Agenda and minutes

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

http://committees.aberdeencity.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=419&MId=2835&Ver=4

Please note that if any changes are made to this minute at the point of approval, these will be outlined in the subsequent minute and this document will not be retrospectively altered.

The Sub Committee had before it the minute of its previous meeting of 2 April 2012, which had been approved at the Council meeting of 4 April 2012.

The Sub Committee resolved:-

to note the minute.

The Sub Committee had before it a paper by the Head of Finance which (a) provided information concerning (1) the amount of allowances paid from the Guildry Funds to Burgesses of Guild, Widows and Widowers of Burgesses and Children of Burgesses from 1995 to 2011; and (2) the number of people receiving allowances for the same period; and (b) proposed that the allowances be increased by 5% rounded up to the nearest £10 for 2012/13.

The Sub Committee resolved:-

to recommend that the following increases in annual allowances be approved by the Council with effect from 1 May 2012:-

The Sub Committee received an oral update from the Dean of Guild regarding a number of matters.

Mr Dalgarno explained the history of the Burgesses Awards Scheme, commenting that very few applications had been received in recent years and that he was looking to reinvent the scheme, with the possibility of a scholarship link with the city’s universities and the Saltire Society.

Mr Dalgarno highlighted forthcoming milestones, namely the 800^th anniversary of the Burgesses Royal Charter in 2014 and the 700^th anniversary of the granting of the Freedom Lands later in 2013, explaining that various events would be taking place and that he was investigating the possibility of a Burgesses coat of arms.

Lastly, Mr Dalgarno made reference to a recent enquiry by an external organisation in terms of whether a particular project within the city would be eligible for Guildry funding.

The Sub Committee resolved:-

(i)           to request the Dean of Guild to prepare a report for a future meeting regarding the Burgesses Awards Scheme and the forthcoming milestones referred to, including options for promoting the March Stones within the city;

(ii)          that the project referred to would not be eligible for Guildry funding; and

(iii)         to request officers to circulate a copy of the last annual statement of the Guildry Funds for information.

- ANDREW FINLAYSON, Master of Mortifications, Chairperson.