One year countdown to LEZ going live News Image kaallan Wed, 31/05/2023 – 12:46 pm Today marks a year to go until enforcement of a new low emission zone (LEZ) in Aberdeen city centre goes live which will help to improve air quality. Cameras are to start to be installed on the boundary of the LEZ in the coming months although people will not be fined until 1 June 2024. Motorists driving non-compliant vehicles in the area from that date will be given a fine although there are exemptions including blue badge holders. As part of a Scotland-wide programme, LEZs are being introduced in Scotland’s four biggest cities – Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee, and Aberdeen. The objective of introducing these LEZs is to tackle air pollution in city centres, mainly nitrogen dioxide, caused by road traffic. The introduction of these LEZs mean approximately more than four out of five vehicles are likely to be compliant with the LEZ by the time enforcement starts. Blue badge holders are exempt from all Scottish LEZs and they should register their details with a new LEZ exemption system so that the vehicle they are travelling in can access all the low emission zones in Scotland. An Aberdeen City Council spokeswoman said: “LEZs are being introduced across Scotland to help improve air quality in the city centres of the four biggest cities which contributes to the protection of public health and wellbeing. “The LEZ in Aberdeen will also help the city reach its climate change targets by reducing our road transport’s contribution to emissions and prioritising active and sustainable transport movement. “All of these benefits helps to create a vibrant, accessible, and safe city centre for everyone.” People can now enter their vehicle registration number on the official website for Scotland’s Low Emission Zones to confirm if their vehicle will comply. Other classes of vehicle which are exempt from the LEZ include emergency services, naval, military or air force vehicles, historic vehicles, showman vehicles, and motorbikes and mopeds. Households and micro-businesses can apply for a cash grant to assist in the change from a non-compliant vehicle. There is also an additional offer of up to two £500 mobility grants or Travel Better vouchers for people to purchase a bike, e-bike or public transport voucher and more information about the grants is available on Low Emission Zones Scotland. For micro-businesses and following the successful disposal of the vehicle,…

Hydrogen Vehicle Club launched at HyTrEc2 Conference News Image mayule Tue, 16/05/2023 – 4:55 pm The Hydrogen Vehicle Club, an opportunity for companies across the North East to access information on hydrogen vehicles and fuel, was launched today at a seminar for HyTrEc2 in Aberdeen. The club will look to keep stakeholders updated on the latest hydrogen developments in the city, share information on hydrogen vehicle options available on the market, establish joint vehicle procurement frameworks and bid for funding to provide parity with diesel pricing for vehicles using hydrogen technology. The HyTrEc2 conference was held in the Beach Ballroom for stakeholders from across the energy sector who heard from speakers from the HyTrEc2 project as well as partners including Aberdeen City Council’s Fleet Manager, Aberdeenshire Council, bp and ULEMCo about their work in developing and scaling-up hydrogen transport projects, not only in the North East but across Europe. As part of the seminar, members of the public were invited to view vehicles from Aberdeen’s fleet of hydrogen-fuelled vehicles including HyTrEc2 cars, hybrid vans, the HECTOR refuse collection vehicle and hydrogen-powered buses which were on display at the Ballroom. Aberdeen City Council Co-leader, Councillor Ian Yuill, said: “Aberdeen has been working for more than ten years to position itself as a leading city in bringing hydrogen technology to market, and is genuinely a world-leader in the delivery of hydrogen technology and the use of hydrogen as a fuel. “Hydrogen is here now and is providing an important part of the transport mix in the city with HyTrEc2 part-funding the delivery of several of the vehicles on display here today as well as establishing the initial business case for the Aberdeen Hydrogen Hub which has formed the basis of the Council’s Joint Venture with bp. “The opportunity provided by the Hydrogen Vehicle Club will support organisations in the North East in reaping the benefits of the work which has been carried out by HyTrEc2, while at the same time contributing to ambitious targets set out in our Climate Change Plan and Net Zero Aberdeen, aimed at reducing emissions and protecting our environment.”
News Time and Date Tuesday 16 May 2023 News Topics net zero/climate change Aberdeen City Council …

Aberdeen awarded top prize at Scottish Event Awards Ceremony News Image ellmcdonald Fri, 28/04/2023 – 1:36 pm Aberdeen has won ‘Sporting Event of the Year’ for the GetAbout Aberdeen Cycling Festival at the E Awards, which celebrates excellence and innovation in Scottish events.   The GetAbout Aberdeen Cycling Festival was held on Saturday 3rd September last year on the eve of the AJ Bell Tour of Britain Grand Depart, with the city centre becoming a cycling hub over the weekend.   Locals and visitors alike were able to enjoy fun activities including a cycle stunt team, climbing wall and bungee trampolining.   Around 300 cyclists gathered in the city centre to take part in cycle races at both senior and junior levels, including the Corporate Race and the Scottish Criterium Championship, showcasing the very best of Scottish talent.   The AJ Bell Tour of Britain departed the city the following day, with riders setting off on a 180-kilometre (112-mile) route from Union Street to the Glenshee Ski Centre, south of Braemar, before moving on to other stages across the UK.  Councillor Martin Greig, culture spokesperson for Aberdeen City Council, said: “This award is welcome recognition of the considerable efforts that helped to make our local cycling festival such a success.  “It was a splendid day that gave enormous fun and enjoyment to a great deal of people including many visitors. It is important to try and offer a range of activities in the city to suit different interests.”    This year, the city is looking forward to the annual Aberdeen Highland Games and to hosting the European Pipe Band Championships for the first time since 1981 in June. More information on events happening in Aberdeen can be found via our website. 
News Time and Date Friday 28 April 2023 News Topics Culture Events Union Street Entertainment Family Sports Aberdeen City Council …

Jobs Fair for People with Disabilities Drives City Inclusion News Image patmurray Fri, 14/04/2023 – 11:20 am A Jobs Fair specifically for people with disabilities will be held in Aberdeen next week.  The ABZWorks event, delivered in partnership with the Department for Work and Pensions, aims to support people with a range of disabilities, both hidden and visible, into work.   Attendees will have the opportunity to meet employers face-to-face to discuss live vacancies and apply for roles across a variety of sectors, including transport, energy, security, health and social care, childminding, and self-employment.   Employers include: Aberdeen City Health and Social Care Partnership, Aberdeen Performing Arts, Stagecoach, Total E&P, and Wm Morrison Supermarket.  This ABZWorks Jobs Fair follows Aberdeen City Council’s Year of Disabled Workers event held last month, which encouraged organisations to become more inclusive in their recruitment and employment practises by sharing information about the benefits disabled workers can bring, and the support available both to employers and employees. Disabled workers shared their stories alongside support agencies and employers.   Depute Provost Councillor Delaney, who is the Council’s disability spokesperson, said: “I was delighted to attend a special event to mark 2022 – Year of Disabled Workers, which was a resounding success.   Approximately 20% of the UK population identify as disabled, but they are disproportionately represented in the workforce. I would ask employers to be positive about disability and embrace the enthusiasm and the various skills disabled people can bring to their workforce”.  “The upcoming jobs fair will help enrich the workplace through greater diversity, bringing benefits for both those seeking work and employers.”   The ABZWorks Jobs Fair for People with Disabilities will take place in the Beach Ballroom on Tuesday, 18 April, from 10am to 2pm. The venue is wheelchair accessible, a British Sign Language Interpreter will be available from 11.30am. A team of employability keyworkers will be on hand to provide support and guidance. Attendees are welcome to bring someone with them for support.  Book your place online via Eventbrite. If you cannot access the internet or need assistance when booking, please phone (01224) 346100. 
News Time and Date Friday 14 April 2023 News Topics Employment Aberdeen City Council …

City pupil hits the high notes in Aberdeen finals of prestigious young musician competition News Image IFrampton Wed, 29/03/2023 – 2:28 pm   An Aberdeen Music School pupil was last night (Tuesday 28 March) announced winner of the Aberdeen final of the Scottish Young Musicians Competition  16-year-old Nadine Ralston who plays the harp, beat off stiff competition from across the city at the final hosted by Aberdeen City Council’s Music Service at the Cowdray Hall.   Nadine will now go through to the finals of the national competition on Sunday 21 May at the prestigious Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in Glasgow.  Aberdeen City Council’s Education and Children Services Convener, Councillor Martin Greig, said: “My warmest congratulations go to all the pupils who took part in last night’s final and, in particular, to Nadine on her success. “All of the participants are a credit to themselves, their families and their school and we wish Nadine the best of luck in the national final.” In the national final of the Solo Performer of the Year Nadine will be invited to play a programme of her choice lasting no longer than 7 minutes in competition with other finalists from local authority schools and before a panel of distinguished judges of international repute.  For more information on the competition visit: https://www.scottishyoungmusicians.com/solo-performer   Photograph shows Aberdeen winner Nadine Ralston who goes on to compete in the national final in May.
News Time and Date Wednesday 29 March 2023 News Topics education Aberdeen City Council …

Councillors receive update on Replacement Riverbank School Build News Image ellmcdonald Wed, 29/03/2023 – 1:02 pm A new school on Aberdeen is on course for completion in Summer 2024 – and will result in a £6 million budget saving following a retender exercise.  The Finance and Resource Committee was today (Wednesday 29 March) updated on progress made on the replacement Riverbank Primary School.  The report also noted that council officers and the main contractor will provide project updates at key construction milestones to the local community and existing school, including any critical activities that may impact on the area.  Finance and Resource Committee Convener Councillor Alexander McLellan said: “I am pleased the construction of the primary school will now progress at a much lower cost following the re-tendering exercise with no comprise on design. “I look forward to seeing the work progress in the months to come, as the new school will be a massive asset for the community.” Vice Convener Councillor Ian Yuill said: “This new school building will be at the very heart of the local community. It will be a real asset for the area’s children for generations to come.” The three-stream primary school with Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) provision will also include a 3G sports pitch and external outdoor play and learning facilities.  The new school is being built on the site of the former Tillydrone Infant School and on part of the former St Machar Primary School site and will increase local Primary School capacity to cater for families moving to new housing developments in the area. 
 
News Time and Date Wednesday 29 March 2023 News Topics education Family Aberdeen City Council …

Aberdeen Preparing to Welcome European Pipe Band Championships News Image ellmcdonald Thu, 23/03/2023 – 1:28 pm Tickets have gone on sale today (Thursday 23rd March) for the 2023 European Pipe Band Championships, which are coming to Aberdeen this June.  The Championships, held in partnership with The Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association and Aberdeen Inspired, will be held in the city’s Duthie Park on Saturday 24th June.  Over 100 pipe bands from across Europe and as far as Australia will travel to Aberdeen to participate in one of the largest piping events in the world.  Aberdeen last hosted the European Pipe Band Championships in 1981, when the event came to Hazlehead Park.  The Lord Provost of Aberdeen, Dr David Cameron, joined pupils from Robert Gordon’s College, Cults Academy and Dyce Primary School today in the Duthie Park to welcome the launch of the Championship in Aberdeen.  The Lord Provost said: “We are thrilled to be welcoming the European Pipe Band Championships and piping community to our city this summer.  “This is an excellent opportunity to show to the rest of Europe what Aberdeen has to offer and will also hopefully inspire our city’s youth to learn the pipes.”  The Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association Chief Executive Colin Mulhern said: “We are delighted to be back in Aberdeen for the European Pipe Band Championships after an absence of over 40 years. The Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association wish to thank Aberdeen Council and Aberdeen Inspired for their support in the presentation of this feast of piping, drumming, and drum majoring.  “We look forward to the usual professional standards of presentation as in previous years and look forward to welcoming visitors from all over the World to Aberdeen. I hope the weather will be kind and that you enjoy the sights and sounds of the day.” Adrian Watson, Chief Executive Officer of Aberdeen Inspired said: “Aberdeen Inspired is committed to working with both local and national partners in bringing the very best events to our city and the European Pipe Band Championships certainly falls into this category, being the second largest event of its kind in the world.  “We were delighted to bring the proposal to the table and work with both Aberdeen City Council and the RSPBA in making this happen. This event will bring many thousands, from this country and beyond, to the city and will not…

The Last Testament of Provost Alexander Jaffray goes on display at Aberdeen Art Gallery News Image MSweetnam Fri, 10/03/2023 – 2:48 pm The last testament of Alexander Jaffray is the centrepiece of a new exhibition at Aberdeen Art Gallery. This rare and important document, which dates from 1673, provides a fascinating insight into Jaffray’s faith at a time of religious persecution and political upheaval.  The manuscript was acquired in 2022 by Aberdeen City & Aberdeenshire Archives with financial assistance from the National Fund for Acquisitions, the Friends of the National Libraries and the Niven Bequest, which was left to the Council’s Archive several years ago. This is the first time the manuscript has been on display. The exhibition tells the story of Jaffray’s fascinating and turbulent life, which saw the burgh he served turn on him in later life because of his religious beliefs. Jaffray was twice Provost of Aberdeen (1649-50 and 1651-52). He also represented the city in the Scottish Parliament between 1644 and 1650 and was one of six commissioners sent to liaise with the exiled Charles II in Holland in 1649 and 1650. In June 1653 he was summoned from Scotland to sit in the “Barebones Parliament” at Westminster. Educated at Aberdeen Grammar School and Marischal College, Jaffray’s religious affiliations changed during his lifetime and reflect the religious upheaval of wider society. He sided with the Covenanters in 1638, enduring capture and imprisonment by royalist forces in 1644. After his release he moved away from the Covenanter cause and was appointed Director of the Chancellery of Scotland. Following retirement from political and civic life, Jaffray devoted his time to religious thinking. He had been influenced by contact with Oliver Cromwell who broadened Jaffray’s views on religious liberty and in 1662 he joined the Quakers.   During the 1660s and 1670s, the Quaker community in Aberdeen was probably the largest in Scotland. However, along with their Catholic counterparts, they became the focus of significant repression and persecution by the burgh authorities who viewed them with suspicion and as a threat to the established order. Several of the leading lights within the Aberdeen Quakers, including Alexander Jaffray himself, were former magistrates or wives of magistrates, which made their break with traditional Protestantism all-the-more infuriating for those who remained within the established church and who perceived the very presence of the Quaker community as an affront to authority….

Council sets 2023/24 budget and spending plans News Image ellmcdonald Wed, 01/03/2023 – 11:19 am Aberdeen City Council is to invest more than £200 million over the next five years growing and renewing the schools estate as part of its spending plans.  An additional £17.7m was set aside during this period for the latest digital technology to modernise learning environments and equip pupils with 21st Century skills. The commitment to maximising life opportunities for young people came as the council set its revenue and capital budgets for the coming financial year as well as agreeing longer-term measures aimed at creating a greener, safer and more inclusive city. Despite facing increasing costs and demand, the council maintained its focus on combating climate change, transforming public services, and tackling poverty and inequality through support for the Local Outcome Improvement Plan (LOIP). Budget awards in 2023/24 include £1.6m for the Fairer Aberdeen Fund, which supports deserving projects identified by local communities; £500,000 to the Community Food Initiatives North East; and £400,000 to top up the Scottish Government’s Welfare Fund. And there will be a £100,000 contribution, spread evenly over the next three years, to help regenerate Union Street in response to both the council’s empty shops plan and wider work following the Union Street Summit. Details are to be announced in the months ahead. Councillor Alex McLellan, convener of the Finance and Resources Committee, said: “The cost-of-living crisis is hitting everyone hard, with soaring food and fuel bills, and we have targeted spending to support those most in need – providing additional spend to foodbanks, the Scottish Welfare Fund and our financial inclusion team – whilst also protecting the likes of the Fairer Aberdeen Fund.  “As well as protecting vital services from cuts, our budget commits to investing over £200m in our school estate and just under £100m in transforming our beachfront and city centre – we are committed to ensuring Aberdeen is a place people want to live, work, study, raise a family, and a place where businesses want to invest.” Councillor Ian Yuill, Co-Leader of Aberdeen City Council, said: “We have prioritised what matters most to people – education, the environment, roads and transport – while demonstrating sound financial management that will serve the city well in the years ahead. 
“In providing for Aberdeen’s most vulnerable and disadvantaged residents, there is an increasing emphasis on prevention and early…

New report outlines latest achievements in Local Improvement Plan News Image ellmcdonald Thu, 16/02/2023 – 9:06 am The Community Planning Aberdeen Board, chaired by Aberdeen City Council Co Leader Councillor Alex Nicoll, were yesterday (Wednesday 15 February) updated on progress with Local Outcome Improvement Plan improvement projects; the positive outcomes achieved to date and impact on communities across the city. The quarterly report highlighted that 21 of the multi-agency improvement aims had now been achieved and the Board approved the following 5 project end reports recognising that the following improvement aims had been achieved/ surpassed and sustained: 4.2 – a 11% decrease in the number of repeat emergency hospital admissions for unintentional injury to children under 5 years 5.2 – a 86% increase in the number of staff who feel confident about how to directly support, or refer a child for support, and signpost to appropriate services  7.1- a 8% increase in the number of accredited courses directly associated with growth areas 10.2 – an increase to 63 individuals who are on a custodial sentence, Community Payback Order with a Supervision Requirement, on Unpaid Work Orders, on Remand or who have been Diverted from Prosecution who are being supported to make progress on the Employability Pipeline 10.6 – a 47% increase in the number of victims of domestic abuse receiving support 
Councillor Nicoll said: “It is really heartening to see such a broad spectrum of projects that will make Aberdeen an even better place progress and come to a successful conclusion.” The Board received an update on the refreshed Child Poverty Action Plan 2022- 2026 which has been submitted to the Scottish Government. The Child Poverty Action Plan sets out action areas across services and partners which will impact on tackling child poverty. The six priority groups identified as being most at risk of children living in poverty are:  lone parent families  minority ethnic families  families with a disabled adult or child  families with a younger mother (under 25)  families with a child under 1  larger families (3+ children) 
The Child Poverty Action Plan will be incorporated in the revised Children’s Services Plan to be submitted to the next CPA Board meeting.  Councillor Nicoll said: “It is crucial we do all we can to offer the future of our city the best possible start in life.  “We will be working closely with NHS Grampian and partners who offer…