Agenda item

With reference to Article 30 of the minute of meeting of the Finance, Policy and Resources Committee of 6 May 2014, which had been referred to it by six members of the Committee, the Council had before it (1) a report by the Director of Enterprise, Planning and Infrastructure which provided an update on the actions related to the transfer of ownership of Thomas Glover House from the North East Scotland Japan Trust to the Council; and (2) the decision of the Committee - to approve the following recommendations contained within the report:-

(a)          to instruct the Head of Legal and Democratic Services, in consultation with the Head of Finance and the Director of Enterprise, Planning and Infrastructure, to conclude negotiations with the Trust regarding the terms and conditions of the transfer including the proposed future use of the asset, and ensuring that the Council was protected from any further claims against legal title of the asset;

(b)          to authorise appropriate officers to incur the expenditure set out in section 3.5 of the report, utilising the underspend in the Council’s 2013/14 General Services revenue budget;

(c)          to approve the transfer of responsibility of operating the building to the Council; and

(d)          to instruct officers, once the transfer was complete, to advise the Trust of the successful transfer and support the Trust in winding up.

The Council also had before it an addendum to the report which recommended:-

that the Council authorise the Head of Legal and Democratic Services to negotiate and execute a Non Disclosure agreement with the organisation detailed related to the disclosure of information to third parties in respect of the ownership and management of Glover House.

Councillor Laing moved, seconded by Councillor Boulton:-

That the Council reaffirm the decision of the Finance, Policy and Resources Committee, and authorise the Head of Legal and Democratic Services to negotiate and execute a Non Disclosure agreement with the organisation detailed related to the disclosure of information to third parties in respect of the ownership and management of Glover House.

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

That the Council -

(1)      earmark the expenditure set out in section 3.5 of the report from the underspend in the Council’s 2013/14 General Services revenue budget and instruct officers to submit a further report detailing the full terms of the condition of transfer to a future meeting of the Finance, Policy and Resources Committee; and

(2)      authorise the Head of Legal and Democratic Services to negotiate and execute a Non Disclosure agreement with the organisation detailed related to the disclosure of information to third parties in respect of the ownership and management of Glover House.

On a division, there voted:-

For the motion  (20)  -  Lord Provost; and Councillors Allan, Boulton, Carle, Cooney, Donnelly, Lesley Dunbar, Finlayson, Forsyth, Graham, Grant, Ironside, Laing, Lawrence, Malik, Milne, Jean Morrison, Nathan Morrison, Taylor and Thomson.

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

Absent from the division  (4)  -  Depute Provost; and Councillors Blackman, Crockett and Young.

The Council resolved:-

to adopt the motion.

- GEORGE ADAM, Lord Provost.