RIVAL parties joined forces yesterday over the future of Aberdeen city centre – for the first time since last May’s council elections.
But the 11th-hour consensus – which comes after months of bitter infighting – will not be enough to prevent a £50million pledge from Sir Ian Wood slipping off the table.
The city’s Labour-led coalition and its SNP opponents set aside their differences by agreeing to work together to deliver “transformational” change for the city.
The full council meeting was in stark contrast to recent clashes involving angry recriminations between political groups.
Last night’s deal includes instructions for local authority officials to continue talks with all “potential external funders” while new plans, which have not been finalised, are worked on.
But the Wood Family Trust (WFT) reiterated its position that the offer – which was extended on two previous occasions – would be withdrawn by the end of the year and would likely be channelled towards aid projects in Africa.
Council leader Barney Crockett acknowledged that the opportunity to accept the contribution from Sir Ian, first made five years ago, had passed the city by.
But he remained hopeful that other sources of funding could be explored, including a potential deal with Network Rail and possible private investment, as well as contributions from the Scottish and UK governments.
Mr Crockett described the agreement as a “great achievement” and said his SNP counterpart, Callum McCaig, was to be congratulated following years of divisive debate over the city centre, largely centred on the contentious City Garden Project to revamp Union Terrace Gardens.
Mr McCaig said it was time to draw a line under previous disagreements.
He said: “We are where we are – the time has come to stop fighting the old fight and move on with what we require, which is some sort of city centre regeneration.”
Councillors voted to underwrite the £750,000 cost of a masterplan for the city and enter into negotiations with Network Rail on development options for the Denburn Valley.
They also agreed to explore the potential for a “light transport system” for the city.
Deputy council leader Marie Boulton, who is also chairwoman of a new city centre regeneration board, said she still hoped there was a way to gain support from the WFT.
She insisted the board would work to “a short timescale” of about nine months in producing concrete ideas for the city centre.
“I would like Sir Ian to keep the offer on the table, but we understand and respect his reasons if he cannot,” she said.
“What we don’t want people feeling is that there was any type of snub from the council to the Wood Family Trust, because there absolutely was not.”
Fraser Forsyth, who leads the Conservative group, which shares the leadership of the council with Labour and the Independent Alliance, praised the SNP for coming to an agreement with the coalition.
The newfound sense of harmony in the council chamber did not extend to the Liberal Democrat group, however.
Leader Ian Yuill, who was the only councillor not to cast a vote on the City Garden Project, moved an amendment asking that the council should try to extend the deadline set by the WFT further.
He later withdrew that after chief executive Valerie Watts informed councillors of the WFT’s position, but he would not withdraw another item relating to continued consultation with the public. The Lib Dems were defeated 37-4, but Mr Yuill was unrepentant afterwards, insisting he agreed with “everything else” the administration had suggested.
He added: “I can’t think why they would not agree to engage with people and consult with the community.”
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