Agenda item

Please note there were two words missing from the joint motion within the principal circulation. Part (2) of the motion should read as follows:-

(2)  request Sport Aberdeen - an ALEO - to keep these swimming pools open, carry out a full public consultation on their future and publish the results of that consultation before making any final decision on the future use of Hazlehead and Kincorth swimming pools.

With reference to Article 6 of the minute of meeting of the Finance, Policy and Resources Committee of 7 June 2016, which had been referred to it for consideration by nine members of the Committee in terms of Standing Order 36(3), the Council had before it the minute extract from the meeting which detailed the decision of the Committee as follows:-

(i)           to note the position adopted by the Liberal Democrats at the Council budget meeting in February 2016 to reduce funding to Sport Aberdeen by £250,000;

(ii)          to note the decision taken by the SNP/Liberal Democrats administration in 2010 to outsource sport in Aberdeen to Sport Aberdeen;

(iii)         to agree that Sport Aberdeen had reserves of around £2million, which would allow Sport Aberdeen to keep both Kincorth and Hazlehead swimming pools open until the new South of the City School was open, and until any assessment Sport Aberdeen intended to take in relation to the future viability of Hazlehead swimming pool; and

(iv)         to agree that the Council having passed control over sport to Sport Aberdeen it was for Sport Aberdeen to determine how it ran its business.

Councillor Greig moved, seconded by Councillor Jennifer Stewart:-

            That the Council -

(1)      express concern at the manner in which Sport Aberdeen had decided to close Hazlehead and Kincorth swimming pools, both of which were much valued community amenities, without any public consultation;

(2)      request Sport Aberdeen - an ALEO - to keep these swimming pools open, carry out a full public consultation on their future and publish the results of that consultation before making any final decision on the future use of Hazlehead and Kincorth swimming pools;

(3)      provide funding of £275,000 from reserves in 2016/17 to Sport Aberdeen to fund the continued operation of Kincorth and Hazlehead swimming pools in 2016/17; and

(4)      agree that future years’ funding should be considered as part of the budget setting process to allow an assessment of the South of the City school which included a swimming pool facility.

Councillor Young moved as an amendment, seconded by Councillor Allan:-

            That the Council -

(1)       note that Sport Aberdeen is a company owned by its shareholders (Aberdeen City Council) who appoint/approve directors with responsibility for day-to-day management of the company;

(2)       note that (1) above conforms to the decision taken by the SNP/Liberal Democrat Administration in 2010 when they opted to outsource sport in Aberdeen to Sport Aberdeen;

(3)       express complete confidence in the independence  of the Board of Sport Aberdeen to make decisions as it sees fit without political interference to maximise Sport Aberdeen’s strategic aims as determined by its shareholders (Aberdeen City Council);

(4)       note the decision taken by the SNP to propose at the Council Budget meeting in February 2016 to reduce funding to Sport Aberdeen by £405,000;

(5)       note the decision taken by the Liberal Democrats to propose at the Council Budget meeting in February 2016 to reduce funding to Sport Aberdeen by £250,000;

(6)       agree that Sport Aberdeen’s Board has complete autonomy to keep both Kincorth and Hazlehead swimming pools open until the new South of the City school is built or until any assessment Sport Aberdeen intended to take in relation to the future viability of Hazlehead swimming pool;

(7)       acknowledge the public petition to retain Kincorth and Hazlehead swimming pools; and

(8)       request the Sport Aberdeen Board to reflect on its decision considering the views expressed by the public in terms of accessibility to local facilities and the benefit to health.

Councillor Flynn moved as a further amendment, seconded by Councillor Corall:-

            That the Council -

(1)      express concern at the manner in which Sport Aberdeen had decided to close Hazlehead and Kincorth swimming pools, both of which were much valued community amenities, without any public consultation;

(2)      provide £98,864 to Sport Aberdeen from, in the first instance, any underspend incurred in 2016/17 and should this not be available, that contingencies be utilised, for the purpose of keeping Kincorth swimming pool open for the year 2016/17, and request that Council officers identify possible funding streams that may be available to provide funding to Sport Aberdeen for the purpose of keeping Kincorth swimming pool open until the completion of the new South of the City Academy; and

(3)      provide £131,050 to Sport Aberdeen from, in the first instance, any underspend incurred in 2016/17 and should this not be available, that contingencies be utilised, for the purpose of keeping Hazlehead swimming pool open for the year 2016/17, and request Sport Aberdeen in partnership with Aberdeen City Council, undertake a full assessment into the viability of Hazlehead pool as well as a full public consultation; and that both are published prior to any final decision by Sport Aberdeen on future use.

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

On a division, there voted:-

For the amendment by Councillor Young  (21)  -  Lord Provost; Depute Provost; and Councillors Allan, Boulton, Carle, Cooney, Crockett, Donnelly, Lesley Dunbar, Finlayson, Graham, Grant, Ironside, Laing, Lawrence, Malik, Milne, Jean Morrison, Nathan Morrison, Taylor and Young.

For the amendment by Councillor Flynn  (17)  -  Councillors Cameron, Copland, Corall, Cormie, Jackie Dunbar, Flynn, Greig, Hutchison, Jaffrey, MacGregor, Nicoll, Noble, Samarai, Jennifer Stewart, Sandy Stuart, Townson and Yuill.

Absent from the division  (1)  -  Councillor Delaney.

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

On a division, there voted:-

For the motion  (17)  -  Councillors Cameron, Copland, Corall, Cormie, Jackie Dunbar, Flynn, Greig, Hutchison, Jaffrey, MacGregor, Nicoll, Noble, Samarai, Jennifer Stewart, Sandy Stuart, Townson and Yuill.

For the amendment by Councillor Young  (21)  -  Lord Provost; Depute Provost; and Councillors Allan, Boulton, Carle, Cooney, Crockett, Donnelly, Lesley Dunbar, Finlayson, Graham, Grant, Ironside, Laing, Lawrence, Malik, Milne, Jean Morrison, Nathan Morrison, Taylor and Young.

Absent from the division  (1)  -  Councillor Delaney.

The Council resolved:-

to adopt the amendment by Councillor Young.