Tag Archives: Aberdeen City Council

University of Aberdeen offer key sponsorship to SPECTRA

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SPECTRA, Scotland’s Festival of Light, is delighted to announce the University of Aberdeen as key sponsor when it returns to Aberdeen in 2022.

From the Thursday 10 to Sunday 13 February, SPECTRA will once again light up the winter nights in Aberdeen encouraging audiences to get out and experience the city looking its best using light sculptures, architectural projections, neon and film to create new ways of exploring the city. 

The event which is inspired by Scotland’s Year of Stories will feature leading names from the UK and around the world creating a stunning lightscape across the city centre, including Marischal College, Upperkirkgate, Schoolhill, Marischal Square, and Aberdeen Art Gallery as locations for breath-taking installations.

Like Spectra, the University of Aberdeen is committed to supporting the year-round programme of cultural events taking place in Aberdeen, and Spectra is the perfect event suitable for friends and family alike, making the North East of Scotland the ideal destination for locals, visitors and staycationers in 2022.

Marischal College ‘Rainbow Laser Flares’ by Seb Lee-Delisle .

Professor Pete Edwards, Vice-Principal for Regional Engagement and Regional Recovery, said: “The University was established almost 527 years ago with the founding principle of being ‘open to all’. Much has changed through those centuries – and been accelerated in the last two years through the pandemic – but our commitment to deliver positive change locally and regionally has not. 

“Spectra is a celebration of creativity which also prides itself on bringing people together. We are delighted to be working with regional partners to deliver the 2022 festival and look forward to playing an important part in the cultural life of the North-east.”

Cllr Marie Boulton, Aberdeen City Council Culture Spokesperson said: “Aberdeen City Council are delighted that the University of Aberdeen have pledged to support Spectra, Scotland’s Festival of Light. Their sponsorship of this year’s festival shows that there is a bright future for events in Aberdeen, through strong partnerships and exciting productions. All of us across the city are looking forward to Spectra next month and seeing audiences return to a safe and vibrant city centre.”

Spectra is commissioned by Aberdeen City Council who have committed £250,000 for delivery of the festival in 2022. 

The Spectra website will share more information on the installations and how to enjoy them, whether travelling into the city centre with family or travelling from Dundee, Perth or Edinburgh with friends www.spectrafestival.com

‘Dolphin Watch’ Kate Charter at Aberdeen Art Gallery

New boss for NHS Grampian

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Malcolm Wright OBE has been appointed as the interim Chief Executive of NHS Grampian.

Mr Wright, who has 39 years of experience of working in the NHS including a range of senior management posts in both Scotland and England, will take over from Richard Carey in early December 2014.

Richard Carey announced his decision to take early retirement from the board after serving the NHS for 33 years.

Announcing the appointment Health Secretary Alex Neil said:
“I am delighted that Malcolm will be taking on this vital role at the heart of NHS Grampian.

“I would also like to thank Richard Carey for the years of dedicated service he has provided to NHS Scotland and wish him well for the future.

“Malcolm has pursued a distinguished career across the NHS, within Scotland and the UK, and has earned a well-deserved reputation for excellence among clinical leaders and management alike.

“His accomplishments include a proven track record of turning around challenging times for the organisations he has led – such as steering the Western Isles Health Board through difficulties in 2006.

“With such a wealth of experience and commitment I believe that Malcolm will lead NHS Grampian with fresh energy and renewed vision.

“An immediate priority will be responding to and taking forward any recommendations from the review of care being undertaken by Healthcare Improvement Scotland at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary. The Scottish Government will work closely with the board on these issues, just as we have done in the past.

“For example, under this government, NHS Grampian has seen its frontline funding steadily increase. In 2006/07 the board received 9.1 per cent of the total revenue funding for health territorial boards – this has increased to 9.6 per cent in 2015/16.

“The board has been funded above the national average rate for 8 of the last 9 years which means that NHS Grampian now receives over £229 million more in revenue funding than when this government came to office.”

Mr Wright said:

“I am delighted and honoured to be asked to take on the role of Interim Chief Executive at NHS Grampian.

“I am very much looking forward to working with the board, clinical staff and partner organisations to support and develop NHS Grampian.

“Quality of care and achieving best outcomes for patients, as well as supporting all staff will be key priorities for me and for the leadership team in NHS Grampian.

“I would also like to pay tribute to the work of my predecessor Richard Carey. I wish him well for the future.”

Mr Wright has been appointed on an interim basis through secondment from NHS Education for Scotland. The position of new chief executive will be advertised by the end of the year and filled through open competition.

The Scottish Government has protected NHS Grampian’s frontline budget, which has increased by £229.2 million since 2007 and will increase by 4.4 per cent to £812.6 million for 2015-16, both above inflation and the largest increase of any Scottish health board.

The number of staff working in NHS Grampian has also increased 3.6 per cent since 2006.

Commonwealth Water Polo Championships this week

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THOUSANDS SET TO FLOCK TO WORLD CLASS AQUATICS CENTRE FOR
COMMONWEALTH LAUNCH EVENT

Prior to the public opening on 5 May, Aberdeen Sports Village (ASV) is hosting the third Commonwealth Water Polo Championships at the newly completed £22million, world-class Aquatics Centre this week.

The event is sponsored by BP and Waterfly, and supported by Aberdeen Sports Village, Aberdeen City Council, Homecoming Scotland, Commonwealth Games Scotland, Scottish Swimming and British Swimming.

The competition, running from tomorrow until 12 April, marks the inaugural event at the first-class facility, and is predicted to draw more than 7,000 visitors across the eight days.

David Beattie, Chief Executive of ASV said: “We are thrilled the Aquatics Centre is complete and are delighted that we are able to host such a high profile competition as our first event. It will truly showcase our ability to accommodate such a prestigious occasion, and a great chance for the people of the North East to enjoy a Commonwealth Games Federation endorsed event in the heart of the city.”

“ASV has worked closely with all partners during each phase of the building process and securing high calibre competitions such as this goes to highlight the capabilities of the Centre. The Centre will prove to be a fantastic facility for the people of the North East, and we look forward to attracting many more international competitions.”

Forbes Dunlop, CEO of Scottish Swimming, said: “Scottish Swimming, as the governing body for all aquatic sports in Scotland, is looking forward to welcoming eight Commonwealth Nations to this world-class facility in Aberdeen. We are delighted that the event has the full endorsement from the Commonwealth Games Federation and Commonwealth Games Scotland. Commonwealth Games Scotland support also includes investment towards the cost of the event.”

As part of the Homecoming 2014 celebrations the competition will also be streamed live on 11 and 12 April at the Scottish Swimming website and will feature the eight challenging nations. Seven men’s and five women’s teams will compete at the new Aquatics Centre ahead of its official public opening on 5 May 2014.

Mr Beattie continued: “The Aquatics Centre will officially open in a month’s time, which gives us the opportunity to go through the snagging phase, commonplace in every new development. During this period we will be working hard to ensure staff are trained to the highest standard, and carry out further test events to guarantee the Centre is 100% ready for the eager public to enjoy the impressive facilities early next month.”

The Aquatics Centre will be one of only two Olympic standard aquatics facilities in Scotland, making it a real asset to the people of Aberdeen and the North East.

The Championships follow the successful events held in Manchester in 2002 and Perth, Australia in 2006. Scotland, England, Wales, South Africa, Singapore, New Zealand and Malta will be represented in the men’s competition, while the women’s competition will welcome Scotland, Canada, England, Wales and South Africa.

Scottish water polo player Mark Speed, part of the 13 player-strong Scottish Men’s Team competing is looking forward to such a high-profile event to accelerate the development of water polo in Scotland.

Mark said: “With the Commonwealth Games only four months away, the excitement and buzz around these Championships is fantastic. Being the first to experience and compete in such a world class facility as the Aquatics Centre is a fantastic honour. It really is an Olympic standard facility, and is a great addition to the city.”

Ken Fussell, Chair of Scottish Water Polo and Championship Director said: “This is a tremendous boost for the sport in Scotland, showcasing some of the world’s best water polo players. The Aquatics Centre is a fantastic centre of excellence, and will help hone the impressive local talent to reach their true potential.

“All stakeholders have invested significantly in these Championships and we’re delighted with the fantastic interest from the public to be part of such an exciting event. It truly is a milestone in further establishing the sport in the Commonwealth Games programme in the future.”

Remaining tickets can still be reserved here, where the tickets for the finals on 12 March can be purchased for £5/£3. More information about the event can be found on the Scottish Swimming website and the event can also be followed on social media with the hashtag #cwpc2014.

Aberdeen City Council meets 13 June 2012

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The next meeting of Aberdeen City Council will take place on 13 June 2012 at 10.30. You can read the whole agenda here.

Part of what is under discussion are the plans to turn Aberdeen into a City of Culture in 2017 which is estimated to cost just under £500,000 in salaries for the BID team alone.

One other part of the business being discussed by the recently elected council is to nominate members of various committees and boards. The nominations are as below:-

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MSP congratulates Council on living wage move

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Kevin Stewart, SNP MSP for Aberdeen Central, has this week welcomed the City of Aberdeen Council on their introduction of the living wage of £7.20 per hour.

This comes at the end of a week where the Scottish Parliament’s Local Government and Regeneration Committee declared that they broadly support the living wage campaign to be rolled out across councils throughout Scotland.

Kevin Stewart, SNP MSP for Aberdeen Central, said:

“I am delighted that the City Of Aberdeen Council will have the living wage in their budget next week, and that they are looking to apply a provision to uprate on it year-on-year.

“It is estimated that over half a million workers in Scotland are paid earnings below the living wage. Other councils aspiring to implement this progressive step can look to the city as to how it can be achieved.

“The council elections in May present an opportunity for all the political parties to present a positive case on how they plan to improve the services in people’s daily lives. I trust that they will overwhelmingly back the SNP who will continue to work hand-in-hand with the people of Scotland to help move Scotland forward.”

Northlight brightens the way for future music making

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RSNO’s recent North East community project serves as benchmark for success

A community music project involving participants from the North East of Scotland will be used as a benchmark for success by Scotland’s national symphony orchestra.

Over eight months, enthusiastic participants of all ages and abilities collaborated with British composer Cecilia McDowall, writer Alan Spence and musicians from the Royal Scottish National Orchestra (RSNO) in producing a substantial work for chorus and orchestra. The resulting composition, Northlight, took its inspiration from the geography and communities of the North East of Scotland.

This was the first project of its kind to be seen in the UK, where multiple local community groups were mobilised to contribute to the composition and subsequent performance of a major orchestral commission. Groups involved in the project included St Fergus School, St Fergus; Inspire Choir, Banff; Aurora (formerly North Aberdeenshire Community Choir), Huntly; Aberdeen Youth Choir, Aberdeen; The Burns Quoir (including members of the Junior Burns Project); Tullos Primary School, Aberdeen; and staff from TOTAL E&P UK Ltd.

The work was performed by a combined Community Chorus comprising people who contributed to the composition, along with members of the RSNO Chorus and the RSNO at the Music Hall, Aberdeen on Thursday 6 October 2011. Now the project will be used by Scotland’s national orchestra as a successful example of how arts organisations and local communities can come together in a meaningful way to produce long-lasting legacies.

Director of Education and Community Partnerships, Ellen Thomson: “It was a huge privilege for the RSNO to run the Northlight project. We set out to take the inspirational experiences of live music making to the North East and to celebrate this with a full-scale orchestral concert with opportunities for people to take part regardless of their musical experiences. The commitment given to the project by individuals combined with the enthusiasm of all the choirs was a joy to see.  We are looking forward to sharing the success of our work and the challenges we overcame throughout this eight-month project.”

Jayne Carmichael Norrie: “I cannot overestimate how instrumental the Northlight project was in the musical development of the children in my choir.  Their enthusiasm, appreciation and confidence is sky high!  Performing in a concert doesn’t seem to phase them that much anymore, as they have already played with some of the best musicians in the world.

“To think that when we started a majority of the children in my choir had never heard a live orchestra and they came en masse to support their RSNO friends at their recent performance of Sibelius 5 is something that makes me very proud of my choir and very grateful to the RSNO.”

Joss Atkin, Head Teacher of Tullos Primary School: “The Primary children really engaged with the project. It gave them the opportunity to be creative and original. I think they really enjoyed working as a team but also taking guidance from the professionals. The opportunity to work with other groups helped raise the profile of classical music within these communities.”

Ruth MacKenzie, Head Teacher, St Fergus Primary School: “Through Curriculum for Excellence, pupils are entitled to opportunities to achieve the highest levels they can, with support and challenge to allow them to do this. All pupils in the senior class at St. Fergus School were involved in this project from the outset, being supported by highly skilled musicians from the RSNO who listened to their ideas, teased them out and fed them back so pupils could raise their contribution to a higher standard. Their public performance offered them a unique opportunity to perform live with professional musicians, where they were supported by a large turnout of family members.

“Participating in this project was quite inspirational and we’d love to do something similar again. It really was a community project.”

The project was made possible through the generous support of TOTAL E&P UK Limited and in conjunction with Aberdeen City Council and Aberdeenshire Council.

Photo Tom Finnie

New Chief executive takes the helm

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Aberdeen City Council’s new Chief Executive, Valerie Watts, took up her post in the city today.

Mrs Watts joins the City Council from Derry City Council, where she was Chief Executive and Town Clerk.

She has pledged to provide the city with strong corporate leadership and ensure delivery of the best services possible, in line with the City Council’s priorities on pupil attainment, affordable housing, meeting the needs of the most vulnerable people, sustaining the city’s economic future and addressing the challenges of waste management.

She also promised to work hard to muster all of Aberdeen’s wealth of resources and talents to work together for the good of the city.

Mrs Watts said: “I am delighted to be joining Aberdeen City Council at this exciting time in the life of the city.

“This is a period of great challenge for the public sector but also a time of great opportunity.

“Everyone understands that we are facing the tightest squeeze on public spending that almost any of us can remember – but this gives us all the chance to use it as a spur to our imaginations and rise to challenges ahead.

“In the current economic climate, which will be with us for the foreseeable future, we need to be creative in the way we go about our business.

“It is my role as Chief Executive to take responsibility for leading on the priorities which elected members and the people of Aberdeen have set for this organisation – and I intend to bring together all the strengths of this great city to make sure it continues to grow and thrive.

“There are critical projects that need to be delivered in Aberdeen, which people have waited for for a long time.

“Everyone depends on our frontline services, which we must continuously improve to make sure they are of the highest quality possible and meet people’s needs.

“People have high expectations and rightly demand that we maintain our standards where we are already delivering excellence and improve our performance where we need to.

“The citizens of Aberdeen, its many organisations and its businesses all have a huge stake in us delivering on the council’s priorities.

“We need to see pupils attaining to the best of their ability in a 21st century school estate that matches children’s, parents’ and teachers’ aspirations.

“We want the top-quality transport network that a city of this stature deserves and a rejuvenated city centre that everyone can be proud of.

“We require more affordable housing to meet people’s needs, especially our families, and to build up our capacity to deal with the problem of homelessness.

“We need to respond to the changing make-up of our population and provide quality care services to our elderly people, our children and our adults in sensitive and imaginative ways that give them choice and control.

“It is essential that we have cost-effective waste management services that make it easier for people to recycle and which keep costly and polluting landfill to a minimum.

“Under my leadership, this council will maintain its unswerving commitment to provide first-class core services in this city.

“Our dedicated staff will work with the whole range of pubic bodies, voluntary sector organisations, community groups and business and make the most of all the collective skills, assets and resources at our disposal.

“Aberdeen is a city whose vibrant economy has a global reach. I want to make sure that the City Council plays a strong leadership role and does all it can to make the wealth of talent here work for the good of everyone.

“As Chief Executive, I can promise that I will do all that I can to make sure Aberdeen pulls together and operates at full capacity to deliver excellence for the benefit of its own people and for the country as a whole.”

Mrs Watts has more than 25 years’ public sector experience, beginning her career at the Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast, where she oversaw competitive tendering and ancillary support services. From Belfast she moved to become Head of Central Contracts with the former Central Regional Council in Stirling, where she had responsibility for over 800 employees and managed a budget of over £30 million.

Following Scottish local government re-organisation in the mid-1990s, Mrs Watts became Head of Facilities Management, Leisure and Environmental Services with East Dunbartonshire Council. In June 2000 she was promoted to Assistant Chief Executive and in 2003 to Director of Corporate Services, with responsibility for five heads of service and a budget of £240 million, covering finance, ICT, human resources and organisational development, corporate services, policy and public affairs, customer relations, internal audit and the council’s call centre.

Valerie has studied part-time for a BA in Management at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh and has undertaken management training courses at Harvard, MIT University in Boston, and at Berkeley and Stanford Universities in California.

She is married with two children.

City Council draft Business Plan

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Recommendations on Aberdeen City Council’s draft Business Plan for the next five will be considered by the Full Council on 15 December.

Finance and Resources Committee members (the Committee) today agreed the recommendations of the City Council’s ruling Administration on the policy options contained in the draft Five Year Business Plan should be presented to the full council for further decisions.

The City Council has published a colour-coded version of the Priority Based Budgeting: Final Draft Report.

The colour green indicates that the Administration is recommending to the Full Council that the savings be accepted.

The colour amber indicates that the Finance and Resources Committee is recommending that further reports be drawn up with more information about the potential impact of making the saving, or with alternative ways of making the saving.

Policy options coloured in red are the budget savings which the Committee recommended should not be accepted at this time but which may be re-visited before the City Council’s budget-setting day in February and in light of the detailed budget settlement for Aberdeen City Council, which will be announced by the Scottish Government on 8 December.

The only exceptions are – lines ACC_SO18 (page 39 of the report) Council-wide Options – permit Chief Executive to decide on management structure savings; line CG_LDS_ 07b (page 38) Corporate governance Stop/Reduce – Council committees aligned to statutory minimum; review in 2012; line CG_LDS_ 07e (page 38) Corporate Governance Stop/Reduce – 5% reduction in Statutory Responsibility Allowances Enhancement; CS_FS03 (page 38) Corporate Governance Stop/Reduce – reduce Fairer Scotland Fund by £750,000, not £1 million, and hold community summit.

Finance and Resources convener Councillor Kevin Stewart said: “No one enters elected office to make cuts but unfortunately the depth of savings we are required to make in these extremely difficult economic times gives us no choice but to do so.

“We have some extremely difficult decisions to make over the next few weeks and months to make sure we get through the next five-year period.

“Those decisions will affect all services right across the council. It is impossible to protect any area from the savings we will have to make. But what this Administration can promise is that we will set a budget according to the priorities of the council, the citizens and our partners.

“We will make sure that the most vulnerable people are protected, that the economy of this city remains vibrant, that school attainment is improved and that we manage our waste better. We will do our best for Aberdeen in these difficult times.

“We will continue to consult closely with the public and our partners in the public sector, voluntary sector and business communities between now and February. But people have the right to know now the Administration’s thinking on how we should balance the books.”

Today’s recommendations from the Committee were on the policy options contained in the Priority Based Budgeting Final Draft Report, which is forming the basis of consultations with the people of Aberdeen, the city’s business, voluntary and academic sectors, and with other public sector partner organisations.

The report – in which £150 million of potential savings were identified – was the result of more than five months of detailed work by City Council officials to define existing services, establish current costs, and then draw up policy options. The review covered more than 200 services and resulted in some 750 options, which are laid out in four categories –

* Transformation or Strategic options, which change the nature of the service delivery;
* Efficiency options, which do not change the nature of a service but focus on efficiency and effectiveness;
* Efficiency-with-barriers options, which would change the nature of service delivery and require some change to legislation;
* Stop/Reduce options, which would cut the level of service or result in a service no longer being delivered.

The 5 Year Business Plan approach is a fundamentally new way of planning future spending and investment in the city and is based on Aberdeen City Council’s six key priorities –

* provide for the needs of the most vulnerable people;
* help to ensure that all schoolchildren reach their potential;
* manage waste better and increase recycling;
* encourage new affordable housing;
* ensure a sustainable economic future for the city;
* ensure efficient and effective delivery of services by the Council and with its partners.

The City Council is making a major effort to gather the views of as many citizens as possible before finalising the Five Year Business Plan. Around 100 Information Points have been set up across the city to allow people to have their say by filling in questionnaires on spending and services. Online comments are being collected on the City Council’s website at www.aberdeencity.gov.uk, where the questionnaires are also available. Over 1,000 have been returned so far.

More than 300 people have attended public meetings. In excess of 100 of the city’s top stakeholders have also been involved in consultations.