Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were intimated from Councillors Duncan MacIntyre and Gary Mulvaney.

Councillor James Robb declared a non financial interest in the report on the Review of All Weather Pitch Charges as a member of his family has played on the pitch at Ardencaple.  He advised that he did not feel the interest was significant and remained in the room when this report was discussed at item 8 of this Minute.

Councillor Aileen Morton declared a non financial interest in the report on the Review of All Weather Pitch Charges as a member of her family has played on facilities at Hermitage.  She advised that she did not feel the interest was significant and remained in the room when this report was discussed at item 8 of this Minute.

Councillor Roderick McCuish declared a non financial interest in the report on the Review of All Weather Pitch Charges as he has made use of these facilities.  He advised that he did not feel the interest was significant and remained in the room when this report was discussed at item 8 of this Minute.

The Chair advised that he had received a request from the Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands Area Committee that the Policy and Resources Committee consider an urgent item.  He stated that as significant further information was required this would be referred directly to the Council budget meeting for consideration along with the other business relating to the Single Outcome Agreement.

Policy and Resources Committee 18 December 2014

The Minutes of the Policy and Resources Committee of 18 December 2014 were approved as a correct record subject to the following amendment:-

Item 19 CHORD Programme and Major Capital Regeneration Projects – Highlight Report as at 5 December 2014

Decision 1 – “CHORD Projects” to be amended to “CHORD and Major Capital Regeneration Projects”.

Decision 2 – “CHORD progress reports” to be amended to “CHORD and Major Capital Regeneration progress reports”

Report by Head of Strategic Finance

Consideration was given to a report which reviewed the recently agreed Strategic Risk Register as per the agreed 6 monthly reporting cycle.

Decision

Noted the content of the updated Strategic Risk Register and agreed that arrangements be made to hold a workshop/seminar for Members on the Strategic Risk Registrar in advance of a future Policy and Resources Committee meeting.

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

A report presenting the 2015-16 Service Plans for the 12 Council services was considered.  The plans included the resources available to the service, the outcomes that will be delivered with these resources, the associated risks, and the success measures that enable the Council to monitor progress.

Decision

Approved the full suite of Service Plans 2015-16 for submission to the Council meeting on 12 February 2015.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director – Customer Services and Service Plans for 2015-16, submitted)

Section A –      Introductory Report and Recommendations for Budget papers on Revenue Budget

Section B –     Revenue Budget Overview

Section C –     Report on Fees and Charges

Section D –     Revenue Budget Monitoring 2014-15 as at 31 December 2014

Section E –     Report on Financial Risks Analysis

Section F –      Report on Reserves and Balances

Consideration was given to the full package of papers included in the budget pack in relation to the Revenue Budget for 2015-2016.  The budget pack included Revenue Budget Overview, Revenue Budget Fees and Charges, Revenue Budget Monitoring Report, Financial Risks Analysis, and Reserves and Balances.

Decision

The Committee:-

1.    agreed to refer this item, without recommendation, for consideration by the Council at their meeting on 12 February 2015; and

2.    noted that if Members wished further information on the income raised from fees and charges this could be obtained direct from the Head of Strategic Finance.

(Reference: Report by Head of Strategic Finance dated 27 January 2015 and Revenue Budget Pack for 2015-2016, submitted)

Report by Head of Strategic Finance

Consideration was given to the Treasury Management Strategy and Annual Investment Strategy 2015-16.

Decision

Approved the Treasury Management Strategy and Annual Investment Strategy 2015-16 for submission to the Council on 12 February 2015.

(Reference: Report by Head of Strategic Finance dated 28 January 2015 and Treasury Management Strategy and Annual Investment Strategy 2015-16, submitted)

Report by Head of Strategic Finance

·         Revenue Budget Monitoring Report as at 31 December 2014

·         Monitoring of 1% Savings for 2014-15 and 2015-16

·         Update to 2015-16 Budget as at December 2014

·         Monitoring of Financial Risks

·         Reserves and Balances

·         Capital Plan Monitoring Report as at 31 December 2014

·         Treasury Monitoring Report as at 31 December 2014

Consideration was given to the financial reports monitoring pack as at 31 December 2014.  The financial reports monitoring pack consisted of seven reports including revenue budget monitoring report, monitoring of 1% savings for 2014/15 and 2015/16, update to 2015/16 budget, monitoring of financial risks, reserves and balances, capital plan monitoring report and treasury monitoring report.

Decision

The Committee noted:-

1.    the revenue budget monitoring report as at 31 December 2014;

2.    the progress towards the 1% savings target for 2014-15 and 2015-16;

3.    the updates to the 2015-16 budget as at 31 December 2014;

4.    the current assessment of the Council’s financial risks;

5.    the overall level of reserves and balances and monitoring of earmarked reserves;

6.    the change in profile as detailed in paragraphs 3.3.6 to 3.3.9 in the reserves and balances report;

7.    the capital plan monitoring report as at 31 December 2014; and

8.    the treasury monitoring report as at 31 December 2014.

(Reference: Report by Head of Strategic Finance dated 27 January 2015, submitted)

Report by Executive Director – Community Services

A report which outlined the current charging position for Argyll and Bute Council’s synthetic pitches and made recommendations to standardise these within the Council’s Fees and Charging policies was considered.

Decision

The Committee agreed to refer this item without recommendation to the Council noting that further detailed information would be provided to Members at this meeting.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director – Community Services dated 22 January 2015, submitted)

Report by Executive Director – Customer Services

A report providing an update on the Audit Scotland action plan, which was most recently approved by Members at the full Council held on 25 September 2014 following a further visit from Audit Scotland in April 2014, was considered.

Decision

Noted the contents of the report and the updated action plan which outlined the progress that has been made.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director – Customer Services dated December 2014 and Action Plan update as at 20 November 2014, submitted)

Report by Executive Director – Customer Services

The Committee considered the outline work plan to facilitate forward planning of reports to the Policy and Resources Committee.

Decision

Noted the outline work plan.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director – Customer Services dated 5 February 2015, submitted)

Report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure Services

Consideration was given to a report advising of the work undertaken in reviewing and updating the current Council policy in relation to community benefit from renewable energy developments and seeking approval of the principles contained within the draft Framework to allow further consultation to be undertaken.

Decision

The Committee:-

1.    noted the contents of the report and the review process which has been undertaken;

2.    approved the principles within the draft Framework contained at Appendix 1; and

3.    agreed that the draft Framework be subject to a period of consultation with key partners and communities including Argyll and Bute Renewables Alliance and the Community Planning Partnership with the final document being reported to appropriate Committees for approval in Spring/Summer 2015.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure Services, submitted)

Report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure Services

Consideration was given to a report which provided an update in relation to the digital infrastructure projects which were ongoing across Argyll and Bute.  The report included updates in relation to broadband and mobile communication improvements.

Decision

The Committee:-

1.    noted the content of the report; and

2.    agreed that Officers write to the Scottish Government and COSLA to request that sufficient extension funding is allocated to ensure that coverage levels within Argyll and Bute match the Scotland wide action plan to “put in place infrastructure that will have the capacity to deliver next generation broadband to 95% of premises by 2017, and a significant uplift in speeds for the remaining areas”.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure Services, submitted)

A report outlining the background to the Lorn Arc Tax Incremental Financial (TIF) programme and requesting approval of a start-up budget to enable Project 9 at Oban Airport to be taken to full business case was considered.  The Programme Initiation Document (PID), which received approval from Council on 22 January 2015, sets out the governance for the programme and states that project start-ups and development costs are to be reported to the Policy and Resources Committee for their approval.

Prior to taking a decision the Committee resolved in terms of Section 50(A)(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 to exclude the public to allow discussion of the detail within the Appendix to the report on the grounds that it was likely to involve the disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 8 and 9 of Part 1 of Schedule 7A to the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973.

Decision

The Committee:-

1.    approved the drawdown of borrowing for a total of £95,550 for the development of a Full Business Case for Lorn Arc Project 9 – Existing Access Improvements and Business Park Enablement, Oban Airport, noting that these resources will be held in a defined budget and managed as detailed in the Lorn Arc Programme PID; and

2.    noted that the Full Business Case for Project 9 will be reported to a future Oban, Lorn and the Isles Area Committee and Policy and Resources Committee before moving to the implementation stage.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructures Services and Exempt Appendix to the report, submitted)