Agenda item

“That the Committee -

1.    Notes the announcement of the Eurovision Broadcasting Union that the organisation is considering the United Kingdom as the host of Eurovision 2023 should Ukraine be unable to host the competition due to the unacceptable Russian aggression against Ukraine. 

2.    Notes the awarding decision will be made by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) should Ukraine be unable to host the competition. 

3.    Agrees the Event Complex Aberdeen opened in 2019 is the largest capacity venue in Scotland and is well suited to host the event. 

4.    Notes Aberdeen’s success in hosting previous significant cultural events such as the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Awards. 

5.    Notes the significant interest shown by politicians of all political parties in hosting this event in Scotland, agreeing that Aberdeen is without doubt the best place to hold such a European event given Aberdeen remains the Energy Capital of Europe. 

6.    Instructs the Chief Officer - City Growth to engage with all relevant stakeholders including the BBC, UK government, the devolved Scottish Government and others to ensure a bid from Aberdeen is advanced quickly and efficiently should it become clear Ukraine are unable to host the competition. 

7.    Agrees to allocate £30,000 from contingencies to support a bid from Aberdeen and instruct the Chief Executive to write to both the UK and Scottish Government notifying them of Aberdeen’s intention and asking for their support. 

8.    Instructs the Chief Officer - City Growth to bring a report back on progress to the next meeting of this Committee.”

The Committee had before it an urgent notice of motion by Councillor Houghton in the following terms:-

          “That the Committee -

1.    Notes the announcement of the Eurovision Broadcasting Union that the organisation is considering the United Kingdom as the host of Eurovision 2023 should Ukraine be unable to host the competition due to the unacceptable Russian aggression against Ukraine. 

2.    Notes the awarding decision will be made by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) should Ukraine be unable to host the competition. 

3.    Agrees the Event Complex Aberdeen opened in 2019 is the largest capacity venue in Scotland and is well suited to host the event. 

4.    Notes Aberdeen’s success in hosting previous significant cultural events such as the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Awards. 

5.    Notes the significant interest shown by politicians of all political parties in hosting this event in Scotland, agreeing that Aberdeen is without doubt the best place to hold such a European event given Aberdeen remains the Energy Capital of Europe. 

6.    Instructs the Chief Officer - City Growth to engage with all relevant stakeholders including the BBC, UK government, the devolved Scottish Government and others to ensure a bid from Aberdeen is advanced quickly and efficiently should it become clear Ukraine are unable to host the competition. 

7.    Agrees to allocate £30,000 from contingencies to support a bid from Aberdeen and instruct the Chief Executive to write to both the UK and Scottish Government notifying them of Aberdeen’s intention and asking for their support. 

8.    Instructs the Chief Officer - City Growth to bring a report back on progress to the next meeting of this Committee.”

Councillor Hutchison advised that he had a connection in relation to the matter by virtue of his employer Kevin Stewart MSP having called for Aberdeen to host Eurovision, however having applied the objective test he did not consider that he had an interest and would not be withdrawing from the meeting.

Councillor Nicoll advised that he also had a connection by virtue of his wife, Audrey Nicoll MSP, having raised the matter, however having applied the objective test he did not consider that he had an interest and would not be withdrawing from the meeting.

The Convener advised that he also had a connection by virtue of his employer Jackie Dunbar MSP having signed a letter on the matter, however having applied the objective test he did not consider that he had an interest and would not be withdrawing from the meeting.

Councillor Radley advised that she also had a connection by virtue of her employer Jackie Dunbar MSP having signed a letter on the matter, however having applied the objective test, she did not consider that she had an interest and would not be withdrawing from the meeting.

Councillor Farquhar advised that she also had a connection by virtue of her employer Douglas Lumsden MSP having raised the matter previously, however having applied the objective test she did not consider that she had an interest and would not be withdrawing from the meeting.

The Committee resolved:-

to refer the urgent notice of motion to Full Council on 29 June 2022 for consideration.