Agenda item

The Council had before it a report by the Chief Officer - City Growth which provided an update on discussions with SweetSpot, the promoters of the international cycling professional race, the Tour of Britain; and sought approval for the city to host the Final Stage of the Tour of Britain in 2020 and the Grand Depart of the Tour of Britain in 2021.

The report recommended:-

that the Council -

(a)          instruct the Head of Commercial and Procurement Services, following consultation with the Chief Officer - Finance and the Chief Officer - City Growth, to enter into a contract to host the Final Stage of the Tour of Britain Event in 2020 and the Grand Depart of the Tour of Britain in 2021, subject to similar agreement being made by Aberdeenshire Council, and funding being secured by SweetSpot from EventScotland;

(b)          agree to underwrite the cost of each event to a maximum of £100,000 per annum for two years (2020 and 2021), subject to same agreement being made by Aberdeenshire Council and funding being secured by SweetSpot from EventScotland;

(c)          approve an additional £35,000 to cover the additional services that would be provided by the host location as detailed within the schedule VI of the contract as provided at Appendix 1 to the report;

(d)          instruct the Chief Officer - City Growth to work with local clubs, stakeholders and schools to deliver supplementary cycling activities that capitalise on the events for enthusiasts, local businesses and children; and

(e)          instruct the Chief Officer - City Growth to report back via a service update to the Council’s City Growth and Resources Committee on progress to secure the event, sponsorship and the details of the events.

Councillor Laing moved, seconded by Councillor Boulton:-

            That the Council approve the recommendations contained within the report with the addition that the service update to the City Growth and Resources Committee in recommendation (e) include an update on progress with the work contained within recommendation (d).

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

            That the Council -

(1)      instruct the Head of Commercial and Procurement Services, following consultation with the Chief Officer - Finance and the Chief Officer - City Growth, to enter into a contract to host the Final Stage of the Tour of Britain Event in 2020 and the Grand Depart of the Tour of Britain in 2021, subject to similar agreement being made by Aberdeenshire Council, and funding being secured by SweetSpot from EventScotland;

(2)      agree to underwrite the cost of each event to a maximum of £100,000 per annum for two years (2020 and 2021), subject to same agreement being made by Aberdeenshire Council and funding being secured by SweetSpot from EventScotland;

(3)      approve an additional £35,000 to cover the additional services that would be provided by the host location as detailed within the schedule VI of the contract as provided at Appendix 1 to the report;

(4)      instruct the Chief Officer - City Growth to work with local clubs, stakeholders and schools to deliver supplementary cycling activities that capitalise on the events for enthusiasts, local businesses and children;

(5)      instruct the Chief Officer - City Growth to report back to the Council’s City Growth and Resources Committee on progress to secure the event, sponsorship and the details of the events;

(6)      note that in 2019/20 the Council budgets to spend £0.254million on cycling in Aberdeen and that this represents 0.6% of the Council’s budgeted revenue and capital transportation spending of £45.7million;

(7)      recognise that the Tour of Britain twice visiting Aberdeen presents an opportunity to both promote cycling and create a lasting legacy for cycling in Aberdeen; and

(8)      agree:-

(a)      that in both 2020/21 and 2021/22 this Council will invest at least 2.5% of its transportation budgets in improving cycling infrastructure and supporting cycling in Aberdeen; and

(b)      to instruct officers to discuss with the Aberdeen Cycle Forum, other partners and stakeholders how this additional investment in cycling in Aberdeen could best be utilised and report back to the Council on this.

On a division, there voted:-

For the motion  (21)  -  Lord Provost; Depute Provost; and Councillors Allan, Bell, Boulton, Donnelly, Lesley Dunbar, Duncan, Graham, Grant, Houghton, Imrie, John, Laing, Lumsden, Avril MacKenzie, Malik, Mason MSP, Reynolds, Sellar and Wheeler.

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

Absent from the division  (1)  -  Councillor Macdonald.

There being a tied vote, in terms of Standing Order 31.6, the Lord Provost exercised his casting vote for the motion.

The Council resolved:-

to adopt the motion.