Minutes:
The Council had before it a report by the Director of Enterprise, Planning and Infrastructure regarding the sale process for the Council owned site in Broad Street (formerly St Nicholas House), which advised of the offers received and the scoring for each, and recommended the selection of a preferred bidder.
The report recommended:-
that the Council -
(a) accept the highest scoring bidder, Bidder C (Muse Developments Limited) as the preferred bidder for the Broad Street site;
(b) authorise the Head of Asset Management and Operations and the Head of Legal and Democratic Services to conclude the appropriate legal agreements and/or other documents to ensure the sale and redevelopment of the site, incorporating qualifications as are necessary, and otherwise to protect the Council’s interests;
(c) instruct officers to prepare reports for the relevant committees on the different aspects the redevelopment poses for services and infrastructure in the city centre; and
(d) instruct officers to provide progress reports to Council at key stages of the project.
The Council received a presentation by Mr Stephen Booth, Property Estates Manager, Ms Karen Donnelly, Legal Manager, and Mr Steven Whyte, Chief Accountant, in regard to the process that had been undertaken and with particular reference to the property, legal and financial issues contained therein. Upon conclusion of the presentation, members asked a number of questions of officers in relation to the presentation and in connection with the report itself.
Councillor Crockett moved, seconded by Councillor Boulton:-
That the Council -
(1) approve recommendations (a), (b) and (d) as outlined above;
(2) instruct officers to prepare a report to the next Council meeting on the different aspects the redevelopment poses for services and infrastructure in the city; and
(3) establish a working group comprising the Leader and Depute Leader of the Council, the Convener of Finance and Resources, Councillor Forsyth and a member of the opposition to operate as a high level consultation group, discussing strategic issues with the preferred bidder to ensure that the Council as a partner in the joint venture achieves its development aspirations as detailed in the guidance for the benefit of preferred bidders document issued by Ryden on behalf of the Council in January 2013.
Councillor Malone moved as an amendment, seconded by Councillor Delaney:-
That the Council agree to officers restarting the process to enable the bidders to come forward with alternative designs that will reduce the density of the development in order to ensure that these designs respect the historic setting of Marischal College and Provost Skene’s House, and ensure that the designs incorporate sufficient open public space around Provost Skene’s House, and report these designs to the working group for further consideration.
Councillor McCaig moved as a further amendment:-
That the Council -
(1) note the content of the report;
(2) consider that the four proposed designs presented to Councillors do not meet the Council’s aspirations for the redevelopment of the St Nicholas House site;
(3) note the financial risks associated with the preferred bidder; and
(4) consider that a superior design, greater financial return and smaller financial risk could be achieved by the Council if it were to develop the site itself. As such, instruct officers to bring a report to the next meeting of the Council detailing how this can best be achieved.
There being a motion and two amendments, the Council first divided between the amendment by Councillor Malone and the amendment by Councillor McCaig.
On a division, there voted:-
For the amendment by Councillor Malone (5) - Councillors Delaney, Greig, Malone, Jennifer Stewart and Yuill.
For the amendment by Councillor McCaig (15) - Councillors Blackman, Cameron, Corall, Cormie, Dickson, Jackie Dunbar, Jaffrey, Kiddie, MacGregor, McCaig, May, Noble, Samarai, Sandy Stuart and Townson.
Declined to vote (23) - 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, Jean Morrison MBE, Nathan Morrison, Taylor, Thomson and Young.
The Council then divided between the motion and the amendment by Councillor McCaig.
On a division, there voted:-
For the motion (23) - 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, Jean Morrison MBE, Nathan Morrison, Taylor, Thomson and Young.
For the amendment by Councillor McCaig (20) - Councillors Blackman, Cameron, Corall, Cormie, Delaney, Dickson, Jackie Dunbar, Greig, Jaffrey, Kiddie, MacGregor, McCaig, Malone, May, Noble, Samarai, Jennifer Stewart, Sandy Stuart, Townson and Yuill.
The Council resolved:-
(i) to adopt the motion; and
(ii) to thank the relevant officers for their work in preparing the report and delivering the presentation, and the members of the St Nicholas House Working Group for their input.
In terms of Standing Order 15(6), Councillors Corall, Delaney, Greig, Jaffrey, MacGregor, Malone, May, Jennifer Stewart and Yuill intimated their dissent against the foregoing decision.