Agenda item

The Committee had before it the outstanding motions list, as prepared by the Head of Legal and Democratic Services.

In relation to motion 2 (Motion by Councillor McCaig – BRIS), the Committee heard from the Corporate Accounting Manager who advised of the financial year end position in relation to Business Rates Incentivisation Scheme.  Thereafter, the Director of Corporate Governance advised that three suppliers had been asked to submit tenders for research study, exploring the existing financial settlement and its impact on the contribution Aberdeen makes to Scotland and the UK and how a different or better funding settlement could benefit Aberdeen and the remainder of Scotland.

The Convener then moved, seconded by Councillor Allan:-

That the Committee:

(a)       note the previous decision of the Committee;

(b)       note and commend the policy of Aberdeen City Council to maintain Council Tax at its present level from 2008 until at least 2016;

(c)        note with regret the Scottish Government’s under-funding of the Council Tax freeze which had seen Aberdeen lose £2.1million after taking account of inflation over the same period;

(d)       express concern that the Scottish Government continued to fail to deliver the funding it had promised Aberdeen by ignoring the 85% floor which would cost Aberdeen City £12.1 million in 2013/2014 alone;

(e)       express dismay at the Scottish Government’s abandonment of its commitment to honour payments under the Business Rates Incentivisation Scheme which would see Aberdeen City lose £3 million in 2013/2014; and

(f)        note the total amount of funding due to Aberdeen, but lost through Scottish Government back-tracking and broken promises was estimated to be £17.2 million.

Councillor McCaig moved as an amendment, seconded by Councillor Noble:-

That the Committee:

(1)       note the previous decision of the Committee;

(2)       welcome the continuation of the council tax freeze funded by the Scottish Government that had seen Band D council taxpayers benefit by over £800 since its inception;

(3)       note that the Convener of the Finance and Resources Committee at a recent hustings expressed his desire to hand back the £3.3 million the Council received from the Scottish Government for the council tax freeze;

(4)       note with concern that there had been a fall in the rateable value of properties of £4.3 million under the current administration;           

(5)       instruct the Director of Enterprise, Planning and Infrastructure to bring an urgent report to council detailing how this situation could be addressed;

(6)       note that the additional £7 million that Aberdeen had received from the Scottish Government and the opposition this had received from the Scottish Labour Party; and

(7)       call on all the city’s elected representatives to call for fairer funding for Aberdeen to invest in the economic development of the city for the benefit of the city and Scotland.

Councillor Yuill then moved a further amendment, seconded by Councillor Malone:-

That the Committee:

(i)         note the previous decision of the Committee and the officers update; note that a report would be forthcoming from an independent consultant on the existing settlement;

(ii)        deplore the longstanding failure to receive fair funding for Aberdeen City;

(ii)        call on all of the city’s elected representatives and citizens to continue to campaign for fairer funding for Aberdeen.

There being a motion and two amendments, the Committee first divided between the amendment by Councillor McCaig and the amendment by Councillor Yuill.

On a division, there voted:-  For the amendment by Councillor McCaig (5) - Councillors Cameron, Cormie, Dickson, McCaig and Noble.  For the amendment by Councillor Yuill (2) – Councillors Malone and Yuill.  Declined to vote (8) – the Convener; the Vice Convener; and Councillors Cooney, Forsyth, Graham, Grant, Ironside and Milne.

The Committee then divided between the motion and the amendment by Councillor McCaig.

On a division, there voted:-  For the motion (8) - the Convener; the Vice Convener; and Councillors Cooney, Forsyth, Graham, Grant, Ironside and Milne.  For the amendment by Councillor McCaig (5) - Councillors Cameron, Cormie, Dickson, McCaig and Noble.  Declined to vote (2) – Councillors Malone and Yuill.

The Committee resolved:-

to adopt the motion.

The Committee further resolved:-

(i)         in relation to motion 1 (Motion by Councillor Greig – Commemoration of the Diamond Jubilee and Queen’s Reign), to note that the minute of the Diamond Jubilee Working Group had been considered earlier on today’s agenda and to delete the motion; and

(ii)        in relation to motion 2 (Motion by Councillor McCaig – BRIS), to note the oral update.