Agenda item

The Council had before it a report by the Director of Commissioning which sought approval for revised governance proposals for city based climate change work, as set out in the Net Zero Aberdeen Routemap and Aberdeen Adapts: Climate Adaptation Framework.

The report recommended:-

that the Council -

(a)           approve the climate change (place) governance proposals and refreshed Terms of Reference (Appendix A), updating the Leadership Board to a Net Zero and Adaptation Board and setting out the pilot process to expand the Delivery Unit to collaborative Delivery Hubs;

(b)           appoint an elected member as Chair of the Net Zero and Adaptation Board for a period of 12 months in the first instance;

(c)           instruct the Chief Officer - Strategic Place Planning, following consultation with the appointed Chair of the Net Zero and Adaptation Board, to invite additional external members to the Board to reflect the range of net zero and adaptation themes for Aberdeen;

(d)           instruct the Chief Officer - Strategic Place Planning to engage with other north east local authorities on place-based climate activity, to share knowledge; and enable dialogue on challenges and opportunities across existing and emerging climate collaborations and partnerships;

(e)           note the proposed approach to developing place-based net zero and adaptation work programmes for Aberdeen; and

(f)             note the continued Council support for place-based net zero and adaptation work in the city through the Core-Co-ordination Group; and the development and delivery of Council and Council partnership projects.

Councillor Yuill moved, seconded by Councillor Radley:-

          That the Council -

(1)       approve the recommendations contained within the report and the appointment of Councillor Radley as Chair of the Net Zero and Adaptation Board for a period of 12 months in the first instance; and

(2)       agree that any future reports in relation to the net zero and adaptation work programmes or the work of the Net Zero and Adaptation Board which may be required would be reported to the Net Zero, Environment and Transport Committee in line with its remit to monitor the delivery of all services and functions relating to net zero and the environment; and to ensure that the Council had robust arrangements for the delivery of the Council’s environmental targets.

Councillor Crockett moved as an amendment, seconded by Councillor Grant:-

          That the Council -

(1)       approve the recommendations contained within the report; and

(2)       follow other local authorities, national and international organisations in recognising the climate emergency while stressing that this Council’s approach would continue to be, as it has been, firmly based on strong practical measures rather than vacuous sound bites.

On a division, there voted:-

For the motion  (24)  -  Lord Provost; Depute Provost; and Councillors Al-Samarai, Allard, Alphonse, Bouse, Hazel Cameron, Clark, Cooke, Copland, Cormie, Davidson, Fairfull, Greig, Henrickson, Hutchison, MacGregor, McLellan, McRae, Mennie, Nicoll, Radley, van Sweeden and Yuill.

For the amendment  (19)  -  Councillors Ali, Blake, Bonsell, Boulton, Brooks, Crockett, Farquhar, Graham, Grant, Houghton, Kusznir, Macdonald, McLeod, Malik, Massey, Mrs Stewart, Thomson, Tissera and Watson.

The Council resolved:-

to adopt the motion.