDPA) report was of an urgent nature and required to be considered this day, to enable the Committee to determine the matter at the earliest opportunity to provide clarity to the SDPA with regard to the appeal; and

(iv)         to agree that the Bond Authorisation Limit report was of an urgent nature and required to be considered this day, to enable to Committee to determine its position at the earliest opportunity and authorise the Head of Finance to act accordingly.

The Committee was requested to determine that the following item of business, which had been identified as containing exempt information as described in Schedule 7(A) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, be taken in private.

·         Funding the SDPA Leave to Appeal regarding the Strategic Transport Fund

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 SDPA item so as to avoid disclosure of exempt information of the class described in paragraph 12 of Schedule 7(A) of the Act.

“That the Committee notes that the revised business rates due to be introduced on 1 April 2017 will result in large business rates increases for many Aberdeen businesses.

Notes the representations already made to Derek Mackay, Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Constitution, by the Council Leader, Finance Convener, Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce and other business leaders in the city.

Instructs the Chief Executive to work in partnership with the Scottish Government to explore all options in order to find a solution that will assist Aberdeen businesses in dealing with the planned changes in business rates.

Instructs the Chief Executive to provide as part of the Council’s budget report on 22 February 2017 details of the success or otherwise of the options explored, along with the financial implications of any potential scheme or schemes.”

The Committee had before it the following urgent motion by Councillor Laing:-

“That the Committee notes that the revised business rates due to be introduced on 1 April 2017 will result in large business rates increases for many Aberdeen businesses.

Notes the representations already made to Derek Mackay, Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Constitution, by the Council Leader, Finance Convener, Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce and other business leaders in the city.

Instructs the Chief Executive to work in partnership with the Scottish Government to explore all options in order to find a solution that will assist Aberdeen businesses in dealing with the planned changes in business rates.

Instructs the Chief Executive to provide as part of the Council’s budget report on 22 February details of the success or otherwise of the options explored, along with the financial implications of any potential scheme or schemes.”

The Council resolved:-

to approve the terms of the urgent motion.

“That the Committee notes that the Scottish Government has legislated to change the Council Tax multipliers for properties in Bands E-H which has undermined the principal of local accountability and autonomy.

Instructs the Chief Executive to send the attached letter to all Band E-H households as soon as possible so that those households within Band E-H households can prepare for paying their Council Tax from April 2017.”

The Committee had before it the following urgent motion by Councillor Laing:-

“That the Committee notes that the Scottish Government has legislated to change the Council Tax multipliers for properties in Bands E-H which has undermined the principal of local accountability and autonomy.

Instructs the Chief Executive to send the attached letter to all Band E-H households as soon as possible so that those households within Band E-H can prepare for paying their Council Tax from April 2017.”

Dear  ______

Council Tax changes in 2017/18

Scottish Parliament Legislation is to be introduced to change Council Tax and this will come into force from April 2017.   The Council therefore wishes to give early notice of the national changes to Council Tax to help you prepare for paying your Council Tax from April 2017.

Council Tax is applied across a range of bands from A to H, with all bands having a relationship with band D, known as the multiplier. The national legislation is to change the Council Tax multipliers for properties in Bands E to H from 1 April 2017.  There is no local discretion to change these multipliers.

The table below shows the current and revised multipliers for Band E to H and the percentage increase in charge. The table also shows what your current Council Tax would be with the new multipliers applied. This is to give you an early indication of the potential change, and should not be relied on as the Council Tax charges may be subject to change when the Council sets its budget for 2017/18.  The Council Tax from 1 April 2017 will be set when the Council plans to approve the 2017/18 Budget on 22 February 2017.  Scottish Water charges for water and wastewater will continue to be charged using the current multiplier and are excluded from this increase.

Low income household relief

Single person households with net income of up to £16,750 and all other households with net income of up to £25,000 and less than £16,000 in savings are eligible to apply for a full relief from the increased charge through the Council Tax Reduction Scheme. For further information on these changes, please see our website at xxxx. To request an application form you can either:-

·                E-mail: benefits@aberdeencity.gov.uk. Please remember to provide your address and full name.

·                Telephone: 03000 200 292 (lines are open Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm);

·                Download the application form from our website: http://www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/nmsruntime/saveasdialog.asp?lID=20009&sID=342

·                By visiting one of the addresses below and speak to a member of staff who deals with Council Tax Reduction/Housing Benefit:-

Marischal College      Housing Office         Mastrick Customer Access Point Broad Street    Formartine Road      Spey Road

Aberdeen                     Tillydrone                  Mastrick

AB10 1AB                    Aberdeen                  Aberdeen

The above  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

In accordance with the decision recorded under Article 2 of this minute, the following item was considered with the press and public excluded.

There was circulated to the Committee a report by the Interim Director of Communities, Housing and Infrastructure which requested financial support to the SDPA in order to pursue the application for leave to appeal to the Supreme Court in relation to the SDPA’s Supplementary Guidance regarding the Strategic Transport Fund.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee -

(a)          note that the SDPA had requested that Aberdeen City Council and Aberdeenshire Council make a joint funding contribution to pursue an appeal at the Supreme Court on behalf of the Strategic Transport Fund;

(b)          note the funding commitment requested by the SDPA was to be shared equally between the two Councils; and

(c)          approve this Council’s funding contribution for the SDPA legal challenge to be funded from the Council’s contingency budget.

The Committee resolved:-

to approve the recommendations.

The press and public were excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following item which dealt with confidential information in terms of Section 50A 3(b) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973.

With reference to Article 15 of the minute of meeting of Council of 14 December 2016, there was circulated to the Committee a report by the Interim Director of Corporate Governance which discussed possible funding options connected to Aberdeen City Council Bonds.

The Committee resolved:-

to approve the recommendations contained within the report.

- JENNIFER LAING, Convener.