A wide-ranging review of the city council’s finances could be ordered to try to free-up cash to pay for a revamp of the heart of Aberdeen.
Officials have asked councillors for the go-ahead to draw-up proposals to change the capital plan, Common Good Fund, and earmark new buildings and land that it will need to buy and sell.
The new masterplan for the city centre contains a number of proposals that will affect third parties from the public and private sector.
Examples include buildings owned by the Shore Porters Society at Virginia Street and Weigh-House Square being put forward for new housing and an arts centre, as well as a total redevelopment of the Trinity Centre, a restructuring of the St Nicholas Centre, and a redevelopment of the police’s Queen Street HQ.
It is understood that the council has already held informal talks with some of the bodies.
Supporting documents published alongside the masterplan suggest the council will “gather” landowners together to discuss the plans.
The report also raises the prospect of compulsory purchase orders being used in some cases.
The council said a programme of “enabling works and activities” will be delivered over the next 18 to 24 months “as a tangible signal that the city centre is changing”.
A total of £19.25million has already been set aside by the council for city centre regeneration, but the final bill to deliver the master plan is expected to be much higher.
Conservative councillor Alan Donnelly said: “On the surface of it, it’s an expensive and costly plan, going into millions of pounds and we need to find out where that money is coming from.
“There’s a huge hole in the finances and we’ll need help from the Scottish Government and others.”
Councillors will be asked at a meeting of the full council next week to agree the masterplan and delivery programme, and order a review of the authority’s finances.
In a report to the meeting, chief executive Angela Scott also asks for permission to draw up plans to set up an “in-house” team of officials to work on the proposals, and the establishment of an Aberdeen City Centre Masterplan Reference Group.
Ms Scott said: “Any request to committee to proceed with an individual project or activity derived from the CCMDP (city centre masterplan and delivery programme) will be underpinned by financial due diligence having been undertaken on the proposal.”
She added: “To be truly successful, the CCMDP can not simply lie with the council. The centrality of its ambition for Aberdeen should be recognised and supported by all relevant stakeholders and partners.”