Decision
Analysis
outcome: The Committee resolved that all members with declared connections could participate in the discussions after applying the objective test and determining that their connections did not amount to interests that would prevent their participation.
summary: The decision at stake was whether certain members of the Anti-Poverty and Inequality Committee should participate in discussions on agenda items due to potential conflicts of interest.
topline: The Anti-Poverty and Inequality Committee has decided that members with certain connections to local organizations can still participate in discussions, despite potential conflicts of interest.
reason_contentious: The issue could be contentious due to the potential for conflicts of interest in decision-making processes, especially when it involves members who have connections to organizations that could be affected by the committee's decisions.
affected_stakeholders: Stakeholders affected by this decision include the organizations connected to the committee members (TLC Charity, Aberdeen Citizens Advice Bureau, CFINE), beneficiaries of the Fairer Aberdeen Fund, and the general public who rely on the integrity of the committee's decisions.
contentiousness_score: 4
political_party_relevance: There is no explicit mention of political parties or political influence on the decision, but the affiliations of committee members may have an implicit role.
URL: https://committees.aberdeencity.gov.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=14114
Decision Maker: Anti-Poverty and Inequality Committee
Outcome:
Is Key Decision?: No
Is Callable In?: No
Purpose:
Content: Members were requested to intimate any Declarations of Interest or Transparency Statements in respect of the items on the agenda. The Committee resolved:- (i) to note that Councillor Brooks advised that he had a connection in relation to agenda item 9.2 (Fairer Aberdeen Fund Annual Report) as he was founder and Chairman of the TLC Charity which was part of the Trussell Trust family of food banks however, having applied the objective test he did not consider that his connection amounted to an interest which would prevent him from participating in the discussion on the items; (ii) to note that Councillor Kusznir advised that he had a connection in relation to agenda item 9.2 as he was a Board Member of Aberdeen Citizens Advice Bureau however, having applied the objective test he did not consider that his connection amounted to an interest which would prevent him from participating in the discussion on the items; (iii) to note that the Convener advised that he had a connection in relation to agenda items 9.1 (Six monthly update on the Memorandum of Understanding with the Department of Work and Pensions) and 9.2 as he was a European Economic Area national and a Board Member of Fairer Aberdeen respectively, however, having applied the objective test he did not consider that his connection amounted to an interest which would prevent him from participating in the discussion on the items; and (iv) to note that Dr Bone advised that he had a connection in relation to agenda item 9.2 as he was a Board member of CFINE however, having applied the objective test he did not consider that his connection amounted to an interest which would prevent him from participating in the discussion on the items.
Date of Decision: March 20, 2024