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.

Members were requested to intimate any declarations of interest in respect of the items on the agenda.

The Committee resolved:-

to note that no declarations of interest were intimated.

The Committee had before it the minute of its previous meeting of 23 September 2020.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)       in relation to item 5(i) to note that the Director of Resources would circulate a response by email; and

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

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

The Committee resolved:-

(i)       in relation to the Aberdeen Art Gallery, to note the update provided in the business planner relating to the Post Project Evaluation being delayed until Autumn 2021 and that a report would be submitted to the first available meeting of this Committee; and

(ii)       to otherwise note the content of the business planner.

With reference to article 6 of the minute of its meeting of 22 January 2020, the Committee had before it a report by the Director of Resources which provided an update on the progress made with regards to the procurement, construction, and operation of the Ness Energy Project.

The report recommended:-

That the Committee –

(a)      note the progress achieved to date;

(b)      note the financial position for the project; and

(c)      instructs the Chief Officer Capital to provide a further update on progress to this Committee in March 2021.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)       in response to a question regarding whether an annual report reflecting the community benefits for all capital projects could be provided, to note that each project would have a Post Project Evaluation which would capture community benefits and that the Director of Resources in consultation with the Chief Officer – Capital would capture these for each project and provide an annual report to Committee; and

(ii)       to otherwise approve the recommendations contained in the report.

The Committee had before it a report by the Director of Resources which provided an update on the progress of the South College Street Junction Improvements project.

The report recommended:-

That the Committee notes the update to the programme milestones and the associated financial implications.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)       in response to a question regarding paragraph 3.1 in the report and whether the Council would be accessing new Scottish Government funding for bus priority infrastructure, to note that the Director of Resources  would liaise with the Chief Officer – Strategic Place Planning and provide a response to the Committee via email; and

(ii)       to otherwise approve the recommendation contained in the report.

With reference to article 8 of the minute of its meeting of 22 January 2020, the Committee had before it a report by the Director of Resources which provided an update on progress of the delivery of Union Terrace Gardens project which had an anticipated completion date Autumn/ Winter 2021.

The report recommended:-

That the Committee –

(a)      notes the progress achieved to deliver the Union Terrace Gardens redevelopment; and

(b)      instructs the Chief Officer - Capital to provide a further update on progress at the Capital Programme Committee in March 2021. 

The Committee resolved:-

to approve the recommendations contained in the report.

With reference to article 7 of the minute of its meeting of 22 January 2020, the Committee had before it a report by the Director of Resources which provided an update on progress of works to refurbish Provost Skene’s House following the last update report of 22 January 2020.

The report recommended:-

That the Committee -

(a)      note the progress achieved in the procurement of Provost Skene’s House refurbishment and the various unforeseeable challenges which were beingaddressed; and

(b)      instruct the Chief Officer Capital to provide a further update on progress to this Committee in March 2021.

The Committee resolved:-

to approve the recommendations contained in the report.

With reference to article 10 of the minute of its meeting of 12 September 2019, the Committee had before it a report by the Director of Resources which provided an update on the progress of the Replacement Riverbank Primary School.

The report recommended:-

That the Committee -

(a)      note that the project formed part of the Education New Build Programme presented to the Capital Programme, Strategic Commissioning and City Growth and Resources Committees in September 2018 with the project contributing to the delivery of Aberdeen City Council’s Early Learning and Childcare Expansion Programme of works;

(b)      note the current on-going work leading to completion of the construction of the Replacement Riverbank Primary School in Spring 2023; and

(c)      to instruct the Chief Officer Capital to provide a further update on progress to this Committee in March 2021.

The Committee resolved:-

to approve the recommendations contained in the report.

With reference to article 9 of the minute of its meeting of 12 September 2019, the Committee had before it a report by the Director of Resources which provided an update on the progress of the Milltimber Replacement School.

The report recommended:-

That the Committee -

(a)      note that the project formed part of the Education New Build Programme presented to the Capital Programme, Strategic Commissioning and City Growth and Resources Committees in September 2018 with the project contributing to the delivery of Aberdeen City Council’s Early Learning and Childcare Expansion Programme of works;

(b)      note the current on-going work leading to completion of the construction of the replacement Milltimber School in winter 2021/22; and

(c)      instruct the Chief Officer Capital to provide a further update on progress to this Committee in March 2021.

The Committee resolved:-

to approve the recommendations contained in the report.

With reference to article 11 of the minute of its meeting of 12 September 2019,  the Committee had before it a report by the Director of Resources which provided an update on the progress of the Torry Community Hub and Primary School.

The report recommended:-

That the Committee -

(a)      note that the project formed part of the Education New Build Programme presented to the Capital Programme, Strategic Commissioning and City Growth and Resources Committees in September 2018 with the project contributing to the delivery of Aberdeen City Council’s Early Learning and Childcare Expansion Programme of works;

(b)      note the current on-going work leading to completion of the construction of the Torry Community Hub and Primary School in Winter 2022/23; and

(c)      instruct the Chief Officer Capital to provide a further update on progress to this Committee in March 2021.

Members raised concerns in relation to the delays in the project and sought assurance that the project was now on track.  The Chief Officer – Capital advised that the delays were mainly relating to asbestos and that the demolition works would commence in the New Year once the remaining asbestos had been removed from the site.  He further advised that although the school had been in the capital programme since 2017, the finances for the demolition works was only approved at the budget meeting in 2019.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)       to note the verbal update provided; and

(ii)       to otherwise approve the recommendations contained in the report.

With reference to article 8 of the minute of its meeting of 23 September 2020, the Committee had before it a report by the Director of Resources which

provided an update on the progress of the ELC Capital Projects which would help meet Aberdeen City Council’s Early Learning and Childcare Delivery Plan objectives by working with the Education Operations teams to help meet the Councils commitment to expand funded early learning and childcare from 600 hours to 1,140 hours by 2020.

The report recommended:-

That the Committee -

(a)      note that the Early Learning and Childcare Expansion Programme of works formed part of the overall Aberdeen City Council Capital Plan; and

(b)      note the progress made with the overall delivery of projects in lieu of the Covid-19 pandemic impact.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)       in response to a question regarding whether there were updates in relation to progress at Westpark Nursery, Kirkhill Nursery and Danestone Nursey to note that the Chief Officer – Capital would provide any updates to the Committee via email;

(ii)       in response to a question regarding whether extended hours could be offered to families where the works had been completed, to note that the Director of Resources would liaise with the Chief Officer – Education and provide a response to the Committee via email; and

(iii)      to otherwise approve the recommendations contained in the report.

-       MARIE BOULTON, Convener