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 committee business planner as prepared by the Interim Chief Officer – Governance. 

The Committee resolved:-

to note the planner. 

The Committee heard from Chay Ewing, Scottish Fire and Rescue who provided a verbal update to members in relation to the burning of alternative fuels.

Mr Ewing explained that it had been a mild autumn temperature wise but with the winter months approaching and the cost of living crisis, that people may be looking to find alternative ways to keep warm and cut down on electricity bills.  He advised that as a service they would be looking to target vulnerable people and to offer advice to them.  He noted that various communications had been issued in order to keep people safe and provided details on various hazards that people may utilise in order to cut down on electricity/heating costs, such as the use of disposable barbeques indoors.

Mr Ewing concluded that there was no concern for the service at present but this would be monitored.   

The Committee resolved:-

to request that officers cascade a message through social media, regarding fire safety and ways to keep safe this winter, with a link on how citizens can make contact with the fire service. 

The Committee received a presentation from Chief Officers who provided information on their roles within the Council as well as information relating to the remit of the Committee. 

The Committee resolved:-

to note the information provided from the Chief Officers.

Councillor Houghton

1.     Notes the decision of the Urgent Business Committee of 13^th September 2022 that the Council:

(i)              Expresses great sadness at the death of Queen Elizabeth II

(ii)             Acknowledges the close bond that existed between Queen Elizabeth II and the North East

(iii)            Notes the many tributes that have been paid to Queen Elizabeth II by citizens of Aberdeen, which have included recognition of her faithful commitment to duty and devotion to the country and its people.

(iv)           Extends its condolences to His Majesty King Charles III, and to the entire Royal Family

(v)             Instructs officers to make arrangements for people to be able to complete a physical Book of Remembrance at either Marischal College or the Central Library.

2.     Agrees that to remember and commemorate the relationship of our late Queen with Aberdeen that ‘Union Terrace Gardens’ be renamed ‘The Queen Elizabeth II Gardens’ at its formal opening as a tribute to 70 years of unblemished service to our nation, and that any cost be met from the existing Union Terrace Gardens redevelopment budget and available existing project contingencies; and

3.     Agrees that the Lord Provost should extend an invitation to the Palace with a view to a Royal Opening of the gardens to occur in 2023.

The Committee had before it a notice of motion from Councillor Houghton in the following terms, which had been referred from Council on 13 October 2022. 

That the Council:-

1.     notes the decision of the Urgent Business Committee of 13^th September 2022 that the Council:

(i)              expresses great sadness at the death of Queen Elizabeth II;

(ii)             acknowledges the close bond that existed between Queen Elizabeth II and the North East;

(iii)            notes the many tributes that have been paid to Queen Elizabeth II by citizens of Aberdeen, which have included recognition of her faithful commitment to duty and devotion to the country and its people;

(iv)           extends its condolences to His Majesty King Charles III, and to the entire Royal Family;

(v)             instructs officers to make arrangements for people to be able to complete a physical Book of Remembrance at either Marischal College or the Central Library;

2.     agrees that to remember and commemorate the relationship of our late Queen with Aberdeen that ‘Union Terrace Gardens’ be renamed ‘The Queen Elizabeth II Gardens’ at its formal opening as a tribute to 70 years of unblemished service to our nation, and that any cost be met from the existing Union Terrace Gardens redevelopment budget and available existing project contingencies; and

3.     agrees that the Lord Provost should extend an invitation to the Palace with a view to a Royal Opening of the gardens to occur in 2023.

Councillor Houghton spoke in furtherance of his notice of motion.

Councillor Houghton moved, seconded by Councillor Kusznir:-

           that the Committee approve the notice of motion.

The Convener moved as an amendment, seconded by the Vice Convener:-

           that the Committee:-

1.     notes the decision of the Urgent Business Committee of 13^th September 2022 that the Council:

(i)              expresses great sadness at the death of Queen Elizabeth II;

(ii)             acknowledges the close bond that existed between Queen Elizabeth II and the North East;

(iii)            notes the many tributes that have been paid to Queen Elizabeth II by citizens of Aberdeen, which have included recognition of her faithful commitment to duty and devotion to the country and its people;

(iv)           extends its condolences to His Majesty King Charles III, and to the entire Royal Family;

(v)             instructs officers to make arrangements for people to be able to complete a physical Book of Remembrance at either Marischal College or the Central Library; and

2.     Instructs the Chief Officer – Corporate Landlord to bring back a report to the relevant committee on the ongoing and future planned Council Capital projects which could be named in tribute to Queen Elizabeth II.

On a division there voted:- for the motion (6) – Councillors Bonsell, Graham, Kusznir, MacKenzie, Stewart and Thomson; for the amendment (7) – the Convener, the Vice Convener, the Depute Provost and Councillors Copland, Greig, McLellan and Nicoll.

The Committee resolved:-

to adopt the amendment.

That the Council:

(a)  commends the work of Bon Accord Heritage SCIO (Charity No.: SC046052);

(b)  welcomes that politicians from all political parties in Aberdeen have expressed their support for the restoration and reopening of Bon Accord Baths;

(c)   understands that Bon Accord Heritage SCIO is working to bring Bon Accord Baths back into public use through a purchase or lease agreement with Aberdeen City Council and the financial support of other partners;

(d)  understands from Bon Accord Heritage SCIO that the in-principle official support by Aberdeen City Council to the restoration of Bon Accord Baths is a requirement for Bon Accord Heritage SCIO to access other sources of funding, including but limited to grant funding, which is essential to the ultimate restoration of the building;

(e)  instructs the Chief Executive, or other appropriate nominated officer, to formally confirm that Aberdeen City Council supports in principle the restoration of Bon Accord Baths; and

(f)    agrees to assist Bon Accord Heritage SCIO in accessing available external funding opportunities.

The Committee had before it a notice of motion from Councillor Kusznir in the following terms, which had been referred from Council on 13 October 2022. 

That the Council:-

(a)            commends the work of Bon Accord Heritage SCIO (Charity No.: SC046052);

(b)            welcomes that politicians from all political parties in Aberdeen have expressed their support for the restoration and reopening of Bon Accord Baths;

(c)             understands that Bon Accord Heritage SCIO is working to bring Bon Accord Baths back into public use through a purchase or lease agreement with Aberdeen City Council and the financial support of other partners;

(d)            understands from Bon Accord Heritage SCIO that the in-principle official support by Aberdeen City Council to the restoration of Bon Accord Baths is a requirement for Bon Accord Heritage SCIO to access other sources of funding, including but limited to grant funding, which is essential to the ultimate restoration of the building; and

(e)            instructs the Chief Executive, or other appropriate nominated officer, to formally confirm that Aberdeen City Council supports in principle the restoration of Bon Accord Baths; and agrees to assist Bon Accord Heritage SCIO in accessing available external funding opportunities.

Councillor Kusznir spoke in furtherance of his notice of motion. 

The Committee resolved:-

a)               to commend the work of Bon Accord Heritage SCIO (Charity No.: SC046052);

b)              to welcome that politicians from all political parties in Aberdeen have expressed their support for the restoration and reopening of Bon Accord Baths;

c)               to understand that Bon Accord Heritage SCIO is working to bring Bon Accord Baths back into public use through a purchase or lease agreement with Aberdeen City Council and the financial support of other partners;

d)              to understand from Bon Accord Heritage SCIO that the in-principle official support by Aberdeen City Council to the restoration of Bon Accord Baths is a requirement for Bon Accord Heritage SCIO to access other sources of funding, including but not limited to grant funding, which is essential to the ultimate restoration of the building;

e)              to instruct the Chief Executive, or other appropriate nominated officer, to

formally confirm that Aberdeen City Council supports in principle the

restoration of Bon Accord Baths;

f)                to agree to assist Bon Accord Heritage SCIO in accessing available external funding opportunities, and

g)              to instruct the Chief Officer – Corporate Landlord to bring back a report to the budget process on the business case and the commercial viability of the project.

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

Members discussed the performance report and offered various observations.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee note the report and provide comments and observations on

the performance information contained in report Appendix A.

The Committee resolved:-

to note the report.

The Committee had before it a report by the Chief Officer – Health and Social

Care Partnership, which shared the Aberdeen Adult Protection Committee (APC) Convener’s Biennial Report for 2020-22.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee note the Aberdeen Adult Protection Committee’s Biennial Report for 2020-22 which had been prepared as required by the Adult Support and Protection (Scotland) Act 2007, and which provided assurance about progress made over the period.

The Committee resolved:-

to approve the recommendation.

The Committee had before it a report by the Chief Officer – Early Intervention and Community Empowerment, which advised the Committee of progress on tenant and resident engagement in the city. 

The report advised that tenant and resident engagement remained an intrinsic aspect of being a responsible landlord and explained that Housing, Planning and Transport legislation all required a high level of engagement and consultation with local communities.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee note the developing approach to tenant and resident engagement outlined in the report.

The Committee resolved:-

to note the report. 

The Committee had before it a report by the Chief Officer – Early Intervention

and Community Empowerment, which shared the progress made on the Warm Spaces initiative by the Library and Community Learning service. 

The report recommended:-

that the Committee note the support being offered to communities through the Council’s Warm Spaces initiative. 

The Committee resolved:-

(i)              to request that the Chief Officer – People and Organisational Development circulate information to staff members on ways to help conserve energy by means such as switching off lights in buildings when not in use;

(ii)             to note the support being offered to communities through the Council’s Warm Spaces initiative; and

(iii)            to request that a Service Update be circulated to members as soon as possible to highlight conversations with external providers on options for seven day access to warm spaces for citizens. 

-        Councillor Miranda Radley, Convener