Wars, riots and earthquakes are not the usual type of event you expect in the north-east of Scotland.
But under a contract, obtained exclusively by the Press and Journal, these are the risks being considered by council chiefs for one of their landmark projects.
The £333 million new AECC – to be known as The Events Complex Aberdeen (TECA) – is due to open late next year and scouting has already began for high-profile concerts and events.
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Much of the document, obtained through a Freedom of Information request, is redacted or has not been released, including the business case for the venture.
The facility is referred to as the “New AECC” throughout as the contract predates it’s recent re-naming of TECA.
Under the terms of the contract, the old site in Bridge of Don can no longer be used for any events.
Councillors have been discussing behind closed doors the future uses of the site, which are thought to include housing.
There are also various insurance clauses meaning the contract can be cancelled in the event of more than 180 days of war or that the dumping of radioactive waste on site is forbidden.
While bringing in explosives is also banned, SMG have confirmed there will be no restrictions on any of the acts that will be performing indoors.
Most acts are understood to have personal insurance that will allow them to make use of pyrotechnics in their stage shows.
Council chiefs funded the massive 12,500 capacity development in Bucksburn through the pioneering £370 million issue of a bond on the London Stock exchange – a first for a Scottish council.
Confirmed upcoming events include the British Medical Association in 2020 and the British Elbow and Shoulder Association in 2024.
The Offshore Europe event will also be held there, with a special concessionary rate paid during these years.
Last night opposition Liberal Democrat councilor Martin Grieg said that if the building was not finished in time for next year’s event the council risked on losing out.
He added: “Losing this and other business opportunities would be a disaster for our area.”
But Aberdeen Labour Bucksburn councilor Barney Crockett said he was “totally confident” the work would be done.
A council spokeswoman said: “The contract with SMG Europe included standard terms and conditions for a contractor in this field.”
Key clauses in the documents
A nuclear war in Scotland lasting more than 180 days would be cause for the council to pull out of the contract, the documents reveal.
Under the complex legal documents between SMG and the local authority it stipulates that should a “force majeure” event occur then the council would not have to pay their rates while it was ongoing.
However the incident would have to last for more than 180 days before the contact would be void.
The examples of “force majeure” events given include riots, wars, acts of terror, storms and earthquakes.
Other insured risks are planes crashing into the building, pipes overflowing and strikes.
Not covered, however, would be any “economic or constitutional events” or “lack of money”.
The contract reads: “The supplier (SMG) shall not knowingly bring into the new AECC anything which is or may become dangerous, offensive, radioactive or explosive.
“The supplier shall not deposit on the new AECC or any surrounding site…any substance that may produce concentrations or accumulations of noxious gasses or liquids in such quantities or concentrations that is capable of causing harm to the health of man or any other living organism supported by the environment.”
It stipulates that there may be a “termination of breach” “where a force majeure event hinders or delays the supplier’s performance of its obligations for more than 180 days”.
A council spokeswoman said such contracts were standard.
