Agenda and minutes

The Chairperson proposed that the Joint Committee consider items 10 (External Transportation Links to Aberdeen South Harbour STAG Study) and 11 (City Region Deal – Financial Update Q2 2018/19 – Exempt Appendices) 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 from item 10 of the agenda so as to avoid disclosure of information of the classes described in the following paragraphs of Schedule 7(A) to the Act:- article 10 (paragraph 8) and article 11 (paragraph 6).

Members are Required to Intimate any Declarations of Interest in Respect of the Items on Today’s Agenda.

No declarations of interest were intimated in respect of the items on today’s agenda.

The Joint Committee had before it the minute of its previous meeting of 30 August 2018, for approval.

The Committee resolved:-

to approve the minute subject to amending article 7 (Housing Infrastructure Funding), under the report recommendation, to read that the two local authority Chief Executives (as opposed to Councillor Laing) would write to the Scottish Government on behalf of the Joint Committee.

The Joint Committee had before it a report by the previous Senior Programme Manager which provided an update on the progress of the City Region Deal and its workstreams.

The report made reference to the Programme Dashboard, the Digital Programme, the Economic Benefits Dashboard and the Oil and Gas Technology Centre.

The report recommended:-

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

The Joint Committee resolved:-

to approve the recommendation.

Please note that there are exempt appendices located within the Exempt/Confidential section of the agenda below

The Joint Committee had before it a report by Alan Wood, Head of Finance, Aberdeenshire Council which provided details of the finances of the Aberdeen City Region Deal for the second quarter of financial year 2018/19.

The report recommended:-

that the Joint Committee note the content of the report and its appendix.

The Joint Committee resolved:-

to approve the recommendation.

The Joint Committee had before it a report by the previous Senior Programme Manager which provided details of the Aberdeen City Region Deal Annual Report 2018 and sought approval for its wider publication.

The report recommended:-

that the Joint Committee endorse the report.

The Joint Committee resolved:-

(i)        that the Annual Report be amended to include (1) “Chairperson” and “Vice Chairperson” to the list of members on p54; and (2) information on Inclusive Economic Growth and Sustainability aspects; and

(ii)       that the updated version of the Annual Report be circulated to members prior to it being endorsed at the next meeting.

The Joint Committee had before it a report by David Torrance, Transport Scotland on the progress of projects being taken forward through the additional Scottish Government investment announced alongside the Aberdeen City Region Deal, including the progress on the Laurencekirk junction improvements work and the investment in the rail network to improve services between Aberdeen and the Central Belt.

The report recommended:-

that the Joint Committee note the Scottish Government Additional Investment for Transport update.

Mr Torrance provided information on the Laurencekirk junction improvements advising that the Partnership Group met on 2 November 2018 to discuss feedback from the public consultation and exhibition events. He indicated that draft road orders would be published in due course.

In relation to the Aberdeen to Central Belt Rail investment, Mr Torrance advised that the draft report from the consultants (ARUP) had now been received and that there was a meeting scheduled with the Rail Reference Group on 20 November 2018.

The Joint Committee resolved:-

(i)        to approve the recommendation;

(ii)       to note that Transport Scotland’s Director of Rail, Bill Reeve will be attending a meeting of the Joint Committee and Nestrans on 7 December 2018 (to be confirmed); and

(iii)      to request that Mr Torrance circulate details in relation to the agreed interventions and signalling capacity constraints costs.

The Joint Committee had before it a report by Chris Foy, VisitAberdeenshire which outlined the objectives and plans for the Cruise Ship market in light of the construction of the new Aberdeen South Harbour.

The Joint Committee received a powerpoint presentation from Mr Foy which highlighted the following:-

·         Objectives of the Cruise Aberdeenshire programme;

·         Economic potential (tourism);

·         Tourism product development activity;

·         Business development activity;

·         Quayside experience plans; and

·         Embarkation point / Cruise Terminal.

The report recommended:-

that the Joint Committee note the objectives and plans for the cruise ship market.

During the discussion, the following was suggested for further consideration of VisitAberdeenshire as part of the Cruise tourism activity programme:-

·         Golf and equipment hire;

·         TECA concerts;

·         Opening of the Art Gallery.

The Joint Committee resolved:-

(i)        to approve the recommendation; and

(ii)       to thank Mr Foy for his presentation.

The Joint Committee had before it a report by the Clerk which sought approval of future meeting dates,

The report recommended:-

that the Joint Committee agree the proposed meeting dates outlined in 3.3 of the report.

The Joint Committee resolved:-

(i)        to approve the following dates, times and locations for their future meetings:-

·      8 February 2019 in the Town House;

·      3 May 2019 in Woodhill House;

·      29 August 2019 in Woodhill House;

·      8 November 2019 in Woodhill House; and

·      7 February 2020 in Woodhill House

(all commencing at 9.30am); and

(ii)       to note that an additional meeting on 7 December 2018 with Transport Scotland’s Director of Rail, Bill Reeve had yet to be confirmed.

The Committee had before it a report by Nathan Thangaraj and Ken Neil, Aberdeen City Council which provided information on the outcomes of the external transportation links to the Aberdeen South Harbour Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance Pre-Appraisal and STAG Part 1 Appraisal report.

The report recommended:-

that the Joint Committee –

(a)       note the outcomes of the External Transportation Links to Aberdeen South Harbour Pre-Appraisal and STAG Part 1 Report (Appendix 1);

(b)       approve the recommended options identified in Section 3(v), subject to approval at Aberdeen City Councils’, City Growth and Resources Committee;

(c)       approve the business case in Appendix 2 to carry out the STAG Part 2 Appraisal of the project, subject to UK Government and Scottish Government approval; and

(d)       subject to recommendations (b) and (c) above, agree that the Chief Officer - City Growth proceed with the STAG 2 Appraisal.

The Joint Committee resolved:-

(i)        to approve recommendations (a) and (c) above;

(ii)       approve the recommended options identified in Section 3(v) of the report, subject to approval at Aberdeen City Councils’, City Growth and Resources Committee and Strategic Commissioning Committee;

(iii)      subject to resolution (ii) and recommendation (c) above, agree that the Chief Officer – Strategic Place Planning proceed with the STAG 2 Appraisal; and

(iv)      that the covering report and Appendix 1 be made public after the meeting today and that the Business Case remain exempt.

The Joint Committee had before it exempt appendices relating to the City Region Deal – Financial Update Q2 report (article 5 above refers).

The Joint Committee resolved:-

to note the exempt appendices.

-           COUNCILLOR JENNY LAING, Chairperson.