Agenda item

The Council had before it a report by the Chief Officer - Finance which presented the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Business Plan for approval and a short term Housing Asset Plan, which was aligned to the recently approved Local Housing Strategy, which informed the development of the Business Plan.

The report recommended:-

that the Council -

(a)          approve the HRA Business Plan at Appendix A to the report;

(b)          note the key challenges outlined in the Housing Asset Plan at Appendix B and agree the associated priority actions;

(c)          agree that the HRA Business Plan and Housing Asset Plan should be updated and reported in future to the Communities, Housing and Public Protection Committee on an annual basis with the update in 2026 moving to a 5 and 30 year model for both Plans; and

(d)          note the requirement for the Council to maintain HRA reserves for financial resilience and sustainability purposes.

During the course of questions, there was a disturbance in the public gallery which led to the Lord Provost warning Councillor Crockett with regard to the taking of photographs which was prohibited in terms of Standing Orders.

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

            That the Council suspend all Standing Orders to enable the removal of the Lord Provost as Convener for the remainder of the meeting.

On a division, there voted:-

For the procedural motion   (18)  -  Councillors Bonsell, Boulton, Brooks, Crockett, Cross, Farquhar, Graham, Grant, Houghton, Kusznir, Lawrence, McLeod, Malik, Massey, Nicoll, Thomson, Tissera and Watson.

Against the procedural motion  (22)  -  Lord Provost; Depute Provost; and Councillors Al-Samarai, Allard, Alphonse, Hazel Cameron, Clark, Cooke, Copland, Cormie, Davidson, Fairfull, Greig, Henrickson, Hutchison, MacGregor, McLellan, McRae, Mennie, Radley, van Sweeden and Yuill.

Absent from the division  (3)  -  Councillors Ali, Blake and Macdonald.

The Council resolved:-

to reject the procedural motion.

Following further questions to officers, an adjournment and recognising that the meeting was approaching the six hour mark, the Lord Provost invited Councillor Yuill to suggest the way forward in terms of the remaining business.

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

            That the Council -

·         refer item 9.1 (Annual Performance Reports - 2024/25 for all Tier 1 ALEOs) to the Finance and Resources Committee

·         defer item 9.2 (Council Delivery Plan, Annual Review Report 2024-25) to the next ordinary Council meeting

·         refer item 9.3 (2026-2056 HRA Business Plan) to the Communities, Housing and Public Protection Committee

·         refer item 10.1 (Notice of Motion by Councillor Kusznir) to the Communities, Housing and Public Protection Committee

·         refer item 10.2 (Notice of Motion by Councillor Macdonald) to the Finance and Resources Committee

·         refer item 10.3 (Notice of Motion by Councillor Watson) to the Communities, Housing and Public Protection Committee

On a division, there voted:-

For the procedural motion  (22)  -  Lord Provost; Depute Provost; and Councillors Al-Samarai, Allard, Alphonse, 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, Cross, Farquhar, Graham, Grant, Houghton, Kusznir, Lawrence, Macdonald, McLeod, Malik, Massey, Nicoll, Thomson, Tissera and Watson.

The Council further resolved:-

to adopt the procedural motion.

The Council further resolved:-

(i)           to note that the Executive Director - Families and Communities would circulate information regarding the workings set by the housing regulator in terms of in-year rent collection rates;

(ii)          to note that the Chief Officer - Corporate Landlord would re-circulate the detailed options appraisal which was considered by Council in 2024 which set out the rationale for demolition of properties affected by RAAC in Balnagask; and

(iii)         to therefore refer the report to the Communities, Housing and Public Protection Committee.