Agenda item

That the Committee:-

(1)        Agree it was simply outrageous for Elected Members to find out via the press regarding the ongoing closure of the Energy from Waste Plant;  

(2)        Agree it has now been established that Council officers knew about this closure on 27 June 2025, yet despite there being a Council meeting on 2 July 2025, all Elected Members were not informed;  

(3)        Agree that most, if not all of the problems the Council currently has to face such as Bus gates, Energy from Waste, and RAAC has come through either the Net Zero Environment and Transport Committee or through Urgent Business Committee both convened by Councillor Ian Yuill;  ? 

(4)        Agree officers must inform Elected Members when they advised Administration leaders on the closure of the plant and explain why all Elected Members were not appraised of the reasons for closure before it made its way to the press;  

(5)        Agree that changes to staff terms and conditions as part of the 35-hour week may have contributed to bin collections not being undertaken as before and instructs the Chief Officer - Operations to bring forward a report to the relevant committee, into any impacts that the 35-hour week has had on the management of bin collections following its implementation; and  

(6)        Instructs the Chief Officer - Operations to bring forward a report to the Council meeting on 20 August 2025, providing Elected members with information as to how the Council intends to ensure the Energy for Waste Plant gets back up running and the knock-on effects the closure is having on residents and communities throughout Aberdeen.?  

The Committee had before it an urgent Notice of Motion by Councillor Tissera in the following terms:-

that the Committee:-

(1)    agree it was simply outrageous for Elected Members to find out via the press regarding the ongoing closure of the Energy from Waste Plant;  

(2)    agree it has now been established that Council officers knew about this closure on 27 June 2025, yet despite there being a Council meeting on 2 July 2025 all Elected Members were not informed; 

(3)    agree that most if not all of the problems the Council currently has to face such as Bus gates, Energy from Waste, and RAAC has come through either the Net Zero Environment and Transport Committee or through Urgent Business Committee both convened by Councillor Ian Yuill;  ? 

(4)    agree officers must inform Elected Members when they advised Administration leaders on the closure of the plant and explain why all Elected Members were not appraised of the reasons for closure before it made its way to the press;  

(5)    agree that changes to staff terms and conditions as part of the 35-hour week may have contributed to bin collections not being undertaken as before and instructs the Chief Officer - Operations to bring forward a report to the relevant committee, into any impacts that the 35-hour week has had on the management of bin collections following its implementation; and   

(6)    instruct the Chief Officer - Operations to bring forward a report to the Council meeting on 20 August 2025, providing Elected members with information as to how the Council intends to ensure the Energy for Waste Plant gets back up running and the knock-on effects it the closure is having on residents and communities throughout Aberdeen.? 

Councillor Tissera moved her motion and explained the rationale behind it and was seconded by Councillor Malik.

The Convener, seconded by Councillor Greig, moved as an amendment:-

that the Committee:-

(1)    note the North East Scotland Shared (NESS) Energy from Waste Project (EfW) is a shared service between Aberdeen City Council, Aberdeenshire Council and Moray Council to treat the residual waste from the three Councils;

(2)    note that EFW Ness Ltd (Acciona) is the contractor responsible for delivering that service for the three authorities and it has sub-contracted the operation of the facility to Indaver, and that EFW Ness Ltd recently notified Indaver of their intention to terminate the operating sub-contract;

(3)    note the ongoing contractual negotiations between Council officers and Acciona to ensure the Energy from Waste facility is fully operational as soon as possible;

(4)    note that any changes in the delivery of waste management will be reported to the Net Zero, Environment and Transport Committee, through the performance report; and

(5)    instruct the Chief Officer – Operations to provide an update to the Net Zero, Environment and Transport Committee when the Energy from Waste facility is operational, outlining any potential environmental impact and any contractual implications for the Council.

On a division, there voted:- for the motion (4) – Councillors Farquhar, Malik, Nicoll and Tissera; for the amendment (5) – the Convener and Councillors Allard, Cooke, Greig and Radley.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)       to adopt the amendment; and

(ii)      to note that officers would report back on any environmental/financial impacts.