Agenda item

With reference to Article 24 of the minute of meeting of the Finance and Resources Committee of 6 December 2012, which had been referred to it for consideration by five members of the Committee, the Council had before it (1) a report by the Director of Enterprise, Planning and Infrastructure which presented the outcome of the marketing of the Pinewood and Hazledene sites and advised on the legal agreement between the Council, Robert Gordon’s College and the Council’s agricultural tenant; and (2) the decision of the Committee as follows:-

(i)            to agree that the Council wished to sell the site;

(ii)          to note the revised percentage split in the sale proceeds between all interested parties;

(iii)        to instruct the Head of Legal and Democratic Services to conclude missives for the sale of this property, in terms of the tri-partite agreement to Dandara Limited based on its offer number 4 detailed in the report, incorporating various qualifications as were necessary to protect the Council’s interests; and

(iv)         to agree to an alteration to the current split between Robert Gordon’s College and the Council, based on the College’s preference to accept offer number 3 detailed in the report with payment over a three year period. This would result in the College receiving payment as if offer number 3 had been accepted, with the effect that they received a quicker but lower payment.

Councillor Donnelly moved, seconded by Councillor Milne:-

            That the decision of the Finance and Resources Committee be reaffirmed.

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

            That the Council -

(a)               agree that the Council wished to sell the site at some future time to be agreed and take no further action meantime; and

(b)               request officers to submit a further report to the Finance and Resources Committee on the revised split in the sale proceeds to enable further scrutiny of the proportions to each party for information only.

Councillor Noble moved as a further amendment, seconded by Councillor Dickson:-

            That the Council -

(a)               instruct officers to recommence negotiations with the tenant to reduce their share of proceeds to reflect the Council’s land ownership and the limited duration of their lease and to report back to the next meeting of the Finance and Resources Committee on the outcome of the negotiations; and

(b)               agree that should there be no movement within the negotiation, not to sell the land until 2020 after the lease had ended.

There being a motion and two amendments, the Council first divided between the amendment by Councillor Greig and the amendment by Councillor Noble.

On a division, there voted:-

For the amendment by Councillor Greig  (4)  -  Councillors Delaney, Greig, Malone and Jennifer Stewart.

For the amendment by Councillor Noble  (14)  -  Councillors Blackman, Cameron, Corall, Dickson, Jackie Dunbar, Jaffrey, Kiddie, MacGregor, McCaig, May, Noble, Samarai, Sandy Stuart and Townson.

Declined to vote  (20)  -  Lord Provost; Depute Provost; and Councillors Allan, Boulton, Carle, Cooney, Crockett, Donnelly, Lesley Dunbar, Finlayson, Forsyth, Graham, Grant, Len Ironside CBE, Laing, Lawrence, Malik, Milne, Nathan Morrison and Taylor. 

Absent from the division  (5)  -  Councillors Cormie, Jean Morrison MBE, Thomson, Young and Yuill.

The Council then divided between the motion and the amendment by Councillor Noble.

On a division, there voted:-

For the motion  (19)  -  Lord Provost; Depute Provost; and Councillors Allan, Carle, Cooney, Crockett, Donnelly, Lesley Dunbar, Finlayson, Forsyth, Graham, Grant, Len Ironside CBE, Laing, Lawrence, Malik, Milne, Nathan Morrison and Taylor. 

For the amendment by Councillor Noble  (18)  -  Councillors Blackman, Cameron, Corall, Delaney, Dickson, Jackie Dunbar, Greig, Jaffrey, Kiddie, MacGregor, McCaig, Malone, May, Noble, Samarai, Jennifer Stewart, Sandy Stuart and Townson.

Declined to vote  (1)  -  Councillor Boulton.

Absent from the division  (5)  -  Councillors Cormie, Jean Morrison MBE, Thomson, Young and Yuill.

The Council resolved:-

to adopt the motion.

In terms of Standing Order 15(6), Councillors Delaney, Greig, Malone and Jennifer Stewart intimated their dissent against the foregoing decision.

- GEORGE ADAM, Lord Provost.