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 Committee had before it the minute of the previous meeting of 5 September 2023, for approval.

The Committee resolved:-

to approve the minute as a correct record. 

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

The Committee resolved:-

(i)             to note the reasons for the delay for items 9 (Housing Improvement Group – Capital Works and 10 (Review of the Non Traditional Housing Stock);

(ii)            to note that the reports at item 21 and 22 were to be combined into one report (Housing and Housing Strategy Report); and

(iii)          to otherwise note the committee business planner. 

That the Committee -

1.    Notes that busking and other street performers can bring vibrancy, help create a good atmosphere and bring pleasure to people, both local and visitors;

2.    Notes that for those working or living in the city centre, busking can sometimes become intrusive or a nuisance;

3.    Notes the guidance on Dundee, Glasgow and Edinburgh councils websites regarding busking;

4.    Acknowledges that the Community Safety Partnership (CSP) are working on a code of practice for Aberdeen City centre;

5.    Instructs the Chief Officer – Early Intervention and Community Empowerment to ensure that city centre buskers, businesses, Police Scotland, elected members, community councils, residents and other city centre partner organisations are consulted in developing a Busking Code of Practice for Aberdeen City centre and report back to the January 2024 Communities, Housing and Public Protection Committee with an update on the progress of the proposed Busking Code of Practice for Aberdeen City. 

-          Councillor Sandra Macdonald

The Committee had before it a notice of motion from Councillor Macdonald in the following terms:-

That the Committee -

1.    Notes that busking and other street performers can bring vibrancy, help create a good atmosphere and bring pleasure to people, both local and visitors;

2.    Notes that for those working or living in the city centre, busking can sometimes become intrusive or a nuisance;

3.    Notes the guidance on Dundee, Glasgow and Edinburgh Councils’ websites regarding busking;

4.    Acknowledges that the Community Safety Partnership (CSP) are working on a code of practice for Aberdeen City centre; and

5.    Instructs the Chief Officer – Early Intervention and Community Empowerment to ensure that city centre buskers, businesses, Police Scotland, elected members, community councils, residents and other city centre partner organisations are consulted in developing a Busking Code of Practice for Aberdeen City centre and report back to the January 2024 Communities, Housing and Public Protection Committee with an update on the progress of the proposed Busking Code of Practice for Aberdeen City. 

Councillor Macdonald spoke in furtherance of her notice of motion.

The Committee resolved:-

to approve the Notice of Motion.

The Committee had before it a report by Police Scotland, which updated Members regarding the impact of Cybercrime and the Police Scotland response to it.

The Committee heard from Norman Stevenson, Police Scotland, who spoke in furtherance of the report and answered various questions from Members.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee discuss, comment on, and endorse the report.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)            to note the contents of the report; and

(ii)           to agree that Cybercrime continued to rise in scale and complexity in Scotland and globally, noting the cyber-attack at Western Isles Council.  Therefore instruct the Chief Officer – Digital and Technology to bring forward a report to the February 2024 Audit, Risk and Scrutiny Committee meeting on how the Council is currently combating Cybercrime.

The Committee heard from Chief Inspector Darren Bruce, Police Scotland, who provided a verbal update on the Disclosure Scheme for Domestic Abuse Scotland. 

Chief Inspector Bruce explained that the scheme was introduced as a way for people to ask Police Scotland if someone had a history of domestic abuse and if so, to disclose that information to their partner.  It was noted that the person's partner could also apply to the scheme. 

Chief Inspector Bruce also advised that they had received 100 applications this calendar year for the scheme, which was an increase of 65% compared to the same time last year, and noted that Police Scotland were really encouraging members of the public to use the scheme should they have any concerns, in order to drive down domestic abuse. 

Chief Inspector Bruce answered various questions from Members. 

The Committee resolved:-

to note the verbal update provided. 

The Committee had before it a report by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, which presented the performance of Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) (April to September 2023) against the objectives contained within the Aberdeen City Local Fire and Rescue Plan.

The report also allowed scrutiny from Local Authority Partners to ensure that the priorities of the SFRS Strategic Plan, and the Aberdeen City Local Outcome Improvement Plan were being delivered.

The Committee heard from Andrew Wright, Local Area Commander, Scottish Fire and Rescue who provided a verbal summary of the report and answered various questions from Members.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee consider and note the performance data provided in Appendix A in relation to the SFRS 2023/24 Performance Report.

The Committee resolved:-

to note the report.

The Committee had before it a report by the Interim Chief Officer – Governance (Assurance), which provided an update on preparatory work being undertaken in relation to the incoming Martyn’s Law legislation (also known as the Protect Duty) which would place new duties on local authorities with regard to addressing the threat of terrorism.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee –

(a)          notes the proposed incoming legislation (including proposed statutory duties) and its potential impact on the Council and other organisations; and

(b)          notes the measures being taken by the Council to support our staff, our Arms’ Length External Organisations (ALEOs) and local businesses, to understand and comply with these new statutory duties.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)             to approve recommendation (a); and

(ii)            to note the measures being taken by the Council to support our staff, our Arms’ Length External Organisations (ALEOs) and local businesses, to understand and comply with these new proposed statutory duties and continue to work towards identifying any additionalcosts in relation to complying with the anticipated legislation and liaise with the Chief Officer - Finance on any resultinggrowth pressures and report to the relevant committee if required. 

The Committee had before it a report by the Chief Officer – Operations and Protective Services, which outlined the Protective Services’ proposals for delivering the occupational safety and health regulatory service for year 2023/2024. The Service Plan was produced at this time to allow a full year to expire after implementation of the Plan for 2022/23.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee approve the Occupational Health and Safety Service Plan for 2023/24 at Appendix 1.

The Committee resolved:-

to approve the recommendation. 

The Committee had before it a report by the Chief Officer – Data and Insights, which presented Committee with the status of appropriate key performance measures relating to certain Operations and Customer services. 

The report recommended:-

that the Committee note the information contained in the performance report. 

The Committee resolved:-

to note the report. 

The Committee had before it a report by the Interim Chief Officer – Governance (Assurance) which presented the annual report of the Communities, Housing and Public Protection Committee to enable Members to provide comment on the data contained within.

The report recommended:-

that Committee note the annual report of the Communities, Housing and Public Protection Committee and provide comments and observations on the data contained therein.

The Committee resolved:-

to note the annual report.

The Committee had before it a report by the Chief Officer – Strategic Place Planning, which provided an update on Aberdeen City’s Affordable Housing Delivery Programme.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee note the progress on delivery of Aberdeen City’s Affordable Housing Delivery Programme.

The Convener moved, seconded by the Vice Convener:-

          that the recommendation be approved.

Councillor Malik, seconded by Councillor Lawrence, moved as an amendment:-

          that the Committee –

(a)           note the progress on delivery of Aberdeen City’s Affordable Housing Delivery Programme;

(b)           agree that, as the background papers detail the previous administration delivered 2277 affordable houses beating the 2,000 homes they promised to deliver by 277 homes, a record for the city;

CGR PLA/18/061 18 September 2018 

CGR PLA/19/318 26 September 2019 

CGR COM 20/181 28 October 2020 

CGR COM 21/169 25 August 2021 

CGR COM 22/197 21 September 2022;

(c)           agree that thanks to the forward-thinking previous administration commitment to provide £250m to build 2,000 Council homes, most to a gold standard, further council housing at Summerhill, Bridge of Don and other sites throughout the city would soon become available to help many residents who are suffering through SNP austerity cost of living crisis; and

(d)           agree that the Strategic Housing Investment Plan shows that of the 2,814 homes projected to be delivered 1,242 are a direct result of the previous administration's commitment to build a record number of council houses in Aberdeen.

On a division, there voted – for the motion (7) – the Convener, the Vice Convener, Councillor Delaney, the Depute Provost and Councillors Copland, Davidson, Greig and McLellan – for the amendment (5) – Councillors Brooks, Cross, Lawrence, Malik and Tissera. 

The Committee resolved:-

to adopt the motion.

The Committee had before it a report by the Chief Officer – Strategic Place Planning, which provided assurance and an overview of the Council responsibilities in relation to securing dangerous buildings and protecting public safety, as well as activity on unauthorised building work and unauthorised occupation of buildings.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee –

(a)          note the contents of the report and appendix 1; and

(b)          agree to receive a further Building Standards Activity Report at the meeting of the Communities, Housing and Public Protection Committee on 30 May 2024.

The Committee resolved:-

to approve the recommendations.  

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 2024/25 – 2028/29, which was conditionally submitted to the Scottish Government on 27 October 2023.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee –

(a)           approve the Strategic Housing Investment Plan for 2024/25 – 2028/29 as contained in Appendices 1 and 2; and

(b)           instruct the Chief Officer - Strategic Place Planning to confirm to the Scottish Government that the Strategic Housing Investment Plan has been approved.

The Convener moved, seconded by the Vice Convener:-

          that the recommendations be approved.

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

that the Committee does not approve the Strategic Housing Investment Plan for 2024/25 – 2028/29 as contained in Appendices 1 and 2 until such time as officers provide a report into the probability of Greenferns Landward 350 homes being built by Aberdeen City Council within the timescales mentioned in the report following the SNP delaying this development until 2032 just before the Dyce, Bucksburn and Danestone by-election which was won by Aberdeen Labour.

On a division, there voted – for the motion (7) – the Convener, the Vice Convener, Councillor Delaney, the Depute Provost and Councillors Copland, Davidson, Greig and McLellan – for the amendment (5) – Councillors Brooks, Cross, Lawrence, Malik and Tissera. 

The Committee resolved:-

to adopt the motion.

-       Councillor Miranda Radley, Convener