Agenda item

The Committee had before it a report prepared by the External Advisers, the Strategic Lead - Prevention and Community Empowerment, and the Fairer Aberdeen and Anti-Poverty Manager, seeking approval for the allocation of the £1million provided by Council to support people with the cost of living during 2025/26. 

On behalf of the External Advisers, Phil Mackie introduced the report.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee:

(a)          approve the proposed allocation of funds from the £1million provided by the Council to support people with the cost of living crisis during 2025/26 as detailed in paragraph 3.9 of the report; and

(b)          to instruct the Executive Director of Corporate Services to bring an update on spend, progress, any reallocation of resources and further proposals for the balance of funding to the meeting of the Committee on 26 November 2025.

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

that the Committee approve the recommendations.

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

that the Committee:

(1)          note the recommendations outlined in the report;

(2)         agree that Aberdeen City Council should prioritise direct assistance to tackling relative poverty over subsidising staffing costs through grant funding;

(3)         acknowledge that Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party Councillors previously raised concerns regarding 2024/25 funding of staffing costs, highlighting the risk of dependency on Council subsidy and the need to direct taxpayers’ money towards support for residents not pay packets; and

(4)         approve the proposed allocation of the £1 million fund, provided by Council, to address the cost-of-living crisis in 2025/26, as detailed in paragraph 3.9, subject to limiting the Council’s contribution to staffing costs to a maximum of 25%.

Councillor Blake, seconded by Councillor Bonsell, moved as a further amendment:-

that the Committee:

(1)          note the increased focus on prevention;

(2)          note with concern that despite the principles in 3.5, two of the awards involve a significant proportion of staff costs and ask the Executive Director of Corporate Services to seek reassurance of the sustainability of these posts going forward;

(3)          recognise the excellent panto and creative learning programme at Aberdeen Arts Centre and the share of the award of the Christmas panto package between Aberdeen Performing Arts and Castlegate Arts;

(4)          subject to sharing the proposal for a Christmas panto provision between Aberdeen Performing Arts and Castlegate Arts and the reassurance in (2), approve the proposed allocation of funds from the £1million provided by Council to support people with the cost of living crisis during 2025/26 as detailed in paragraph 3.9 below; and

(5)          instruct the Executive Director of Corporate Services to bring an update on spend, progress, any reallocation of resources and further proposals for the balance of funding to the meeting of the Committee on 26 November 2025.

There being a motion and two amendments, the Committee first divided between the amendment by Councillor Kusznir and the amendment by Councillor Blake.

On a division, there voted:-

For the amendment by Councillor Kusznir (2) – Councillors Brooks and Kusznir.

For the amendment by Councillor Blake (2) – Councillors Blake and Bonsell.

Declined to vote (5) - Convener, Vice Convener and Councillors Davidson, Hutchison and van Sweeden.

In accordance with Standing Order 32.7, the Convener exercised his casting vote in favour of the amendment by Councillor Kusznir.

On a division, there voted:-

For the motion (5) – Convener, Vice Convener and Councillors Davidson, Hutchison and van Sweeden.

For the amendment by Councillor Kusznir (2) – Councillors Brooks and Kusznir.

Declined to vote (2) – Councillors Blake and Bonsell.

The Committee resolved:-

to adopt the motion.