Agenda, decisions and draft minutes

There was no Urgent Business.

There was no Exempt Business.

Members were requested to intimate any Declarations of Interest or Transparency Statements in respect of the items on the agenda.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)           to note that the Convener advised that he had connections in relation to item 9.2 (Fairer Aberdeen Fund Annual Report) as he was a Council appointed representative to Aberdeen Foyer and Fairer Aberdeen Fund Board, however, having applied the objective test he did not consider that his connections amounted to an interest which would prevent him from participating in the discussion on the item; and

(ii)          to note that the Councillor Kusznir advised that he had a connection in relation to item 9.2 as he was a Board Member of Aberdeen Citizen Advice Bureau, however, having applied the objective test he did not consider that his connection amounted to an interest which would prevent him from participating in the discussion on the item;

(iii)         to note that the Vice Convener advised that he had a connection in relation to item 9.2 as he was a Council appointed representative to the Fairer Aberdeen Fund Board, however, having applied the objective test he did not consider that his connection amounted to an interest which would prevent him from participating in the discussion on the item; and

(iv)         to note that Councillor Brooks advised that he had a connection in relation to agenda item 9.2 as he had family members working in partnership with Aberdeen Citizen Advice Bureau, however, having applied the objective test he did not consider that his connection amounted to an interest which would prevent him from participating in the discussion on the item.

The Committee had before it the minute of the previous meeting of 28 August 2024.

The Committee resolved:-

to approve the minute.

The Committee had before it the planner of committee business, as prepared by the Interim Chief Officer – Governance.

The Committee resolved:-

to note the Planner.

The Committee had before it a report prepared by the Community Planning Manager seeking approval of the appointment of a new external adviser to the Committee.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee approve the appointment of a new external adviser representing the charitable sector, as named in the report, to the Anti-Poverty and Inequality Committee.

The Committee resolved:-

to approve the recommendation.

The Committee had before it the Fairer Aberdeen Fund Annual Report 2023-24 prepared by the Fairer Aberdeen Coordinator.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee:

(a)          note the Fairer Aberdeen Fund Annual Report for 2023-24, at Appendix 1 of the report and the positive impact that had been made to lives of people in Aberdeen; and

(b)          instruct the Executive Director Corporate Services to thank all the Fairer Aberdeen Board members, funded partners, and volunteers for the work they have done and their many successes.

The Convener, seconded by the Vice Convener, moved:-

that the Committee approve the recommendations.

Councillor Tissera, seconded by Councillor Watson, moved as an amendment:-

that the Committee -

(1)          note the Fairer Aberdeen Fund Annual Report for 2023-24, at Appendix 1 noting the Report also collates figures for the programme over the last 10 years since the Fund was renamed in 2013, following an amalgamation of several previously ring fenced funds, including the Fairer Scotland Fund; and agree the positive impact that has been made to lives of people in Aberdeen agreeing 9 of these years were under an Aberdeen Labour administration; and

(2)          instruct the Executive Director Corporate Services to thank all the Fairer Aberdeen Board members, funded partners, and volunteers for the work they've done and their many successes.

On a division, there voted:- for the motion (7) – the Convener, Vice Convener and Councillors Brooks, Davidson, Hutchison, Kusznir and Mennie; for the amendment (2) – Councillors Tissera and Watson.

The Committee resolved:-

to adopt the motion.

The Committee had before it a report prepared by the Chief Officer – Data Insights,  providing an update on the regulations governing those deemed to have “No Recourse to Public Funds” and giving an overview of the measures in place to support this group of people in Aberdeen.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee note the current situation with respect to the condition of No Recourse to Public Funds, including -

·                     the challenges faced by individuals subject to a NRPF condition;

·                     the support currently provided by the Council directly and through the Fairer Aberdeen Fund, as well as by the Aberdeen City Health and Social Care Partnership services; and

·                     further actions underway (at paragraph 3.14 of the report).

The Convener, seconded by the Vice Convener, moved:-

that the Committee -

(1)          instruct the Chief Officer - Data Insights to provide additional information by way of a Service Update in respect of (1) changes in local demographic data with regard to those subject to No Recourse to Public Funds and (2) the 2023/24 CoSLA return on the extent of Aberdeen City Council’s support to those with No Recourse to Public Funds; and

(2)          otherwise approve the recommendations.

Councillor Tissera, seconded by Councillor Watson, moved as an amendment:- that the Committee -

(1)          note the report;

(2)          acknowledge that people who come to the UK to work make a substantial contribution to the UK economy, its public services, and local communities; and

(3)          agree the level of net migration must be “properly controlled and managed” as set out in the Labour Manifesto 2024.

On a division, there voted:- for the motion (7) – the Convener, Vice Convener and Councillors Brooks, Davidson, Hutchison, Kusznir and Mennie; for the amendment (2) – Councillors Tissera and Watson.

The Committee resolved:-

to adopt the motion.

The Committee had before it an update report prepared by the Community Planning Manager on the outcomes achieved to date from Round 1 of the Cost of Living Funding allocated for 2024/25.

The report recommended:

that the Committee approve the outputs and anticipated outcomes of the Cost of Living Fund achieved to date and actions to ensure funds will be fully spent by April 2025.

The Convener, seconded by the Vice Convener, moved:-

that the Committee -

(1)          instruct the Community Planning Manager to provide an update in respect of the trends on the number of organisations receiving food distributions from Food Poverty Action Aberdeen;

(2)          note that the Community Planning Manager would organise a session for members to look at the data by locality level; and

(3)          otherwise approve the recommendations.

Councillor Tissera, seconded by Councillor Watson, moved as an amendment:-

that the Committee -

(1)         approve the outputs and anticipated outcomes of the Cost of Living Fund achieved to date and actions to ensure funds will be fully spent by April 2025, agreeing Child poverty has gone up by 1.8% since the SNP took charge of the Council; and agree the SNP rejected Aberdeen Labour proposals in the budget to help with fuel poverty; and

(2)         note the charity Christians against Poverty has said following the UK Labour budget “it feels like there is light at the end of the tunnel for those in poverty”, noting over one million UK citizens will be £420 better off thanks to the Chancellor.

On a division, there voted:- for the motion (7) – the Convener, Vice Convener and Councillors Brooks, Davidson, Hutchison, Kusznir and Mennie; for the amendment (2) – Councillors Tissera and Watson.

The Committee resolved:-

to adopt the motion.

The Committee had before it a report by the Director of Corporate Services  which presented the annual report of the Anti-Poverty and Inequality Committee to enable Members to provide comment on the data contained within.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee:

(a)          provide comments and observations on the data contained within the annual report; and

(b)          note the annual report of the Anti-Poverty and Inequality Committee.

The Convener, seconded by the Vice Convener, moved:-

that the Committee approve the recommendations.

Councillor Tissera, seconded by Councillor Watson, moved as an amendment:- that the Committee agree that the Anti-Poverty and Inequality Committee devalues the good work of Community Planning Aberdeen where real objectives tackling poverty are undertaken by community planning partners including the Scottish government, Police Scotland and other agencies.

On a division, there voted:- for the motion (7) – the Convener, Vice Convener and Councillors Brooks, Davidson, Hutchison, Kusznir and Mennie; for the amendment (2) – Councillors Tissera and Watson.

The Committee resolved:-

to adopt the motion.

The Committee had before it a report prepared by the Community Planning Manager following the visit to Aberdeen Cairncry Community Centre on 28 August 2024.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee:

(a)          note the report and the actions identified during the visit to Cairncry Community Centre; and

(b)          thank all those at Cairncry Community Centre, including the many staff and volunteers, who welcomed the Committee and provided an informative and interesting visit.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)            to instruct the Community Planning Manager to report back to the Committee on changes and improvements following such visits;

(ii)          to instruct the Chief Officer – People and Citizens, to investigate the possibility of offering mental health first aid training to volunteers; and

(iii)         to otherwise approve the recommendations.

-           COUNCILLOR CHRISTIAN ALLARD, Convener.