Agenda, decisions and draft 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.

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

(1)      Councillor Hutchison advised that he had a connection in relation to agenda item 9.5 (ELC Programme Progress Report) due to his daughter attending one of the newly completed facilities, however having applied the objective test he did not consider that he had an interest and would not be withdrawing from the meeting for that item;

(2)      Councillor Mennie advised that she had a connection in relation to agenda item 9.5 (ELC Programme Progress Report) due to her daughter attending one of the newly completed facilities, however having applied the objective test she did not consider that she had an interest and would not be withdrawing from the meeting for that item; and

(3)      Councillor Yuill advised that he had a connection in relation to agenda item 9.7 (Milltimber Primary School) due to a family member being involved with a tender for subcontracting work for the school, however having applied the objective test he did not consider that he had an interest and would not be withdrawing from the meeting for that item.

The Committee had before it the minute of its previous meeting of 1 December 2021.

The Committee resolved:-

to approve the minute as a correct record.

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

The Committee resolved:-

(i)       in relation to item 12 (Provost Skene’s House) to remove this item from the planner and note that a Post Occupancy Report would be submitted to this Committee in twelve months time;

(ii)      in relation to item 18 (ELC Expansion Update Report), to remove this item from the planner due to the completion of the overall projects;

(iii)      in relation to both items above, to thank all staff involved with the successful completion of the projects; and

(iv)     to otherwise note the content of the committee business planner.

The Committee had before it a report by the Director of Resources which provided an update on the progress of the South College Street Junction Improvements Project.

The report recommended:-

That the Committee notes the updates to the programme milestones and the associated financial implications.

The Committee resolved:-

to approve the recommendation contained in the report.

With reference to article 11 of the minute of its meeting of 22 September 2021, the Committee had before it a report by the Director of Resources which provided an update on the progress made with regards to the construction of the Ness Energy Project.

The report recommended:-

That the Committee -

(a)      note the progress achieved to date;

(b)      note the financial position for the project; and

(c)      to instruct the Project Team to undertake research and prepare responses to the Review of the Role of Incineration in the Waste Hierarchy including an evidence gathering visit to carbon capture utilisation and storage and Energy from Waste efficiency improvement projects in Denmark.

The Committee resolved:-

to approve the recommendations contained in the report.

With reference to articles 13 and 15 of the minute of their meeting of 22 September 2021, the Committee had before it a report by the Director of Resources which provided an update on the progress of the Torry Heat Network.

The report recommended:-

That the Committee note the current on-going work leading to the anticipated completion of the construction of the approved phase of the Torry Heat Network by late 2023.

The Committee resolved:-

to approve the recommendation contained In the report.

With reference to article 6 of the minute of its meeting of 22 September 2021, the Committee had before it a report by the Director of Resources which provided an update on the progress of the delivery of Union Terrace Gardens project which had an anticipated completion date of Spring 2022.

The report recommended:-

That the Committee note the progress achieved to deliver the Union Terrace Gardens redevelopment.

The Committee resolved:-

to approve the recommendation contained in thew report.

With reference to article 11 of the minute of its previous meeting, the Committee had before it a report by the Director of Resources which provided on the progress of ELC Capital Projects and that the projects would help to meet Aberdeen City Council’s Early Learning and Childcare Delivery Plan objectives by working with the Education Operations teams to help meet the Councils commitment to expand funded early learning and childcare from 600 hours to 1,140 hours.  The timeline for delivery was originally in 2020, however due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the timeline had been extended to August 2021.

The report recommended:-

That the Committee –

(a)      note that the Early Learning and Childcare Expansion Programme of works formed part of the overall Council Capital Programme; and

(b)      note the significant progress made with the overall delivery of projects. Despite the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and that all works had been completed.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)       to congratulate staff involved with the programme; and

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

With reference to article 12 of the minute of its meeting of 22 September 2021, the Committee had before it a report by the Director of Resources which provided an update on the progress of the new Countesswells Primary School project.

The report recommended:

That the Committee -

(a)      note that the project formed part of the Education New Build Programme presented to the Capital Programme, Strategic Commissioning and City Growth and Resources Committees in September 2018 and that the project would contribute to the delivery of Aberdeen City Council’s Early Learning and Childcare Expansion Programme of works;

(b)      note the current on-going work leading to the anticipated completion of the construction of the Countesswells Primary School by summer 2023; and

(c)      note that the Council had provided a temporary school to meet the current need of this community.

The Committee resolved:-

to approve the recommendations contained in the report.

With reference to article 8 of the minute of its meeting of 22 September 2021, the Committee had before it a report by the Director of Resources which provided an update on the progress of the replacement Milltimber Primary School.

The report recommended:

That the Committee -

(a)      note that the project formed part of the Education New Build Programme presented to the Capital Programme, Strategic Commissioning and City Growth and Resources Committees in September 2018 and that the project would contribute to the delivery of Aberdeen City Council’s Early Learning and Childcare Expansion Programme of works; and

(b)      note the current on-going work leading to completion of the construction of the Replacement Milltimber Primary School in spring 2022.

The Committee resolved:-

to approve the recommendations contained in the report.

With reference to article 9 of the minute of its meeting of 22 September 2021, the Committee had before it a report by the Director of Resources which provided an update on the progress of the replacement Riverbank Primary School.

The report recommended:-

That the Committee -

(a)      note that the project formed part of the Education New Build Programme presented to the Capital Programme, Strategic Commissioning and City Growth and Resources Committees in September 2018 and that the project would contribute to the delivery of Aberdeen City Council’s Early Learning and Childcare Expansion Programme of works; and

(b)      note the current on-going work leading to completion of the construction of the Replacement Riverbank Primary School in summer 2023.

The Committee resolved:-

to approve the recommendations contained in the report.

With reference to article 7 of the minute of its meeting of 22 September 2021, the Committee had before it a report by the Director of Resources which provided an update on the progress of the Torry Community Hub and Primary School.

The report recommended:

That the Committee -

(a)      note that the project formed part of the Education New Build Programme presented to the Capital Programme, Strategic Commissioning and City Growth and Resources Committees in September 2018 and that the project would contribute to the delivery of Aberdeen City Council’s Early Learning and Childcare Expansion Programme of works; and

(b)      note the current on-going work leading to completion of the construction of the Torry Community Hub and Primary School by autumn 2023.

The Committee resolved:-

to approve the recommendations contained in the report.

The Convener noted that it was the final meeting of the Committee prior to the local government elections and stated that she therefore wished to give her sincere thanks to the Director of Resources, Chief Officer – Capital and Chief Officer – Corporate Landlord  and their teams; Democratic Services; Members and the other officers who attended the Committee for their work and support throughout her time as Convener. 

Councillor Laing, Councillor Hutchison and Councillor Yuill also put their thanks on record, thanking the Convener for how she had conducted the meetings during her time in the chair.

-         COUNCILLOR MARIE BOULTON, Convener