Agenda item

Remaining Business

Meeting of Council, Wednesday, 11th December, 2024 10.30 am (Item 11.)

Minutes:

Councillor Allard moved as a procedural motion, seconded by Councillor Radley:-

That the Council -

(1) refer item 10.2 to the Communities, Housing and Public Protection Committee;

(2) refer item 10.3 to the budget process;

(3) refer item 10.4 to the Finance and Resources Committee;

(4) refer item 10.5 to the Communities, Housing and Public Protection Committee;

(5) defer items 7.1, 9.5, 9.6, 9.7 and 9.10 to the next Council meeting; and

(6) refer items 9.8 and 9.9 to the Finance and Resources Committee.

On a division, there voted:-

For the procedural motion (23) - 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, Radley, van Sweeden and Yuill.

Against the procedural motion (21) - Councillors Ali, Blake, Bonsell, Boulton, Brooks, Crockett, Farquhar, Graham, Grant, Houghton, Kusznir, Lawrence, Macdonald, McLeod, Malik, Massey, Nicoll, Mrs Stewart, Thomson, Tissera and Watson.

Declined to vote (1) - Councillor Cross.

The Council resolved:-

to adopt the procedural motion.

The Lord Provost noted that the meeting was approaching the 6 hour mark and that item 9.4 (Housing Revenue Account Budget 2025/26) was still to be dealt with, therefore the Council would be unable to complete the item unless it suspended Standing Orders.

Councillor Houghton moved as a procedural motion, seconded by Councillor Malik:-

That the Council suspend Standing Order 40.2 to extend the length of the meeting to consider item 9.4.

Councillor Watson moved as a procedural motion, seconded by Councillor Malik:-

That the vote on this item be conducted by roll call.

On a division, there voted:-

For the procedural motion (22) - Councillors Ali, Blake, Bonsell, Boulton, Brooks, Crockett, Cross, Farquhar, Graham, Grant, Houghton, Kusznir, Lawrence, Macdonald, McLeod, Malik, Massey, Nicoll, Mrs Stewart, Thomson, Tissera and Watson.

Against the procedural motion (23) - 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, Radley, van Sweeden and Yuill.

The Council resolved:-

to reject the procedural motion.

The Council then voted on the initial procedural motion by Councillor Houghton.

On a division, there voted:-

The Council resolved:-

to reject the procedural motion.

With regard to item 9.4 and the amendment from the Labour Group which had been circulated prior to the meeting, Councillor Radley asked the Chief Officer - Finance for his advice regarding the use of reserves in accordance with Standing Order 29.11. The Chief Officer - Finance advised that he had been consulted on the amendment and his strong advice was that it was legally competent, however the use of reserves was financially ill-advised and he was willing to circulate further written advice accordingly.

Following various contributions, questions and responses from officers, the Lord Provost advised that he was adjourning the meeting in accordance with Standing Order 40.3 and that the meeting would recommence on 12 December at 11.00am to consider item 9.4.

Prior to the meeting concluding, the Lord Provost advised that an Aberdeen tenant had been recognised for her outstanding contribution to tenant participation over 25 years. The Lord Provost noted that Betty Simpson had been awarded the Lifetime Achievement in Tenant Participation at the recent Tenant Participation Information Service national awards for her hard work and commitment to bringing about positive change to Aberdeen’s housing services. The Lord Provost congratulated Betty on this great achievement.

The Council resolved:-

to concur with the Lord Provost’s remarks.