Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Donald Kelly.

Councillor Graham Archibald Hardie declared a non-financial interest in item 5 of the Agenda (Budgeting Pack 2021/22) by virtue of his appointment by the Council to the Live Argyll Board.  He claimed the dispensation contained at Section 5.18 (2) of the Councillors Code of Conduct to allow him to remain in the meeting and to speak and vote on this item of Business.

 

Councillor Jim Findlay declared a non-financial interest in item 5 of the Agenda (Budgeting Pack 2021/22) by virtue of his appointment to the Rothesay Pavilion Board.  He claimed the dispensation contained at Section 5.18 (2) of the Councillors Code of Conduct to allow him to remain in the meeting and to speak and vote on this item of Business.

 

Councillor Jim Anderson declared a non-financial interest in item 5 of the Agenda (Budgeting Pack 2021/22) by virtue of his appointment by the Council to the Live Argyll Board and by virtue of his appointment to the Board of CHARTS.  He claimed the dispensation contained at Section 5.18 (2) of the Councillors Code of Conduct to allow him to remain in the meeting and to speak and vote on this item of Business.

 

Councillor Jim Lynch declared a non-financial interest in item 5 of the Agenda (Budgeting Pack 2021/22) by virtue of his appointment by the Council to the Live Argyll Board.  He claimed the dispensation contained at Section 5.18 (2) of the Councillors Code of Conduct to allow him to remain in the meeting and to speak and vote on this item of Business.

 

Argyll and Bute Council of 26 November 2020

The Minutes of the Meeting of Argyll and Bute Council held on 26 November 2020 were approved as a correct record.

The Minutes of the Meeting of the Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee held on 3 December 2020 were noted.

The Minutes of the Meeting of the Community Services Committee held on 8 December 2020 were noted.

E2        Full decision wording from exempt item 20 of the Minute

The Minutes of the Meeting of the Policy and Resources Committee held on 10 December 2020 were noted.

 

Arising from item 4 (Financial Reports Monitoring Pack – 31 October 2020) the Council approved the revenue virements over £0.200m during September and October.

 

Arising from item 8 (Draft Service Plans 2021/22) the Council noted that this recommendation would be picked up as part of the consideration of the Budgeting Pack 2021/22.

 

Arising from item 9 (Procurement Strategy 2021/22 and Sustainable Procurement Policy 2021/22 – Final Documents and Consultation) the Council agreed the revised final Procurement Strategy 2021/22 and Sustainable Procurement Policy 2021/22 be published on the Council’s website in April 2021.

 

Arising from item 10 (ICT and Digital Strategy 2021-2021) the Council approved the ICT and Digital Strategy for 2021-24.

 

Arising from item 11 (Pension Discretions Policy under the Local Government Pension Scheme (Scotland) Regulations 2018) the Council approved the proposed amendments to the Pensions Discretions Policy.

 

Arising from item 12 (Proposed Space Flight Trials Competition at Machrihanish Airbase Community Company – Request for Funding) the Council approved the funding request for £26,985 from the Rural Resettlement Fund as its contribution to the Mach-21 National Spaceflight Education Conference and CanSat Competition.

 

Arising from tem 15 (EU Exit: Charging Regime for Export health Certificates) the Council –

 

1.    Noted that the existing charging model for export health certificates as detailed at 4.5 of the submitted report had been applied to EU Certification as of 1 January 2021.

2.    Approved the new fee for attestations either based on the national fee, or in its absence, a local charge of £100 per attestation, plus full costs for recovery for additional interventions or inspections.

 

The Council noted that in terms of Section 50(A)(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, any discussion on the exempt appendix, contained at page 45 of the agenda pack, in relation to the following exempt minute item would require the exclusion of the press and public on the grounds that it was likely to involve the disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 8&9 respectively of Part 1 of Schedule 7A to the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973.

 

Arising from item 20 (Third Sector Recycling) the Council agreed the recommendations from the Policy and Resources Committee held on 10 December 2020 as contained within the exempt appendix at page 45 of the agenda pack.

The Minutes of the Meeting of the Policy and Resources Committee held on 18 February 2021 were noted.

 

Arising from item 4 (Financial Reports Monitoring pack – 31 December 2020) the Council approved the revenue virements over £0.200m during November and December.

 

Arising from item 5 (Budgeting Pack 2021/22) the Council noted that this would be dealt with as a substantive item at item 5 of the agenda.

 

Arising from item 6 (Treasury Management Strategy Statement and Annual Investment Strategy) the Council noted that this would be dealt with as a substantive item at item 6 of the agenda.

 

Arising from item 10 (Scottish Crown Estate Funding Proposals) the Council noted that the item would be dealt with as a substantive item at item 11 of the agenda.

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

 

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: