Agenda item

With reference to Article 11 of the minute of its meeting of 20 August 2014, the Council had before it a report by the Director of Communities, Housing and Infrastructure which provided an update on the former Summerhill Academy site and indicated a range of options to be considered in relation to the future development of the site.

The report recommended:-

that the Council -

(a)          allocate the former Summerhill Academy site as a development site for the delivery of affordable houses through the Council’s Strategic Infrastructure Plan (SIP) affordable housing project;

(b)          agree that the site be treated as an early action site with appropriate technical feasibility work and statutory consent applications being advanced by the Council during the procurement process for a development partner;

(c)          agree to transfer the site to the development Joint Venture project when the necessary legal agreements were in place; and

(d)          agree that the site be identified as a site for mid market rented properties (100%).

Councillor Laing moved, seconded by Councillor Boulton:-

That the Council -

(1)      approve the recommendations contained within the report;

(2)      agree the principle of developing Council housing on the former Smithfield Primary School site and Manor Walk; and

(3)      instruct officers to report to the Finance, Policy and Resources Committee on 4 December 2014 on the detail of the Smithfield Primary School site and Manor Walk proposals and the process for their development.

Councillor Delaney moved as an amendment, seconded by Councillor Malone:-

That the Council -

(1)      instruct as a matter of urgency a full technical evaluation of all options using the established formal review mechanism to ensure they are robustly tested prior to consideration by Council and include the fullest possible information for consideration by members;

(2)      instruct that further consideration be given to addressing social housing need as part of that process;

(3)      instruct an analysis of predicted school rolls for the area leading to a detailed strategy to mitigate or manage any identified lack of capacity;

(4)      instruct a further report to Council at the earliest possible date upon completion of that review;

(5)      agree the principle of developing Council housing on the former Smithfield Primary School site and Manor Walk; and

(6)      instruct officers to report to the Finance, Policy and Resources Committee on 4 December 2014 on the detail of the Smithfield Primary School site and Manor Walk proposals and the process for their development.

Councillor Cameron moved as a further amendment, seconded by Councillor Dickson:-

That the Council -

(1)      approve the recommendations contained within the report, with the exception of recommendation (d), whereby 50% of the site be identified for mid market rented properties, with 25% private housing and 25% social housing;

(2)      agree the principle of developing Council housing on the former Smithfield Primary School site and Manor Walk; and

(3)      instruct officers to report to the Finance, Policy and Resources Committee on 4 December 2014 on the detail of the Smithfield Primary School site and Manor Walk proposals and the process for their development.

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

On a division, there voted:-

For the amendment by Councillor Delaney  (5)  -  Councillors Delaney, Greig, Malone, Jennifer Stewart and Yuill.

For the amendment by Councillor Cameron  (12)  -  Lord Provost; and Councillors Blackman, Cameron, Cormie, Dickson, Jackie Dunbar, Jaffrey, Kiddie, Noble, Samarai, Sandy Stuart and Townson.

Declined to vote  (21)  - Depute Provost; and Councillors Allan, Boulton, Carle, Cooney, Crockett, Donnelly, Lesley Dunbar, Finlayson, Forsyth, Graham, Grant, Ironside, Laing, Lawrence, Malik, Milne, Nathan Morrison, Taylor, Thomson and Young.

Absent from the division  (3)  -  Councillors McCaig, May and Jean Morrison.

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

On a division, there voted:-

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

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

Absent from the division  (3)  -  Councillors McCaig, May and Jean Morrison.

The Council resolved:-

to adopt the motion.