Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Gordon Blair, Anne Horn, Iain Angus MacDonald and John Semple; Douglas Cowan, HIE and Christina West, NHS Highland.

It was noted that Councillor Maurice Corry was not currently present but had intimated that he intended to join the meeting later in the morning.

There were no declarations of interest intimated.

Performance Review and Scrutiny Committee of 29 May 2014

The Minutes of the meeting of the Performance Review and Scrutiny Committee held on 29 May 2014 were approved as a correct record.

Report by Local Police Commander, Police Scotland

The Committee considered the first quarterly Police Scotland report for 2014/15 which was presented by Local Police Commander, Chief Superintendent Barry McEwan.  The report detailed crime issues identified over a three month period and highlighted further crime reductions following the downward trend in crime levels reported at the end of the previous year.  In addition the report advised of the policing focus for the forthcoming 12 months, detailing the identified priorities and highlighting that these priorities were aligned to Argyll and Bute’s Single Outcome Agreement 2014-17. The Chief Superintendent highlighted that this was a scrutiny report and focused on outcomes rather than inputs and that operational statistics, such as stop and search, were gathered on a monthly basis and reported locally.

In response to questions the Chief Superintendent confirmed that Police Officer attendance at Community Council meetings was something he would want to encourage and would address locally. He also agreed to provide further details to Councillor McAlpine in response to a query on the consultation response by the Police in relation to the 50mph speed limit between Tarbert and Ardrishaig.

The Chair requested of all Committee members that in future it would be helpful to have advance notice of questions in order to enable a full response to be made at the meeting.

It was noted that the Chief Superintendent was moving onto a new role and on behalf of the Committee the Chair extended thanks for the significant contribution he had made to the Performance Review and Scrutiny Committee.  

Decision

The Committee noted the content of the report.

(Reference:  Report by Local Police Commander, Chief Superintendent Barry McEwan dated 23 July 2014, submitted)

Report by Local Senior Officer, Scottish Fire and Rescue

The Committee considered the Argyll and Bute Local Fire and Rescue Plan Performance Report for the period April to June 2014 which was presented by Local Senior Officer Paul Connelly of Strathclyde Fire and Rescue.  The report provided detail on the performance of the Strathclyde Fire and Rescue Service in the Argyll and Bute area outlining progress in the delivery of local priorities as set out in the Local Fire and Rescue Plan.  The report contained a series of Local Performance Indicators providing an assessment of the fire risk in Argyll and Bute.

In discussion it was noted that the rural parliament were inviting award nominations for a project which was tackling a rural challenge with success and innovation within the Argyll, Bute and the Islands region. The Executive Director for Community Services highlighted the intention in this regard to nominate the Young Firefighters in Kintyre as an innovative approach to address a scarce resource with a positive impact on the community.

Decision

The Committee noted the content of the report.

(Reference:  Report by Local Senior Officer Paul Connelly, Strathclyde Fire and Rescue dated August 2014, submitted)

Report by Head of Strategic Finance  

A report which provided a review of the recently agreed Strategic Risk Register was considered as per the agreed 6 monthly reporting cycle.  The report provided members with assurance that the Strategic Risk Register continued to be monitored by outlining the process for reviewing the Register.

Decision

The Committee noted the content of the report.

(Reference:  Report by Head of Strategic Finance dated August 2014, submitted)

Report by Head of Strategic Finance

A report setting out the Council’s treasury management position for the period 1 April 2014 to 30 June 2014 was considered.  The report provided information on the Council’s overall borrowing position, borrowing activity, investment activity, economic forecast and prudential indicators.

Decision

The Committee noted the content of the report.

(Reference:  Report by Head of Strategic Finance dated August 2014, submitted)

Report by Executive Director – Customer Services

A report providing the Committee with an update on the Council’s performance against targets and performance indicators for maximising attendance during the period April to June 2014 was considered.

Decision

The Committee noted the content of the report.

(Reference:  Report by Executive Director – Customer Services dated August 2014, submitted)

Report by Executive Director – Customer Services

A report which outlined the current situation with regard to scrutiny and which identified key areas for development was considered.  The report provided detail on the additional performance review and scrutiny which would be carried out by the strategic service committees and through elected member training.

Decision

The Committee noted –

1.      The involvement of the new strategic committees in performance review and scrutiny.

2.      That a report would be brought to the next meeting of the committee to confirm the elements of performance review being undertaken by other entitles in the management arrangements of the Council.

(Reference:  Report by Executive Director – Customer Services dated August 2014, submitted)

Paul Connelly and Barry McEwan left the meeting at this point.

Report by Chief Executive

The Committee considered the Council and departmental performance reports and associated scorecards for performance in financial quarter one 2014-15.

In response to queries on the EDI Scorecard it was noted that the Department would give consideration to addressing the concerns highlighted in relation to engagement with BEAR and would report back to the Chair and Councillor McAlpine in this regard.

Clarification was sought in relation to the Oban Airport statistics and it was noted that this would be provided to the Committee.

Decision

The Committee reviewed the reports and scorecards presented noting the content thereof.

(Reference:  Report by Chief Executive dated August 2014 and Council and Departmental Performance Reports and associated scorecards for FQ1 2014-15, submitted)

Report by Chief Executive

The Committee considered the Service Annual Performance Reviews which were before them for review and scrutiny prior to publishing on the Council website.  The Committee considered 12 Service reports which summarised the Services annual performance and which included the Service Scorecard.

Decision

The Committee reviewed the Service Annual Performance Reviews noting the content thereof.

(Reference:  Report by Chief Executive dated August 2014 and Service Annual Performance Reviews, submitted)

Report by Executive Director – Customer Services

The Committee considered the Council Annual Report for 2013/14.  The Annual Report provides information on the allocation of Council budget and the Services delivered by the Council highlighting key outcomes achieved by Services and areas for improvement.  The report is not a statutory requirement but is seen as good practice by the Accounts Commission and is available on the Council’s website.

Decision

The Committee endorsed the Council Annual Report subject to further consideration being given to a précis or summary and how the report is presented on the Council website.

(Reference:  Report by Executive Director – Customer Services dated August 2014 and Council Annual Report 2013-14, submitted)

Councillor Maurice Corry joined the meeting at this point.

Report by Executive Director – Customer Services

As part of the agreement by the Committee to review the Local Government Benchmarking Framework in four sections over a year; the Committee considered the first section in respect of Children’s Services, Adult Social Work and Family Groups.

Decision

The Committee noted the content of the report.

(Reference:  Report by Executive Director – Customer Services dated August 2014, submitted)

Report by Executive Director – Customer Services

The Committee considered the Argyll and Bute Single Outcome Agreement Annual Report 2013-14 which outlined the success and detailed the performance of the Argyll and Bute Community Planning Partnership in 2013-14.

Decision

The Committee noted the content of the Single Outcome Agreement Annual Report 2013-14.

(Reference:  Report by Executive Director – Customer Services dated August 2014 and Argyll and Bute Community Plan and Single Outcome Agreement Annual Report 2013-14, submitted)

Report by Executive Director – Customer Services

A report detailing the population projections relating to Argyll and Bute was considered.  The report showed that the population of Argyll and Bute is projected to decline over the period 2012 to 2037.  These projections had been taken from the NRS 2012-based population projections published in May 2014.

Decision

The Committee noted the population projections.

(Reference:  Report by Executive Director – Customer Services dated August 2014, submitted)

Report by Executive Director – Customer Services

A report outlining the mid-2013 population estimates for Argyll and Bute was considered.  These estimates had been taken from the NRS Mid-Year Estimates for local authority and health board areas which had been published on 26 June 2013.

Decision

The Committee noted the population estimates.

(Reference:  Report by Executive Director – Customer Services dated August 2014, submitted)

The Chair informed the Committee that he had been asked to advise on the relevance of two separate issues being referred to the PRS Committee.

On the first, relating to Dunoon Primary Schools development, he had advised that as there had been an exhaustive process and analyses consultation; and a decision by the plenary Council, it would not seem appropriate to expend time on further examination.

The second matter related to Children and Families, it being felt by the individual concerned that information was being concealed without any definition of what that information might be. The Chair had explained that more substance would be needed to focus the Committee on such an intuitive quest.

The Chair confirmed that it was his intent, in the interests of transparency, to report any such discussions to the Committee.

Further to discussions that had taken place at the Committee Development Day on Tuesday 26 August 2014, the Committee noted that Committee Services would look at dates towards the end of September for the Committee to meet informally to discuss their objectives.