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 Convener proposed that the Committee consider items 12.1 (Workplans and Business Cases – Capital), 12.2 (Future Shared Mobility Plans and Scotland's 8th City ERDF Smart Mobility Project Update) and 12.3 (Sale of Site, Springfield Road) with the press and public excluded.

The Committee resolved:-

in terms of Section 50(A)(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, to exclude the press and public from the meeting during consideration of from item 12.1 of the agenda (article 13 of this minute) so as to avoid disclosure of information of the classes described in the following paragraphs of Schedule 7(A) to the Act:- article 13 (paragraph 8), article 14 (paragraph 12) and article 15 (paragraph 9).

Members were requested to intimate any declarations of interest in respect of the items on today’s agenda, thereafter the following was intimated:-

(1)       The Vice Convener declared an interest in item 10.2 (Town Centre Capital Grant Fund) by virtue of him being an employee of Aberdeen Inspired. He considered that the nature of his interest required him to leave the meeting, and he therefore took no part in the consideration of that item;

(2)       Councillors Nicoll and Jennifer Stewart declared an interest in item 11.1 (Marywell to A956 Wellington Road – Cycle Path (RCD5394) 19/20), item 11.2 (Aberdeen Cross City Connections – STAG Part 2 Appraisal) and item 11.3 (North East Scotland Roads Hierarchy) by virtue of them both being Council appointed members of Nestrans Board. They considered that the nature of their interest did not require them to leave the meeting and therefore chose to remain in the meeting for consideration of the items;

(3)       Councillor Nicoll declared an interest in item 10.1 (Charging Policy for Adult Social Care Services) by virtue of him being a Power of Attorney in relation to the financial affairs of a family member of a service provider named in the report. He considered that the nature of his business did not require him to leave the meeting and therefore chose to remain in the meeting for consideration of the item;

(4)       Councillor Catriona Mackenzie declared an interest in item 11.3 (North East of Scotland Roads Hierarchy) by virtue that she was a resident in one of the streets named in the report. She considered that the nature of her business did not require her to leave the meeting and therefore chose to remain in the meeting for consideration of the item; and

(5)       Councillor Flynn declared an interest in item 9.2 (Performance Management Framework Reporting), by virtue of him being a member of the Business Gateway National Board. He considered that the nature of his business did not require him to leave the meeting and therefore chose to remain in the meeting for consideration of the item.

The Committee had before it the minute of its previous meeting of 25 April 2019, for approval.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)        to note that a Service Update providing tangible economic benefits relating to the World Energy Cities Partnership AGM, Presidency and Travel, would be circulated in due course; and

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

The Committee had before it the Committee Business Planner as prepared by the Chief Officer – Governance.

Councillor Nicoll, seconded by Councillor Flynn moved as a procedural motion:-

            that item 6 (Aberdeen City Local Housing Strategy 2018-2023) be submitted to the Committee as a report instead of a Service Update.

On a division, there voted:- for the procedural motion (4) – Councillors Delaney, Flynn, Catriona Mackenzie and Nicoll; against the procedural motion (5) – the Convener, the Vice Convener and Councillors Donnelly, Duncan and Jennifer Stewart.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)        to reject the procedural motion and thereby receive a Service Update in relation to item 6 (Aberdeen City Local Housing Strategy 2018-2023);

(ii)       to remove item 6 (Aberdeen City Local Housing Strategy 2018 – 2023), item 12 (Willowbank House, Aberdeen Business Centre – Option Appraisal and Future Use), item 13 (Auchmill Golf Club – Property Management Issues), item 14 (Station Road, Cults – Knight Property Group – Proposed Lease Amendment) and item 60 (Economic Policy Panel) from the Planner;

(iii)      to note the reasons for the reporting delays in relation to item 5 (Sustainable Drainage System (SUDS) Section 7), item 7 (Smart City Action Plan), item 9 (Revised Policy for Bookings and Lettings in Education Buildings), item 10 (South College Street - Corridor Improvement - Business Case) and item 19 (External Funding Plan); and

(iv)      that in relation to item 9 (Revised Policy for Bookings and Lettings in Education Buildings), that a Service Update, to include information on the entire booking system be circulated to members of the Committee.

The Committee had before it a report by the Chief Officer – Governance which presented the annual effectiveness report for the City Growth and Resources Committee.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee note the annual report.

The Committee resolved:-

to approve the recommendation.

The Committee had before it a report by the Chief Officer – Business Intelligence and Performance Management which outlined the status of key performance management framework measures relating to the City Growth and Strategic Place Planning Clusters under the Place function.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee –

(a)       scrutinise the performance information contained within Appendix A of the report; and

(b)       note the outline proposals for reporting of performance in 2019/20, subject to continuing development of the Performance Management Framework, as captured within Appendix B of the report.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)        to request that future reports contain actual figures as well as percentages; and

(ii)       to otherwise approve the recommendations.

With reference to article 19 of the minute of meeting of the Education and Children’s Services Committee of 2 June 2015, the Committee had before it a report by the Chief Officer - Health and Social Care Partnership, which sought approval of the previously approved Charging Policy for Adult Social Care as a result of recent legislative developments and review.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee approve the updates to the charging policy for adult social care services known as “Contributing to your Care and Support” and notes it would be implemented from 1st July 2019.

The Committee resolved:-

to approve the recommendation.

DECLARATION OF INTEREST

In accordance with article 2 of this minute, the Vice Convener withdrew from the meeting prior to consideration of the following item of business. Councillor Allan substituted for the Vice Convener for this item of business only.

The Committee had before it a report by the Chief Officer – City Growth, which presented the options provided by officers for project proposals and sought approval to distribute the allocation of funds to each project in relation to the Scottish Government Town Centre Capital Grant, where Aberdeen City Council received an allocation of £1,351.000 in March 2019.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee –

(a)       note the funding of £1,351,000 allocated to Aberdeen City Council from the Scottish Government Town Centre Capital Fund;

(b)       discuss the list of projects provided by officers at Appendix 2 of the report and determine which projects are to be taken forward; and

(c)       delegate authority to the relevant project Chief Officer, following consultation with the Head of Commercial and Procurement Services, to consider and approve business cases (including estimated expenditure) for the recommended projects for the purposes of Procurement Regulation 4.1.1; and thereafter to procure appropriate works and services, and enter into any contracts necessary for the delivery of the recommended projects without the need for further approval from any other Committee of the Council.

The Committee were advised prior to the meeting that the project relating to Archibald Simpson House Creative Hub Space had been withdrawn.

The Convener, seconded by Councillor Allan, moved:-

            that the Committee –

(1)     approve recommendations (a) and (c);

(2)     agree to take forward the following projects:-

(i)      Hayton Road – Street Design Project – estimated cost £90,000;

(ii)     Parklets Development – estimated cost £80,000 (subject to the condition that this will be maintained by Aberdeen Inspired);

(iii)    Suspended Signage – estimated cost £400,000;

(iv)    Intelligent Street Lighting Phase 2 – estimated cost £125,000;

(v)     Union Street Public Realm Phase 2 (Union Bridge Lighting costs only) – estimated cost £68,502.50;

(vi)    Mither Kirk – Funding requested for the replacement heating system – estimated cost £390,000;

(vii)   Living Wall – Flourmill Lane – estimated cost £60,000.

Total Cost of Projects: £1,213,502.50

Funding Available:  £1,351,000

Balance:  £137,497.50; and

(3)     that a report be submitted to the September meeting of the City Growth and Resources Committee with further options on how the balance can be allocated.

Councillor Flynn, seconded by Councillor Nicoll, moved as an amendment:-

            that the Committee –

(1)     welcomes the funding of £1,351,000 allocated to Aberdeen City Council from the Scottish Government Town Centre Capital Fund;

(2)     note that the funding is available for use for projects meeting the funding criteria that are commenced or committed to prior to 31 March 2020;

(3)     note the list of projects provided by Officers at Appendix 2 and instruct that full business cases be prepared for each project, together with any additional suitable projects coming forward in the meantime, detailing the anticipated project delivery outcomes against the funding criteria and including the whole life cost funding requirement and how this is to be delivered;

(4)     establish and delegate authority to a sub committee of the City Growth and Resources Committee, comprising one member from each of the five  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

With reference to article 18 of the minute of the previous meeting of 25 April 2019, the Committee had before it a joint report by the Chief Officer – Capital and the Chief Officer – Strategic Place Planning, which outlined the results of the Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance (STAG) based options appraisal undertaken to determine pedestrian and cycle improvements between Marywell and the A956 Wellington Road at Charleston Road and sought approval to develop a detailed design of the preferred improvements for further consideration.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee -

(a)       note the option development and appraisal process carried out to date as detailed in the appendix and background papers;

(b)       approve the preferred route (highlighted in blue on the plan in Appendix A to the report) for a pedestrian/cycle path along the Old Stonehaven Road and the proposed connections to existing infrastructure on Old Wellington Road and Cove Road; and

(c)       instruct the Chief Officer – Capital and Chief Officer – Strategic Place Planning to undertake detailed design and cost estimates of the Preferred Route and connections, and to report back to this Committee for approval to construct in due course.

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

            that the Committee approve the recommendations contained within the report.

Councillor Nicoll, seconded by Councillor Catriona Mackenzie, moved as an amendment:-

            that the Committee:-

(a)     welcome the potential to improve Active Travel in the option development and appraisal process carried out to date as detailed in the appendix and background papers;

(b)     note the preferred route (highlighted blue on the Plan in Appendix A) for a pedestrian / cycle path along the Old Stonehaven Road and the proposed connections to existing infrastructure on Wellington Road and Cove Road; 

(c)     note that where the proposed pedestrian / cycle route joins Wellington Road, the route has previously been identified as having safety concerns for pedestrians and cyclists;

(d)     note the high volumes of vehicular traffic using Wellington Road at Cove Road, often travelling on these roads in excess of the 30 miles per hour speed limit and the lack of any pavements at this junction and on Cove Road eastwards from Wellington Road;

(e)     note that this area has previously had problems with unauthorised encampments;

(f)      note that the bridge passing over the burn at Burnside Cottage, Cove Road is presently closed to traffic due to structural issues;

(g)     instruct the Chief Officer - Capital and the Chief Officer – Strategic Place Planning to undertake detailed design and cost estimates of the preferred routes and connections and in particular to:-

(1) consider appropriate safety measures that can be put in place to enable safe use of the Wellington Road / Cove Road junction by pedestrians and cyclists, including the installation of proper pavements and a segregated cycle path;

(2) consult with the occupants of the appropriate properties in Wellington Road, Old Stonehaven Road and Cove Road as to the proposals and in particular measures to restrict unauthorised encampments to the area,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

With reference to article 29 of the minute of meeting of Communities, Housing and Infrastructure Committee of 24 May 2017, the Committee had before it a report by the Chief Officer – Strategic Place Planning which provided information of the outcomes of the Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance (STAG) Part 2 report submitted by Peter Brett Associates for Aberdeen Cross City Connections.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee –

(a)       note the findings and outcomes of the Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance (STAG) Part 2 Report – Aberdeen Cross City Connections Appraisal;

(b)       agree that the Public Transport options C1, C2 and E1 and all the Active Travel options identified in the STAG Part 2 report (and listed in Appendix 1) for Aberdeen Cross City Connections are approved for further development work subject to future funding being identified to progress these proposals; and

(c)       agree that officers work to secure external funding to allow the continued development of the schemes agreed in (b) above.

The Committee resolved:-

to approve the recommendations.

With reference to article 31 of the minute of meeting of the Communities, Housing and Infrastructure of 29 August 2017, the Committee had before it a report by the Chief Officer – Strategic Place Planning which (1) provided details on the outcomes of the North East Scotland Roads Hierarchy Study and Strategic Car Parking Review (SCPR); (2) introduced the draft Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan (SUMP) aligned with the Roads Hierarchy and City Centre Masterplan (CCMP); and (3) sought agreement on the next steps in terms of delivering upon the findings of these pieces of work.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee –

(a)       instruct the Chief Officer – Strategic Place Planning, following consultation with the Chief Officer – Operations and Protective Services and Chief Officer – Capital, to implement a revised roads hierarchy in a sequential and incremental manner, as described in this report, to encompass formal reclassification of the urban road network and changes to road signage and junction improvements to reinforce the hierarchy;

(b)       instruct the Chief Officer – Strategic Place Planning to develop improvements to priority and secondary corridors to achieve a more efficient movement of people and goods, with an emphasis on walking, cycling and public transport;

(c)       note the findings of the SCPR and instruct the Chief Officer – Strategic Place Planning to develop a draft Car Parking Strategy and to report back to this Committee in summer 2020;

(d)       instruct the Chief Officer – Strategic Place Planning to proceed with public and stakeholder consultation on the draft SUMP and report back to this Committee with a finalised SUMP in November 2019, thus completing this key CIVITAS PORTIS work package; and

(e)       instruct the Director of Resources to consider the outcomes of these studies within future years’ budget setting processes.

The Committee resolved:-

to approve the recommendations.

With reference to article 10 of the minute of meeting of 24 April 2018, the Committee had before it a report by the Chief Officer – City Growth which provided an update on Invest Aberdeen delivery in 2018/19 and to agree its forward priorities.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee –

(a)       note the annual update on Invest Aberdeen and agree the forward priorities;

(b)       note the proposal from the Scottish Government for 2020 attendance at MIPIM in Appendix 1 to this report; and

(c)       delegate authority to the Chief Officer - City Growth, in consultation with the Convener for City Growth and Resources Committee, to incur expenditure in support of investment promotion opportunities in paragraphs 3.7 to 3.10 of the report.

The Committee resolved:-

to approve the recommendations.

In accordance with the decision recorded under article 1 of this minute, the following items of business were considered with the press and public excluded.

With reference to article 18 of the minute of its previous meeting of 25 April 2019, the Committee had before it a report by the Chief Operating Officer which (1) presented the procurement workplans where capital expenditure was included for Operations, Place and Resources functions to Committee for review (see below); and (2) sought approval of the total estimated capital expenditure for each proposed contract as contained within the Procurement Business Cases appended to the report.

Operations - Play Area Refurbishment Works;

Resources - Woodside Primary School Roof Works; and

Place - Extension of Provision of Pay as You Go Membership Car.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee –

(a)      review the workplans of the Operations, Place and Resources Functions as detailed in the Appendices;

(b)      where a Business Case has been submitted, approve the total estimated capital expenditure for each proposed contract and delegates authority to the Head of Commercial and Procurement Services following consultation with the relevant Chief Officer to procure appropriate works and services, and enter into any contracts relating thereto; and

(c)      note that Business Cases for procurements exercises to be commenced after 6 June 2019 will be submitted on a phased basis to future meetings of the City Growth and Resources Committee.

The Committee resolved:-

to approve the recommendations.

With reference to article 25 of the minute of meeting of Communities, Housing and Infrastructure Committee of 15 March 2016, the Committee had before it a report by the Chief Officer – Strategic Place Planning which sought approval to withdraw the Aberdeen City Council Smart Mobility Project from Scotland’s 8^th City European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

The report recommended:-

that the Committee –

(a)       instruct the Chief Officer - Strategic Place Planning to withdraw the Aberdeen Smart Mobility project from Scotland’s 8th City ERDF Programme and to write to the relevant minister to alert them of the situation; and

(b)       instruct Officers to undertake engagement and market testing with low carbon vehicle providers in order to better understand the options for a large-scale rollout of shared electric vehicles.

The Committee resolved:-

to approve the recommendations.

The Committee had before it a report by the Director of Resources which advised members of an approach made by the sitting tenant to purchase a 0.15 Hectares (0.38 acres) site comprising of a car park and strip of land at Springfield Road for its existing use as a car park for the neighbouring Co-op petrol filling station and gym.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee –

(a)       approve the proposal for the Council to sell the site on the agreed heads of terms outlined in the report to the Council’s tenant; and

(b)       instruct the Chief Officer – Governance to conclude the appropriate legal agreement incorporating various qualifications as are necessary to protect the Council’s interest.

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

            that the recommendations in the report be approved.

Councillor Delaney, seconded by Councillor Mackenzie, moved as an amendment:-

            that no action be taken.

On a division, there taken:- for the motion (8) – the Convener, the Vice Convener and Councillors Donnelly, Duncan, Flynn, Catriona Mackenzie, Nicoll and Jennifer Stewart; for the amendment (1) – Councillor Delaney.

The Committee resolved:-

to adopt the motion.

-           COUNCILLOR DOUGLAS LUMSDEN, Convener.