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=546&MId=4165&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 Chair proposed that the Committee consider item 9 with the press and public excluded.

The Joint 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 9 so as to avoid disclosure of information of the class described in paragraph 6 of schedule 7 (A) of the Act.

DECLARATION OF INTERESTS

The Chair and Councillor Richard Thomson declared interests by virtue of their positions as substantive and substitute Board members of ONE but remained in the meeting as per the requirements of the Standards Commission Dispensation provided to members of the Joint Committee on 9 August 2016.

The Chair advised that a Vice Chair representing Aberdeenshire Council would need to be elected and requested that any nominations for the positions of Vice Chair be intimated.

Councillor Richard Thomson was nominated as Vice Chair by the Chair and duly seconded by Councillor Karen Clark.

The Joint Committee resolved:-

to appoint Councillor Richard Thomson as Vice Chair.

The Joint Committee had before it the minute of its previous meeting of 15 August 2016 for approval.

The Joint Committee resolved:-

to approve the minute as a correct record.

The Joint Committee had before it a report by the City Region Deal (CRD) Programme Manager for Aberdeen City Council which provided an update on the progress of the City Region Deal, its constituent workstreams and also of the work programme under the additional £254 million.

The report recommended:-

That the Joint Committee note the content of the report and the progress made.

The CRD Programme Manager presented the report and advised the Joint Committee that they were currently working towards a final launch date and a financial agreement between the two governments was progressing well.

Jennifer Craw advised that the Bio-Therapeutic Centre had funding approval granted and that there had been strong support from the community and universities.

The Joint Committee resolved:-

(i)         to note the content of the report and the progress made; and

(ii)        to instruct officers to invite Aberdeen Harbour Board to the next meeting of the Joint Committee to discuss their development.

Alan Wood, Aberdeenshire Council provided a financial update for the Joint Committee and advised that the financial agreement was currently being prepared for the two local authorities to sign early the following week which would then allow the UK and Scottish Governments to sign and then the treasury to release funds.

The Joint Committee resolved:-

to note the verbal update provided.

The Joint Committee had before it a report by the Digital Programme Manager at Aberdeen City Council which provided an update on the outcome of the Digital Gap analysis and the proposed solutions.

The Head of IT and Transformation at Aberdeen City Council presented the report and advised that the gap analysis showed that 84% of premises in the region had a 30MB connection with a target of 97%. The Joint Committee were advised that one option would be to enter into a public sector joint procurement with the Scottish Government with a goal of addressing the gap by the end of 2018.

The Joint Committee resolved:-

to note the report and the recommended actions to address the findings of the gap analysis.

The Joint Committee had before it a report by the Head of Communication and Promotion for Aberdeen City Council which advised the Joint Committee of the City Region Deal communications strategy and of the plan for ongoing activity.

The report recommended:-

That the Joint Committee approve the communications strategy and project plan as set out in the report, with actions to be developed and carried out by the project workstream group led by the two councils and ONE.

The External and Internal Communications Manager for Aberdeen City Council presented the report and advised that objectives were now shifting from championing the City Region Deal to building awareness about the deal to the region. A protocol had now been agreed with partners, which was appended to the report and communication activity would now be a standard agenda item for workstream groups.

The Joint Committee resolved:-

to approve the recommendation.

The CRD Programme Manager for Aberdeen City Council provided an update regarding a Memorandum of Understanding that had been developed with the Scottish Government for the extra £254 million funding.

The Joint Committee resolved:-

(i)         to note the verbal update by the CRD Programme Manager; and

(ii)        to instruct officers to provide regular updates on the extra £254 million to future meetings of the Joint Committee.

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

The Joint Committee had before it a report by the CRD Programme Manager for Aberdeen City Council which provided an update on the Housing Infrastructure Fund.

The report recommended:-

That the Joint Committee note the content of the exempt report.

The Joint Committee resolved:-

to approve the recommendation.