Agenda item

The Council had before it a report by the Chief Executive which presented the Aberdeen City Council Conservative and Unionist Party, Aberdeen Labour and Independent Alliance Group Programme for Aberdeen City Council 2017-2022.

The report recommended:-

that the Council -

(a)          consider the Aberdeen City Council Conservative and Unionist Party, Aberdeen Labour and Independent Alliance Group Programme for Aberdeen City Council 2017-2022 and decide whether or not to agree it; and

(b)          in the event that the Programme is agreed, instruct the Chief Executive to review the Council’s Strategic Business Plan in light of the commitments set out in the Programme and to report to the next meeting of the Council with a revised Strategic Business Plan.

Councillor Laing moved, seconded by Councillor Lumsden:-

            That the Council -

(1)      agree Stronger Together - Prosperity for Aberdeen 2017-2022, the Aberdeen City Council Conservative and Unionist Party, Aberdeen Labour and Independent Alliance Group Programme for Aberdeen City Council 2017-2022; and

(2)      instruct the Chief Executive to review the Council’s Strategic Business Plan in light of the commitments set out in the Programme and to report to the next meeting of the Council with a revised Strategic Business Plan.

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

            That the Council -

(1)      note the narrative on pages 8-10 of the policy statement;

(2)      agree the commitments on pages 11-16 of the policy statement;

(3)      further agree to:-

(a)       deliver, with partners, 2,500 homes to rent by 2022 with the emphasis firmly on social housing;

(b)       support the expansion of extra-curricular activities in Aberdeen’s schools;

(c)       seek to build closer links between our secondary schools, businesses, colleges and universities to improve connections and educational opportunities best suited to abilities and skills of our young people and adults returning to education;

(d)       double the core grant funding Aberdeen’s volunteer managed community centres receive from the Council from 2018/19, in recognition of the important role played in the life of local communities;

(e)       work with the local community and others to secure the future of Hazlehead Swimming Pool;

(f)        invest at least £5million annually in road and pavement repairs and resurfacing from 2018/19 onwards (more than doubling the 2017/18 budget) using the principle of right-first-time to improve the quality of repairs;

(g)       support measures to encourage safe walking and cycling and commit itself to investing 10% of the Council’s transport budgets in walking and cycling;

(h)      commit to building a new bridge over the River Dee, just upstream from the existing Bridge of Dee, and, to accommodate the additional traffic which will be generated by forthcoming housing developments, the dualing of the Lang Stracht;

(i)        support the objectives of Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce’s manifesto for the 2017 Council elections;

(j)         maintain and strengthen policies which protect Aberdeen’s green belt and green wedges and in particular seek to avoid the coalescence of distinct communities; and

(4)      instruct the Chief Executive to review the Council’s Strategic Business Plan in light of the commitments set out in the Programme, as agreed above, and the additional commitments as set out in (3) above, and to report to the next meeting of the Council with a revised Strategic Business Plan.

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

            That the Council -

(1)      note the content of the report and policy document issued by the current Administration;

(2)      acknowledge the content of the SNP Manifesto 2017, upon which 19 SNP members were elected, and agree to it; and

(3)      instruct the Chief Executive to review the Council’s Strategic Business Plan in light of the commitments outlined in the SNP Manifesto 2017 and to report to the next meeting of the Council with a revised Strategic Business Plan.

DECLARATION OF INTEREST

At this juncture, Councillor Cooke declared an interest by virtue of his membership of Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce which had been referred to in Councillor Yuill’s amendment. Councillor Cooke did not consider that the nature of his interest required him to leave the meeting.

The Lord Provost highlighted that the meeting was approaching four hours in length and proposed that Standing Order 37.2 be suspended to enable the meeting to continue.

The Council resolved:-

to suspend Standing Order 37.2 to enable the meeting to continue.

There being a motion and two amendments, the Council first divided between the two amendments.

On a division, there voted:-

For the amendment by Councillor Yuill  (3)  -  Councillors Delaney, Greig and Yuill.

For the amendment by Councillor Flynn  (18)  -  Councillors Allard, Alphonse, Cameron, Cooke, Copland, Cormie, Jackie Dunbar, Flynn, Henrickson, Hutchison, MacGregor, Catriona MacKenzie, McLellan, McRae, Nicoll, Samarai, Sandy Stuart and Townson.

Declined to vote  (23)  -  Lord Provost; Depute Provost; and Councillors Allan, Bell, Boulton, Lesley Dunbar, Duncan, Graham, Grant, Houghton, Hunt, Imrie, John, Laing, Lumsden, Macdonald, Avril MacKenzie, Malik, Mason MSP, Reynolds, Sellar, Jennifer Stewart and Wheeler.

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

On a division, there voted:-

For the motion  (23)  -  Lord Provost; Depute Provost; and Councillors Allan, Bell, Boulton, Lesley Dunbar, Duncan, Graham, Grant, Houghton, Hunt, Imrie, John, Laing, Lumsden, Macdonald, Avril MacKenzie, Malik, Mason MSP, Reynolds, Sellar, Jennifer Stewart and Wheeler.

For the amendment by Councillor Flynn  (18)  -  Councillors Allard, Alphonse, Cameron, Cooke, Copland, Cormie, Jackie Dunbar, Flynn, Henrickson, Hutchison, MacGregor, Catriona MacKenzie, McLellan, McRae, Nicoll, Samarai, Sandy Stuart and Townson.

Declined to vote  (3)  -  Councillors Delaney, Greig and Yuill.

The Council further resolved:-

to adopt the motion.