Agenda item

DECLARATIONS OF INTERESTS

During consideration of the following item the following members declared an interest in the matter by reason of their involvement with the North East of Scotland Transport Partnership (Nestrans):- the Convener and Councillor Boulton as Board members of Nestrans, and the Vice-Convener as a substitute Board member of Nestrans. None of the members involved considered it necessary to leave the meeting during the Committee’s deliberation on the report before it.

With reference to article 13 of the minute of the meeting of the Enterprise, Planning and Infrastructure Committee of 23 February 2010, the Committee had before it a joint report by the Director of Enterprise, Planning and Infrastructure and the City Chamberlain which provided an update on the progress made on various projects in the Non Housing Capital Programme previously approved by the Council (now aligned to the Enterprise, Planning and Infrastructure Services).

Appendix A to the report outlined the Non-Housing Capital Programme Projects aligned to the services and provided, for each project, the budget for 2009/2010, spend to date at the end of February 2010, and the forecast out-turn position. Comments on particular projects, where appropriate, were included in the narrative.

The report advised that the spend to the end of February 2010, reflected payments made and processed, and therefore excluded any commitments that had been made which would be due to be paid by the end of the year.  Such commitments would be reflected in the forecast position. 

It was highlighted that, as a direct result of the adverse weather conditions experienced during December 2009, and January 2010, work on a number of projects had been delayed; as a result of this the timing of expenditure on a number of projects would have to be carried forward into 2010/2011.  The out-turns for the current year had been updated to reflect the revised projection.

The Committee heard from the Convener who advised that, as a result of financial prudence by the service, the projected overall spend for the Marischal College project had been reduced. Therefore, in light of the change in the projected budget expenditure required for the project, and given the adverse weather conditions experienced as well as the current condition of the roads in the city, it was proposed that £2.5million from the Marischal College Project contingencies be transferred to the Roads Programme 2010/2011. Members expressed their support for the transfer of the monies.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)         to support the transfer of £2.5million from the Marischal College Project contingencies to the Roads Programme 2010/2011 budget, and to refer this proposal to the Finance and Resources Committee for approval;

(ii)        to request officers, following approval of the transfer of monies by the Finance and Resources Committee, to submit a report to the Enterprise, Planning and Infrastructure Committee at its meeting on
31 May 2010, on a programme of works to utilise the additional
£2.5 million;

(iii)       to request officers to write to the Scottish Government to request that they consider unringfencing the Cycling, Walking and Safer Streets (CWSS) budget received by local authorities and other transport bodies to enable them to spend the money across the roads programme as they deemed most appropriate;

(iv)       to request officers to clarify and advise the Committee, by email, of the legality position vis-à-vis using the distinctive pinkish tar used for certain junction markings;

(v)        to instruct officers to continue to review budget performance and report on service strategies as required to ensure a balanced budget; and

(vi)       to otherwise note the content of the report in relation to the project outlined at appendix A.

At this juncture the Convener advised the Committee that Ms. Maggie McGinlay, Scottish Enterprise would not be able to attend the meeting today and therefore item 2.1  (Scottish Enterprise – Outcome of the City Square Public Consultation Exercise Presentation) would be withdrawn from today’s agenda.