The annual budget setting process is an incredibly complex operation for a local authority. This year, for Aberdeen City Council, the difficulty has been magnified by the increasing financial challenges we face. Reduced general revenue grant funding from the Scottish Government coupled with increased ring-fencing to meet Scottish Government priorities as well as rising costs […]
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Today we marked the launch of the first annual report by the independent panel formed to advise on the Aberdeen city region’s economic performance – and the signs are incredibly encouraging. The panel has pointed towards the optimism they encountered as they pulled together evidence from a wide range of sectors and has underlined the […]
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Every green shoot of recovery in Aberdeen in the years since the oil and gas downturn hit hardest has been welcomed locally. The optimism that accompanies the city’s revival has replaced the pessimism that came with the sharp shock to the regional economy that has had a deep and lasting impact on the region. With […]
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The news that Marischal Square has been honoured by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and at the Scottish Property Awards (SPA) represents two more feathers in the cap for a landmark development. The complex was recognised at the RICS annual awards for Scotland late last month, winning the Regeneration category in the […]
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Launch week for Nuart Aberdeen has brought a flurry of activity and it has been fantastic to see this year’s productions springing up around the city. Nuart captured the imagination of the public last year and 2018 promises to be even bigger and better as the event builds on such solid foundations. Running through […]
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Earlier this month the full Council met to set the 2018/19 budget. Every year the task becomes more difficult as we attempt to balance increasing demand for our services with reduced funding. Since being elected in 2007 I’ve attended 11 budget meetings. At each of those meetings the fact Aberdeen is the lowest funded […]
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This month we will welcome delegates to the city for an event which will put Aberdeen’s success in financial innovation firmly in the spotlight. By hosting the Bond Investments conference on 27 February we will be able to share the knowledge that has set our city apart. When Aberdeen City Council became the first local […]
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The nights, as we say in Aberdeen, are fair drawing in – and that creates challenges for a northern city such as ours. The granite sparkles less often. Vistas are lost. Unlit areas can become no-go. However, the latest City Centre Masterplan project promises to turn the long dark days to our advantage by lighting […]
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When the visitor numbers for SPECTRA arrived in my inbox earlier this week it confirmed what we already knew – once again Aberdeen’s festival of light had been an overwhelming success. More than 63,000 people attended the four day programme – almost double the attendance from 2016 and continuing the year on year growth of […]
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With the holiday period feeling like a distant memory, the focus is firmly fixed on the programme for the weeks, months and year ahead. The Council enjoyed a very productive 2016 and that trend has continued in the New Year, with a busy start to January which will undoubtedly be a sign of things to […]
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