Agenda item

With reference to Article 16 of the minute of meeting of the Finance, Policy and Resources Committee of 1 December 2017, which had been referred to it for consideration by eight members of the Committee in terms of Standing Order 31.1, the Council had before it (1) a report by the Head of Finance which provided an update in relation to business rates relief granted under both the national transitional relief scheme and the local rates relief scheme; and (2) the decision of the Committee, which was as follows:-

(i)            to note the position relative to the number and value of relief cases granted under the national transitional relief scheme and the local rates relief scheme;

(ii)          to note that eight applications for the local relief scheme were received after the deadline and would therefore not be considered for approval;

(iii)         to extend the closing date for applications to the 2017/18 local relief scheme from 30 September 2017 until 31 March 2018; and

(iv)         to instruct the Chief Executive to write to the Scottish Government calling on them to extend the current national scheme to provide business rate support for the fish processing industry for 2018/19 similar to that afforded to the hospitality industry in 2017/18.

Councillor Lumsden moved, seconded by Councillor Boulton:-

            That the Council -

(1)      note the position relative to the number and value of relief cases granted under the national transitional relief scheme and the local rates relief scheme;

(2)      note that eight applications for the local relief scheme were received after the deadline and would therefore not be considered for approval;

(3)      agree to extend the closing date for applications to the 2017/18 local relief scheme from 30 September 2017 until 31 March 2018;

(4)      instruct the Chief Executive to write to the Scottish Government calling on them to extend the current national scheme to provide business rate support for the fish processing industry for 2018/19 similar to that afforded to the hospitality industry in 2017/18;

(5)      agree that the Council has the power to offer discretionary non-domestic rates relief to business in Aberdeen and has used that power as detailed within the report; and

(6)      agree that Aberdeen City Council remains the lowest funded Council in Scotland and as a result SNP austerity is having a detrimental effect on those within Aberdeen that require our assistance most and that by asking the Council to provide £1.02million of relief to businesses when the Scottish Government has the regulatory powers to do so means the Council cannot spend £1.02million on revenue priorities such as education child poverty and social care as well as the upgrading of our roads and pavements.

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

            That the Council -

(1)      note the position relative to the number and value of relief cases granted under the national transitional relief scheme and the local rates relief scheme;

(2)      note that eight applications for the local relief scheme were received after the deadline and would therefore not be considered for approval;

(3)      agree to extend the closing date for applications to the 2017/18 local relief scheme from 30 September 2017 until 31 March 2018;

(4)      agree that the Council has the power to offer discretionary non-domestic rates relief to business in Aberdeen. Therefore, instructs the Head of Finance to include within the Council’s budget setting process for 2018/19 the allocation of £1.02million towards non-domestic rates relief for the manufacturing sector which includes the fish processing sector, and that this relief will be capped at 100% for all rates increases above 12.5% with a tone date of 2016/17; and

(5)      note that this relief package is required in order to help support the sector at a time when its future is deeply uncertain due to the policy of the UK Government to pursue a ‘Hard Brexit’ which lacks clarity on the residence status of EU Nationals working in manufacturing - and more specifically, the fish processing sector.

After eight members had spoken in the debate, Councillor Houghton moved as a procedural motion, seconded by Councillor Graham, that no further debate take place in terms of Standing Order 28.1.

On a division, there voted:-

For the procedural motion  (22)  -  Lord Provost; Depute Provost; and Councillors Allan, Bell, Boulton, Lesley Dunbar, Duncan, Graham, Grant, Houghton, Hunt, Imrie, John, Lumsden, Macdonald, Avril MacKenzie, Malik, Mason MSP, Reynolds, Sellar, Jennifer Stewart and Wheeler.

Against the procedural motion  (18)  -  Councillors Alphonse, Cameron, Cooke, Copland, Cormie, Jackie Dunbar, Flynn, Henrickson, Hutchison, MacGregor, Catriona MacKenzie, McLellan, McRae, Nicoll, Noble, Samarai, Sandy Stuart and Townson.

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

Absent from the division  (2)  -  Councillors Allard and Laing.

The Council resolved:-

to adopt the procedural motion.

In accordance with Standing Order 28.2, Councillors Flynn and Lumsden summed up and the matter was put to the vote.

On a division, there voted:-

For the motion  (22)  -  Lord Provost; Depute Provost; and Councillors Allan, Bell, Boulton, Lesley Dunbar, Duncan, Graham, Grant, Houghton, Hunt, Imrie, John, Lumsden, Macdonald, Avril MacKenzie, Malik, Mason MSP, Reynolds, Sellar, Jennifer Stewart and Wheeler.

For the amendment  (21)  -  Councillors Alphonse, Cameron, Cooke, Copland, Cormie, Delaney, Jackie Dunbar, Flynn, Greig, Henrickson, Hutchison, MacGregor, Catriona MacKenzie, McLellan, McRae, Nicoll, Noble, Samarai, Sandy Stuart, Townson and Yuill.

Absent from the division  (2)  -  Councillors Allard and Laing.

The Council resolved:-

to adopt the motion.