Minutes for Council meeting, Feb 10 2010, 10.30AM official page

(i)                 Tillydrone Community Council - in relation to item 6(a)

(ii)               St George’s Church, Tillydrone - in relation to item 6(a)

For the avoidance of doubt, one supplementary question, limited to clarifying any answer given, may be asked by the original questioner and one further supplementary question may be asked by one other member.

To the Convener of Finance and Resources

(1)               To ask the Convener of Finance and Resources what talks if any has he had with the Board of AECC to ensure that the outstanding loans due by this company are paid back to the Council in full and on time to protect the Council Tax payer of Aberdeen?

(2)               To ask the Convener of Finance and Resources who authorised the contents of an e-mail sent by a senior manager stating “it is not appropriate to canvass elected members in relation to specific budget proposals” which carried his name as the Councillor seeking this redress. Would he agree with me by that using his name and position to promote and encourage employees not to contact elected members is contrary to the Code of Conduct expected of a Councillor and smacks of an elected member who likes the trappings of power but ignores the democratic process which got him elected in the first place?

(3)               To ask the Convener of Finance and Resources if agrees or otherwise that financial planning and budget forecasts by officers for future years is something that is required to happen to ensure sustainability for this Council. Can he provide the Council with a fully costed or at the very least a professional based estimate cost of the resalable value of Marischal College when it is completed and the likely value obtainable by the Council through assignation or by sub letting?

To the Convener of Education, Culture and Sport

(4)               To ask the Convener of Education, Culture and Sport if he agrees or otherwise that the SNP promised the people of Aberdeen that class sizes for P1-P3 would be reduced within the lifetime of the current Scottish Parliament. Now that the First Minister has failed to keep another manifesto promise will he join me in condemning the First Minister and the Edinburgh Government for failing Aberdeen’s children?

“That this Council consults with the residents of former sheltered housing complexes with a view to reviewing its policy to return them to sheltered housing and not housing for varying need.”

“That this Council works with the youths of Middlefield Community Flat to develop proposals to floodlight the football pitch at Manor Avenue.”

“This Council welcomes the Government’s move to honour and celebrate The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012 with a public holiday and weekend event and calls on this Council to follow suit with a celebration in Aberdeen in recognition of The Queen’s service to the people of the United Kingdom and Commonwealth and her 60 year leadership role within the international community of the free world.”

“That this Council notes with concern the decision by First Bus to withdraw its number 5 service between Dubford and Aberdeen Royal Infirmary and its number 14 service between Kingswells and Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, laments the absence of any public consultation with the communities affected, and calls for this decision to be withdrawn and reconsidered.”

“That this Council welcomes the publication of the Alcohol (Scotland) Bill, and in particular the proposals for minimum pricing.  Council notes the staggering cost of alcohol abuse to Scottish society is estimated to be around £3.56 billion, which would make the pro-rata cost for Aberdeen £146.7 million.  Council therefore calls on all parties to back the proposals for minimum pricing as part of an overall strategy to tackle Scotland’s shameful alcohol abuse record.”

“That the Full Council remits to the Licensing Committee a request to review the current guidelines in respect of the 4am terminal hour applied to late night catering license holders on weekends in the city centre.”

“Prior to confirmation of any additional financial contribution, over and above the 9.5% of the current estimated £395m for the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route is agreed, that the matter be referred back to Full Council for debate with an officer’s report outlining where the additional funding will come from and what the implications will be for the revenue budget and the potential knock on effect on all services.”