Agenda and minutes

The Chair welcomed Jennifer Nicol from Highland and Islands Enterprise to her first meeting of the Performance Review and Scrutiny Committee.

The Chair highlighted his disappointment that the performance report for quarter 1 from the Health and Social Care Partnership had again not been submitted for inclusion on the agenda for this meeting and would now be submitted to the next meeting of the Committee in November. 

There were no apologies for absence

There were no declarations of interest.

Performance, Review and Scrutiny Committee held on Thursday 26 May 2016.

The Minutes of the Performance Review and Scrutiny Committee held on 26 May 2016 were approved as a correct record.

Report by Head of Strategic Finance

A report setting out the council’s treasury management position for the period 1 April 2016 to 30 June 2016 was considered by the Committee. The report provided information on the council’s overall borrowing position, borrowing activity, investment activity, economic background, interest rate forecast and prudential indicators.

Decision

The Committee noted the contents of the report.

(Reference: Report by Head of Strategic Finance dated 25 August 2016, submitted)

Report by Head of Strategic Finance

The Committee considered a report which provided an outline of the council’s Treasury Management position for 2015-16.

In response to a query raised by the Committee as to whether we could become an external lender to other organisations, the Head of Strategic Finance advised that they are looking into the possibility of becoming a lender to other council’s and this is currently being discussed with the council’s treasury management consultants. It was noted that the Head of Strategic Finance would update the Committee at the next meeting once discussions had taken place.

Decision

The Committee noted the contents of the report.

(Reference: Report by Head of Strategic Finance dated 25 August 2016, submitted)

Report by Chief Executive

 The Committee considered a report which presented the council and departmental performance reports with associated scorecards for performance in Financial Quarter 1 in 2016/17.

The Scorecards were presented by the Executive Directors and the Head of Strategic Finance and the members of the Committee were invited to ask officers questions on the performance reports. 

Decision

 The Committee reviewed the performance reports and associated scorecards for FQ1 2016/17.

(Reference: Report by Chief Executive dated 25 August 2016, submitted)

Report by Executive Director – Customer Services

The Committee considered a report which provided an update on the council’s performance against targets and performance indicators for maximising attendance during the period April – June 2016.

The Committee discussed the processes which are in place to maximise attendance and noted that a large amount of work is being undertaken, however recognised that it is still an area of substantial cost for the council. It was noted that it would be beneficial to see benchmarking data for other local authorities in Scotland. The Committee agreed to look at the possibility of undertaking further scrutiny on the councils maximising attendance procedures and benchmarking data.

Decision

The Committee noted the contents of the report.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director – Customer Services dated 25 August 2016, submitted)

Report by Divisional Commander, Police Scotland

Chief Superintendent Grant Manders, Local Police Commander presented a report to the Committee which provides a performance update for Quarter 1 2016/17. The report advised the Committee of the current crime trends and issues which had arisen over the past quarter. Chief Superintendent Manders highlighted to the Committee particular areas of concern and advised of initiatives which were planned to address these areas.

Decision

The Committee noted the contents of the report.

(Reference: Report by Local Police Commander dated 15 August 2016, submitted)

For Discussion and Feedback to Police Scotland

The Committee considered a letter which had been received by the council from Police Scotland requesting the council participate in an engagement exercise to provide feedback to Police Scotland on the proposal to reduce the supervisory ratio.

The Local Police Commander advised that when any plans are introduced by Police Scotland which would affect local policing, he would provide a report of how it would affect the delivery of Police Services within Argyll and Bute. He advised the Committee the proposal to reduce supervisory ratios will not have any major impact on Argyll and Bute and any posts that require to be cut will be lost through natural progression and not by job losses. The Sergeant posts which will be lost will be replaced by Constables so there will not be a reduction in overall police numbers.

The Local Police Commander asked members of the Committee and the wider community to consider participating in the Your View Counts survey which Police Scotland have launched to gain the views of the community all year round. He advised that it is beneficial to hear the views of the community when making decisions but also to determine whether the service is operating successfully and identify areas of concern.

Decision

The Committee noted the request to encourage people to participate in the survey and advised that they had no concerns to feedback regarding the proposal on supervisory ratios.

(Reference: Letter from Deputy Chief Constable - Police Scotland dated June 2016, submitted)

Report by Local Senior Officer, Scottish Fire and Rescue

James Hymas, Local Senior Officer presented a report to the Committee which provides a performance update for Quarter 1 2016/17 based on the progress in the delivery of local priorities as set out within the Local Fire and Rescue Plan and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service framework documents.

The Local Senior Officer advised the Committee of the large amount of partner work which had been ongoing across Argyll and Bute to continue to ensure our communities are safe.

The Local Senior Officer advised that there had been a reduction in the number of unwanted fire alarm signals from the same period in the previous two years highlighting good partnership working with Argyll and Bute Council which has resulted in a reduction in the amount of unwanted fire alarm signals to educational establishments across Argyll and Bute. He advised that this approach is now being adopted across other Council areas as good practice.

Decision

The Committee noted the contents of the report.

(Reference: Report by Local Senior Officer dated 26 August 2016, submitted)

Report by Local Senior Officer, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service

The Committee considered a report which informed the Committee of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service’s capital budgetary allocation for 2016/17, including detail on how capital spends have been allocated to date across the Argyll and Bute area.

Decision

The Committee noted the contents of the report.

(Reference: Report by Local Senior Officer dated 8 August 2016, submitted)

Discussion on Future Performance Reporting

The Chair advised that following the Performance Review and Scrutiny Committee Business Day which had been held on 8 August 2016, the Head of Improvement and HR was working on proposals for future performance reporting to the Committee.

Decision

The Committee noted that work was ongoing to review the way in which the Committee reviews the performance of the council. 

Performance, Review and Scrutiny Committee Workplan 2016/17

Consideration was given to the workplan to facilitate forward planning of reports to the Performance Review and Scrutiny Committee.

Decision

The Committee noted the contents of the workplan.

(Reference: Performance Review and Scrutiny Work Plan dated 25 August 2016, submitted)