Agenda item

With reference to Article 19 of the minute of its meeting of 14 December 2022, the Council had before it a report by the Director of Commissioning which provided updates on the delivery of the Beachfront medium term interventions - Beach Park, Events Park and Broadhill.

The report recommended:-

that the Council -

(a)           note the update from the Chief Officer - Commercial and Procurement on progress of the medium-term interventions: Beach Park, Events Park and Broadhill, and approve the Final Business Case in Appendix D;

(b)           instruct the Chief Officer - Commercial and Procurement to proceed with the appointment of Hub North Scotland to deliver the Beachfront medium-term interventions, and to report to the Finance and Resources Committee on a six monthly basis from the date of the report; and

(c)           instruct the Chief Officer - Commercial and Procurement to liaise with Aberdeen Health and Determinants Research Collaboration (AHDRC) to explore possible options for additional evaluation of the social and health and wellbeing impacts of the project and report back to committee within the first year of the Beach Park, Events Park and Broadhill projects being operational.

The Chief Officer - Commercial and Procurement introduced a short video which demonstrated the level of engagement from children and young people in the Beach Masterplan.

Councillor Yuill moved, seconded by Councillor McLellan:-   

          That the Council approve the recommendations.

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

          That the Council -

(1)       approve the recommendations;

(2)       note the exclusive in the Press and Journal on 25 March 2022, just six weeks before the May election, where the SNP made a Council election pledge to bring back tourism glory days to Aberdeen beach - and make the football stadium happen. A pledge that was contained within the Administration’s policy document passed in May 2022 at the Statutory Council meeting;

(3)       note the economic report prepared by Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce and MKA Economics, the catalytic impact of a community sports stadium as the anchor project in the Aberdeen Beach Masterplan which projected that the facilities could inject at least £1billion into the local economy over the next 50 years;

(4)       agree that what the SNP are actually offering the public is a watered-down project that on its own fails to inspire or enhance the beachfront without the necessary promised sports facilities and Aberdeen Football Club Stadium, whilst breaking their election pledge to the citizens of Aberdeen; and

(5)       agree to instruct the Chief Executive to work with Aberdeen Football Club and Sport Aberdeen to bring forward a report to the December 2023 Council meeting with proposals and costs to allow real regeneration of our Beach to take place rather than the watered-down offering from the SNP.

Councillor Boulton moved as a further amendment, seconded by Councillor Mrs Stewart:-

          That the Council -

(1)       instruct the Chief Officer - Commercial and Procurement not to progress with the award of a construction contract for the following elements of the Beach Masterplan:

·       The Urban Park and Events Park

(2)       instruct the Chief Officer - Commercial and Procurement to award the contract for:

·       Broadhill; and

·       to continue to work with partners, Sport Aberdeen, Transition Extreme, Aberdeen Football Club, and the water sports clubs to attract additional funding for these elements within the Beach Masterplan;

(3)       instruct the Chief Officer - Commercial and Procurement to continue improvements to:

·       lighting, railings, footpaths; and

·       renovate the existing play park at the Beach;

(4)       instruct the Chief Officer - Operations and Protective Services to continue to investigate options to provide solutions to tackle coastal erosions which can also add to the amenity of the beach and to report back to the first Council meeting in 2024; and

(5)       given the reduction in capital spend from (1) above, this reduced expenditure be utilised to invest in road and pavement infrastructure.

There being a motion and two amendments, the Council first divided between the amendment by Councillor Malik and the amendment by Councillor Boulton.

On a division, there voted:-

For the amendment by Councillor Malik  (18)  -  Councillors Ali, Blake, Bonsell, Brooks, Crockett, Cross, Farquhar, Graham, Grant, Houghton, Kusznir, Lawrence, Macdonald, McLeod, Malik, Thomson, Tissera and Watson.

For the amendment by Councillor Boulton  (2)  -  Councillors Boulton and Mrs Stewart.

Declined to vote  (25)  -  Lord Provost; Depute Provost; and Councillors Al-Samarai, Allard, Alphonse, Bouse, Hazel Cameron, Clark, Cooke, Copland, Cormie, Davidson, Fairfull, Greig, Henrickson, Hutchison, MacGregor, McLellan, McRae, Massey, Mennie, Nicoll, Radley, van Sweeden and Yuill.

The Council then divided between the motion and the amendment by Councillor Malik.

On a division, there voted:-

For the motion  (24)  -  Lord Provost; Depute Provost; and Councillors Al-Samarai, Allard, Alphonse, Bouse, Hazel Cameron, Clark, Cooke, Copland, Cormie, Davidson, Fairfull, Greig, Henrickson, Hutchison, MacGregor, McLellan, McRae, Mennie, Nicoll, Radley, van Sweeden and Yuill.

For the amendment by Councillor Malik  (19)  -  Councillors Ali, Blake, Bonsell, Brooks, Crockett, Cross, Farquhar, Graham, Grant, Houghton, Kusznir, Lawrence, Macdonald, McLeod, Malik, Massey, Thomson, Tissera and Watson.

Declined to vote  (2)  -  Councillors Boulton and Mrs Stewart.

The Council resolved:-

(i)             to adopt the motion; and

(ii)           to note that the Chief Officer - Commercial and Procurement would check on the status of the artificial dunes at the beach covering the old shelter following the query from Councillor Alphonse, and provide an update to members at a later date.

Councillors Boulton and Mrs Stewart intimated their dissent against the foregoing decision in accordance with Standing Order 32.8.