Agenda and minutes

The agenda and reports associated with this minute can be located at the following link:-

http://committees.aberdeencity.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=504&MId=3457&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 Convener proposed that item 8.1 of today’s agenda (article 13 of this minute refers) be considered with the press and public excluded.

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 for item 8.1 of the agenda (article 13 of this minute) so as to avoid disclosure of information of the classes described in paragraphs 8 and 10 of Schedule 7(A) to the Act.

The Committee had before it the minute of its previous meeting of 2 December 2014.

The Committee resolved:-

to approve the minute as a correct record.

The Committee had before it a statement of pending and outstanding committee business which had been prepared by the Head of Legal and Democratic Services.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)        in relation to item 4 (Children’s Services Reclaiming Social Work), to note that this matter would be considered as part of the budget process and that the Director would hold briefings for members on the reclaiming social work model; and

(ii)        to otherwise note the updates provided.

With reference to article 6 of the minute of its previous meeting of 2 December 2014, the Committee had before it a report by the Director of Education and Children’s Services and the Head of Finance which advised members of the current year revenue budget to date for the former Education, Culture and Sport service, and outlined any areas of risk, and management action being taken in this regard.

The report recommended –

that the Committee –

(a)       note the report on the near actual figures on the revenue budget and the information on areas of risk and management action that was contained therein; and

(b)       instruct officers to continue to review budget performance and report on service strategies.

The Committee resolved:-

to approve the recommendations.

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Councillor Boulton declared an interest in the subject matter of the following article by virtue of her position as Council appointed Board member of Sport Aberdeen.  Councillor Boulton chose to remain in the meeting as Sport Aberdeen had a specific exclusion in terms of the Councillors’ Code of Conduct.

Councillor Cameron declared an interest in the subject matter of the following article of business by virtue of his position as Board member of Aberdeen Sports Village, and withdrew from the meeting prior to any discussion taking place.  Councillor McCaig substituted for Councillor Cameron for this item only.

(A)       Prior to consideration of the report, the Convener proposed that the Committee suspend standing order 25(1) to enable the employees affected by the proposals contained in the report to be present.

The Committee resolved:-

to suspend standing order 25(1).

(B)       With reference to article 5 of the minute of the meeting of Council of
20 August 2014, the Committee had before it a report by the Director of Education and Children’s Services which presented the third tier structural model for the Education and Children’s Service and sought approval to begin the statutory processes for the transfer of sports functions and posts to Sport Aberdeen.

The report recommended –

that the Committee –

(a)       note the third tier structural model as set out in Appendix 2; and

(b)       instruct the Director to begin the statutory processes for the transfer of sports function and posts (4)*1 to Sport Aberdeen.

*The number of posts might be reduced to 3 as the Community Sports Development Manager post was dependent on Sportscotland investment continuing.  This post was currently a fixed term secondment until 31 March 2015.

The Convener, seconded by the Vice Convener moved:-

that the Committee -

(a)       note the third tier structural model as set out in Appendix 2;

(b)       instruct the Director to begin the statutory TUPE processes for the transfer of the sports function and posts (4) to Sport  Aberdeen; and

(c)        instruct officers to: (a) amend the existing contract agreement with Sport Aberdeen to reflect the additional functions of the sports team;
(b) undertake a broader review of the existing contract agreement with a view to strengthen further the system of governance of Sport Aberdeen; and (c) report back to the Committee in Autumn (November 2015) cycle.

Councillor Townson, seconded by Councillor Samarai moved as an amendment:-

that the Committee -

(1)       note the third tier structural model as set out in Appendix 2;

(2)       instruct the retention of the following four posts within the Education and Children’s Services Directorate namely: Sport and Physical Activity Partnership Manager, Sport and Physical Activity Partnership Officer, Sport and Physical Activity Development Officer and Community Sports Hub Development Manager;

(3)       recognise such posts as a team being a proven efficient model for strategic oversight and development, partnership development aspects of external funding, development of wider opportunities and the ideal vehicle to report back to the ALEO Governance Hub; and

(4)       instruct the Director to undertake a broader review of the existing contract agreement with a view to strengthening further the system of governance of Sport Aberdeen and report back to the committee in Autumn 2015.

On a division, there voted:- for the motion (18) – the Convener; the Vice Convener; and Councillors Boulton, Carle, Cooney, Crockett, Donnelly, Finlayson, Laing, Jennifer Stewart, Young and Yuill; and Angela Bowyer, Edward McKenna, Mike Paul, Anne Tree, Shona Wildi and Irene Wischik; for the amendment (7) – Councillors Blackman, Kiddie, McCaig, Noble, Samarai, Sandy Stuart and Townson.

The Committee resolved:-

to adopt the motion.

At this juncture the external members of the Committee departed.

With reference to article 13 of the minute of its previous meeting of 2 December 2014, the Committee had before it a report by the Director of Education and Children’s Services which presented applications for financial assistance from various sporting organisations and individuals.

The report recommended –

that the Committee –

(a)       consider the applications through the club development grants and approve the following recommendations:

(b)       consider the applications through the coach and volunteer workforce development grant programme and approve the following recommendation:

(c)       consider the applications through the talented athletes grant programme and approve the following recommendations:

The Committee resolved:-

to consider the recommendations at item 7.1 of the agenda (article 9 of this minute refers).

With reference to article 15 of the minute of its previous meeting of 2 December 2014, the Committee had before it a report by the transitional Director of Social Care and Wellbeing and the Head of Finance which advised members of the current year revenue budget to date for the former Social Care and Wellbeing service, and outlined any areas of risk, and management action being taken in this regard.

The report recommended –

that the Committee –

(a)       note the report on the forecast outturn on the revenue budget and the information on areas of risk and management action that was contained therein; and

(b)       instruct officers to continue to review budget performance and report on service strategies.

The Committee resolved:-

to approve the recommendations.

The Committee had before it a report by the transitional Director of Social Care and Wellbeing which sought approval of the Aberdeen City Autism Strategy and subsequent action plan which set the strategic direction for improving outcomes for people with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and their families across their lifespan.

The report recommended –

that the Committee approve the Aberdeen City Autism Strategy and action plan and agree that it be governed by the formation of a multi-agency Implementation Group.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)         to approve the recommendation; and

(ii)        to commend the service for the development of a comprehensive strategy.

EXEMPT BUSINESS

In accordance with the data protection act 1988 (principle 1), the press and public were excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following item.

With reference to article 6 of this minute, the Committee (1) had before it an appendix which contained further details of the applications for financial assistance from individuals under the age of 16 and (2) considered the recommendations as detailed at article 6 of this minute, along with the information contained in the appendix.

The Convener, seconded by the Vice Convener moved:

that the Committee approve the recommendations.

Councillor Townson moved as an amendment, seconded by Councillor Cameron:

that the Committee approve the recommendations with the exception of Scott McLeod and that he be awarded the requested £1000.

Councillor Yuill moved as a further amendment, seconded by Councillor Jennifer Stewart:

that the Committee approve the recommendations with exception of the application by Scott McLeod and that this application be deferred to the next meeting of the Committee in order for further information to be provided by the applicant prior to a decision being taken.

There being a motion and two amendments, the Committee first divided between the amendment by Councillor Townson and the amendment by Councillor Yuill.

On a division, there voted:- for the amendment by Councillor Townson (7) - Councillors Blackman, Cameron, Kiddie, Noble, Samarai, Sandy Stuart and Townson; for the amendment by Councillor Yuill (2) - Councillors Jennifer Stewart and Yuill; declined to vote (10) - the Convener; the Vice Convener; and Councillors Boulton, Carle, Cooney, Crockett, Donnelly, Finlayson, Laing, and Young.

The Committee then divided between the motion and the amendment by Councillor Townson.

On a division, there voted:- for the motion (10) - the Convener; the Vice Convener; and Councillors Boulton, Carle, Cooney, Crockett, Donnelly, Finlayson, Laing and Young; for the amendment by Councillor Townson (9) - Councillors Blackman, Cameron, Kiddie, Noble, Samarai, Jennifer Stewart, Sandy Stuart, Townson and Yuill.

The Committee resolved:-

to adopt the motion.

EXEMPT BUSINESS

In accordance with the decision taken at article 1 of this minute, the following item of business was considered with the press and public excluded.

The Committee had before it a report by the Director of Education and Children’s Services which advised of the intention to progress the development of a 3G pitch in Dyce and sought approval (1) to undertake an appropriate tendering process now that the feasibility work on this site had been carried out and (2) of the estimated expenditure as detailed in the report.

The report recommended –

that the Committee –

(a)       approve the estimated expenditure as detailed in the report for the development of the artificial pitch at Dyce in accordance with SO1(3) of the Council’s Standing Orders Relating to Contracts and Procurement; and

(b)       instruct officers to undertake an appropriate tendering process.

The Committee resolved:-

to approve the recommendations.

- COUNCILLOR ANGELA TAYLOR, CONVENER