Issue - meetings

BUDGETING PACK 2019/20

Meeting: 25/02/2021 - Argyll and Bute Council (Item 5)

5 BUDGETING PACK 2021/22 pdf icon PDF 21 MB

1.    Introductory Report and Recommendations

 

2.    Revenue Pack

a.    Budget Consultation – Findings

b.    Service Plans

c.    Assessing Equality and Socio Economic Impact

d.    Revenue Budget Overview (Appendix 9 is marked exempt E1)

e.    Fees and Charges

f.     Financial Risks Analysis

g.    Reserves and Balances

 

3.    Capital Plan

a.    Capital Plan Summary Report (Appendix 4 is marked exempt E2)

b.    Corporate Asset Management Strategy

c.    Corporate Asset Management Plan including Asset Group Summaries

 

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Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Council considered the Revenue Budget and Capital Budget papers as contained within the budgeting pack, considered such other appropriate resolutions in relation to these papers and fixed the Council Tax for the year to 31 March 2022 which had been referred without recommendation by the Policy and Resources Committee held on 18 February 2021.

 

The Council resolved in terms of Section 50(A)(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 to exclude the press and public to allow consideration of Appendix 9 to item 2(d) and Appendix 4 to item 3(a) of the Budgeting Pack 2021/22 on the grounds that they were likely to involve the disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 6; and 8 & 9 respectively of Part 1 of Schedule 7A to the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973.

 

Motion

 

In relation to Appendix 4 to item 3(a) of the Budgeting Pack 2021/22 -

 

Argyll & Bute Council notes with concern the contents of the report and agrees to pause this project until such time as officers have consulted / negotiated with current funding partners on the implications of cancelling this project so that any additional costs that the Council may face with regards to having to repay funding in part or full can be identified.

 

A further report should be brought to a future meeting of the Council with an update provided by officers on the consultation / negotiations with current funding partners so that the Council can then take an informed decision of this project. 

 

Moved Councillor George Freeman, seconded Councillor Dougie Philand.

 

Amendment

 

That the Council considers this matter as part of the Budgeting Pack 2021/22.

 

Moved Councillor Gary Mulvaney, seconded Councillor Robin Currie.

 

As the meeting was being held on a virtual basis the vote required to be taken by calling the Roll and Members voted as follows –

 

Motion                                                Amendment  

Councillor George Freeman               Councillor Jim Anderson

Councillor Dougie Philand                  Councillor John Armour

                                                            Councillor Gordon Blair

                                                            Councillor Rory Colville

                                                            Councillor Robin Currie

                                                            Councillor Mary Jean Devon

                                                            Councillor Lorna Douglas

                                                            Councillor Jim Findlay

                                                            Councillor Audrey Forrest

                                                            Councillor Bobby Good

                                                            Councillor Kieron Green

                                                            Councillor Graham Hardie

                                                            Councillor Anne Horn

                                                            Councillor David Kinniburgh

                                                            Councillor Jim Lynch

                                                            Councillor Donnie MacMillan

                                                            Councillor Roddy McCuish

                                                            Councillor Julie McKenzie

                                                            Councillor Yvonne McNeilly

                                                            Councillor Jean Moffat

                                                            Councillor Barbara Morgan

                                                            Councillor Aileen Morton

                                                            Councillor Gary Mulvaney

                                                            Councillor Iain Shonny Paterson

                                                            Councillor Alastair Redman

                                                            Councillor Alan Reid

                                                            Councillor Elaine Robertson

                                                            Councillor Sandy Taylor

                                                            Councillor Richard Trail

                                                            Councillor Andrew Vennard

 

Decision

 

The Amendment was carried by 30 votes to 2 and the Council resolved accordingly.

 

The Press and Public were invited to re-join the meeting.

 

Councillor George Freeman left the meeting at this point.

 

Motion

 

Argyll and Bute Council:

1) Acknowledges and welcomes the contributions from our communities to the Council’s budget planning consultation, noting that after taking into account feedback from the public, a number of savings proposals under consideration were not pursued. 

2) Approves all service plans, subject to updating the budget figures in line with the budget agreed for 2021-22.

3) Approves the revenue estimates for 2021-22 and that consequently the local tax requirement estimated at £52.859m is funded from Council Tax. Approve the following rates and charges for the year, 2021-22:

a) Council Tax to be paid in respect of a chargeable dwelling in Band “D” of £1,367.73 representing a 0.00% increase. 

b) Council Tax to be paid in respect of a chargeable dwelling in each of the other valuation bands in accordance with Section 74(1) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 as amended.

c) Business Rates as determined by Scottish Ministers.

4) Approves the revenue budget for 2021-22 as set out in the Revenue Budget Overview Report and subject to the decisions outlined below and set out in the Administration’s Budget Model provided at Appendix 1. 

5) Approves a base allocation to the Health and Social Care Partnership of £62.211m for 2021-22. Approve indicative base allocations for 2022-23 and 2023-24 to be £62.211m. The level of future years funding is subject to the level of Scottish Government funding and the Council’s overall financial position in future years.

6) With reference to the HSCP request for a deferral of £1m of the £1.2m that is due to be paid in 2021-22, agrees this in principle, subject to the proviso that the amount to be deferred be reduced by the amount of any HSCP underspend in 2020-21.

7) Approves the 10% reduction to the Live Argyll Management Fee, resulting in a management fee in 2021-22 of £3.418m.  

8)

a) Rejects the following policy savings options totalling £135,000:

·         R&I 02 – flower bed planting- £30,000

·         R&I 13 – grass cutting service specification - £100,000

·         R&I 14 – fuel and utility sales - £5,000

b) Accepts all other policy savings options proposals (set out in Appendix 6 of the Revenue Budget Overview report) totalling £557,500. 

c) Endorses the management/operational savings outlined in Appendix 5 of the Revenue Budget Overview report. 

9) Agrees a total of £6.784m investments in Argyll and Bute’s future, as set out in the Administration Budget Model in Appendix 1:

Investing in Argyll and Bute’s Opportunities - £0.830m

£500k

Staycation Argyll and Bute - Supporting recovery and renewal by maximising the potential for growth in Argyll and Bute’s camping and campervan staycation market

Additional funds to be spent across 2021/22 and 2022/23 to support the delivery of a range of facilities across Argyll and Bute necessary to support camping and caravan staycations.  This will include provision of additional waste disposal facilities to be available prior to the summer of 2021 and other facilities that will be informed by the Motorhome and Informal Camping Survey.  Additional wardens to be employed over the period April to October 2021 to raise awareness in respect of camping responsibly.

 

£300k

Marketing Argyll and Bute as Scotland’s premier staycation destination – targeted marketing and promotion activity to highlight Argyll and Bute’s opportunities for growth

In addition, £300k investment in marketing Argyll and Bute as Scotland’s premier staycation destination, with funds to be spent  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5

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Meeting: 27/02/2020 - Argyll and Bute Council (Item 7)

7 BUDGETING PACK 2020/21 pdf icon PDF 16 MB

1.     Introductory Report and Recommendations

 

2.     Revenue Pack

 

a)     Budget Consultation – Findings

b)     Service Plans 2020-2023

c)     Assessing Equality and Socio Economic Impact

d)     Revenue Budget Overview (Appendix 8 is marked exempt (E1)

e)     Fees and Charges

f)       Financial Risks Analysis

g)     Reserves and Balances

 

3.     Capital Plan

 

a)     Capital Plan Summary Report

b)     Corporate Asset Management Strategy

c)     Corporate Asset Management Plan including Asset Group Summaries

 

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Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Provost advised that in terms of Section 50(A)(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, the appendix 8 relating to Item 2(d) of the Budgeting Pack would require him to exclude the press and public should any Member wish to discuss the content of this appendix on the grounds that it was likely to involve the disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 6 respectively of Part 1 of Schedule 7A to the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973.

 

The Council considered the Revenue Budget and Capital Budget papers as contained within the budgeting pack, considered such other appropriate resolutions in relation to these papers and fixed the Council Tax for the year to 31 March 2021 which had been referred without recommendation by the Policy and Resources Committee held on 20 February 2020.

 

Motion

 

Argyll and Bute Council:

  1. Approves the revenue estimates for 2020/21 and that consequently the local tax requirement estimated at £52.859m is funded from Council Tax. Approves the following rates and charges for the year 2020/21:

a)     Council Tax to be paid in respect of a chargeable dwelling in Band D of £1,367.73, representing at 4.5% increase.

b)     Council Tax to be paid in respect of a chargeable dwelling in each of the other valuation bands in accordance with Section 74(1) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 as amended.

c)     Business Rates as determined by Scottish Ministers.

 

  1. Notes and approves the detail provided in the Revenue Budget Overview Report, subject to the decisions outlined below and reconciled in the Administration’s Revenue Budget Model at point 3:

a)     Approves a base allocation to the Health and Social Care Partnership of £60.577m for 2020/21, with net payment of £60.077m once the debt repayment schedule requested by the HSCP is taken into account; this schedule, including future years indicative payments, is also approved as set out in the table at 3.6.10 of the Revenue Budget Overview Report.  Notes the remaining overspend of £1.327m from 17/18 and 18/19 will need to be repaid, and that the profile for repayment will be considered by the Policy and Resources Committee at its May 2020 meeting, when the 19/20 overspend is confirmed. Agrees that in the event of the HSCP underspending in 2020/21 or any future years, the council will seek earlier repayment of outstanding debts. Notes that the level of future years funding is subject to the level of Scottish Government funding and the Council’s overall financial position in future years;

b)     Approves the adjustment to the Live Argyll Management Fee, resulting in a management fee in 2020/21 of £3,788m. Notes that the service level agreement is due to be renewed for 2021/22 onwards. Instructs officers to engage with Live Argyll, in light of the Trust’s ongoing income generation and the non-statutory elements of the service, with a view to exploring a reduction in the management fee. Requests that officers provide reports to the Policy and Resources Committee over the course of 2020/21 as this work progresses;

c)     Approves the transfer of £0.500m of revenue funding to the capital programme to reflect the additional revenue funding provided by the Scottish Government to pay for the required replacement of MV Lismore;

d)     Notes the management/operational savings totalling £1.37m as outlined in Appendix 5 of the Revenue Budget Overview Report which were endorsed by the Council in October 2019, and endorses the one-off fleet saving of £0.278m and the loans fund saving of £2.5m;

e)     Approves the policy savings options listed in Appendix 6 of the Revenue Budget Overview Report, with the following exceptions:

 

i) Savings options rejected in full - £564.9k

ED03

Educational Psychology Services

£78k

ED14

Swimming Pool Subsidies

£19.3k

ED20

Pupil Support Assistants

£198.5k

L&R03

Advice Services Staff

£18.1k

RAIS02

School Crossing Patrollers

£113k

RAIS04

Parking Charges

£138k

 

ii) Agrees, in relation to the above savings options, the following additional instructions:

ED14 – requests that officers review all payments to these organisations ahead of the main Service Level Agreement (SLA) renewal next year and streamline funding into a single payment.

RAIS04 – Requests that officers carry out a holistic review of parking arrangements across Argyll and Bute and develop proposals that take into account the needs of communities, business and visitors, addressing local demand, congestion, climate change and ease of use. Requests that officers bring forward a programme for the review to be taken forward on an area basis, with priority given to those areas where there has already been community engagement (Luss and Tobermory).

 

iii) Savings options rejected in part - £79k

ED21

(a) Third Sector Grant – rejects removal but reduces funding to £75k in 2020/21 and to £50k from 2021/22 onwards.

(b) Early Years staffing review accepted

£75k

 

 

RAIS09

(1) Accepts proposals for charging.

(2) Rejects closure of low use facilities but agrees that those 10 public conveniences are promoted for community transfer, lease or sale

£4K

 

iv) Notes that the total savings delivered through acceptance of policy savings options is £1.406m and is confirmed in the Administration’s Revenue Budget Model at point 3 below.

 

f)       Agrees the following investments in line with the Council’s Priorities:

£500k

Roads maintenance and climate change mitigation works

Additional funds to be spent across 20/21 and 21/22 to mitigate the impacts of weather related damage and climate change with specific emphasis on gully cleaning and drainage improvements. A report to be brought back to September EDI committee

£400k

Green transport

Additional funds to be spent across 20/21 and 21/22, investment in footway and cycle path maintenance supporting the healthy wellbeing and green agenda

£400k

Education – digital learning

Additional funds to be spent across 20/21 and 21/22, as part of the ongoing transformation work in the Education service, focussing on digital and virtual learning technology and the development of learning clusters

£50k

Shared Transport

Additional funds available in 20/21 to explore the redesign of public and school transport and the introduction of shared transport, engaging with communities so that services better match their needs and reduce  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7

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Meeting: 21/02/2019 - Argyll and Bute Council (Item 5)

5 BUDGETING PACK 2019/20 pdf icon PDF 28 MB

1.     Introductory Report and Recommendations for Budget Papers

 

2.     Revenue Pack

a)     Budget Consultation – Findings Report

b)     Service Plans 2019-22

c)     Budget Savings - Assessing Equality and Socio Economic Impact

d)     Revenue Budget Overview

e)     Report on Fees and Charges

f)      Revenue Budget Monitoring 2018-19 as at 31 December 2018

g)     Report on Financial Risks Analysis

h)     Report on Reserves and Balances

 

3. Capital Plan

a)     Capital Plan Summary

b)     Corporate Asset Management Strategy

c)     Corporate Asset Management Plan / Asset Group Summaries

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Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Council considered the Revenue Budget and Capital Budget papers as contained within the budgeting pack, considered such other appropriate resolutions in relation to these papers and fixed the Council Tax for the year to 31 March 2020 which had been referred without recommendation by the Policy and Resources Committee held on 14 February 2019.

 

Motion

 

The Council:

 

1.     Approves the revenue estimates for 2019/20 and that consequently the local tax requirement estimated at £50.457m is funded from Council Tax and confirms the following rates, charges and flexibility in payment terms for the year 2019/20:

a)     Council tax to be paid in respect of a chargeable dwelling in band D of £1,308.83 representing a 4.79% increase, as permitted by the Scottish Government;

b)     Council tax to be paid in respect of a chargeable dwelling in each of the other valuation bands in accordance with section 74(1) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 as amended;

c)     Business rates as determined by Scottish Ministers.

 

2.     Notes and approves the detail provided in the Head of Strategic Finance’s Revenue Budget Overview report and the surplus of £1.032m in 2019/20, subject to the following amendments as set out below and reconciled in the Administration’s Revenue Budget Model at point 4; 

a)     Agrees to increase the allocation to the Health and Social Care Partnership for 2019/20 to £58.368m with indicative allocations for 2020/21 and 2021/22 to support the partnership in its long term financial management and planning, subject to the level of Scottish Government funding and the council’s overall financial position in future years, and agrees to defer the payback of the 2017/18 overspend by one year, all as detailed below:

 

 

2019/20 £000

2020/21 £000

2021/22 £000

Baseline funding 2018/19

56,389

56,389

56,389

Adjust fleet capital charges

(189)

(189)

(189)

Scottish Government recommended 2.2% reduction

(1,236)

(1,236)

(1,236)

Total additional HSCP funding as per Finance Circular

2,168

2,168

2,168

Base Payment to HSCP

57,132

57,132

57,132

Additional in-year payment (rejecting recommended 2.2% reduction for 2019/20)

1,236

1,236

1,236

 

1% Budgetary reduction in 2020/21 and 21/22

 

(584)

(1,162)

Revised payment to HSCP

58,368

57,784

57,206

Less 2017/18 overspend payment

(100)

(300)

(755)

Net payment to HSCP

58,268

57,484

56,451

 

b)     Approves the adjustment to the Live Argyll management fee, resulting in a management fee of £3.692m in 2019/20; also approves the increase in the management fee for 2020/21 as previously agreed on establishment of the Trust, noting that the fee for 2021/22 will be subject to review on the basis of the Trust’s ability to grow income streams/reduce the management fee;

c)     Allocates an additional £500,000 for winter maintenance expenditure on a recurring basis and requests that officers, when reviewing the Winter Maintenance policy, explore options to increase community resilience;

d)     Approves an additional one-off funding allocation of £80,000 to the Royal National Mod from the unallocated General Fund balance which, combined with the existing base budget provision of £40,000, brings the total council contribution to £120,000; notes that the existing base budget is removed from 2020/21 onwards;

e)     Agrees a one-off funding allocation of £23,330 to Kintyre Recycling Ltd (KRL) funded from the unallocated General Fund balance;

f)       Agrees a total of £90,000 available funding for Events and Festivals in 2020/21 in order that the grants application process can commence during 2019/20;

g)     Agrees that the Supporting Communities Fund level will be £90,000 in 2020/21, allowing Area Committees to make decisions about allocations in March 2020;

h)     Approves the management and operational savings outlined in Appendix 5 of the Revenue Budget Overview Report;

i)       Accepts all policy options listed in Appendix 6 of the Head of Strategic Finance’s Revenue Budget Overview Report except those listed below, to deliver total savings of £1.419m;

·        RAS05 – Grounds and Environment

·        RAS11 – School Crossing Patrollers

·        CSS02 – Customer Service Points

 

3.     Approves the following in relation to fees and charges with effect from 1st April 2019 unless otherwise noted:

a)   Approves the proposals for the fees and charges inflationary increase of 3%;

b)   Rejects proposed increases to on-street and off-street parking charges in 2019/20 and approves all other charges over and above inflation;

c)   Approves new charges in relation to registrars printing copy certificates, pre-application meetings and private water supplies, and agree that these charges will apply from 22nd February 2019;

d)   Approves the new charges in relation to the proposed parking pilot for Oban, Lorn and the Isles as per the report to Policy and Resources Committee on 14th February 2019;

e)   Approves the changes proposed to Social Work fees and charges;

f)     Approves all other charges as noted within the Fees and Charges Schedule;

g)   Notes that the income resulting from the above measures totals £0.275m.

 

4.     Approves that, after the changes as noted in points 2 and 3 above, the remaining revenue budget surplus of £0.212m is transferred to the Unallocated General Fund; all summarised in the Administration Revenue Budget model below:

 

Administration Budget Model 2019/20

2019/20 £000

2020/21 £000

2021/22 £000

Budget surplus/(gap) as per Budget Pack

1,032

(4,528)

(11,611)

Policy options not agreed:

 

 

 

RAS05 Grounds/Environment 10% reduction

(120)

(180)

(180)

RAS11 School Crossing Patrollers

(115)

(170)

(170)

CSS02 Customer Service Centre/Digital Service Team

(40)

(79)

(79)

Non-acceptance of fee increases for on-street and off-street car parking

(45)

(45)

(45)

Increase winter maintenance funding

(500)

(500)

(500)

Remove Mod baseline funding future years

 

40

40

HSCP – 1% reduction to payment in 2020/21 and 2021/22

 

584

1,162

Events and Festivals – reduce to £0.09m

 

23

23

Supporting Communities – reduce to £0.09m

 

8

8

Transfer surplus to Unallocated General Fund Balance

(212)

 

 

Revised Budget Surplus/(Gap)

0

(4,847)

(11,352)

 

 

5.     a) Approves the capital plan recommendations q) to v) as outlined in the Head of Strategic Finance’s Introductory Report and Recommendations;

b) Approves that the remaining capital grant in respect of Campbeltown Flood Scheme, amounting to £4.153m, is earmarked within the General Fund pending a decision on full business case expected to be submitted in late 2019;

c) Instructs officers to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5

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