Minutes:
The Council had before it the following questions, of which due notice had been given in terms of Standing Order 20(2), which had been placed on the agenda as the members concerned had indicated they were unhappy with the responses.
Councillor Young
QUESTION
To the Chief Executive
“To ask the Chief Executive, who will be aware of Section 75 of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 as amended which deals with disposal etc. of land forming part of the common good, what discussions if any have taken place between internal Council legal officers and/or Council appointed external legal officers and any Council employee relating to Union Terrace Gardens and what is the legal advice provided to the said employee and to further ask the Chief Executive what discussions if any have taken place between internal Council legal officers and/or Council appointed external legal officers and any person - the definition of “person” includes a body of persons corporate or unincorporated - relating to Union Terrace Gardens and what is the legal advice provided to the said person?”
ANSWER (by the Chief Executive) -
Discussions of a general nature have taken place on a number of occasions between Council legal officers and Enterprise, Planning and Infrastructure employees relating to Union Terrace Gardens. No specific legal advice has been provided other than confirmation that the gardens are within the ownership of the Council and form part of the Common Good. In the absence of a Council decision on the exact nature of any project to be undertaken at Union Terrace Gardens there have been no discussions with any “persons” as defined in the question, bearing in mind that legal advice is provided by the service to the Council and not to third parties.
In accordance with Standing Order 20(4), the Depute Provost ruled that the question had been answered satisfactorily.
The Council resolved:-
to note the details.
QUESTION -
To the Chief Executive
“To ask the Chief Executive if the Director of Corporate Governance has ever replied to members of the Joint Consultative Committee (JCC) following the JCC meeting of 4th October 2011 where UNISON Aberdeen Branch presented a report to the JCC into costs associated with external delivery of Council IT services, given the Director disputed the accuracy of the report presented by the above said union and gave an assurance that he would respond to the alleged inaccuracies, can the Chief Executive provide members with a copy of the Director’s response to the JCC on the union’s paper or be provided with a date as to when the Director intends to respond to the JCC or alternatively can the Chief Executive confirm that the Director now agrees that the report put to the JCC by the union was indeed accurate thereby no longer needing a reply?”
ANSWER (by the Chief Executive) -
A response was provided to the JCC on 25th November in relation to the inaccuracies contained within the union statement distributed at the JCC meeting.
In accordance with Standing Order 20(4), the Depute Provost ruled that the question had been answered satisfactorily.
The Council resolved:-
to note the details.
Councillor Leslie
QUESTION -
To the Chief Executive
“In light of the EIS survey, can the Chief Executive confirm if teaching staff who have funded stationery pencils, jotters, rubbers, ever been rejected monies from the Education budget for such stationery?”
ANSWER (by the Chief Executive) -
There is no evidence that any staff have been refused budget for essential stationery items in schools. Staff can and do supplement items in their classroom on a voluntary basis, but these are not essential. School budgets are adequate to meet the necessary equipment for learning and teaching.
In accordance with Standing Order 20(4), the Depute Provost ruled that the question had been answered satisfactorily.
The Council resolved:-
to note the details.