Agenda item

The Committee had before it a report by the Director of Resources which presented the international trade and inward investment priorities for the year ahead.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee -

(a)       approve the international trade and inward investment priorities for 2018-19;

(b)       delegate authority to the Chief Officer - City Growth (in consultation with the Co-Leaders and Lord Provost) to authorise only necessary and appropriate travel to markets approved by Council/Committee as international trade and inward investment priorities for 2018 – 2019 as opportunities arise, provided the cost of such travel is reasonable and does not exceed the budget envelope set out in the report;

(c)       instruct the Chief Officer – Customer Experience to update the Travel Policy in line with the approved Scheme of Governance;

(d)       instruct the Chief Officer - City Growth to submit an annual service update to the City Growth and Resources Committee on international travel outlining the economic benefits achieved;

(e)       approve the submission of the bid for Aberdeen to host the World Energy Cities Partnership Annual General Meeting in 2019; and

(f)        note progress with the Invest Aberdeen initiative and current priorities.

The Convener, seconded by the Vice Convener moved:-

            that the Committee approve the recommendations contained within the report, subject to (i) removing reference to the Lord Provost at recommendation (b) above; and (ii) to amend recommendation (e) above to read “approve the submission of a bid for Aberdeen to host the World Energy Cities Partnership Annual General Meeting in 2019 up to a cost to the Council of £60,000 and that an appraisal of the submission is provided to the next meeting of the Committee in June 2018”.

Councillor Nicoll, seconded by Councillor Dunbar moved as an amendment:-

that the Committee –

(1)       approve the recommendations contained within the report at (a), (c) and (f) above;

(2)       instruct the Chief Officer – City Growth to provide a report detailing a travel plan for the year 2018/19 and take appropriate measures to have a travel plan in place for future years;

(3)       instruct the Chief Officer – City Growth to submit an annual report to the City Growth and Resources Committee, on international travel detailing the tangible economic benefits achieved; and

(4)       note the proposal to submit a bid to host the Annual General Meeting of the World Energy Cities Partnership in 2019.  Instructs the Chief Officer – City Growth to submit a report on the details of the proposal with full costings ahead of the submission deadline for applications on 1 June 2018.

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

            that the Committee –

(1)       approve the recommendations contained within the report, subject to (i) removing reference to the Lord Provost at recommendation (b) above; and (ii) to amend recommendation (e) above to read “approve the submission of a bid for Aberdeen to host the World Energy Cities Partnership Annual General Meeting in 2019 up to a cost to the Council of £60,000 and that an appraisal of the submission is provided to the next meeting of the Committee in June 2018”;

(2)       instruct the Chief Officer – City Growth to provide a report detailing a travel plan for the year 2018/19 and take appropriate measures to have a travel plan in place for future years; and

(3)       instruct the Chief Officer – City Growth to submit an annual report to the City Growth and Resources Committee, on international travel detailing the tangible economic benefits achieved.

In terms of Standing Order 28.15, where there was more than one amendment to the motion, a vote would be taken between the two amendments.

On a division, there voted:- for Councillor Nicoll’s amendment (3) – Councillors Dunbar, Flynn and Nicoll; for Councillor Yuill’s amendment (3) – the Convener, the Vice Convener and Councillor Yuill.

There being an equality of votes, in terms of Standing Order 31.6, the Convener exercised his casting vote for Councillor Yuill’s amendment.

On a division, there voted:- for the motion (5) – the Convener, the Vice Convener and Councillors Boulton, Donnelly and Laing; for Councillor Yuill’s amendment (1) – Councillor Yuill.

The Committee resolved:-

to adopt the motion.