Agenda item

With reference to Article 12 of the minute of meeting of the Corporate Policy and Performance Committee of 27 September 2012, the Council had before it, by way of remit, the decision of the Corporate Policy and Performance Committee as follows:-

(a)          to note that Council would be requested at its meeting on 10 October to revise the Orders of Reference of the Corporate Policy and Performance Committee to provide it with the necessary powers to discharge on behalf of the Council its responsibilities in relation to the Scottish Police Authority, the Police Service of Scotland and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service;

(b)          to agree, subject to the decision of Council, that briefing sessions on police and fire matters be arranged for members of the Committee during late October and early November ahead of reports relating to Police and Fire Reform being brought to Committee for consideration at its meeting on 29 November 2012;

(c)          to agree, subject to the decision of Council, that the arrangements for discharging the Council’s responsibilities in relation to the Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 should be kept under review as the Council’s relationship with the Scottish Police Authority, the Police Service of Scotland and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service develops; and

(d)          in order to action (a) to (c) above, to recommend to Council the establishment of a working group comprising the Aberdeen City Council members of Grampian Joint Police Board and Grampian Fire and Rescue Board - with their existing substantive and substitute member arrangements - which will be set up to deal with questions on transition under the police and fire legislation. The purpose of the working group is to formulate recommendations for the Council in this new area of Council business and so that the Council can effectively identify, address and tackle the policing, fire safety and public safety priorities and needs of the people of Aberdeen. The business of the working group will include committee orders of reference, training and resource requirements, and any other issues for discharging the Council’s statutory responsibilities. The working group will seek assistance from the offices of the Clerks of both Boards, Grampian Fire and Rescue Service, Grampian Police and relevant Council officials. The working group will operate at least until April 2013 and will report back to Council, the Corporate Policy and Performance Committee and elsewhere as and when required.

The Council also had before it a report by the Chief Executive which provided an update on the Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 and detailed the responsibilities the Act placed on local authorities.

The report recommended:-

that the Council agree to revise the Orders of Reference of the Corporate Policy and Performance Committee to provide it with the necessary powers to discharge on behalf of the Council its responsibilities in relation to the Scottish Police Authority, the Police Service of Scotland and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.

Councillor Forsyth moved, seconded by Councillor Carle:-

That the Council approve (a) to (c) but not (d) of the decision of the Corporate Policy and Performance Committee, and the recommendation of the report by the Chief Executive.

Councillor Greig moved as an amendment, seconded by Councillor Delaney:-

That the Council approve the decision of the Corporate Policy and Performance Committee, and the recommendation of the report by the Chief Executive.

On a division, there voted:-

For the motion  (34)  -  Lord Provost; and Councillors Allan, Blackman, Boulton, Cameron, Carle, Cooney, Corall, Cormie, Crockett, Dickson, Jackie Dunbar, Lesley Dunbar, Forsyth, Graham, Grant, Len Ironside CBE, Jaffrey, Kiddie, Laing, Lawrence, MacGregor, McCaig, Malik, Milne, Jean Morrison MBE, Nathan Morrison, Noble, Samarai, Sandy Stuart, Taylor, Thomson, Townson and Young.

For the amendment  (5)  -  Councillors Delaney, Finlayson, Greig, Jennifer Stewart and Yuill.

Absent from the division (1)  -  Councillor May.

The Council resolved:-

to adopt the motion.