The Procedures Committee of Aberdeenshire Council met on Wednesday 10 June 2026 to discuss changes to the frequency of Area Committee meetings and to review the council's programme of work. The committee recommended that Area Committees move to a four-weekly cycle, with a review to be reported back in April 2027.

Area Scheduling Update

The committee discussed a report recommending a shift from the current three-weekly cycle for Area Committees to a four-weekly cycle. This change is intended to improve the quality of report writing and reduce pressure on officers and councillors, who have seen a reduction in staff numbers across the organisation. While some concerns were raised about potential delays to the planning process, officers noted that statutory determination periods are generally manageable and that special meetings can be called if urgent decisions are required. The report also highlighted that a six-weekly cycle would present greater risks to planning performance and statutory timescales without significant changes to delegations. The committee agreed to recommend to Council that Area Committees move to a four-weekly cycle, with a review to be reported back in April 2027. Councillor Gwyneth Petrie expressed a desire for the review in April 2027 to also consider the wider area system and its integration with place policy. Councillor Alan Buchan voiced his group's opposition to the move, believing it would be detrimental to the planning process.

Programme of Work

The committee received an update on the council's programme of work. This included progress on the annual review of the Scheme of Governance, which is scheduled for autumn 2026, and the consideration of the pre-determination hearing process, with a report expected by the end of 2026. Work is also ongoing regarding the consideration of Member Promoted Issues (MPI), with a Member Officer Working Group having held its first meeting and a further meeting to be scheduled after the summer. The committee noted the updates and agreed that the Area Committee schedule item would be removed from the programme, as a recommendation had been made.