Minutes:
The Council had before it the following urgent notice of motion by Councillor Young:-
“Council instructs the Chief Executive to write to Sir Peter Housden, Permanent Secretary to the Scottish Government, demanding an investigation into the First Minister’s professional conduct during the Aberdeen Donside by-election looking specifically at:-
1. The First Minister’s unannounced visit and lecture on 17 June 2013 to school children at Bramble Brae School without reference to Aberdeen City Council Director of Education, Culture and Sport or the Head Teacher of the said school noting that the school is currently subject to statutory consultation regarding its future within the wider school estate.
2. The First Minister’s unannounced visit to Hazlehead Park on 17 June 2013, a park wholly owned by Aberdeen City Council, again without reference to the said City Council in the middle of a by-election and whilst welcoming the announcement of a £100,000 Scottish Government donation to the Piper Alpha Memorial Trust, purdah rules seem to have been ignored.
Instructs the Chief Executive to report back to Council the response received from the Permanent Secretary, in order for the Council to determine its position on this matter.”
Councillor Young moved, seconded by Councillor Thomson:-
That the terms of the urgent motion be approved.
Councillor Yuill moved as an amendment, seconded by Councillor Delaney:-
That the Council instructs the Chief Executive to write to Sir Peter Housden, Permanent Secretary to the Scottish Government, requesting an investigation into the First Minister’s professional conduct during the Aberdeen Donside by-election looking specifically at:-
1. The First Minister’s unannounced visit and lecture on 17 June 2013 to school children at Bramble Brae School without reference to Aberdeen City Council Director of Education, Culture and Sport or the Head Teacher of the said school.
2. The First Minister’s unannounced visit to Hazlehead Park on 17 June 2013, a park wholly owned by Aberdeen City Council, again without reference to the said City Council in the middle of a by-election. And whilst welcoming the announcement of a £100,000 Scottish Government donation to the Piper Alpha Memorial Trust, purdah rules seem to have been ignored.
Instructs the Chief Executive to report back to Council the response received from the Permanent Secretary, in order for the Council to determine its position on this matter.
That the Council further agrees to:-
(a) Instruct the Chief Executive to write to Frank Doran MP calling on him to apologise for inviting Councillor Young, in his capacity as the Labour Party candidate in the Aberdeen Donside by-election, to participate in what should have been a non party-political event at Taransay Court on the afternoon of Thursday 13 June; and
(b) Instruct the Chief Executive to write to Councillor Young calling on him to apologise for undertaking party political activity at Taransay Court without permission or an invitation from the Residents Association.
Councillor McCaig moved as a further amendment, seconded by Councillor Kiddie:-
That the Council take no action in respect of the matter.
There being a motion and two amendments, in terms of Standing Order 12(9) the Council first divided between the motion and the amendment by Councillor McCaig.
On a division, there voted:-
For the motion (22) - Lord Provost; Depute Provost; and Councillors Allan, Boulton, Carle, Cooney, Donnelly, Lesley Dunbar, Finlayson, Forsyth, Graham, Grant, Ironside, Laing, Lawrence, Malik, Milne, Jean Morrison, Nathan Morrison, Taylor, Thomson and Young.
For the amendment by Councillor McCaig (14) - Councillors Blackman, Cameron, Corall, Cormie, Dickson, Jaffrey, Kiddie, MacGregor, McCaig, May, Noble, Samarai, Sandy Stuart and Townson.
Declined to vote (4) - Councillors Delaney, Greig, Jennifer Stewart and Yuill.
Absent from the division (1) - Councillor Jackie Dunbar.
The Council then divided between the motion and the amendment by Councillor Yuill.
On a division, there voted:-
For the motion (22) - Lord Provost; Depute Provost; and Councillors Allan, Boulton, Carle, Cooney, Donnelly, Lesley Dunbar, Finlayson, Forsyth, Graham, Grant, Ironside, Laing, Lawrence, Malik, Milne, Jean Morrison, Nathan Morrison, Taylor, Thomson and Young.
For the amendment by Councillor Yuill (4) - Councillors Delaney, Greig, Jennifer Stewart and Yuill.
Declined to vote (14) - Councillors Blackman, Cameron, Corall, Cormie, Dickson, Jaffrey, Kiddie, MacGregor, McCaig, May, Noble, Samarai, Sandy Stuart and Townson.
Absent from the division (1) - Councillor Jackie Dunbar.
The Council resolved:-
to adopt the motion.