Agenda item

With reference to article 49 of the minute of its meeting of 28 September, 2010, the Committee had before it a report by the Director of Enterprise, Planning and Infrastructure which advised members of progress in relation to the two areas of land at Bobby Calder Park and Lochinch Farm, Cove.

The report recommended:

(a)       in relation to the Development Agreement with Hermiston Securities Limited (HSL) that –

(1)     the Committee authorise the Head of Legal and Democratic Services to conclude the Development Agreement with HSL, on the terms noted within the report; in particular the Committee notes that further committee approval will not be required for any future sales of the land within the agreement as long as they are demonstrated as being at market value; the parties must also act in the ‘partnership’s’ mutual economic interest;

(2)     the Committee authorise the Director for Enterprise Planning and Infrastructure to nominate three officers to form part of the Project Team;

(3)     in the event that recommendation (6) below is approved, the Committee further approves that an area of circa 4.5 acres at Calder Park (as identified in the plans), or such other ground as may become available at Calder Park, and is returned to the Council is included in the Development Agreement with Hermiston Securities Limited (HSL).

(b)       in relation to the requests from Cove Rangers FC Limited (CRFCL) that the Committee –

(4)     authorises the Head of Asset Management and Operations to grant Landlord’s Consent for the revised development proposals on the site;

(5)     authorises the Head of Asset Management and Operations to grant Landlord’s Consent to the partial assignation of part of the leased area to Aberdeen Football Club PLC (AFC) (this is shown in the assignation plan in the appendix);

(6)     approves that an area of circa 4.5 acres or thereby is surrendered from the lease with CRFCL and returned to the Council;

(7)     authorises that Landlord’s Consent is granted to extend the longstop date for the completion of the community facilities at Calder Park to 1 August, 2013; and

(8)     in considering the request from CRFCL to partially assign the lease, and in doing so passing the delivery responsibilities of the community benefits package to AFC, instruct the Head of Asset Management and Operations to agree a market rent with CRFCL for the land they will occupy.

Councillor Noble, seconded by Councillor Malone, moved:

            that the report’s recommendations be approved.

The Convener, seconded by the Vice Convener, moved as an amendment:

(A)       in relation to the Development Agreement with Hermiston Securities Limited (HSL) -

a)     to authorise the Head of Legal and Democratic Services to conclude the Development Agreement with HSL, on the terms noted within this report; in particular the Committee notes that further committee approval will not be required for any future sales of the land within the agreement as long as they are demonstrated as being at market value; the parties must also act in the ‘partnerships’ mutual economic interest;

b)     to authorise the Director for Enterprise Planning and Infrastructure to nominate 3 officers to form part of the Project Team;

(B)       in relation to the requests from Cove Rangers FC Limited (CRFCL) -

c)      to instruct the Head of Asset Management and Operations to issue a refusal of Landlord’s Consent for the revised development proposals on the site;

d)     to instruct the Head of Asset Management and Operations to issue a refusal of Landlord’s Consent to the partial assignation of part of the leased area to Aberdeen Football Club PLC (AFC) (this is shown in the assignation plan in the appendix);

e)     to note that an area of circa 4.5 acres or thereby will not be surrendered from the lease with CRFCL and returned to the Council;

f)        to refuse Landlord’s Consent to extend the longstop date of 1 September, 2012 for the completion of the community facilities at Calder Park;

g)     to instruct the Head of Legal and Democratic Services, if necessary, to take all steps to initiate irritancy proceedings in relation to the lease between the Council and CRFCL at Bobby Calder Park; and

h)      to instruct officers to undertake a strategic review of the Council landholdings at Bobby Calder Park, giving consideration to the ‘Leisure Asset and Pitch Strategy Audit’ currently being undertaken, the masterplanning of adjoining sites and other development opportunities with a report being brought back to a future meeting of this Committee on the outcome of these investigations in due course.

On a division, there voted: for the motion (7) – Councillors Cameron, Corall, Dickson, Malone, McCaig, Noble and Yuill; for the amendment (8) – the Convener; the Vice Convener; and Councillors Cooney, Laing, Malik, Milne, Reynolds and Thomson.

The Committee resolved:

to approve the successful amendment.

In terms of Standing Order 36(3), Councillor Noble intimated he would like this matter to be referred to full Council in order for a final decision to be taken. Councillor Noble was supported by Councillors Cameron, Corall, Dickson, Malone, McCaig and Yuill.  

- COUNCILLOR WILLIE YOUNG, Convener.