Agenda item

Please note that a promotional video will be shown prior to consideration of this item.

The Convener advised that due to the pre-election period for the Kincorth/Nigg/Cove By-Election, the promotional video which was due to be shown prior to consideration of this item, will now be shown at the Council meeting in December 2020.

With reference to article 11 of the minute of meeting of the Urgent Business Committee on 30 June 2020, the Committee had before it a report by the Chief Officer – City Growth which provided an update on the progress towards delivery of the Socio-Economic Rescue Plan 2020/21.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee –

(a)      note that the Socio-Economic Rescue Plan is in implementation phase and the updates on progress provided via the progress tracker (Appendix 1);

(b)      note the additional three interventions added to the Plan to support Actions 1.5, 2.4 and 2.5 (Business Theme) and Action 3.1 (Place Theme) to support the tourism, leisure and hospitality sector which will be met from the existing approved budget; and

(c)      note the proposed closing date for the Hospitality Business Support Fund.

The Convener, seconded by Councillor Malik moved the following motion:-

           that the Committee –

(1)    approve the recommendations;

(2)    note the reported drastic drop in employment vacancies available in Aberdeen;

(3)    regret the Scottish Government’s obsession with independence as opposed to helping Scotland with an economic exit strategy from Covid; and

(4)    instruct the Chief - Officer City Growth to engage with business leaders within the city to set up a task force from the Business Resilience Group set up in the immediate response to Covid-19 led by Aberdeen City Council as part of the Social Economic Rescue work, to work with both the UK Government and Scottish Government to ensure Aberdeen is the vanguard that leads Scotland out of its economic challenges.

Councillor McRae, seconded by Councillor Cameron moved as an amendment:-

           that the Committee –

(1)    approve the recommendations;

(2)    note the reported drastic drop in employment vacancies available in Aberdeen; and

(3)    instruct the Chief - Officer City Growth to engage with business leaders within the city to set up a task force from the Business Resilience Group set up in the immediate response to Covid-19 led by Aberdeen City Council as part of the Social Economic Rescue work, to work with both the UK Government and Scottish Government to ensure Aberdeen is the vanguard that leads Scotland out of its economic challenges.

Councillor Yuill, moved a further amendment:-

that the Committee –

(1)    approve the recommendations;

(2)    note the reported drastic drop in employment vacancies available in Aberdeen;

(3)    regret the Scottish Government’s obsession with independence and the UK Government’s obsession with Brexit as opposed to helping Scotland with an economic exit strategy from Covid; and

(4)    instruct the Chief - Officer City Growth to engage with business leaders within the city to set up a task force from the Business Resilience Group set up in the immediate response to Covid-19 led by Aberdeen City Council as part of the Social Economic Rescue work, to work with both the UK Government and Scottish Government to ensure Aberdeen is the vanguard that leads Scotland out of its economic challenges.

Councillor Yuill’s amendment was not seconded, therefore in terms of Standing Order 29.12, the amendment fell.

On a division, there voted:- for the motion (6) – the Convener and Councillors Boulton, Houghton, Malik, Wheeler and Yuill; for the amendment (3) – Councillors Cameron, McLellan and McRae.

The Committee resolved:-

to adopt the motion.