The Net Zero, Environment and Transport Committee of Aberdeen City Council convened to discuss a range of issues, including measures to restrict HGV access to communities near Aberdeen South Harbour, weed control, the Low Emission Zone (LEZ), and active travel initiatives. The committee approved the Aberdeen City Council Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategy (LHEES) and associated Delivery Plan, and also approved the Roads Winter Service Plan 2025/2026 .

Here's a more detailed look at the key topics discussed:

• Aberdeen South Harbour HGV Access

  Following a Notice of Motion from Councillor Alex Nicoll, the committee addressed concerns from communities in Torry, Cove, Altens and Burnbank Village regarding HGV traffic using local neighbourhood roads to access Aberdeen South Harbour.

  The committee agreed:

  • To note the decision of the Aberdeen City Region Deal Joint Committee at its meeting of 14 February regarding the Aberdeen South Harbour road.
  • To note that a permanent traffic management solution for local roads cannot be implemented until the opening of the new South Harbour Link Road and that this will be subject to statutory consultation.
  • To instruct the Chief Officer Operations not to proceed with a statutory consultation in relation to the proposed width restriction at St Fittick's Road.
  • To instruct the Chief Officer Operations to carry out a consultation with community councils, local members, and adjacent communities, including Torry and Cove, on post-project implementation traffic concerns, and potential traffic management solutions, including HGV restrictions, on local roads adjacent to the South Harbour Link Road project, including roads in Torry and Cove, and report the outcome of this consultation as soon as possible, and in any event, prior to March.

  Councillor Nicoll had amended his Notice of Motion, and the amended version was circulated to Members.

• Weed Control

  Following a Notice of Motion from Councillor Kusznir, the committee discussed pavement weed growth in Torry and Ferryhill. The committee agreed to instruct the Chief Officer Operations to continue to seek to identify a practical and effective method of road and pavement weed treatment which reduces or eliminates the use of glyphosate.

  The committee agreed:

  • To note that the continued use of glyphosate as a weed killer is potentially damaging to the environment and a potential risk to human and animal health.
  • To note that local councils across the UK have been seeking to identify practical and environmentally sustainable alternative methods of weed treatment.
  • To note that, for the first of the two 2025 weed treatments of Aberdeen's roads and pavements, an alternative treatment method was trialled.
  • To note that the second 2025 weed treatment was now taking place using glyphosate and that this was being effective.
  • To instruct the Chief Officer Operations to continue to seek to identify a practical and effective method of road and pavement weed treatment which reduces or eliminates the use of glyphosate.

• Net Zero Aberdeen & Aberdeen Adapts: Annual Report 2024/25

  The committee considered a report providing the 2024/25 annual update on progress of collaborative place-based climate change work for Aberdeen, in line with the objectives of the Net Zero Aberdeen Routemap and Aberdeen Adapts: Climate Adaptation Framework.

  Councillor Deena Tissera, seconded by Councillor Nurul Hoque Ali, moved an amendment which included that the committee agree the Aberdeen Net Zero and Adaptation Board does not reflect the needs and aspirations of Aberdeen as the Energy Capital of Europe, and that the board should include a representative from OEUK¹ or similar organisation in order to fully represent the city's aspirations on NET Zero targets.

  The committee resolved to adopt the motion.

  The committee agreed:

  • To note that the Chief Officer – Strategic Place Planning would liaise with the Chief Officer – Commercial and Procurement Services to circulate information to Members outwith the meeting on how long the hydrogen buses had been off the road, the financial implications of this and who was responsible for any cost, and confirmation of when the two hydrogen plants would be up and running.
  • In relation to page 48 (bike storage) and whether users could be surveyed, to note that this could be considered for future iterations of the scheme.
  • In relation to page 56 (refurbished bike scheme), to request that officers circulate any information available in relation to the numbers involved to Members outwith the meeting.
  • In relation to page 59 (GP practices in Aberdeen training with RSPB Scotland), to note that officers would provide information on this initiative to Members outwith the meeting.
  • To note that the SCIS² Annual Emissions Inventory Report for Aberdeen City would be provided on an annual basis in future, and to request that officers circulate a copy of the next report to Members when available.

• Low Emission Zone - Costs & Income

  The committee considered a report providing an update on the costs and income associated with the operation of the Low Emission Zone during 2024/25, and sought approval for the remaining surplus income to be retained to cover future operational and maintenance costs.

  Councillor Richard Brooks, seconded by Councillor Nicoll, moved an amendment which included that the committee notes that monetising the LEZ for future funding was not the primary reason for its implementation by the SNP-led administration / Scottish Government.

  The committee resolved to adopt the motion.

  The committee agreed:

  • To note that officers were currently preparing an annual report on the operation and effectiveness of the LEZ scheme for submission to Scottish Government, and to request that this be circulated to Members for information when available.
  • To request that officers provide information to Members outwith the meeting on the current figures in respect of unpaid penalty charge notices and the current position with debt collection.
  • To request that officers provide information to Members outwith the meeting on where the exceedances of emissions were at the introduction of the LEZ, and the level of those exceedances.
  • To request that officers provide information to Members outwith the meeting on the figures for LEZ taxi compliance.
  • To request that officers provide information to Members outwith the meeting comparing Aberdeen City Council debt collection figures to other local authorities where an LEZ was in force.
  • To note that officers would clarify the location of the air quality monitoring sites in the city centre and circulate that information to Members.
  • To note that officers would ascertain if penalty charge notices were issued by recorded delivery and advise Members outwith the meeting.

  The committee approved the retention of the remaining income for 2024/25 to cover future LEZ operational and maintenance costs.

• Local Heat & Energy Efficiency Strategy (LHEES)

  The committee considered a report which presented the draft Aberdeen City Council Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategy (LHEES) for approval.

  Councillor Tissera, seconded by Councillor Ali, moved an amendment which included that the committee agrees not to Approve Aberdeen City Council's Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategy and associated Delivery Plan as detailed in Appendices 1 and 2.

  The committee resolved to adopt the motion.

  The committee agreed:

  • To request that officers provide hyperlinks for the background papers listed in the cover report to Members outwith the meeting.
  • To note that the Chief Officer Strategic Place Planning would liaise with the Chief Officer – Commercial and Procurement Services to provide information to Members outwith the meeting on progress made with discussions on connecting businesses to heat networks.
  • To note that the Chief Officer Strategic Place Planning would ask officers to provide information to Members outwith the meeting on the estimated cost for implementing the delivery plan over year 1, year 5, year 10 and year 20.
  • In relation to page 95 of the report, to request that officers provide information to Members outwith the meeting on Energy Company Obligation Programmes.
  • To note that the Chief Officer Strategic Place Planning would liaise with the Energy Team in relation to any data available for uninsulated property not in Council stock, and circulate this to Members if available.
  • To note that the image on page 136 of the report was labelled incorrectly as Queen's Links and that officers would rectify this.
  • In relation to work being undertaken by the Chief Officer Corporate Landlord in respect of taking the Council's estate to the minimum standard and the timeline for this work to come before Members, to note that the Chief Officer – Strategic Place Planning would ask that the Chief Officer – Corporate Landlord provide detail to Members outwith the meeting.
  • In relation to page 145 of the report (data on the level of uninsulated walls in each data zone), to request that officers provide information to Members outwith the meeting on why Midstocket was listed twice.

  The committee approved Aberdeen City Council's Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategy and associated Delivery Plan as detailed in Appendices 1 and 2 of the report.

• Active Travel for School Journeys

  The committee considered a report providing information on work that was underway and / or planned within Aberdeen to promote and encourage more, and safe, active travel to school and further provided an update on work that was underway to launch a School Streets pilot in Aberdeen.

  Councillor Tissera, seconded by Councillor Ali, moved an amendment which included that the committee agree that it should not be an independent school and for this decision to be informed by the criteria set out in the report presented to the 21 January 2025 Net Zero, Environment and Transport Committee on implementing suitable schemes.

  The committee resolved to adopt the motion.

  The committee agreed:

  • To note that officers would circulate the video on the work which had been undertaken with Brimmond School to improve routes to school and cycling facilities.
  • Noting the safety concerns raised by Members, to note that officers would liaise with colleagues in Education to ascertain the work being done with schools towards each school having an active travel plan, and that if work not covered in the report was being undertaken, information on this would be circulated to Members outwith the meeting.
  • To note that officers would recirculate the service update provided prior to the June meeting of the Committee on I Bike Schools to Members.
  • To request that officers circulate information to Members outwith the meeting on the roadworks currently being carried out in Ferryhill, Cove and Banks O'Dee, including when the roads were expected to re-open and the measures taken to minimise disruption to families taking children to school in those areas.
  • To note that officers would advise local Ward Members when the school selected to take part in the Schools Street pilot was determined.

• Road Winter Service Plan

  The committee considered a report which presented the Roads Winter Service Plan for the coming winter for approval and highlighted any significant changes.

  Councillor Tissera, seconded by Councillor Ali, moved an amendment which included that the committee do not approve the Roads Winter Service Plan 2025/2026 (Appendix 1).

  The committee resolved to adopt the motion.

  The committee agreed:

  • To note that officers could give consideration to having space for a 1 tonne salt bag as a planning design standard for future new developments.
  • To note that officers would clarify if the current map for grit bin locations had been updated to include large community bins.

  The committee approved the Roads Winter Service Plan 2025/2026 (Appendix 1).

• Various Small-Scale Traffic Management and Development Associated Proposals

  The committee considered a report which set out objections and comments received as part of the statutory consultation process with respect to proposed Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs).

  The committee resolved not to approve a procedural motion to suspend Standing Order 40.2³ to enable the remaining items of business to be considered that day.

  The committee agreed:

  • To note that officers would clarify whether information was held on whether there was evidence that car ownership was decreasing, and would provide this information to Members outwith the meeting if available.

  The committee did not reach the point of determination of the report and the remainder of the determination of the report was referred to a future meeting in terms of Standing Order 40.2.