Agenda, decisions and minutes

The agenda and reports associated with this minute can be found  here.

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 the Committee consider items 12.1 (Condition & Suitability 3 Year Programme and Northfield Pool Project - Exempt Appendices), 12.2 (Workplans and Business Cases – Capital), 12.3 (South College Street - Corridor Improvement - Business Case), 12.4 (Disposal of Rosehill House), 12.5 (Sale of Site 26, Greenbank Road); and 12.6 (Disposal of Westburn House) 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 during consideration of the above items (from article 20 of this minute) so as to avoid disclosure of information of the classes described in the following paragraphs of Schedule 7(A) to the Act:- article 20 (paragraphs 8 and 10), articles 21 and 22 (paragraph 8) and articles 23, 24 and 25 (paragraphs 6 and 9).

Members were requested to intimate any declarations of interest in respect of the items on today’s agenda, thereafter, the following were intimated:-

(1)       Councillor Nicoll declared an interest in items 11.8 (Aberdeen City Region Deal – Strategic Transport Appraisal), 11.10 (External Funding for Transportation Projects), 11.12 (Local Authority Bus Services/Controlled Bus Companies) and 12.3 (South College Street -  Corridor Improvement - Business Case) by virtue of him being a Council appointed member on Nestrans Board. He considered that the nature of his interest did not require him to leave the meeting and therefore chose to remain in the meeting for consideration of the items; and

(2)       Councillor Yuill declared an interest in items 11.8 (Aberdeen City Region Deal – Strategic Transport Appraisal), 11.10 (External Funding for Transportation Projects), 11.12 (Local Authority Bus Services/Controlled Bus Companies) and 12.3 (South College Street -  Corridor Improvement - Business Case) by virtue of him being a Council appointed substitute member on Nestrans Board. He considered that the nature of his interest did not require him to leave the meeting and therefore chose to remain in the meeting for consideration of the items.

The Committee had before it the minute of its previous meeting of 6 June and Special meeting of 31 July 2019, for approval.

The Committee resolved:-

to approve both minutes as correct records.

DECLARATION OF INTEREST

Councillor Yuill declared an interest in item 13 (Schoolhill Public Realm Enhancement) of the Committee Planner by virtue of him being a Council appointed member of Robert Gordon’s College Board of Governors, he considered that the nature of his interest required him to leave the meeting and he therefore took no part in the consideration of this item.

The Committee had before it the Committee Business Planner prepared by the Chief Officer – Governance.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)        to remove item 72 (St Peter’s School – Long Term Education Provision) from the Planner; and

(ii)       to note the reasons for the reporting delays in relation to item 7 (A90 Murcar North Cycleway), item 9 (Business Case for the Refurbishment of Harlaw Road Pavilion), item 12 (VisitAberdeenshire – 2020/21 Financial Position), item 13 (Schoolhill Public Realm Enhancement), item 14 (Mortuary Provision), item 15 (Sustainable Drainage System (SUDS) Section 7), item 18 (Smart City Strategy), item 19 (External Funding Plan) and item 20 (Town Centre Capital Grant Fund).

“Council acknowledges the value of the Deeside Way both as a core path and a wildlife corridor. Accepts the Deeside Way is accessed by a variety of users, leisure and commuter cyclists, walkers, adults, children from the elderly to babies in prams, vulnerable individuals including wheelchair users. Instructs the Chief Officer - Corporate Landlordto report to the next meeting of the City Growth and Resources Committee with regard to the feasibility of making amendments to the Council’s procedurerestricting vehicular access to the Deeside Way to:-  

(1)      maintenance/refuse collection vehicles and emergency vehicles only for the Deeside Way; and

(2)      prohibit any other access by any other vehicles for any other purpose.”

With reference to article 15 of the minute of Council of 24 June 2019, the Committee had before it a motion in the following terms by Councillor Boulton:-

            “Council acknowledges the value of the Deeside Way both as a core path and a wildlife corridor. Accepts the Deeside Way is accessed by a variety of users, leisure and commuter cyclists, walkers, adults, children from the elderly to babies in prams, vulnerable individuals including wheelchair users. Instructs the Chief Officer - Corporate Landlord to report to the next meeting of the City Growth and Resources Committee with regard to the feasibility of making amendments to the Council’s procedure restricting vehicular access to the Deeside Way to:- (1) maintenance/refuse collection vehicles and emergency vehicles only for the Deeside Way; and (2) prohibit any other access by any other vehicles for any other purpose.”

Councillor Boulton spoke in support of her motion, explaining the rationale behind her request.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)        to adopt the motion; and

(ii)       to instruct officers to include in that report, proposals as to how signage might be improved in the interests of improving the safety of all users of the Deeside Way.

With reference to article 6 of the minute of its previous meeting of 6 June 2019, the Committee had before it a report by the Chief Officer – Business Intelligence and Performance Management which outlined the key performance management framework measures relating to (1) the City Growth and Strategic Place Planning Clusters; and (2) supplemental Statutory Performance Indicator measures relating to the Resource function.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee –

(a)       scrutinise and offers comment on the performance information contained in the report appendices; and

(b)       approve publication of the Statutory Performance Indicator suite relating to both Place and Resource functions in line with the Public Performance Reporting requirements of Best Value guidance.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)        to approve recommendation (b) above; and

(ii)       that the Chief Officer - Corporate Landlord determine whether the Union Street clean up funding had ended, and that confirmation be emailed to members of the Committee.

The Committee had before it a report by the Director of Resources which sought approval of the amended and updated ‘Following the Public Pound Local Code of Practice’.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee approve the updated ‘Following the Public Pound Local Code of Practice’ as appended to the report.

The Committee resolved:_

to approve the recommendation, subject to updating the Council logo on the front page of the local code of practice.

The Committee had before it a report by the Chief Officer – City Growth which sought approval for the erection of a commemorative plaque to Louisa Lumsden, suffragist and pioneer of women’s education.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee approve the erection of a commemorative plaque to Louisa Lumsden, Suffragist and Pioneer of Women's Education, at 214 Union Street.

The Committee resolved:-

to approve the recommendation.

Omitted from original report.

With reference to article 6 of the minute of meeting of the Capital Programme Committee of 12 September 2018, the Committee had before it a report by the Chief Officer – Strategic Place Planning which (1) sought approval for the draft Food-Growing Strategy and associated Environmental report to go to public consultation; and (2) provided and update on the Community Food-Growing programme.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee approve the draft ‘Granite City Growing: Aberdeen Growing Food Together’ (Appendix A of the report) and associated Environmental Report (Appendix B to the report) for an 8-week public consultation.

The Committee resolved:-

to approve the recommendation.

DECLARATION OF INTEREST

Councillors Boulton and Flynn declared an interest in item 11.3 (Aberdeen City’s Affordable Housing Delivery Programme) by virtue of them being former Council appointed Board members of Shaping Aberdeen Housing LLP. They considered the nature of their interest did not require them to leave the meeting and therefore chose to remain in the meeting for consideration of this item.

With reference to article 13 of the minute of meeting of 18 September 2018, the Committee had before it a report by the Chief Officer – Strategic Place Planning which provided an update on the Aberdeen Affordable Housing Delivery Programme.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee approve the allocation of the Section 75 and Council Tax monies detailed at section 3.4 of the report for the future delivery of affordable housing.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)        to approve the recommendation; and

(ii)       that the Chief Officer - Corporate Landlord circulate a Service Update in relation to the current situation of Shaping Aberdeen Housing LLP.

With reference to article 7 of the minute of meeting of 24 April 2018, the Committee had before it a report by the Chief Officer – Strategic Place Planning which provided an update on the progress of appointing a Developer Obligations Team Leader, a review of the Developer Obligations process and production of Developer Obligation Asset Plans.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee –

(a)       note progress on appointing a Developer Obligations Team Leader and on updating the Developer Obligations process; and

(b)       note that the Chief Officer – Strategic Place Planning would undertake the consultation on the draft Asset Plan template as outlined within this report and report the outcomes to a future meeting of this committee.

Councillor Boulton moved:-

            to instruct the Chief Officer – Capital to present to the Council capital budget process, a costed scheme for Shielhill for consideration.

As there was no seconder, in terms of Standing Order 28.11, the motion fell.

The Committee resolved:-

to approve the recommendations.

The Committee had before it a report by the Chief Officer – Strategic Place Planning which provided information in relation to an options appraisal study for a bike hire scheme.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee –

(i)        note the outcomes of the bike hire scheme options appraisal study;

(ii)       agree the preferred option of implementing a city-wide bike hire scheme via a private management model; and

(iii)      delegate authority to the Chief Officer – Strategic Place Planning, following consultation with the Head of Commercial and Procurement Services and the Leader of the Council to consider and approve business cases (including estimated expenditure) for a bike hire scheme for the purposes of Procurement Regulation 4.1.1; and thereafter, to procure appropriate works and services, and enter into any contracts necessary for the delivery of a bike hire scheme without the need for further approval from any other Committee of the Council.

The Committee resolved:-

to approve the recommendations.

Elements of text were obscured in original circulation.

With reference to article 18 of the minute of meeting of 18 September 2018, the Committee had before it a report by the Director of Resources which sought approval of an updated three-year Condition and Suitability Programme and the Northfield Swimming Pool Business Case and associated Procurement Business Case.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee –

(a)       note the projects completed or legally committed to date in 2019/20 as shown in Appendix A;

(b)       note the currently approved projects and approves the amended estimated budgets for each project as shown in Appendix B;

(c)       approve the new Condition & Suitability Programme projects listed in Appendix C for inclusion in the 3-year Condition & Suitability Programme and approves the estimated budget for each project and delegates authority to the Chief Officer - Capital, following consultation with the Head of Commercial and Procurement Services, to consider and approve procurement business cases for each of these projects for the purposes of Procurement Regulation 4.1.1; and thereafter to procure appropriate works and services, and enter into any contracts necessary for the projects without the need for further approval from any other Committee of the Council;

(d)       approve the removal of the projects listed in Appendix D;

(e)       delegate authority to the Chief Officer - Corporate Landlord, following consultation with the Capital Board and the Convener and Vice-Convener of this Committee, to amend the C&S Programme should priorities change due to unforeseen circumstances during the year, with such changes to be reported retrospectively to the Committee; 

(f)        approve the Northfield Swimming Pool Business Case shown in Appendix F; and

(g)       approves the Northfield Swimming Pool Procurement Business Case shown in Appendix G for the purposes of Procurement Regulation 4.1.1 and delegates authority to the Chief Officer – Capital, following consultation with the Head of Commercial and Procurement Services, to procure appropriate works and services, and enter into any contracts necessary for this project without the need for further approval from any other Committee of the Council.

The Convener, seconded by the Vice Convener moved:-

            that the Committee –

(1)     approve recommendations (a) and (c) to (g) above;

(2)     note the currently approved projects and approves the amended estimated budgets for each project as shown in Appendix B, with the exception of the amended budget for the Tullos Depot, Salt Store project;

(3)     refer the Tullos Depot, Salt Store project and associated business case to the Council Budget meeting of 3 March 2020 for consideration;

(4)     instruct the Chief Officer – Corporate Landlord to report back to this Committee on 26 November 2019 with a programme that advances projects in 2020/21, to take in account the budget for the Tullos Depot, Salt Store project not being amended.

Councillor Nicoll, seconded by Councillor Yuill moved as an amendment:-

            that the Committee –

(1)     approve recommendations (a), (b) and (d) to (g) above;

(2)     approve the new Condition and Suitability Programme projects listed in Appendix C for inclusion in the 3 year Condition and Suitability Programme with the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 13.

The Committee had before it a report by the Director of Resources which sought approval of the draft Corporate Booking Policy.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee –

(a)       approve the adoption of the Corporate Booking Policy, as attached at Appendix 1 of the report; and

(b)       note the draft Terms and Conditions document, as attached at Appendix 2 of the report.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)        to approve the recommendations; and

(ii)       to instruct the Chief Officer - Corporate Landlord to amend the wording of the Terms and Conditions document at section 3.7 in terms of waiving the hire charges for various groups.

With reference to article 14 of the minute of meeting of 19 June 2018, the Committee had before it a report by the Chief Officer – Strategic Place Planning which provided details of the outcomes of the Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance Pre-Appraisal undertaken as the first stage of a Strategic Transport Appraisal component of the Aberdeen City Region Deal.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee approve the draft Transport Options identified in Appendix A – Table 2 of the report to progress to the appraisal stage and instruct the Chief Officer – Strategic Place Planning to advise the Aberdeen City Region Deal Joint Committee of the approval, if given.

The Convener, seconded by the Vice Convener moved:-

            that the Committee approve the recommendation contained within the report.

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

            that the Committee:-

(1)     approve the recommendation contained within the report;

(2)     welcome the publication by the Scottish Government on 3 September 2019, of the Government’s Programme for Scotland 2019-20;

(3)     note the commitment of the Scottish Government to a Scottish Green Deal that is committed to invest over £500million in improving bus priority infrastructure to tackle the impacts of congestion and bus services and raise bus usage;

(4)     instruct the Chief Officer - Strategic Place Planning to contact the Scottish Government to ascertain how Aberdeen City Council could access funding from the Scottish Government investment to assist in improving bus priority infrastructure to tackle the impacts of congestion on bus services and raise bus usage in line with the aligned recommended options contained within the report; and

(5)     instruct the Chief Officer - Strategic Place Planning to report back to this Committee at the next meeting on 26 November 2019 or as soon as practical thereafter with details of progress made to secure additional funding to improve bus priority infrastructure to tackle the impacts of congestion on bus services and raise bus usage.

On a division, there voted:- for the motion (5) – the Convener, the Vice Convener and Councillors Boulton, Donnelly, Laing; for the amendment (4) – Councillors Flynn, Nicoll, Townson and Yuill.

The Committee resolved:-

to adopt the motion.

With reference to article 12 of the minute of meeting of 18 September 2018, the Committee had before it a report by the Chief Officer – Strategic Place Planning which sought approval of the Strategic Housing Investment Plan (SHIP) for the period 2020/21 to 2024/25, due to be submitted to the Scottish Government by 25 October 2019.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee approve the SHIP and its submission to the Scottish Government.

The Committee resolved:-

to approve the recommendation.

With reference to article 13 of the minute of meeting of 25 April 2019, the Committee had before it a report by the Chief Officer – Strategic Place Planning which outlined details of the new external funding opportunity that the Council had submitted a successful funding application for, and which was now available to the Council for the installation of electric vehicle charge points.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee –

(a)       note that Aberdeen City Council has accepted funding from Transport Scotland-Local Authority Installation Programme 2019/20 for electric vehicle (EV) charge points; and

(b)       to instruct Chief Officer – Strategic Place Planning, following separate approval by this Committee of the relevant procurement business case, to proceed with this project in relation to the installation of electric vehicle charging points as detailed within the report.

The Convener, seconded by the Vice Convener moved:-

            that the Committee approve the recommendations contained within the report.

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

            that the Committee –

(1)     approve the recommendations contained within the report;

(2)     note that ‘stretch outcome’ 14 of the Council’s refreshed Local Outcome Improvement Plan (LOIP) states that we will reduce “Aberdeen’s carbon emissions by 42.5% by 2026”;

(3)     therefore, approve a £1.7million capital allocation to be invested in EV charging points in the city, including in multi-storey car parks owned and operated by Aberdeen City Council, in order to help facilitate a modal shift away from traditional vehicles;

(4)     note that there will be an annual estimated revenue consequential of £85,000 and therefore instructs the Chief Officer – Finance to include within the Q2 budget monitoring report due to come to the next meeting of City Growth and Resources Committee a reasonable charging policy for EV charging points, designed to leave the council in a cost neutral position; and

(5)     further instructs the Chief Officer – Strategic Place Planning to investigate grant funding streams that may be available to Aberdeen City Council to build upon this additional investment in EV charging points across the city, to subsequently make any suitable applications for funding, and to report back to this committee with the outcome in due course.

On a division, there voted:- for the motion (5) – the Convener, the Vice Convener and Councillors Boulton, Donnelly and Laing; for the amendment (4) – Councillors Flynn, Nicoll, Townson and Yuill.

The Committee resolved:-

to adopt the motion.

With reference to article 9 of the minute of meeting of the Education and Children’s Services Committee of 14 September 2017, the Committee had before it a report by the Director of Resources which outlined the details of the planned projects within phase 2 of the Early Learning and Childcare expansion programme.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee –

(a)       approve funding for the delivery of Phase 2 of the Early Learning and Childcare expansion programme in accordance with the principles of the specific Capital Grant award;

(b)       delegate authority to the Chief Officer - Capital, following consultation with the Convener of the City Growth and Resources Committee, the Convener of the Capital Programme Committee and the Head of Commercial and Procurement Services, to consider and approve business cases (including estimated expenditures) for the following projects for the purposes of Procurement Regulation 4.1.1:-

·         Cults School – Extension;

·         Culter School – Extension;

·         Kingswells School – Remodel Existing Nursery;

·         Kirkhill School – New Build Nursery;

·         Broomhill School – Extension;

·         Charleston School – Remodel Existing Nursery;

·         Gilcomstoun School – New Build Nursery; and

·         Loirston School – Remodel Existing Nursery; and

(c)       thereafter procure appropriate works and services and enter into any contracts necessary for the delivery of the projects subject to due diligence, consistency with the financial model and affordability and regular update on progress against the approved business case at the Capital Programme Committee.

The Committee resolved:-

to approve the recommendations.

With reference to article 16 of the minute of meeting of Council on 24 June 2019, the Committee had before it a report by the Chief Officer – Strategic Place Planning which provided information on the current and emerging legislative framework for the Council to operate bus services or control a bus company in relation to the proposed sale of First Aberdeen Limited.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee –

(a)       note the current legislative position regarding Local Authority operated bus services and the current position regarding the sale of First Aberdeen Limited; and

(b)       instruct the Director of Resources to monitor the sale position of First Aberdeen Limited and report back to the City Growth and Resources Committee on 6 February 2020 with an update on the proposed sale and recommended next steps for the Council.

The Committee resolved:-

to approve the recommendations.

In accordance with the decision recorded under article 1 of this minute, the following items of business were considered with the press and public excluded.

Elements of text were obscured in original circulation.

The Committee had before it exempt appendices relating to the Condition and Suitability 3 Year Programme and Northfield Project report. (Article 13 of this minute refers).

The Committee resolved:-

(i)        to note the information contained within the exempt appendices; and

(ii)       that the Chief Officer – Finance circulate a Service Update in relation to the funding mechanism for the Northfield Pool Project.

The Committee had before it a report by the Chief Operating Officer which (1) presented the procurement workplans where capital expenditure was included for Operations and Place Functions to Committee for review (see below); and (2) sought approval of the total estimated capital expenditure for each proposed contract as contained in the Procurement Business Cases appended to the report.

Denburn Valley Flood Study;

Maidencraig Phase 2 – Improved Active Travel; and

Procurement and Installation of EV Charge Points.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee -

(a)       review the workplans of the Operations and Place Functions as detailed in the appendices to the report;

(b)       that where a Business Case has been submitted, approves the total estimated capital expenditure for each proposed contract and delegates authority to the Head of Commercial & Procurement Services following consultation with the relevant Chief Officer to procure appropriate works and services, and enter into any contracts relating thereto; and

(c)       note that Business Cases for procurements exercises to be commenced after 26 September 2019 will be submitted on a phased basis to future meetings of the City Growth and Resources Committee.

The Committee resolved:-

to approve the recommendations.

The Committee had before it a report by the Director of Resources which sought approval of the revised business case and implementation of the South College Street Junction Improvements project.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee –

(a)       note the contents of the revised business case for the Project;

(b)       agree the recommendations within the revised business case for the Project appended to the report;

(c)       instruct the Chief Officer - Capital to progress all necessary approvals, permissions, licenses, agreements and consents required to develop and implement the Project;

(d)       delegate authority to the Chief Officer - Capital, following consultation with the Chief Officer - Finance, to vire funds between transportation project budgets in the General Fund Capital Programme to a level required to ensure the Project can proceed to implementation; and

(e)       delegate authority to the Chief Officer - Capital, following consultation with the Chief Officer - Commercial and Procurement Services, to consider and approve business cases (including estimated expenditures) for the Project for the purposes of Procurement Regulation 4.1.1.2 and 4.1.1.4; thereafter to procure appropriate works and services, and enter into any contracts necessary for the delivery of the project.

The Committee resolved:-

to approve the recommendations.

The Committee had before it a report by the Director of Resources which provided information on the outcome of the marketing of the former Rosehill House, Ashgrove Road West, Aberdeen.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee –

(a)       accept the recommendation as detailed in paragraph 3.7 of the report; and

(b)       instruct the Chief Officer – Governance to conclude missives for the sale of the property incorporating various qualifications as are necessary to protect the Council’s interest, together with any other matters as are required to complete the sale of the property.

The Committee resolved:-

to approve the recommendations.

The Committee had before it a report by the Director of Resources which provided information on an approach made to purchase a 0.57 Hectares (1.42 acres) site comprising of an industrial site located on Greenbank Road for its existing use as a waste management facility.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee –

(a)       approve the proposal for the Council to sell the site on the agreed heads of terms to the proposed purchaser outlined in the report; and

(b)       instruct the Chief Officer – Governance to conclude the appropriate legal agreement incorporating various qualifications as are necessary to protect the Council’s interest.

The Committee resolved:-

to approve the recommendations.

The Committee had before it a report by the Director of Resources which advised members of the outcome of the marketing of Westburn House, Westburn Road and sought approval for the next course of action.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee –

(a)       accept that the preferred bidder outlined in the report undertake the redevelopment and future operational management of Westburn House;

(b)       instruct the Chief Officer – Corporate Landlord to negotiate and agree the details of the proposed agreements with the preferred bidder; and

(c)       instruct the Chief Officer – Governance to conclude the appropriate legal agreements incorporating various qualifications as necessary to protect the Council’s interest.

The Committee resolved:-

to approve the recommendations.

-           COUNCILLOR DOUGLAS LUMSDEN, Convener.