Agenda item

With reference to article 14 of the minute of the meeting of the Housing and Environment Committee of 14 May 2013, the Committee had before it a report by the Director of Housing and Environment which provided an update on a way forward for the regeneration of Middlefield as a result of the Haudagain roundabout upgrade.

The report recommended –

that the Committee -

(a)       note the progress to date as detailed in the report;

(b)       note the next stages of work for Middlefield as instructed by the Housing and Environment Committee on 14 May 2013.

Councillor McCaig moved, seconded by Councillor Malone:-

That the recommendations be approved.

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

That the Committee:

(1)       note the words of Keith Brown, Minister for Transport and Veterans, who stated in the Scottish parliament on 22 May “We have stated on a number of occasions our commitment to funding the design and construction of the road improvement, which will include associated land and compensation costs for the delivery of the Haudagain scheme.  As was the case with all of our schemes, landowners, including the local authority, will be compensated for any land or property that was required to enable the construction of the road improvement”;

(2)       to note paragraph 7.1 of the report which stated “There is as yet no detailed information from government on the financial arrangements to be made to purchase assets required to deliver the Haudagain junction improvements” and therefore to instruct officers to enter into negotiations with the Scottish Government within the next 30 days with a view to agreeing a legally binding contract as soon as possible ensuring the Council and other land owners were suitably and properly compensated for the land or property that was required to enable the construction on the road improvements with a view to starting work on the Haudagain roundabout within the next two years rather than in 2018/2019 as proposed by the SNP;

(3)       to note with complete disappointment the decision to postpone the arranged meeting between the Council and Transport Scotland on 27 May 2013, and reschedule the meeting until 28 June 2013, a clear sign that the Haudagain roundabout improvements were not a key priority for the Scottish Government;

(4)       to note the speed in which the Scottish Government were prepared to compensate landowners, including building a brand new International School in Cults, long before the AWPR work had started and questions the Scottish Government’s resolve to fully compensate the people and residents of Middlefield which was the most deprived area of the city in terms of employment, health, income, education and training quickly and efficiently as they did in the most prosperous area of the city; and

(5)       to instruct officers to bring a report to an additional meeting of the Finance and Resources Committee on 25 July 2013 on the meeting with Transport Scotland, including detailed information from the Government on the financial arrangements to be made to purchase assets required to deliver the Haudagain junction improvements and setting out the Council’s objectives to start this project within the next two years.

Further to the motion and amendment above being moved and seconded, the Committee received advice regarding the competency of number (5) of the amendment detailed above.

Following the advice, the Convener, seconded by the Vice Convener, moved suspension of Standing Order 3(4)(a) to enable an additional meeting of this Committee to be held on 25 July 2013.

On a division, there voted:-

For the procedural motion (8) – the Convener, the Vice Convener; and Councillors Cooney, Forsyth, Graham, Grant, Ironside and Milne; Against the procedural motion (7) – Councillors Cameron, Cormie, Dickson, Malone, McCaig, Noble and Yuill.

The Committee then divided on the motion and amendment.

On a division, there voted:-

For the motion by Councillor McCaig (7) – Councillors Cameron, Cormie, Dickson Malone, McCaig, Noble and Yuill; For the amendment by the Convener (8) – the Convener, the Vice Convener; and Councillors Cooney, Forsyth, Graham, Grant, Ironside and Milne.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)         to adopt the amendment; and

(ii)        to instruct officers to advise all members, by email, whether a further Equality Human Rights Impact Assessment was required in light of the proposal to shorten the project timescales.

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