Minutes for Council meeting, Dec 15 2010, 10.30AM official page

(ii)               Hilari Hastings, Additional Support Needs Forum - in relation to item 7(g)

(iii)             Bon Accord Indoor Bowling Club - in relation to item 10(f)

• Councillor McCaig proposed as Convener of Education, Culture and Sport Committee following the resignation of Councillor May

 

• Councillor John West proposed as Vice Convener of Enterprise, Planning and Infrastructure Committee, and Vice Convener of Development Management Sub Committee, in place of Councillor McCaig

 

• Councillor Noble proposed as Vice Convener of Corporate Policy and Performance Committee in place of Councillor John West

(i)                 Decision of Audit and Risk Committee of 23^rd November 2010

(ii)               Report to those charged with Governance on the Audit of Aberdeen City Council 2009/10 - Report by Henderson Loggie

(iii)             Report to Members and the Controller of Audit 2009/10 - Report by Henderson Loggie

(iv)              Audited Annual Accounts 2009/10 (circulated under separate cover)

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 Leader of the Council

 

How can you justify the actions of yourself and other Administration Councillors in intervening in the selection process for Council internal and external positions specifically designated for Opposition Councillors? Do you not accept that these appointments should be made by Opposition votes alone or by drawing lots in the event of a tied vote?

 

Do you not agree that the Administration intervention is a serious breach of democracy and on a personal level is misuse of authority and power?

 

 

Councillor Farquharson has requested that the above questions be placed on the agenda, in terms of Standing Order 20(2)(i), as the Leader of the Council has made no reference in his response to his reason for voting in the case of the position of Vice Convener of the Audit and Risk Committee at Council on 18^th August 2010. Councillor Farquharson has stated that he would like the Leader of the Council to address this issue by way of a supplementary question in terms of Standing Order 20(5).

To the Chief Executive

 

(1)               When did Oakbank School receive a loan from Aberdeen City Council?

 

(2)               How much was the loan?

 

(3)               How long was the repayment period over?

 

 

Councillor Leslie has requested that the above questions be placed on the agenda, in terms of Standing Order 20(2)(i), as he requires a more detailed response and would like the opportunity to ask a supplementary question in terms of Standing Order 20(5).

(1)               To ask the Chief Executive what steps she has taken to protect the Council Tax payers and citizens of Aberdeen as 100% stock holder in Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre (AECC) following the Council decision back in February 2010 and reinforced in August 2010 that Council only completes the necessary support documentation required to convert the existing £2million Loan Facility into preference shares, on appropriate terms, and extend the repayment date of the £7.5million Loan Facility to 17^th May 2017, given that it was subject to AECC replacing three of their current elected member Board members with three new non-elected member Board members to be appointed following external advertisement and appointing a non-elected member chairperson, as agreed by Council in February 2010.

 

Can the Chief Executive confirm what support, if any, has been given to the AECC between the decision taken in February 2010 and today and can the Chief Executive confirm that under no circumstances, will this Council provide support to the AECC until its current Chairperson demits office as agreed at Council in February 2010 and reinforced in August 2010 and appoints 3 independent Board members?

 

(2)               To ask the Chief Executive when she was interviewed for the article in the Holyrood magazine of 1^st November 2010, was it before or after the Education, Culture and Sport meeting of 28^th October?

 

(3)               To ask the Chief Executive to confirm how many meetings the Chief Executive or her officials have had with Sir Ian Wood or his representatives and the anonymous donator or his/her representatives since the last Council meeting in order to finalise the £50million and £5million gift donation with regard to the Union Terrace Gardens project and to further ask the Chief Executive to confirm when the legal documents confirming the £50million and the £5million donation will be ready for signature by both the donators and the City Council?

 

(4)               To ask the Convener of Housing and Environment what plans if any the Council has to upgrade the bathrooms, replace the windows and cut down and maintain the trees at “Hamewith” Sheltered Housing complex in the Bridge of Don?

 

 

Councillor Young has requested that the above questions be placed on the agenda in terms of Standing Order 20(2)(i).

 

Councillor Young has stated that the first question has not been answered to his satisfaction given that the decision to remove Councillor Fletcher as Chairperson of the AECC Board, and appoint 3 new Board members, was initially taken in February long before the decision was taken not to support the hotel project.

 

In regard to the remaining questions, Councillor Young has stated that he requires a more detailed response as parts of the questions have not been answered to his satisfaction.

 

(1)               To ask the Chief Executive what is the Council’s policy/protocol regarding Councillors attending tours of the Town House when a school from their electoral ward area is visiting?

 

(2)               To ask the Chief Executive why when Kingsford Primary School visited for two tours of the Town House on 29^th September, the first tour was hosted by one local member who is part of the Administration with the second hosted by the other local Councillor who is also a member of the Administration, but as the third local Councillor and member of the Opposition, and previous Council Leader, I was not invited?

 

(3)               To ask the Convener of Enterprise, Planning and Infrastructure how much in monetary terms has been spent on consultants and other work in the Business Improvement District (BID) to date?

 

(4)               To ask the Convener of Enterprise, Planning and Infrastructure what progress has been made on the BID so far?

 

 

Councillor Ironside has requested that the above questions be placed on the agenda, in terms of Standing Order 20(2)(i), as they have not been answered to his satisfaction.

“This Council congratulates Prince William and Kate Middleton on their Royal engagement and asks the Council to celebrate this joyous event in an appropriate fashion.”

“Aberdeen Conservatives Group on Aberdeen City Council congratulate Prince William and Kate Middleton on their engagement and wish them all the happiness for the future.”

“That it be remitted to the Enterprise, Planning and Infrastructure Committee to investigate putting in place traffic calming measures on a blind bend on Jesmond Avenue, Bridge of Don.”

“That this Council investigates the need for a pedestrian crossing to be situated at Scotstown Road directly across from Scotstown School to enable children of all ages and other member of the Bridge of Don community to safely cross what is now becoming an extremely busy road.”

To the Chief Executive

 

(1)               How much is there still owed to the Council by Oakbank School in relation to the loan?

 

(2)               When was the last payment made to the Council by Oakbank?

 

 

Councillor Leslie has requested that the above questions be placed on the agenda, in terms of Standing Order 20(2)(i), as he requires a more detailed response and would like the opportunity to ask a supplementary question in terms of Standing Order 20(5).

 

Addendum to the original report