Agenda item

With reference to Article 5 of the minute of meeting of the Communities, Housing and Public Protection Committee of 16 May 2023, the Council had before it a notice of motion by Councillor Tissera in the terms below, which had been referred to it by five members of the Committee in accordance with Standing Order 34.1.

          That the Council:-

(1)       notes the decision taken by the Administration to deny the public a voice at the last Council meeting;

(2)       notes the Administration have agreed to shut 6 well-loved libraries in our city, 2 of which are in the ward of Councillor Hazel Cameron;

(3)       notes that libraries are community facilities with many uses, including helping teach children to read and notes Aberdeen City Council’s active support for libraries on their website specifically saying children are never too young to join the library;

(4)       notes the words used by Councillor Hazel Cameron when defending library closures “that buildings will not teach your children to read” and strongly disagrees with this position; and

(5)       affirms the benefits of libraries in helping children learn to read.

The Communities, Housing and Public Protection Committee resolved to take no action.

Councillor Tissera moved, seconded by Councillor Bonsell:-

          That the Council approve the notice of motion.

Councillor Radley moved as an amendment, seconded by Councillor Greig:-

          That the Council take no action.

Councillor Boulton moved as a further amendment, seconded by Councillor Massey:-

(1)   agrees that the closure of the six libraries will have a detrimental impact on all demographics. Public libraries are essential in providing access to books, improving literacy, tackling social isolation and supporting mental health and wellbeing, as evidenced by the Scottish Government;

(2)   libraries play a key role in supporting the current digital strategies in Scotland by providing free access for people unable to get online at home, delivering substantial democratic, social and economic benefits to citizens and communities, as well as helping people to search and apply for jobs and welfare; and

(3)   instructs the Chief Officer - Early Intervention and Community Empowerment to include the closed libraries as part of the overall review.

There being a motion and two amendments, the Council first divided between the motion and the amendment proposing no action, in terms of Standing Order 29.20. If the amendment proposing no action carried, no further vote would take place. If the amendment proposing no action did not carry, a second vote would take place between the motion and the second amendment.

On a division, there voted:-

For the motion  (13)  -  Councillors Ali, Blake, Bonsell, Crockett, Graham, Grant, Lawrence, Macdonald, Malik, Massey, Thomson, Tissera and Watson.

For the amendment by Councillor Radley  (23)  -  Lord Provost; Depute Provost; and Councillors Al-Samarai, Allard, Bouse, Hazel Cameron, Clark, Cooke, Copland, Cormie, Davidson, Fairfull, Greig, Henrickson, Hutchison, MacGregor, McLellan, McRae, Mennie, Nicoll, Radley, van Sweeden and Yuill.

Decline to vote  (6)  -  Councillors Boulton, Brooks, Cross, Farquhar, Houghton and McLeod.

The Council resolved:-

to adopt the amendment by Councillor Radley.