Agenda, decisions and draft 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 Convener proposed that the Committee consider item 15.1 (Christmas Village Feedback Report – Exempt Appendix) and item 15.2 (Work Plan and Business Cases – Exempt Appendices) with the press and public excluded from the meeting.

The Committee resolved:-

in terms of Section 50A(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, to exclude the press and public from the meeting during consideration of the above items so as to avoid disclosure of information of the classes described in the following paragraph of Schedule 7(A) to the Act:- article 11 (paragraph 6) and article 12 (paragraph 8).

There were no declarations of interest or transparency statements intimated at this time.

The Committee had before it the minute of meeting of the Finance and Resources Committee of 12 February 2025.

The Committee resolved:-

to approve the minute.

The Committee had before it the Committee Business Planner prepared by the Interim Chief Officer - Governance.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)       to note the reason for deferral in relation to item 7 (District Heating – Network Expansion / Waste Heat Utilisation - City Centre Link) and that a report would be submitted to the meeting in November 2025; and

(ii)      to otherwise note the Committee Planner.

The Committee had before it a report by the Executive Director of City Regeneration and Environment which (1) summarised the general progress of delivery of key capital expenditure projects identified within the approved Capital Programme from the General Fund and Housing Revenue Accounts; (2) highlighted those issues considered worthy of particular note which were specific to individual programmes/projects; and (3) incorporated a review of any recent reprofiling of the General Fund Capital Programme, which had been carried out to take account of any current project related factors.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee note the status of delivery of the Section 3.0 highlighted programmes/projects contained within the approved Capital Programmes.

At this juncture the Convener advised that this would be Mr John Wilson’s final meeting of the Committee, following his announcement that he would be retiring. On behalf of the Committee, he wished to thank the Chief Officer – Capital for his contribution at meetings of the Committee and his involvement with capital projects over the years.

Councillor Malik, seconded by Councillor Watson, moved as a procedural motion:-

that the Committee suspend Standing Order 29.1 in order to put forward an amendment which had not been submitted to the Clerk by 12 Noon on the working day prior to the meeting.

On a division, there voted:- for the procedural motion (4) – Councillors Brooks, Farquhar, Malik and Watson; against the procedural motion (5) – the Convener and Councillors Allard, Cooke, Greig and Radley.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)       to reject the procedural motion;

(ii)      to approve the recommendation contained within the report;

(iii)      to note that the Executive Director - City Regeneration and Environment would seek to determine the level of activity at Inchgarth Community Centre and circulate information to members of the Committee; and

(iv)     to concur with the Convener in terms of the Chief Officer – Capital’s retirement.

In accordance with Standing Order 32.8, Councillors Malik and Watson requested that their dissent to the decision to reject the procedural motion be recorded.

With reference to article 12 of the minute of the previous meeting of 12 February 2025, the Committee had before it a report by the Executive Director of City Regeneration and Environment, which sought approval for the proposed allocation of grant funding from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund for the Local Business Support and People and Skills priorities.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee –

UK Shared Prosperity Fund 2025-26: Local Business Support

(a)      approve an allocation to Aberdeen City Council of up to £359,000 for the Business Support Grant Schemes;

(b)      approve an allocation to Aberdeen City Council in partnership with Business Gateway of up to £49,000 for the Digital Skills Programme;

(c)      approve an allocation to Aberdeen City Council of up to £100,000 for the Tall Ships Event Site Business Opportunities;

(d)      UK Shared Prosperity Fund 2025/26: People and Skills 2.4 Approve an allocation to Aberdeen City Council of up to £11,000 for the Healthy Minds Project;

(e)      approve an allocation to Aberdeen City Council of up to £30,000 for the Aberdeen Creative Industries Skills Development Initiative;

(f)       approve an allocation to Aberdeen City Council of up to £10,000 for the Tall Ships – Young Person Development and Employability Project;

(g)      approve an allocation to Aberdeen City Council of up to £73,315 for the Paid Work Placement Initiative;

(h)      approve an allocation to Aberdeen City Council of up to £30,000 for the HMP Grampian Project;

(i)       approve an allocation to Aberdeen City Council of up to £85,740 for the Green Skills Project;

(j)       approve an allocation to Aberdeen City Council of up to £120,000 for the People in Recovery Project; and

(k)      approve an allocation to Aberdeen City Council of up to £161,325 for the Life Skills Project.

Councillor Malik, seconded by Councillor Watson, moved as a procedural motion:-

that the Committee suspend Standing Order 29.1 in order to put forward an amendment which had not been submitted to the Clerk by 12 Noon on the working day prior to the meeting.

On a division, there voted:- for the procedural motion (4) – Councillors Brooks, Farquhar, Malik and Watson; against the procedural motion (5) – the Convener and Councillors Allard, Cooke, Greig and Radley.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)       to reject the procedural motion; and

(ii)      to approve the recommendations contained within the report.

In accordance with Standing Order 32.8, Councillors Malik and Watson requested that their dissent to the decision to reject the procedural motion be recorded.

With reference to articles 5 and 6 of the minute of meeting of the Aberdeen City Region Deal Joint Committee of 14 February 2025, the Committee had before it a report by the Executive Director of City Regeneration and Environment, which sought approval to reallocate £575,000 of Aberdeen City Council (the Council) funding from the Aberdeen City Region Deal (ACRD) project ‘Strategic Transport Appraisal’ to ‘External Transportation Links to Aberdeen South Harbour’ which was being delivered by Aberdeen City Council as Roads Authority.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee –

(a)      approve the virement of £575,000 of committed Council funding against the ACRD Strategic Transport Appraisal (STA) project to External Transportation Links to Aberdeen South Harbour (ETLASH) project; and

(b)      delegate the authority to the Chief Officer - City Development and Regeneration, in consultation with the Chief Officer - Capital, to reallocate any uncommitted Aberdeen City Council Contribution to the ACRD to the ETLASH project where the Aberdeen City Region Deal Joint Committee agree to do so through the existing ACRD change control process.

The Committee resolved:-

to approve the recommendations.

TRANSPARENCY STATEMENT

During discussion of the following item, Councillor Radley advised that she had a connection by virtue of her being a Council appointed member of VisitAberdeenshire Board. Having applied the objective test, she did not consider that she had an interest and would not be withdrawing from the meeting.

The Committee had before it a report by the Executive Director of Corporate Services which presented the status of key operational performance measures and activity indicators relating to those Functions and Clusters within the remit of the Finance and Resources Committee at conclusion of Quarter 3, 2024/25.

The report recommended:-

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

The Committee resolved:-

(i)       to note the report and the performance information contained in the appendix; and

(ii)      to note that the Chief Officer – City Development and Regeneration would circulate further information in relation to the number of virtual visits/attendances at museums and galleries to members of the Committee.

TRANSPARENCY STATEMENT

During discussion of the following item, Councillor Radley advised that she had a connection by virtue of her being a Council appointed member of VisitAberdeenshire Board. Having applied the objective test, she did not consider that she had an interest and would not be withdrawing from the meeting.

There is an exempt appendix in the Exempt Appendices Section below.

The Committee had before it a report by the Executive Director of City Regeneration and Environment which presented the evaluation of the 2024 Christmas Village.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee –

(a)      note the findings of the evaluation of the 2024 Christmas Village;

(b)      note that the Christmas Village is under contract until the 2026 iteration and that funding is in place for the Christmas Village in 2025; and

(c)      instruct the Chief Officer – City Development and Regeneration to report back to the Finance and Resources Committee in March 2026 with the evaluation report of the 2025 event;

Councillor Malik, seconded by Councillor Watson, moved as a procedural motion:-

that the Committee suspend Standing Order 29.1 in order to put forward an amendment which had not been submitted to the Clerk by 12 Noon on the working day prior to the meeting.

On a division, there voted:- for the procedural motion (4) – Councillors Brooks, Farquhar, Malik and Watson; against the procedural motion (5) – the Convener and Councillors Allard, Cooke, Greig and Radley.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)       to reject the procedural motion;

(ii)      to approve the recommendations contained within the report;

(iii)      to instruct the Executive Director – City Regeneration and Environment to circulate a Service Update on the 2025 plan for the Christmas Village, to include details to address issues relating to the Quad Market; and

(iv)     to thank Aberdeen Inspired as a strategic partner in the delivery of the Christmas Village and their participation and support for the event in 2025.

The Committee had before it a report by the Executive Director of Corporate Services which (1) presented procurement work plans where expenditure was included for the Corporate Services, City Regeneration and Environment and Families and Communities Functions for review; and (2) sought approval of the total estimated expenditure for the proposed contracts as contained in the Procurement Business Cases appended to the report.

The Procurement Business Case related to the following:-

·     Purchase of Box Vans;

·     Supply & Fitting of Tyres;

·     Confidential Waste 2025;

·     Temporary Homeless Accommodation;

·     SXL Secure Care;

·     SXL Fostering & Continuing Care; and

·     Total Licences.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee –

(a)      review the workplan as detailed in the Appendices for the Corporate Services, City Regeneration and Environment and Families and Communities Functions; and

(b)      approve the procurement business cases, including the total estimated expenditure for the proposed contract.

The Committee resolved:-

to approve the recommendations contained within the report.

In accordance with the decision taken at Article 1 of this minute, the following item was considered with the press and public excluded.

The Committee had before it an exempt appendix relating to the Christmas Village Feedback Report. (Article 9 of this minute refers).

The Committee resolved:-

to note the information contained within the exempt appendix.

TRANSPARENCY STATEMENT

During discussion of the following item the Convener advised that he had a connection by virtue of him being a Council appointed member of Scotland Excel. Having applied the objective test, he did not consider that he had an interest and would not be withdrawing from the meeting.

The Committee had before it exempt appendices relating to the Work Plan and Business Cases report. (Article 10 of this minute refers)

The Committee resolved:-

to note the information contained within the exempt appendices.

-         COUNCILLOR ALEX MCLELLAN, Convener