Agenda item

With reference to Article 16 of the minute of its meeting of 6 March 2013, the Council had before it a report by the Director of Social Care and Wellbeing which provided an update on the actions taken since the Council last considered the matter and on developments with the welfare reform agenda.

The report recommended:-

that the Council note the progress that had been made and the actions which were ongoing.

Councillor McCaig moved, seconded by Councillor Noble:-

            That the Council -

(1)               note the content of the report and commend officers for their work in this area; and

(2)               where tenants who were subject to the Under Occupancy Charge (commonly known as the Bedroom Tax) were doing all they reasonably could to avoid falling into arrears, use all legitimate means to collect rent due, except eviction.

Councillor Crockett moved as an amendment, seconded by Councillor Boulton:-       

            That the Council -

(1)               approve the recommendation contained within the report; and

(2)               note the position taken by the SNP Group at the Council meeting on 6 March 2013, when among other things it supported the proposal “to write to the appropriate Scottish Government Minister asking them to identify changes to legislation through which the Scottish Government may assist the Council in dealing with the impact of welfare reform in the city, noting that Aberdeen City is the lowest funded Council in Scotland ranked 32 out of 32 in relation to per head of population funding - £1,447.36, is no longer in receipt of the  promised 85% funding floor as £1,447.36 represents 79.8% of the Scottish average of £1,814.58, and that the Scottish Government has reneged on the agreed Business Rates Incentivisation Scheme arrangements”.

Councillor Yuill moved as a further amendment, seconded by Councillor Jennifer Stewart:-

            That the Council -

(1)               note the content of the report and commend officers for their work in this area; and

(2)               where tenants who were subject to the Under Occupancy Charge (commonly known as the Bedroom Tax) were doing all they reasonably could to avoid falling into arrears, solely as a result of the Under Occupancy Charge, use all legitimate means to collect rent due, except eviction.

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

On a division, there voted:-

For the amendment by Councillor Crockett   (22)  -  Lord Provost; Depute Provost; and Councillors Allan, Boulton, Carle, Cooney, Crockett, Donnelly, Lesley Dunbar, Finlayson, Forsyth, Graham, Grant, Ironside, Laing, Lawrence, Malik, Milne, Jean Morrison, Taylor, Thomson and Young.

For the amendment by Councillor Yuill   (16)  -  Councillors Delaney, Dickson, Jackie Dunbar, Greig, Jaffrey, Kiddie, MacGregor, McCaig, Malone, May, Noble, Samarai, Jennifer Stewart, Sandy Stuart, Townson and Yuill.

Declined to vote   (1)  -  Councillor Cameron.

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

On a division, there voted:-

For the motion   (17)  -  Councillors Cameron, Delaney, Dickson, Jackie Dunbar, Greig, Jaffrey, Kiddie, MacGregor, McCaig, Malone, May, Noble, Samarai, Jennifer Stewart, Sandy Stuart, Townson and Yuill.

For the amendment by Councillor Crockett   (22)  -  Lord Provost; Depute Provost; and Councillors Allan, Boulton, Carle, Cooney, Crockett, Donnelly, Lesley Dunbar, Finlayson, Forsyth, Graham, Grant, Ironside, Laing, Lawrence, Malik, Milne, Jean Morrison, Taylor, Thomson and Young.

The Council resolved:-

to adopt the amendment by Councillor Crockett.