Agenda item

With reference to article 32 of the minute of meeting of the City Growth and Resources Committee of 18 September 2018, the Committee had before it a report by the Director of Families and Communities which provided details of a request from Grampian Housing Association to ascertain whether the Council would seek to buy-back the Former Victoria Road School site in Torry.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee –

(a)      instruct the Chief Officer – Corporate Landlord to advise Grampian Housing Association (GHA) that the Council do not wish to enter into discussions to exercise the option to buy-back the site of the former Victoria Road School site;

(b)      note the challenges with development variability on the site and the holding costs which are having to be met by GHA at this time; and

(c)      note the situation with the Regeneration Capital Grant Fund.

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

that the Committee approve the recommendations contained within the report.

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

that the Committee –

(1)       recognise the previous Council Administration’s positive commitment to The Victoria Road School (VRS) project, which is a partnership between Grampian Housing Association (GHA) and Torry Development Trust;

(2)       understand that the project required a mix of funding to be assembled to meet the negotiated tenders for a start on site in 2024;

(3)       note that Grampian Housing Association now has no plans for the site and its Board took the decision on 27 August 2024 to offer the site back into Council ownership as required by the original site transfer agreement;

(4)       believe that the VRS project was a unique opportunity to redevelop an iconic Torry building while providing social housing and community space;

(5)       therefore, regret the decision of Aberdeen City Council to not prioritise funding the social housing element of the VRS project, although understands that this follows on from The Scottish Government cutting the affordable housing supply programme by almost £4m for Aberdeen in 2024/2025;

(6)       further regret that Torry/Ferryhill Ward members were not advised that funding for the project was not prioritised in this financial year due to the large costs of delivery for a key local development;

(7)       believe that Torry has been let down by the current SNP led Council Administration who previously defunded and demonised Big Noise Torry and are now not prioritising a key local community redevelopment project;

(8)       welcome the decision of The Scottish Government to reprofile or roll over the £1.4m of funding from its Regeneration Capital Grant Fund (RCGF) for the community element of the project into 2024/25; and

(9)       instructs the Chief Officers City Development and Regeneration and Housing to engage with other partners and funders to secure funding for the development of the Victoria Road School project.

Councillor Malik, seconded by Councillor Watson, moved as a further amendment:-

that the Committee –

(1)       note with despair the SNP record on bringing forward Council housing, 2 and ½ years into this Administration and they have still not proposed bringing forward one single new council home;

(2)       contrast that record against the previous administration’s record of bringing forward 2,000 council homes right across Aberdeen;

(3)       agree the SNP like to speak about a housing emergency, but facts speak for themselves where their 30-year vision for council homes in the city brought forward not one single council house - a record that shames our city;

(4)       instruct the Chief Officer - Corporate Landlord to write to Grampian Housing Association (GHA) to ask them to extend the timescale for the Council to make a decision on buying the site back until a business case can be brought before the Committee;

(5)       if GHA agree to extend the timescale instruct the Chief Officer - Corporate Landlord to bring a high level business case to the next available meeting of this Committee to consider how the site could be transferred to the Housing Revenue Account and thereafter redeveloped by the Council for a council housing led redevelopment considering the capital and revenue cost implications, the impact on existing grants, the sites planning status and holding costs and potential risks; and

(6)       agree that to do nothing will mean the site continues to lie empty and remain an attraction for anti-social behaviour.

At this juncture, the Committee agreed to suspend Standing Order 40.2 to extend the length of the meeting.

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 Brooks (1) – Councillors Farquhar; for the amendment by Councillor Malik (2) – Councillors Malik and Watson; declined to vote (5) – the Convener, the Vice Convener and Councillors Allard, Greig and Radley.

A vote was then taken between the motion by the Convener and the successful amendment by Councillor Malik.

On a division there voted:- for the motion (5) – the Convener, the Vice Convener and Councillors Allard, Greig and Radley; for the amendment (3) – Councillors Farquhar, Malik and Watson.

The Committee resolved:-

to adopt the motion.