Decision details

The Committee gave consideration to a report confirming that a financial saving had been made following the decision by the Council in 2021 to a £10,000 savings package in relation to the nursery growing service.  The report set out the challenges in delivering spring bedding, largely due to market changes which were not reasonably foreseeable at the time the savings package was developed.  The report also set out a range of possible options for dealing with planting beds in future years, including community involvement.

Decision

The Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee agreed to pursue a blended model of options for the delivery of planting across Argyll and Bute as follows:

1.    agreed to re-open the Ardencraig growing facility to serve the Isle of Bute with annual summer bedding plants noting that the estimated cost associated with this option was £13,500;

2.    agreed to continue to purchase annual summer bedding plants for all other areas across Argyll and Bute, noting that this would deliver a recurring revenue saving of £6,000;

3.    agreed to progress Option 6 as noted in the report to continue to engage with community groups across the Council area to take over maintenance of floral displays; and 

4.    agreed to recommend to the Council that as implementation of these measures are estimated to require additional revenue funding of £7,500 within 2023-24 this is funded from the unallocated General Fund and built into the budget outlook estimates for future years. 

(Reference:  Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure Services dated August 2023, submitted; and Motion by Councillor Ross Moreland, seconded by Councillor Peter Wallace, tabled)