ABERDEEN CITY COUNCIL
Town House,
ABERDEEN, 17th October, 2006
COUNCIL MEETING
The Members of ABERDEEN CITY COUNCIL are requested to meet here in the Town House on WEDNESDAY, 25th OCTOBER, 2006 at 2.00pm.
HAZEL SPALDING
HEAD OF DEMOCRATIC SERVICES
B U S I N E S S
1. Admission of Burgesses
MINUTES OF COUNCIL
2. (a) Minute of Meeting of Aberdeen City Council of 1st July, 2006 (circulated separately)
(b) Minute of Meeting of Aberdeen City Council of 16th August, 2006 (circulated separately)
MINUTES OF STANDING COMMITTEES
3. Pamphlet of Minutes (circulated separately) - for information
OTHER MINUTES
* 4. (a) Minute of Meeting of The Aberdeen City Alliance of 25th May, 2006
REFERENCES TO COUNCIL
QUESTIONS
6. (a) Councillor Wisely
“Private Sector Housing Grant (P.S.H.G.) – Minor Disabled Adaptations.
At what level has this grant been set for the last five years? How much of it has been spent in each of these years, and on how many cases?”
(b) Councillor Graham
(i) "Why was the Asset Management Review supplied as supporting evidence to our SHQS and Standard Delivery Plan not discussed by or approved by the Community Services Committee prior to its inclusion in the SHQS Standard Delivery Plan?"
(ii) "When will this Council be given the opportunity to discuss the findings of the Strategic Asset Management Review and thoroughly challenge the results of the report at a local level?"
(c) Councillor Graham
"Who approved the second annual Local Housing Strategy Update report prior to it going to Communities Scotland in July 2006?"
1. How many other strategies related to housing have the Council submitted to Communities Scotland or the Scottish Executive?
2. When and by whom have the strategies been approved?
3. When and by whom are these strategies reviewed prior to resubmission to Communities Scotland or the Scottish Executive?
(d) Councillor Graham
"What is the current void rate in each Sheltered Housing Complex?"
(e) Councillor Ironside
"How long is the Bon Accord Baths expected to remain closed"?; What is delaying the works?; Will it ever be reopened?
(f) Councillor Ironside
"What is the status of the TGWU aberdeenfutures document?; When and where is this likely to be discussed by the Council?
(g) Councillor Ironside
"Is this Council operating a waiting list for free personal care?; How much are we spending on its implementation?; are there any delays in implementing this care?"
(h) Councillor Ironside
"Is it the case that Aberdeen City Council is no longer allowing petitions and standard letters of objection to be accepted in road traffic issues (e.g. laying of double yellow lines)?
(i) Councillor Milne
"Will officers be reporting in confidence to the next meeting of Kingswood Court on the matters I have raised in relation to Kingswood Court including those matters which remain outstanding and on any further developments?
QUESTIONS (cont.)
6. (j) Councillor Milne
"Which items of the Liberal Democrat/Conservative Administration’s Programme was extant policy of the Council prior to the publication and approval of the Programme?"
(k) Councillor Milne
"Have all the undertakings given to residents and relatives of Park House been met?"
(l) Councillor Clyne
(i) “Can I be told, how many drivers have been financially penalised during the last twelve months for queuing on the box at the junction of Union Street and Broad Street?”
(ii) Can I be given the same information for each of the restricted vehicle boxes on junctions on the rest of Union Street?”
(iii) How many drivers of commercial vehicles have been financially penalised for delivery and collection during restricted waiting periods?”
(iv) If there is difficulty in carrying out the traffic management policy during the restricted waiting hours, will the Council ask Firstbus to restrict the use of “bendy buses” during the period, as the driver has to jack-knife into a space beside a delivery vehicle?”
(m) Councillor Clyne
“If a Travellers caravan has returned to the same place will the Council consider the use of ASBO’s as a means of controlling the situation and repeated waste of Council Tax spending?”
(n) Councillor Sandra Macdonald
“How many building companies are employed by Aberdeen City Council at the present time and how does this compare with the situation twelve months ago?”
GENERAL BUSINESS
7. (a) Chief Executive Progress Report
Would Members please note that this report has been circulated separately.
(b) City Wide Regeneration Overview and Next Steps – Report by Community Planning and Regeneration (to follow)
(c) Linked Regeneration Initiatives for Torry – Delivering the Local Masterplans and Wider Development Opportunities – Report by Corporate Director for Neighbourhood Services (South Area) (to follow)
GENERAL BUSINESS (cont.)
7. (f) Marischal College Redevelopment - Programme Structure, Roles and Responsibilities – Report by Corporate Director for Continuous Improvements (to follow)
(g) Marischal College Redevelopment - Programme Director Recruitment Process – Report by Corporate Director for Continuous Improvements (to follow)
(h) “Aberdeen - An Accessible and Inclusive City” - A Disability Equality Scheme for 2006-2009 - Report by Head of Community Planning and Regeneration (to follow)
(i) Citizen's Advice Bureau Management Committee - Replacement of Member
* (j) Review of Standing Orders - Report by Head of Democratic Services
(k) Polling Places Review - Report by Senior Depute Returning Officer (to follow)
* (l) Performance Achievements Across Voids Management - Report by the Chief Executive
(m) Craft Workers Agreement - Report by Corporate Director of Neighbourhood Services (Central Area) (to follow)
MOTIONS
8. (a) Councillor Milne
“That the appropriate Committee(s) welcome(s) the decision of the Office of the Scottish Charities Regulator (OSCR) to grant the Spring Group, charitable status. Further that the appropriate Committee(s) give(s) consideration to granting a lease of Eric Hendrie Park to the Spring Group, to allow that organisation to obtain grant aid to finance a continuing programme of upgrading, regeneration and renewal of the Park through external funding sources on the understanding that Aberdeen City Council will continue to meet fully all maintenance programmes’ costs.”
(b) Councillor Milne
“That the appropriate Committee(s) give(s) urgent consideration to either the removal or to the restoration and use for a compatible purpose of the former janitor’s house in the grounds of Kingswood Court.”
(c) Councillor Milne
“That Aberdeen City Council recognise the achievements of Jonathan Rowson in winning the British Chess Championships three times in a row in a manner similar to that chosen to mark Paul Lawrie’s success in winning the Open Golf tournament.”
MOTIONS (cont.)
8. (d) Councillor Graham
"That it be referred to the appropriate Committee that this Council investigates the feasibility of building new Council housing."
(e) Councillor Ironside
“This Council investigate the possibility of introducing legislation to penalise those who park indiscriminately across pavement dips placed in pavements to assist wheelchair and other disabled users cross the roads.
(f) Councillor Ironside
“That this Council in conjunction with the Grampian Police, review its letter which appears to threaten with a fine disabled blue badge holders who park on yellow lines on certain named street.”
(g) Councillors Leslie and Kiddie
“That this council notes the failure of the Justice Minister to announce any substantive decision on the future of prisons in north-east Scotland - even though this Council’s consultative response, and that of Aberdeen Prison Visiting Committee, was submitted last November - and requests the Minister to issue an assurance that this decision is not being delayed in the run-up to next year’s Holyrood election and that, in the light of the distinctive overcrowding problems at Aberdeen Prison, and the unacceptable impact of this in various areas (e.g. unconvicted and convicted prisoners sharing accommodation, adult and juvenile prisoners sharing accommodation, etc) the need for an improved community prison in Aberdeen be affirmed yet again, along with this council’s sympathetic view towards the separate case for Peterhead Prison.
REPORTS NOT FOR PUBLICATION
GENERAL BUSINESS
* 9. (a) 3Rs Project : Evaluation of Bids – Report by Head of Resources Development and Delivery
Would members please note that Appendix C referred to in the above report will be tabled at the meeting.
(b) Sale of Victoria Road Playing Field and Replacement Facility – Report by Head of Resources Development and Delivery (to follow)
* (c) Vacation of Office – Report by Head of Democratic Services
* circulated herewith
Should you require any further information about this agenda, please contact Martin Allan (Ext. 3057) or Christine Gunn (Ext. 2869).
