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=4052&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 was requested to determine that the following item of business, which contained exempt information as described in Schedule 7(A) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, be taken in private:-

·         Remuneration of the Clerk to the Burgesses

The Sub 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 classes described in paragraphs 1 and 5 of Schedule 7(A) of the Act.

The Sub Committee had before it the minute of its previous meeting of 21 January 2015.

With reference to Article 4, the Lord Dean advised:

(a)       that discussions were ongoing regarding the creation of a permanent feature in Aberdeen to recognise the 800^th anniversary of the granting of a Royal Charter to the Burgesses of Aberdeen;

(b)       that a constitution had been drafted for the Burgesses of Guild, which would allow for a broader range of funding requests to include sport and culture, however it had yet to be accepted by the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator and a moratorium on spending was in place until the constitution was approved; and

(c)        that discussions were ongoing with the two universities, North East Scotland College and the Saltire Society regarding the Burgess Awards and the establishment of ‘mini scholarships’; and that he would report back to the Sub Committee in due course.

The Sub Committee resolved:

(i)         to approve the minute; and

(ii)        to note the updates provided by the Lord Dean of Guild.

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 2014; and (2) the number of people receiving allowances for the same period; and (b) proposed that the allowances be increased by either 3% or 5% rounded up to the nearest £10, backdated, for 2015/16.

The Chairperson proposed that a formal schedule of meetings be established, to consider the review of allowances, together with the remuneration of the Clerk to the Burgesses.

The Sub Committee resolved:

(i)         to hold meetings in March and September each year with a view to reviewing the remuneration of the Clerk to the Burgesses and the Guildry Fund allowances in September each year; and

(ii)        to recommend to Council that the following increases (5%) in annual allowances be approved backdated from 1 May 2015:-

In accordance with the decision recorded under Article 1 of this minute, the following item of business was considered with the press and public excluded.

The Sub Committee had before it a report by the Interim Director of Corporate Governance which advised of the decision of the Guildry to increase the remuneration of the Clerk to the Burgesses.

The report recommended:

that the Sub Committee note the decision of the Guildry to increase the remuneration to the Clerk to the Burgesses as outlined in the report.

The Sub Committee resolved:

to approve the recommendation.

- ANDREW FINLAYSON, Master of Mortifications, Chairperson.