Agenda item

With reference to article 10 of the minute of the previous meeting of 3 February 2021, the Committee had before it a report by the Director of Resources which  outlined the specification for a review of the Masterplan to incorporate appropriate surrounding areas, including the area known as the beach; and identified the initial land area that technical feasibility studies would need to be undertaken to inform what the masterplan could accommodate.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee –

(a)      agree the review zone (Figure 1);

(b)      delegate authority to Instruct the Head of Commercial and Procurement Services to procure and appoint the required consultancy, design or implementation work necessary to complete the technical reviews through Hub North Scotland as covered in paragraph 4.3;

(c)      instruct the Chief Officer – Governance to take any necessary steps to ascertain land ownership within the review zone;

(d)      instruct the Director of Resources to undertake a public survey on the future of the Beach to help formulate the development of the Beach Masterplan; and

(e)      instruct the Director of Resources to report back an update on the output of the technical feasibility studies, public consultation and proposed Beach Masterplan to the City Growth and Resources Committee on the 10th August 2021.

The Convener, seconded by the Vice Convener moved:-

           that the Committee –

(1)    approve recommendations (a), (b), (d) and (e); and

(2)    Instruct the Chief Officer – Governance to take any necessary steps to ascertain land ownership within the review zone and to provide a service update on his findings to the June 2021 Committee.

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

           that the Committee –

(1)    approve the recommendations, subject to amending recommendation (a) to read “Agree the review zone (Figure 1) and in addition to extend it southwards to include Queens Links Leisure Park, together with the grassed area bounded by Wellington Street, York Place and Beach Esplanade, updating section 4.4 of the report to increase the estimated costs to £1.5M to cover the revised study area as identified above;

(2)    Instruct the Chief Officer – Governance to take any necessary steps to ascertain land ownership within the review zone and to provide a service update on his findings to the June 2021 Committee;

(3)    Instruct the Chief Officer - Corporate Landlord supported by Chief Officer - City Growth to progress discussions with the existing owners/occupiers of the properties at Queens Links Leisure Park as to opportunities to improve accessibility to beach front access from existing and future properties; and

(4)    Instruct the Chief Officer - City Growth to consider funding options that may qualify to support and deliver a beach masterplan and to report back to the committee with the result of those discussions in due course.

On a division there voted:- for the motion (5) – the Convener, the Vice Convener and Councillors Boulton, Laing and Wheeler; for the amendment (4) – Councillors Cooke, McLennan, Nicoll and Yuill.

The Committee resolved:-

to adopt the motion.