Agenda and minutes

Item 6 –

Cllr D Beagrie - in having direct connections to two of the applicants, so left the meeting;

Cllr A Simpon - transparency statement due to connection with one of the applicants, so stayed and took part;

Cllr A Buchan - transparency statement due to being a member of Phd FC 200, so stayed and took part;

Cllr M James - transparency statement due to political affiliation with applicants, so stayed and took part;

Cllr S Smith - transparency statement due to connection with one of the applicants, so stayed and took part;

Cllr G Hall - transparency statement due to social connection with one of the applicants, so stayed and took part; and

Cllr H Powell - transparency statement due to political affiliation with applicants, so stayed and took part

Consider, and if so desired, adopt the following resolution:-

(1)     to have due regard to the need to:-

(a)          eliminate discrimination, harassment and victimisation;

(b)          advance equality of opportunity between those who share a protected characteristic and persons who do not share it; and

(c)          foster good relations between those who share a protected

characteristic and persons who do not share it.

(2)     where an Integrated Impact Assessment is provided, to consider its contents and take those into account when reaching a decision.

In taking decisions on the undernoted items of business, the Committee agreed, in terms of Section 149 of the Equality Act 2010:-

(1)        To have due regard to the need to:-

(a)   eliminate discrimination, harassment and victimisation;

(b)   advance equality and opportunity between those who share a protected characteristic and persons who do not share it; and

(c)   foster good relations between those who share a protected characteristic and persons who do not share it, and

(2)        to consider, where an Integrated Impact Assessment has been provided, its contents and to take those into consideration when reaching a decision.

There had been circulated and was approved as a correct record the Minute of the Meeting of the Buchan Area Committee of 14^th May 2024.

A report by the Director of Environment and Infrastructure Services had been circulated outlining the available funding and the proposed programmes of works for Landscape Services, which is part of the Environment and Sustainability Service.

The Committee agreed:-

(1)      to approve the proposals for allocating Revenue funding within their area for Landscape Services,

(2)      in relation to Clerkhill Playing Field – Pitch Aeration (page 17) – Officers confirmed that this will no longer be necessary,

(3)      to request that the paths at New Pitsligo Graveyard be tended to as a priority,

(4)      to note that tree planting will be carried out in different locations in conjunction with the Council’s Greenspace Project Officer,

(5)      to highlight their continuing concerns in that there is still no sign of participatory budgeting in relation to allocation of budgets, and

(6)      to welcome sight of the proposals resulting from the Scottish Government Capital Allocation for Renewal of Playparks

A report by the Director of Education and Children’s Services had been circulated to provide an update to Area Committee on how the Education & Children’s Services Directorate is actively contributing to the Council’s overarching strategic priorities outlined within the Aberdeenshire Council Plan 2022-2027 strategic performance framework.

The Committee agreed:-

(1)      to acknowledge the ongoing success and achievements obtained in relation to Foundation Apprenticeships,

(2)      ‘Total usage across Live Life Aberdeenshire (LLA) services’ (page 38) – to note performance increase but to highlight that there is still room for improvement, and to request that target setting be built back into the performance reports,

(3)      ‘Pupils achieving expected CfE Level in English Literacy’ (page 38) – to note their concern in relation to being 11.2% lower than the national rate, but to note the reassurance given by the Director that this is being looked at, and

(4)      to note that as part of the ‘empowered school system’ there will be local conversations in all schools in relation to their aims and that this detail will filter into future reports

The Chair, having submitted a Declaration of Interest, left the Chair.  Councillor Anne Simpson, Vice Chair, then took the role of Chair for this item only.

A report by the Director of Business Services had been circulated advising the Committee on the decision of the UK Government to incorporate Peterhead within the Long-Term Plan for Towns, a core part of the Levelling Up programme.  The report confirmed the role of the Council to establish a Town Board as well being the accountable body for funding and executing the Long-Term Plan.

The Committee agreed:-

(1)      to acknowledge the inclusion of Peterhead into the UK Government Long-Term Plan for Towns, as part of the wider Levelling Up programme,

(2)      to acknowledge the responsibility of the Council as the accountable body for UK Government funding associated with the Long-Term Plan and the role to establish a Town Board, and

(3)      to receive regular briefings outlining progress with the delivery of the Long-Term Plan for Peterhead

Having heard the Area Manager advise that there are 4 potential nominees for the role of Chair to the Town Board, Councillor S Smith moved as a motion, seconded by Councillor G Crowson, that the preferred nominee for Chair is Brian McCombie.

As an amendment, Councillor M James, seconded by Councillor C Simpson, moved that the preferred nominee for Chair is James Buchan, and further, that as the appointed Chair might want to consider the other 3 applicants as being potential Members of the Town Board.

The Members of the Committee voted –

For the motion                   (4)      Councillors Buchan, Crowson, Powell

and Smith

For the amendment           (4)      Councillors A Simpson, James, Hall

and C Simpson

There being an equality of votes, the Chair had the casting vote and agreed that the preferred nominee for Chair is James Buchan, and further, that as the appointed Chair might want to consider the other 3 applicants as being potential Members of the Town Board.

The Committee then heard the Area Manager ask for nominations of two Elected Members and two nominated substitutes to represent Aberdeenshire Council on the Town Board.

The Committee unanimously agreed the nominations of Councillor Matthew James and Councillor Stephen Smith as the two Elected Members to represent Aberdeenshire Council on the Town Board, and Councillor Leeann McWhinnie and Councillor Colin Simpson as nominated substitutes to represent Aberdeenshire Council on the Town Board.

A report by the Director of Business Services had been circulated advising that the Council Plan 2022-27 identifies the development of a Place Strategy as a key strategic outcome.  The Committee was asked to consider and comment on the draft Place Policy and Strategy, and that feedback from all Area Committees will be collated and included when the Place Policy and Strategy are presented to Full Council for approval on 24^th June 2024.

Having considered the Draft Place Policy and Strategy, the Committee agreed:-

(1)      to highlight their concerns for potential overlaps and duplication of work resulting in capacity issues,

(2)      in relation to Appendix 1, Draft Place Plan Development (page 92) – to note that some data sets are not available,

(3)      in looking at page 89, there are a lot of elements identified and perhaps a flow diagram might be useful,

(4)      in again looking at page 89, there is no obvious connection between the Place Strategy and Place Plan,

(5)      that there is a need to make the connections more obvious between the six areas where they overlap at the fringes of the documents, and

(6)      to highlight the need for a Place Plan linking the Council with their community planning partners in an attempt to bring all the partners together as equals

A report by the Director of Business Services had been circulated to provide the Buchan Area Committee with an update on progress in relation to Business Services performance indicators which support the Council Plan Priorities 2022-27.

Having heard from the Director, the Committee agreed:-

(1)      in relation to ‘Percentage of Web Chats which are automated’ (page 118) – to ask if consideration could be given to the current target of 60% being stretched, and

(2)      to highlight the need for more awareness of the ‘My Aberdeenshire App’

A joint report by the Local Senior Officer, Scottish Fire & Rescue Service, and Director of Business Services had been circulated informing the Committee how the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service is performing locally in Buchan against key performance measures and associated targets, as set out in the Aberdeenshire Local Fire and Rescue Plan and Buchan Multi-Member Ward Plan.

Following a discussion, the Committee agreed:-

(1)      to thank local Officer, Mike Cassie, and wish him well in his new role,

(2)      to extend their thanks to the local team for the important role they play in community partnership working, and

(3)      to request that a list of the locally planned events be made available to Members for their information and for sharing via their networks

Having heard from the Area Manager, the Committee agreed:-

(1)      to note the updates provided within the Statement,

(2)      to request that some grass cutting and tidying be undertaken at the Old Terex Site in Peterhead, and

(3)      that the TP&I informal session be prioritised and scheduled either before or immediately after the summer recess