Agenda, decisions and draft minutes

In relation to item 11.1 (Update on the Aberdeen Rapid Transit Project), the Convener advised, for reasons of transparency that she was on both the Aberdeen City Region Deal Joint Committee and the NESTRANS Board, but that she did not consider this amounted to an interest which needed to be declared, and would therefore be remaining in the meeting for that item.

The Committee had before it the minute of its previous meeting of 21 January 2025 for approval.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)       to note that the Clerk would circulate the information requested at the last meeting in respect of the cycle path map and the estimated 20mph costs to Councillor Nicoll outwith the meeting;

(ii)       to note that the letters to the Scottish Government, the Chief Constable, and the Crown Office Procurator Fiscal in relation to the Council’s concerns about enforcement of the 20mph speed limit had now been issued and copies of these and any responses would be circulated to Members when received; and

(iii)      to approve the minute as a correct record.

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

Members expressed concern over the delayed reports on the planner and asked a number of questions.

The Committee received a verbal update from officers in respect of item 4 (Den Burn Restoration Project), who advised that unfortunately they had only recently been advised that the funding bid had been unsuccessful and therefore there was no report on the agenda for this cycle.  A report would be presented to a future meeting of the Committee.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)       to note that the Convener, Vice Convener and the Chief Officer – Strategic Place Planning would liaise outwith the meeting to review the reports on the planner to ensure that realistic dates were given for when reports could be expected back;

(ii)       to note the verbal update provided at the meeting in respect of item 4 (Den Burn Restoration Project) and that officers would report back to a future meeting of the Committee once discussions had been held with partners in respect of the funding position; and

(iii)      to otherwise note the planner.

The Committee had before it a report by the Executive Director Corporate Services which presented the status of appropriate key performance measures relating to the services falling within its remit.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee note the report and provide comments and observations on the performance information contained in the report Appendix A.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)       to request that officers provide detail outwith the meeting to Members in relation to the number of vehicles currently at Kittybrewster which were currently awaiting equipment to be fitted prior to being put into use, and if possible, the timeline for this work to be undertaken; and

(ii)       to otherwise note the report.

With reference to article 4 of the Council Budget meeting of 6 March 2024, the Committee had before it a report by the Executive Director City Regeneration and Environment which set out how the Council could encourage and support the expansion of home composting of garden waste.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee approve the communication plan (attached at Appendix 1 to the report) and associated actions to encourage and support the expansion of home composting.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)       to request that officers review previous and future figures from recycling centres and brown bins in respect of garden and food waste sent to Keenan Recycling to ascertain if there had been a reduction which could possibly be attributed to an increase in home composting;

(ii)       to note that officers would provide information to Members outwith the meeting on the number of video views of the Aberdeen City Council website information on home composting; and

(iii)      to approve the recommendation.

The Committee had before it a report by the Executive Director City Regeneration and Environment which provided an update on the findings of the Local Nature Conservation Sites (LNCSs) Review and sought approval for the next steps.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee –

(a)      approve the content and the recommendations detailed in the draft report: Local Nature Conservation Sites (LNCSs) Review Report 2025 (Appendix 2), and instruct the Chief Officer – Strategic Place Planning to update LNCSs booklet and website information;

(b)      note the strategic importance that sites designated for nature, including LNCSs, had in underpinning a range of Council duties, strategies and plans, including delivery of the Council’s Biodiversity Duty, the Council Climate Change Plan, the citywide Net Zero Aberdeen and Aberdeen Adapts and the Local Outcome Improvement Plan (Stretch Outcome 15). Also, that these sites supported the future design of a Nature Network, identification of Other Effective area-based Conservation Measures (OECMs) and the 30x30 nature target;

(c)      instruct the Chief Officer - Strategic Place Planning to undertake the suggested next steps: i) remove the LNCS designation from Old Manse Wood, ii) implement the required boundary changes, iii) monitor those sites at risk, iv) follow up on confirming land ownerships, where appropriate; and v) continue the wider review process into stage 2, including the potential for any additional sites;

(d)      instruct the Chief Officer – Strategic Place Planning to report back to this Committee with recommendations arising from stage 2 of the LNCSs Review process, in particular the addition of any new LNCSs, by the third quarter of 2026; and

(e)      instruct the Chief Officer - Strategic Place Planning to ensure the outcomes of the next steps and progress on any new LNCSs were reported in the annual Climate & Nature Report.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)       to note that officers would raise the queries around the areas over both Aberdeen City and Shire (such as Silverburn, Leuchar Moss etc) and what was in the Aberdeenshire LNCS for these sites with colleagues from Aberdeenshire Council at their next meeting;

(ii)       to note that on page 210, the table should read ‘Scotstown Moor’ rather than ‘Scotstown’; and

(iii)      to approve the recommendations.

The Committee had before it a report by the Executive Director City Regeneration and Environment which provided an update on the various workstreams being undertaken as part of the Aberdeen Rapid Transit Project, including development of the Strategic Business Case, a Bus Services Improvement Partnership Plan and planning for engagement activities.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee –

(a)      note the work ongoing to progress the Aberdeen Rapid Transit project;

(b)      instruct the Chief Officer - Strategic Place Planning to bring a report on the ART Strategic Business Case to this Committee in June 2025;

(c)      instruct the Chief Officer - Strategic Place Planning to bring a further update on the development of a Bus Services Improvement Partnership Plan (BSIP) to this Committee in June 2025, including further development of the proposed BSIP Schemes, being promoted jointly with Aberdeenshire Council, identified at paragraph 3.13 of the report; and

(d)      instruct the Chief Officer - Strategic Place Planning to report back to this

Committee in June 2025 on the Scottish Government’s proposed Bus Infrastructure Fund and £2 flat bus fare pilot, as referenced at paragraphs 3.17-3.19 of the report.

The Convener, seconded by Councillor Greig, moved the recommendations as set out in the report.

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

That the Committee –

(a)      agree the recommendations within the report; and

(b)      agree the Vision for the Aberdeen Rapid Transport Project stated unequivocally that “The project kicked off after securing funding as a result of a successful bid from the North East Bus Alliance for £12 million of funding from the Scottish Government’s Bus Partnership Fund. This has also helped to deliver improvements to South College Street and implement city centre bus priority.”  Given the Aberdeen Rapid Transport Project has not progressed because of the Scottish Government cancelling/postponing the funding it would be politically unethical for the Scottish Government to reclaim the £12 million grant back from the Council which the SNP administration have relied upon to force through The Aberdeen City Council (City Centre, Aberdeen) (Traffic Management) (Experimental) Order 2023.

On a division, there voted:- for the motion (6) – the Convener; and Councillors Greig, Henrickson, McLellan, Nicoll and van Sweeden; for the amendment (2) – Councillors Ali and Tissera; declined to vote (1) – Councillor Massey.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)       to note that officers would provide the ART route map to Councillor Nicoll outwith the meeting; and

(ii)       to adopt the motion.

The Committee had before it a report by the Executive Director City Regeneration and Environment which (a) provided an update on the status of the Bus Lane Enforcement (BLE) programme; (b) set out a proposed new approach to the delivery of both Bus Lane Enforcement and Low Emission Zone (LEZ) programmes moving forward; and identified a short list of projects which required confirmation of willingness by the Committee to provide financial support.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee –

(a)      note progress on the projects funded from the BLE programme up to 2024/25, as detailed in Appendix 1;

(b)      instruct the Chief Officer - Strategic Place Planning to use the framework set out in Table 2 and 3 of this report to prepare future years’ programmes for any BLE and LEZ surpluses;

(c)      should recommendation (b) be approved, instruct the Chief Officer - Strategic Place Planning to report back to next meeting of the Net Zero, Environment and Transport Committee with a programme for the use of BLE and LEZ surpluses for 2025/26, using the agreed framework;

(d)      instruct the Chief Officer - Strategic Place Planning to return to the Net Zero, Environment and Transport Committee with a three year programme of work for core paths/outdoor access by the end of 2025; and

(e)      approve the allocation of funding from the Bus Lane Enforcement and Low Emission Zone surpluses, as set out in Table 4 of the report, and instruct the Chief Officer - Strategic Place Planning to work with relevant partners and to report back to this Committee on the progress of these projects.

The Convener, seconded by Councillor Greig, moved:-

That the Committee –

(a)      approve the recommendations in the report; and

(b)      instruct the Chief Officer - Strategic Place Planning to write to the Scottish Government outlining the Council’s wish for Aberdeen to be the pilot area for the £2 bus fare cap.

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

That the Committee –

(a)      note progress on the projects funded from the BLE programme up to 2024/25, as detailed in Appendix 1;

(b)      instruct the Chief Officer - Strategic Place Planning to bring forward a report highlighting every use available to Council for BLE and LEZ surpluses, in order for Elected Members to assess the best use of these monies;

(c)      should recommendation (b) be approved, instruct the Chief Officer -Strategic Place Planning to report back to next meeting of the Net Zero, Environment and Transport Committee with a proposed programme for the use of BLE and LEZ surpluses for 2025/26; and

(d)      instruct the Chief Officer - Strategic Place Planning to return to the Net Zero, Environment and Transport Committee with a three year programme of work for core paths/outdoor access by the end of 2025.

Councillor Nicoll, seconded by Councillor Massey, moved that the Committee take no action.

In terms of Standing Order 29.21, the Committee firstly divided between the motion and the amendment by Councillor Nicoll.

On a division, there  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.