Issue - meetings

Neil MacIntyre

Mr MacIntyre expressed concern that the allocated sum of £40,000 would be insufficient to cover the full scope of the project at Mossfield Bridge, asking how this could be put out to tender if there was no additional budget identified?

Mr McCuish raised concerns similar to those previously expressed, noting that the £40,000 allocation for the bridge project was likely to be insufficient. He further noted that, when the initial funding had been awarded for improvements at Mossfield, it had been stated that the bridge lay within the Mossfield boundary. On that basis, he suggested that the bridge should appropriately form part of the forthcoming lease application for Mossfield.

The Head of Roads and Infrastructure responded that actual costs could not be clear until it went to the market and the tenders had been returned showing the true cost of the works. He also noted that the £40,000 figure had been an estimate based on the best available information and experience from previous exercises. It was acknowledged that the final cost would not be confirmed until the tender process had been completed.

Mairi Malloy

Mrs Malloy asked that following the collapse of Carers Direct and their reported underspend, could the underspent money be used to get more care provision on the ground?

Councillor Green advised that the Health and Social Care Partnership had received formal notification that Carers Direct would cease trading and enter liquidation at the close of business on 1 June. Members were reassured that appropriate information sharing, risk assessment, and continuity planning measures had been implemented. It was confirmed that, at this stage, there was no expectation of any interruption to essential care provision.

In relation to the underspend, it was reported that this matter had previously been considered by the Integration Joint Board (IJB). Members were advised that the level of underspend represented less than 1% of the IJB’s annual budget, amounting to approximately 0.7%. It was highlighted that such an underspend is routinely carried forward and utilised in the subsequent financial year to support ongoing investment and service delivery.

During consideration of the following item the Chair suggested an adjournment to check competency of potential amendments, which was agreed.  On reconvening the meeting, Councillor Hume was not present.