Agenda, decisions and draft minutes

In terms of Section 1.3 of the Committee Remit 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 item on the agenda was of an urgent nature; and (2) that the Committee required to consider the item and take decisions thereon.

The Committee resolved:-

to agree that the item of business was of an urgent nature and required to be considered this day in view of the imminent deadline the Council had to determine whether it wished to veto the BID renewal proposals.

The Convener declared an interest in the item of business before the Committee by virtue of her position as a member of the Board of Aberdeen BID Company Limited and advised that she would withdraw from the meeting prior to the Committee considering the matter. 

The Committee had before it the minute of its previous meeting of 23 December 2020.

The Committee resolved:-

to approve the minute.

In accordance with Article 2 of this minute, the Convener withdrew from the meeting at this juncture and Councillor Lesley Dunbar joined the meeting as her substitute. In the absence of the Convener the Vice Convener took the Chair.

The Committee had before it a report by the Chief Officer - City Growth which considered the Council’s option to veto the BID renewal proposals; and, if the ballot was to proceed, 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 for 2021-2026 and instruct the Chief Officer - City Growth to arrange for the issuing of the requisite notices under section 42 of the Planning etc. (Scotland) Act 2006; and

(b)           in the event of recommendation (a) being approved, instruct the Chief Officer - Governance as Returning Officer to arrange for the holding of a BID renewal ballot on 25 March 2021 in relation to the BID renewal proposals and to take any other actions which may be necessary in connection with this process.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)             to approve the recommendations; and

(ii)           to instruct the Chief Officer - City Growth to circulate the BID Business Plan to elected members as soon as it was publicly available.