Agenda item

The Committee had before it by way of a referral from Council on 21 August 2024, a report by the Director of City Regeneration and Environment, which provided an annual update on the City Centre and Beach Masterplan.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee –

(a)      note the progress made to advance a wide range of projects contained within the City Centre and Beach Masterplan (Appendix 1);

(b)      agree that Officers report future activity and updates on projects through the Council’s Capital Planning process through the Finance & Resources Committee;

(c)      note, in relation to city centre mobility and accessibility, the roundtable meeting hosted by the Co-Leaders with key stakeholders in July 2024, and instruct the Chief Officer – Strategic Place Planning to arrange for a programme of similar roundtable meetings with key stakeholders, in addition to the ongoing regular Masterplan engagement and consultation programme;

(d)      agree the need for continued understanding of perceptions, insights, attitudes and experiences on City Centre Masterplan objectives, particularly around mobility and accessibility, and instruct the Chief Officer – Strategic Place Planning to use Bus Lane Enforcement surplus (capped at £20,000) to set up a professionally facilitated bi-annual focus group to collect data on opinions and personal experiences on this topic; and

(e)      in relation to the Beach, and in line with the Budget decisions taken by Council in March 2024, note the update provided in paragraphs 3.5 - 3.6 and agree that the Chief Officer – Strategic Place Planning pause the preparation of a Development Framework for the Beach Phase 2 area, until such a time as additional resources can be identified through future Budget setting processes.

The Convener, seconded by Councillor Greig, moved:-

that the Committee approve the recommendations contained within the report.

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

          that the Committee –

(1)    note the contents of the report;

(2)    note that it’s the view of the Labour Group that the Finance and Resource Committee have no powers to overrule a decision of Council and therefore  recommendation 2.2 contained within the report cannot be agreed at this meeting;

(3)    agree that it was the SNP Councillor Hutchison who proposed matters relating to the Masterplan be sent to full Council rather than Finance and Resources Committee, therefore agrees the status quo position on reporting until Council determines otherwise;

(4)    agree the SNP Administration has got itself into a complete mess with the City Centre and Beach Masterplan undoing all the good work of the previous administration which worked with citizens, business organisations, cross party to deliver for the people of Aberdeen;

(5)    agree this SNP Administration excel in bringing forward reports such as George Street mini masterplan but fail to provide the money for implementation;

(6)    agree to suspend Standing Order 42 (Altering Previous Decisions) and thereafter agree to no longer proceed with the Queen Street Urban Park and reallocate that money within the agreed Masterplan; and

(7)    agree that, to give certainty to the public of Aberdeen, budgets where available for  each of the projects outlined in appendix 1 must be presented to members via the 2025/26 budget process.

Councillor Farquhar, seconded by Councillor Brooks, moved as an amendment:-

that the Committee –

(1)    approve the recommendations contained within the report;

(2)    agree to explore the option for removal of the amphitheatre from phase one of the Beach Masterplan and to report this back to the Committee; and

(3)    direct savings from this towards the plan to rebuild the Beach Leisure Centre.

In terms of Standing Order 29.20, a vote was taken between the two amendments.

On a division, there voted:- for the amendment by Councillor Malik (2) – Councillors Malik and Watson; for the amendment by Councillor Farquhar (2) – Councillors Brooks and Farquhar; declined to vote (5) – the Convener and Councillors Allard, Cooke, Delaney and Greig.

As there was a tied vote, in terms of Standing Order 32.7,the Convener had the casting vote, however in terms of Standing Order 32.7.1,the Convener chose not to exercise his casting vote, therefore the Clerk advised that a ‘toss of a coin’ would be the method to decide the outcome of the tied vote. Following which, the amendment by Councillor Malik was successful and would be put to the vote against the motion.

On a division, there voted:- for the motion (5) – the Convener and Councillors Allard, Cooke, Delaney and Greig; for the amendment by Councillor Malik (2) – Councillors Malik and Watson; declined to vote (2) Councillors Brooks and Farquhar.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)       to adopt the motion; and

(ii)      to note that the Masterplan Manager would circulate to members, the link to the Generation Aberdeen website showing details of the successful application.