The Communities Committee of Aberdeenshire Council met on Thursday 4 June 2026 to discuss the annual report from Live Life Aberdeenshire (LLA), review concessionary discount policies, and consider grant awards. Key decisions included noting LLA's progress and impact, approving changes to concessionary discounts by ending double discounting and increasing the age for age-related discounts to 65, and approving the continuation of grant funding for various cultural and sporting initiatives.

Live Life Aberdeenshire Annual Report 2025-26

The committee received the annual report from Live Life Aberdeenshire (LLA), which detailed the progress made against key priorities set out in its business plan. Allan Rae, Head of Service for Communities, Wellbeing and Partnership, presented the report, highlighting the service's achievements and operational priorities as it entered the third year of its business plan.

The report showcased significant progress across various areas:

• Financial Performance: LLA generated £840,000 more in income than the previous year, with a 4% reduction in full-time equivalent employees. The cost per visit to deliver LLA services decreased, and the social value generated increased by 14%.
• Attendance: Physical usage of LLA facilities saw an 11.2% increase in group exercise classes, with over 3.2 million physical visits recorded.
• Digital Services: There was a 43% increase in revenue from digital services, with a growing number of app users and library members joining online.
• Carbon Reduction: LLA saved 322 tonnes of CO2e through various initiatives, including LED lighting upgrades and the installation of photovoltaic panels.
• Capital Investment: Significant investments were made in gym upgrades at Banchory, Inverbervie, and Turriff Sports Centres, as well as improvements to Macduff Aquarium and Deveron Community and Sports Centre.
• Health and Wellbeing: The Health and Physical Activity Team supported over 700 participants through exercise referral programmes, with over 60% progressing into ongoing activity. Initiatives like ESCAPE-Pain and Counterweight demonstrated positive outcomes in managing long-term conditions and weight management. Health Walks and community health checks also contributed to preventative health measures.
• Culture and Heritage: The Positive Action Grant (PAG) programme, delivered by North East Arts Touring (NEAT), engaged 1,166 residents in rural communities through various cultural activities. The Museum of Scottish Lighthouses saw a 30% increase in visitors and a 23% rise in income from admissions. Duff House also reported increased visitor numbers and income, outperforming other Historic Environment Scotland sites in Grampian.
• Sport and Physical Activity: The Sport for Change programme supported 10 projects, engaging 801 participants and 42 volunteers. Aberdeenshire ClubSport funding benefited 33 local clubs, increasing participation and creating more inclusive opportunities.
• Libraries: Bookbug sessions saw a 12% increase in delivery and attendance, while digital library services, including Libby and BorrowBox, experienced sustained growth.

The committee noted the achievements of LLA and endorsed the Impact Report, agreeing for it to be shared publicly.

Live Life Aberdeenshire Concessionary Discounts

The committee discussed proposed changes to LLA's concessionary discount policies, stemming from a £175,000 budget saving agreed by Aberdeenshire Council. A Member Officer Working Group (MOWG) had reviewed the current discount structure.

The MOWG proposed two key changes:

1. Ending Double Discounting : The practice of applying multiple discounts to a single membership would cease, with only the highest applicable discount being applied. This is expected to generate an additional £166,599 per annum.
2. Increasing Age Eligibility for Age-Related Discounts: The age for adult age-related discounts would increase from 60 to 65 years. Modelling indicated that 918 members aged 60-64 currently receive a 40% discount, with a potential additional income of £177,301 per annum if this change is implemented.

Feedback from the Lived Experience Panel indicated broad support for increasing the age eligibility and simplifying discount administration, though concerns were raised about affordability and the potential impact on those on lower incomes or with health conditions. Mitigations include the continuation of the Live Life Essentials membership and the low-income discount.

The committee agreed to stop the practice of double discounts and only apply the highest value single discount available to an individual. They also agreed to increase the age of eligibility from 60 to 65 years for adult age-related discounts.

Grant Awards - Live Life Aberdeenshire 2026

The committee reviewed the annual report on the impact of grants awarded by Live Life Aberdeenshire (LLA) in 2025-26, totalling £260,440. These grants supported initiatives across Sport, Culture, Heritage, and Community Wellbeing.

Key grant areas included:

• Positive Action Grants (PAG): £90,000 was distributed through PAG. The Culture PAG, delivered by North East Arts Touring (NEAT), engaged 1,166 residents in five rural communities, supporting cultural activity and building community capacity. The Sport for Change programme funded 10 projects, engaging 801 participants and 42 volunteers, with a focus on reducing barriers to participation for underrepresented groups. Aberdeenshire ClubSport funding supported 33 clubs, increasing participation and inclusivity.
• Duff House (Historic Environment Scotland): A partnership agreement provided £75,000 towards operations and a separate Partnership Project Fund. Duff House saw a 30% increase in visitors and a 23% rise in income from admissions. Community-led exhibitions and events were popular, and a project to refresh interpretation, The Many Lives of Duff House, was supported.
• Museum of Scottish Lighthouses: £90,000 in funding supported the museum's operations, progress on a new gallery, and marketing efforts. The museum remained a year-round attraction, with plans for a new gallery to showcase its lens collection. Marketing partnerships led to a significant increase in coach tour bookings.

The committee agreed to note the positive impacts of the PAG funding, the partnership agreements with HES at Duff House and the Museum of Scottish Lighthouses, and approved the continuation of funding in 2026/2027. They also noted the service's intention to move towards multi-year funding agreements with key partners to provide greater certainty and allow for more impactful project delivery.

Scottish Fire and Rescue Service End of Year Performance Report

Group Commander David Meldrum presented the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service's (SFRS) performance report for Aberdeenshire for the period 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026.

Key points from the report included:

• Accidental Dwelling Fires (ADFs): A reduction in ADFs was noted, with figures at a four-year low. However, there was a slight rise in casualties, including two fatal casualties. Cooking-related fires accounted for 85 of the 148 ADFs.
• Deliberate Fires: A significant 37% increase in deliberate fires was observed, largely attributed to a dry period. Youth engagement and community partnerships were highlighted as key strategies to address this.
• Road Traffic Collisions (RTCs): RTCs were at a four-year low, with ongoing partnership work focused on road safety interventions. Young males remained the most affected demographic, but a more even spread was noted.
• Community Safety: SFRS remained committed to partnership working to make Aberdeenshire a safer place. Initiatives included water safety education, particularly with the summer period approaching, and engagement with vulnerable individuals.

The committee acknowledged and discussed the report, with councillors raising questions about water safety, the increase in deliberate fires, and the potential for driver refresher training. Group Commander Meldrum assured the committee that water safety efforts were ongoing and would be intensified during the summer months. He also committed to exploring more nuanced approaches to tackling deliberate fires, including greater parental and community involvement. The committee thanked SFRS for their work and acknowledged the dedication of their teams.

Housing Finance and Performance Q3+4 2025/26

The committee received a report detailing the financial performance and key performance indicators for the Housing and Building Standards Service for Q3 and Q4 of the 2025/26 financial year.

Key findings included:

• Financial Position: The Housing Revenue Account (HRA) was forecast to be within budget, with savings achieved in staffing costs. The Asset Management line was over budget due to external pressures, but this was absorbed by savings elsewhere. The General Fund Housing and Building Standards Service was also within budget, with significant savings made.
• Tenancy Services: Current tenant arrears remained at a very strong level, showing sustained improvement and comparing favourably at a national level.
• Homelessness: Average time to resolve homeless cases was 79.9 days in Q4, slightly above the target of 75 days, but still performing strongly nationally. Localised variations were noted, with higher numbers of cases in Banff and Buchan and Buchan.
• Voids: Rent loss due to void properties remained below target, showing significant long-term improvements. A slight variation was noted over winter due to weather challenges.
• Damp, Condensation and Mould (DCM): Referrals for DCM were rising, which was seen as a positive sign of increased awareness. Response times remained in the 90% range, and Aberdeenshire was noted as being ahead of the curve in addressing DCM issues.
• Capital Expenditure: The HRA Capital Plan was forecast to be under budget, with delays in new build programmes and other projects impacting expenditure. The General Fund Housing Service was also under budget.
• Reserves: The HRA Working Balance Reserve was forecast to remain at £2.000m, with an additional reserve created to offset inflation. The Affordable Housing Reserve is a revolving fund supporting new builds.

Councillor Reynolds raised concerns about the correlation between high energy prices and increased damp, condensation, and mould, and sought confirmation of partnership arrangements addressing this causal factor. Mr Macleod confirmed support for tenants facing fuel poverty and highlighted the ongoing internal insulation scheme as a measure to reduce heat demand.

The committee noted the performance and financial information, advised on potential improvements to the reporting format, and agreed to continue reporting in the same format.

Reshaping Sheltered Housing - Progress Update

The committee received an update on the progress of the review to reshape sheltered housing in Aberdeenshire. Key developments included:

• Scheme Closures: A phased approach to closing certain schemes was underway, with 61 tenants remaining to move. A decommissioning process was being developed for vacant buildings.
• Re-naming and Re-branding: Following tenant consultation, eight schemes previously known as Enhanced Housing would be renamed Independent Living. Further engagement was planned for other schemes.
• Staffing Structure: Proposals to realign the Sheltered Housing team with Tenancy Services were progressing, moving towards a tenancy management model and more flexible working arrangements.
• Tenant Engagement: A programme of tenant meetings was planned to provide updates on changes, including the move to digital solutions and potential rent and service charge adjustments.
• Independent Living Model: This model aims to broaden accommodation options with a two-tier approach, supporting independent living in self-contained homes with communal settings and access to tenancy management.

The committee acknowledged the update, agreed to adopt the title 'Independent Living' for previously enhanced housing schemes, noted that rebranding was ongoing, and agreed to receive a further update in December 2026.

Live Life Aberdeenshire Concessionary Discounts

The committee discussed proposed changes to LLA's concessionary discount policies, aiming to simplify the structure and achieve a £175,000 saving. The Member Officer Working Group (MOWG) recommended:

1. Ending Double Discounting : Only the highest applicable discount would be applied to any membership.
2. Increasing Age Eligibility: The age for adult age-related discounts would rise from 60 to 65.

Modelling suggested potential additional income of £177,301 per annum from the age eligibility change and £166,599 per annum from ending double discounting. Feedback from the Lived Experience Panel indicated broad support for increasing the age eligibility and simplifying discounts, but also raised concerns about affordability and the impact on low-income households. Mitigations include the continuation of Live Life Essentials memberships and the low-income discount.

The committee agreed to stop the practice of double discounts and only apply the highest value single discount available to an individual. They also agreed to increase the age of eligibility from 60 to 65 years for adult age-related discounts.

Live Life Aberdeenshire Grant Award Report

The committee reviewed the annual report on the impact of £260,440 in grants awarded by Live Life Aberdeenshire (LLA) in 2025-26. The grants supported Sport, Culture, Heritage, and Community Wellbeing initiatives.

Key highlights included:

• Positive Action Grants (PAG): £90,000 distributed through PAG supported cultural activity in rural communities via North East Arts Touring (NEAT), engaging 1,166 residents. Sport for Change funded 10 projects, reaching 801 participants and 42 volunteers, focusing on inclusivity. Aberdeenshire ClubSport funding supported 33 clubs, enhancing participation and inclusivity.
• Duff House (Historic Environment Scotland): Partnership funding contributed to operations, resulting in a 30% increase in visitors and a 23% rise in admissions income. Community-led exhibitions and events were popular.
• Museum of Scottish Lighthouses: £90,000 in funding supported operations, progress on a new gallery, and marketing. Visitor numbers showed recovery, and marketing partnerships led to increased coach bookings.

The committee noted the positive impacts of the PAG funding and the partnership agreements. They approved the continuation of funding in 2026/2027 and noted the service's intention to move towards multi-year funding agreements with key partners to enhance project delivery and impact.

The meeting concluded with the committee moving into a private session.