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 14 November 2023, for approval.

The Committee resolved:-

to approve the minute as a correct record.

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

The Committee resolved:-

(i)             to note the reasons for delay in regards to items 6 ( Housing Improvement Group – Capital Works), 7 (Review of the Non Traditional Housing Stock)  and 8 (Police Scotland – 12 week pilot scheme); and

(ii)            to otherwise note the committee business planner.

1.       Instructs the Chief Officer - Corporate Landlord, following consultation with the Chief Officer - People and Organisational Development, to develop a separate or single-sex space policy for Aberdeen City Council that ensures the protection of separate or single sex spaces in Council owned and operated buildings;

2.       Further instructs the Chief Officer - Corporate Landlord to submit said policy to a 2024 Council meeting for consideration and approval; and

3.       Believes that consideration should be given to applying the policy to the following:

??????3.1??toilets;

??????3.2??domestic violence refuges; and

??????3.3??changing rooms.

The Committee had before it a notice of motion from Councillor Kusznir in the following terms, which had been referred from Council on 13 December 2023. 

That the Council:-

1.    Instructs the Chief Officer - Corporate Landlord, following consultation with the Chief Officer - People and Organisational Development, to develop a separate or single-sex space policy for Aberdeen City Council that ensures the protection of separate or single sex spaces in Council owned and operated buildings;

2.    Further instructs the Chief Officer - Corporate Landlord to submit said policy to a 2024 Council meeting for consideration and approval; and

3.    Believes that consideration should be given to applying the policy to the following:

3.1 toilets;

3.2 domestic violence refuges; and

3.3 changing rooms.

Councillor Kusznir spoke in furtherance of his notice of motion.

Councillor Kusznir moved, seconded by Councillor Crockett:-

          that the Committee approve the notice of motion.

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

          that the Committee:-

(i)             agree no action on the notice of motion; and

(ii)            request that a Service Update be issued which would incorporate information from partner agencies in relation to domestic abuse and women’s refuges.  

On a division, there voted – for the motion (6) – Councillors Brooks, Crockett, Cross, Lawrence, Mrs Stewart and Tissera – for the amendment (7) – the Convener, the Vice Convener, Councillor Delaney, the Depute Provost and Councillors Copland, Davidson, Greig and McLellan.

The Committee resolved:-

to adopt the amendment.

Councillor Mrs Stewart intimated her dissent against the foregoing decision in accordance with Standing Order 32.8.

The Committee had before it a report by Police Scotland, which presented the Police Scotland Performance Report covering April to September 2023 for Committee scrutiny. 

The report recommended:-

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

The Committee heard from Superintendent Davie Howieson, who provided a verbal update to Members on various aspects, including a consultation that was underway in relation to the future of police station provision in Aberdeen. 

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

          that the Committee -

(a)           note the Performance Report from Police Scotland;

(b)           note the update provided by Police Scotland regarding the ongoing consultation on the possible closures with impact on the buildings in communities, but that there would be no impact on officer numbers in our communities; and

(c)           request that Police Scotland provide an update to a future committee on how Police Scotland will provide the same level of service following the outcome of the consultation.

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

          that the Committee

(1)           notes the report including the good work that is being done in Aberdeen by Police Scotland;

(2)           notes with disappointment the report in front of us does not mention anything about proposed police office closures in Mastrick, Rosemount, Seaton, Whinhill and Torry. Police office closures are a concern to our constituents, therefore agrees that the Chief Superintendent Graeme Mackie, North East Division, Police Scotland should be invited back to the next meeting of this committee to give a report on the impact of Police office closures within the City of Aberdeen; and

(3)           agrees all political groups should lobby the Scottish Government, their MPs and MSPs to ensure Aberdeen retains Police offices throughout the City. 

On a division, there voted – for the motion (8) – the Convener, the Vice Convener, Councillor Delaney, the Depute Provost and Councillors Copland, Davidson, Greig, McLellan and Mrs Stewart – for the amendment (5) – Councillors Brooks, Cross, Lawrence, Malik and Tissera.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)            to request that Police Scotland look at breaking down the figures in relation to crimes committed and victim numbers to highlight the percentage of men and women who carried out the crime/were victims of the crime rather than an inclusive figure; and

(ii)       to adopt the motion. 

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. 

With reference to article 3 of the minute of the previous meeting of 14 November 2023, whereby a Notice of Motion from Councillor Macdonald was agreed, the Committee had before it a report by the Chief Officer – Early Intervention and Community Empowerment, which  provided an update on the work being undertaken by the Community Safety Partnership to establish a Busking Code of Conduct for Aberdeen City Centre.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee –

(a)           note the Community Safety Partnership’s update contained in the report on developing a Busking Code of Conduct for Aberdeen City Centre;

(b)           instruct the Chief Officer – Early Intervention and Community Empowerment to continue the development of a Busking Code of Conduct that promotes a harmonious and respectful busking environment considering those who live and work in the City Centre; and

(c)           instruct the Chief Officer – Early Intervention and Community Empowerment to report back to the Communities, Housing and Public Protection Committee on 30 May 2024 to seek approval of a Busking Code of Conduct.

The Committee resolved:-

to approve the recommendations.

With reference to article 12 of the minute of the meeting of 6 July 2023, the Committee had before it a report by the Chief Officer – Early Intervention and Community Empowerment, which provided the results of the results of a public consultation on future library provision and outlined the next steps for advancing Aberdeen’s Future Library Model.  The report also sought permission to undertake a consultation on the proposed Library and Information Services Management Rules, which would then be reported back to a future meeting. 

The report recommended:-

that the Committee -

(a)           thank all individuals and groups for their welcome participation and input to the online consultations and focus group sessions;

(b)           note the results of the Future Library and Information Service consultation and instruct the Chief Officer - Early Intervention and Community Empowerment to continue to collaborate with stakeholders in designing a strategic vision and model for the Library and Information Service, reporting back to the Communities, Housing and Public Protection Committee on the Future Libraries and Information Service vision and model at the meeting on 5 September 2024;

(c)           note the extension, as an interim measure, to library opening hours from 1 April 2024 as detailed in paragraph 3.6; and

(d)           instruct the Chief Officer - Early Intervention and Community Empowerment to undertake a consultation (including by means of newspaper advertisement) on the proposed Library and Information Services Management Rules at Appendix C and thereafter report back to a meeting of this Committee on the outcome of such consultation and to seek a decision on whether such Rules should be made, all in accordance with section 112 of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982.

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

          that the recommendations contained in the report be approved.

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

          that the Committee:-

(1)           thank all individuals and groups for their welcome participation and input to the online consultations and focus group sessions, noting that despite the valiant efforts from the Save Aberdeen Libraries group and the Community, the SNP administration voted to close libraries at Cornhill, Cults, Ferryhill, Kaimhill, Northfield and Woodside;

(2)                note the results of the Future Library and Information Service
consultation which noted that opening hours and closures were the main barriers to accessing Library services and agreed that closing libraries especially in regeneration areas will only lead to less people accessing libraries;

(3)           instruct the Chief Officer - Early Intervention and Community
Empowerment to continue to collaborate with stakeholders in designinga strategic vision and model for the Library and Information Service, toensure that the redesign considers the impact of the closures of Cornhill, Cults, Ferryhill, Kaimhill, Northfield and Woodside Libraries, and ensures adequate provision is provided in these communities, reporting back to the Communities,Housing and Public Protection Committee on the Future Libraries andInformation Service vision and model at the meeting on 5 September 2024;

(4)                note the Future Libraries Consultation Children and Young  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.