Agenda item

With reference to Article 4 of the minute of its meeting of 29^th June 2011, the Council had before it a report by the Director of Corporate Governance which asked the Council to (1) consider the composition of its committees following the by-election results, and the formation of the Independent Alliance Group within the Council; (2) take a number of decisions on outstanding issues relating to various positions; and (3) approve revised Orders of Reference for the Corporate Policy and Performance and Finance and Resources Committees.

The report recommended:-

that the Council -

(a)              agree the composition of the various committees, being guided by the indicative calculations as outlined in section 6.2 of the report;

(b)              appoint members to those committees;

(c)               appoint replacement members for the vacant positions as outlined in section 6.3 of the report; and

(d)              approve the revised Orders of Reference for the Corporate Policy and Performance and Finance and Resources Committees as appended to the report.

The Council resolved:-

(i)                 to agree the committee compositions as outlined below:-

(ii)               that Councillor McCaig replace Councillor Kevin Stewart MSP on NESTRANS;

(iii)             that Councillor John Stewart replace Councillor Kevin Stewart MSP on the COSLA Resources and Capacity Executive Group;

(iv)             that Councillor McCaig replace Councillor Kevin Stewart MSP on the COSLA Strategic Human Resource Management Executive Group;

(v)               that Councillor Robertson replace Councillor Leslie as a substitute member of the Northern Community Justice Authority, and as a member of the Community Health Partnership, the Alcohol and Drugs Partnership and the Disabled Persons Housing Service;

(vi)             that the vacancy on the Aberdeen Prison Visiting Committee remain vacant;

(vii)           that Councillor MacGregor replace former Councillor Clark on the Aberdeen Airport Consultative Committee;

(viii)         that all other vacancies pertaining to former Councillor Clark be left to the Administration to determine;

(ix)             that Councillor Townson replace former Councillor Cassie on the Board of Garthdee Alpine Sports;

(x)               that Councillor Kiddie replace Councillor McDonald MSP on the COSLA Community Wellbeing and Safety Executive Group, with Councillor Malone sharing the position;

(xi)             that Councillor MacGregor replace Councillor McDonald MSP on the Grampian Fire and Rescue Board;

(xii)           that the vacancies on the East Grampian Coastal Partnership Management Group and Scotland Excel, pertaining to Councillor McDonald MSP, be left to the Administration to determine;

(xiii)         that Councillor McCaig replace Councillor John Stewart on ACSEF (Aberdeen City and Shire Economic Future), and AREG (Aberdeen Renewable Energy Group) as Council Leader;

(xiv)          that Councillors Yuill and Graham be appointed to Community Planning Aberdeen;

(xv)            that Councillors Wendy Stuart, Greig and Malone be appointed to the Aberdeen Community Safety Partnership;

(xvi)          to note that the Administration would give consideration to filling vacancies relating to Peacock Visual Arts and Aberdeen Greenspace;

(xvii)        to note that the Director of Corporate Governance was progressing a piece of work with Internal Audit on the roles and responsibilities of elected members in relation to outside bodies, boards and trusts; and

(xviii)      to approve the revised Orders of Reference for the Corporate Policy and Performance and Finance and Resources Committees as appended to the report.

Councillor Boulton moved as a procedural motion, seconded by Councillor Milne:-    That Standing Order 2(1) be suspended to enable the Council to consider the position of the Vice Convener of the Audit and Risk Committee.

            The Council was advised that the electronic voting system would not be operational for the remainder of the meeting, and therefore all remaining votes would require to be taken by roll call.

On a division, there voted:-

For the procedural motion  (25)  -  Lord Provost Peter Stephen; Depute Provost Cormie; and Councillors Adam, Allan, Boulton, Collie, Cooney, Corall, Cormack, Crockett, Dunbar, Farquharson, Graham, Hunter, Ironside, Jaffrey, Kiddie, Laing, McCaig, McDonald MSP, Milne, Noble, Wendy Stuart, Kirsty West and Young.

Against the procedural motion  (13)  -  Councillors Dean, Donnelly, Fletcher, Greig, Leslie, Penny, Robertson, John Stewart, Kevin Stewart MSP, Townson, John West, Wisely and Yuill.

Declined to vote  (5)  -  Councillors MacGregor, Malone, May, Reynolds and Jennifer Stewart.

The Council resolved:-

to accept the procedural motion.

Councillor Boulton moved, seconded by Councillor Milne:-

That Councillor Farquharson be appointed Vice Convener of the Audit and Risk Committee.

Councillor Wisely moved, seconded by Councillor McDonald MSP:-

That Councillor Donnelly remain in the role of Vice Convener of the Audit and Risk Committee.

On a division, there voted:-

For Councillor Farquharson  (3)  -  Councillors Boulton, Farquharson and Milne.

For Councillor Donnelly  (21)  -  Depute Provost Cormie; and Councillors Corall, Cormack, Dean, Donnelly, Fletcher, Greig, Jaffrey, Kiddie, Leslie, MacGregor, McDonald MSP, Penny, Reynolds, Robertson, Kevin Stewart MSP, Wendy Stuart, Townson, John West, Wisely and Yuill.

Declined to vote  (19)  -  Lord Provost Peter Stephen; and Councillors Adam, Allan, Collie, Cooney, Crockett, Dunbar, Graham, Hunter, Ironside, Laing, McCaig, Malone, May, Noble, Jennifer Stewart, John Stewart, Kirsty West and Young.

The Council further resolved:-

that Councillor Donnelly remain as Vice Convener of the Audit and Risk Committee.

In accordance with Standing Order 15(6), Councillors Allan, Boulton, Farquharson and Milne intimated their dissent against the foregoing decision.