Agenda, decisions and minutes

The agenda and reports associated with this minute can be found at:-

https://committees.aberdeencity.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=621&MId=6286

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 7.1 (Proposals for the Future of Braeside School – Exempt Appendix), 8.1 (Demolition of Kincorth and Torry Academies – Exempt Appendices) and 8.2 (Shaping Aberdeen Housing LLP) on the agenda 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 items 7.1,8.1 and 8.2 so as to avoid disclosure of exempt information of the class described in paragraphs 8 (for items 7.1 and 8.1) and 6 and 9 (for item 8.2).

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

(1)      to note that Councillor Jackie Dunbar declared an interest in item 6.5 (Active Travel Improvements within Middlefield/Northfield) by virtue of her living in the area and that she considered that the nature of her interest did not require her to leave the meeting at that item on the agenda; and

(2)      to note that the Convener and Councillor Flynn declared an interest in item 8.2 (Shaping Aberdeen Housing LLP) by virtue of their positions as Directors of the LLP and that they considered that the nature of their interest required them to leave the meeting at that item on the agenda.

The Committee resolved:-

to note the declarations of interest.

The Committee had before it the Business Planner prepared by the clerk.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)       in relation to item 6 (Third Don Crossing), to note that the Director of Resources would liaise with the Chief Officer Strategic Place Planning to clarify the status of the Service Update;

(ii)      to remove item 9 (City Centre Masterplan Project Union Terrace Gardens Transport Options) due to item being contained within the overall Union Terrace element of phase 3 of the City Centre Masterplan;

(iii)      to remove item 14 (School Estate Plan) due to a report on the Review of the School Estate being submitted in January 2019;

(iv)     in relation to item 27 (Heat Network Torry Phase 1) to note that the report would contain the wider feasibility for the Energy from Waste project;

(v)      in relation to item 28 (South College Street Corridor Improvement Business Case) to note that the Director of Resources would liaise with the Chief Officer Strategic Place Planning to determine the reason why the report would be submitted later than requested;

(vi)     in relation to item 32 (Various Business Cases) to note that the item would be transferred to the appropriate date in the planner;

(vii)     to otherwise note the content of the business planner.

That the Committee:

1.       instruct the Chief Officer – Corporate Landlord to undertake a business case on the future use of the Hazelhead Swimming Pool site, including the temporary re-opening of the building while the Northfield Pool works are undertaken, and report back to the September meeting of the Capital Programme Committee; and

2.       subject to the Committee approving the above recommendation and funding being required, to refer the Notice of Motion to the City Growth and Resources Committee requesting approval of up to £50,000 from the Corporate Contingency budget.

The Committee had before it the following notice of motion by Councillor Stewart:-

“That the Committee instruct the Chief Officer Corporate Landlord to undertake a feasibility inspection on the future use of the Hazlehead Swimming Pool site, including the temporary re-opening of the building while the Northfield Pool works were undertaken, and to report the findings to the City Growth and Resources Committee on 19 June 2018”.

Councillor Stewart moved her Notice of Motion and explained the rationale behind her request. Councillor Stewart was seconded by the Convener.

Councillor Greig, seconded by Councillor Jackie Dunbar, moved as an amendment:-

“That the Committee

(1) agrees to reopen Hazlehead Pool permanently and as the decision is subject to funding, instructs the Chief Officer - Corporate Landlord to report to the next meeting of this Committee on 12th September 2018 providing a business case and timetable and identifying sources of funding so that the pool can be reopened as soon as possible; and

(2) requests the City Growth and Resources Committee at its next meeting on 19 June 2018 to approve funding of up to £50,000 to meet the cost of the business case, to be met from Corporate Contingency budget”.

On a division, there voted:- for the motion (5) – the Convener, the Vice Convener, and Councillors Graham, Laing and Jennifer Stewart; for the amendment (4) – Councillors Jackie Dunbar, Flynn, Greig and Nicoll.

The Committee resolved:-

to adopt the terms of the motion.

The Committee had before it a report by the Director of Resources which provided an update on the work undertaken by officers to review plans for repairs to Braeside School.  The attached business case presented details of a proposed alternative option in order to reduce costs.

The report recommended:

That the Committee -

(a)      approves the business case detailing proposals to carry out refurbishment work at Hazlewood School, and for the Braeside School building to be permanently closed;

(b)      approves the removal of the Braeside School improvements project from the Condition and Suitability programme, and the addition of a new project within the Condition and Suitability programme to carry out improvements at Hazlewood School, with an allocation of funding as outlined in section 6.1 of the business case, and with the balance of the budget from the Braeside School project to be returned to the Condition and Suitability contingency fund; and

(c)      refers the matter to the Education Operational Delivery Committee, to: (1) reconsider the earlier decision by the Education and Children’s Services Committee in January 2018, to declare the Hazlewood site surplus to requirement; and (2) to agree to the proposals to use Hazlewood School to temporarily accommodate pupils enrolled at Countesswells School prior to the new Countesswells School building opening, and also for Hazlewood School to be used to accommodate the Inclusion Team.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)       to instruct the Director of Resources to liaise with the developer to formulate a timetable for the building of the first primary school at the Countesswells development and report back to the committee in September 2018; and

(ii)      to otherwise approve the recommendations contained in the report.

The Committee had before it a report by the Director of Resources which highlighted the business need for the demolition of Torry Academy and Kincorth Academy and sought approval of the associated business cases, the recommended procurement route and the use of identified budgets.

The report recommended:

That the Committee -

(a)      approve the business case for the demolition of Torry Academy and Kincorth Academy;

(b)      approve the use of the Condition & Suitability Programme budget to fund the Kincorth Academy Demolition; and

(c)      to approve the use of the capital budget for the new Torry Primary School and Community Hub to fund the Torry Academy Demolition.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)       in relation to a question from Councillor Nicoll regarding the options for the security of the sites until the demolition process, to note that the Chief Officer Corporate Landlord would submit a Service Update to brief members on the option appraisal and schedule of works surrounding the security of the sites; and

(ii)      to otherwise approve the recommendations contained in the report.

The Committee had before it a report by the Director of Resources which sought approval for the principals of the development proposals and their implementation and incorporation of the project into the capital programme.

The report recommended:

That the Committee approve the extension of the existing district heating network (located in Balnagask Circle) so as to serve Deeside Family Centre, Balnagask House and Provost Hogg Court.

The Committee resolved:-

to approve the recommendation contained in the report.

The Committee had before it a report by the Director of Resources which sought approval for the principals of the development proposals and their implementation and incorporation of the project into the capital programme.

The report recommended:

That the Committee approve the delivery of improvements in, and around, Heathryfold Park and Auchmill Wood, up to the value of the capital grant allocation from Scottish Natural Heritage.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)       in response to a question from Councillor Nicoll regarding the costs presented for the Ranger, to note that the Principal Architect would circulate the breakdown of the costs of the Committee; and

(ii)      to otherwise approve the recommendation contained in the report.

DECLARATION OF INTEREST

Councillor Yuill declared an interest in item 6.6 (Schoolhill Public Realm Enhancement) by virtue of him being a Council appointed member of Robert Gordon’s College Board of Governors and he considered that the nature of his interest required him to leave the meeting for the following item of business.

The Committee had before it a report by the Director of Resources which (1) sought approval for the implementation of the first stage of a public realm enhancement at Schoolhill; and (2) sought approval to refer the report to the Strategic Commissioning Committee on 7 June 2018 for approval to proceed to tender and thereafter the City Growth and Resources Committee on 19 June 2018 for approval of a budget for the first stage public realm enhancement.

The report recommended:

That the Committee -

(a)      note that the Business Case for Schoolhill Public Realm Enhancement had been considered and agreed for their interest by the City Centre Masterplan Board and Capital Board;

(b)      note the authorisation for the preparation of detailed design of Schoolhill public realm by Finance, Policy and Resources Committee on 7 June 2016;

(c)      approve the first stage Schoolhill Public Realm Enhancement project as an addition to the Capital Programme and notes the estimated costs in Section 4 which shall be considered by Strategic Commissioning Committee on 7 June 2018 and City Growth and Resources Committee on 19 June 2018 and for the works to be complete by the beginning of 2019;

(d)      to refer the report to the Strategic Commissioning Committee on 7 June 2018 to:

(a)      approve the Business Case and the budget for the proposed works;

(b)      delegate authority to the Chief Officer - Capital, following consultation with the Head of Commercial and Procurement Services, to procure the first stage  public realm enhancement, including all necessary consents, licenses, orders and agreements for the area in front of Aberdeen Art Gallery subject to approval of the funding of £550,000 by the City Growth and Resources Committee on 19 June 2018;

(c)      delegate authority to the Chief Officer – Place to bring forward a comprehensive public realm enhancement design for the wider Schoolhill area as future stages of works and report to appropriate committees; and

(d)      instruct the Director of Resources to apply for appropriate external grant funding for design costs of £30,000; and

(e)      to refer the report to the City Growth and Resources Committee on 19 June, 2018 for approval of a project budget of £550,000 to be met from the Non-Housing Capital Programme.

The Committee resolved:-

to approve the recommendations contained in the report.

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 Committee had before it an exempt appendix in relation to the Proposals for the Future of Braeside School report referred to at article 5 of this minute.

The Committee resolved:-

to note the content of the exempt appendix.

The Committee had before it exempt appendices in relation to the Demolition of Kincorth and Torry Academies report referred to at article 6 of this minute.

The Committee resolved:-

to note the content of the exempt appendices.

The Committee had before it by way of a referral, the minute extract from the City Growth and Resources Committee of 24 April 2018 and the associated report in relation to Shaping Aberdeen Housing LLP. 

The decision of that Committee was to approve the following recommendation:

(h)      refer the report to the Capital Programme Committee on 23 May 2018, for approval to proceed with the Summerhill site as a Council house build project to deliver 369 homes consisting of 1, 2 and 3 bedroomed flatted apartments for social rent based on the current design proposals and that this be added to the capital programme.

The Committee resolved:-

to approve the recommendation contained in the referred report.

-        COUNCILLOR MARIE BOULTON, Convener