Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Margaret Anderson, Church representative.

DEPUTATION

 

The Provost intimated that a request for a Deputation to be heard by the Council had been received from Ms Tracy Mayo on behalf of community members on Mull, including Parent Council representatives. It was unanimously agreed to hear this Deputation.

 

The Council heard a deputation from Ms Tracy Mayo, Miss Emily Fenwick and Mr Angus Williams on behalf of community members on Mull, including Parent Council representatives, in relation to the Learning Estate Investment Programme (LEIP) – Mull Campus which would be dealt with under item 5 of the agenda (Budgeting Pack 2024/25).

 

The Provost thanked the presenters and advised that their submission would be considered under item 5 of the agenda (Budgeting Pack 2024/25).

There were no declarations of interest intimated.

Argyll and Bute Council held on 23 November 2023

The Minutes of the meeting of Argyll and Bute Council held on 23 November 2023 were approved as a correct record.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee held on 30 November 2023 were noted.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Policy and Resources Committee held on 7 December 2023 were noted.

 

Arising from item 4 of these Minutes (Financial Reports Monitoring Pack – 31 October 2023) the Council agreed the recommendation to approve the revenue virements over £0.200m during September and October 2023.

 

Arising from item 5 of these Minutes (Budget Outlook 2024-25 to 2028-29) the Council agreed the following recommendations -

 

1.     that the utilities budgets are right sized by utilising £0.936m of the £1.4m contingency that was set aside for inflationary increases as part of the 2023-24 budget setting process; and

 

2.     that the shortfall in the teachers’ pay award funding is met by utilising £0.080m of the £1.4m contingency that was set aside for inflationary increases as part of the 2023-24 budget setting process;

 

Arising from item 7 of these Minutes (2024/2025 Annual Review – Procurement Strategy 2022/25 and Sustainable Procurement Policy 2022/25) the Council agreed the recommendation to approve the final revised Procurement Strategy 2022/25 and Sustainable Procurement Policy 2022/25.

 

The Minutes of the meeting of the Community Services Committee held on 14 December 2023 were noted.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Policy and Resources Committee held on 15 February 2024 were noted.

 

Arising from item 4 of these Minutes (Financial Reports Monitoring Pack – 31 October 2023) the Council agreed the recommendation to approve the revenue virements over £0.200m during November and December 2023.

 

Arising from item 5 of these Minutes (Budgeting Pack 2024-2025) the Council agreed that this item would be dealt with under item 5 of the agenda (Budgeting Pack 2024/25).

 

Arising from item 6 of these Minutes (Treasury Management Strategy and Annual Investment Strategy) the Council agreed that this would be dealt with under item 6 of the agenda (Treasury Management Strategy and Annual Investment Strategy).

 

Arising from item 7 of these Minutes (Scottish Welfare Fund – Financial Position) the Council agreed that consideration of a cost pressure amounting to £250,000 would be dealt with under item 5 of the agenda (Budgeting Pack 2024/25).

 

Arising from item 8 of this Minute (Strategic Events and Festivals Fund – Round 6 2024/2025) the Council agreed the recommendations to –

 

1.     Agree that the consideration of £90,000 base funding for Strategic Events and Festivals in order that the application process can commence during 2025/26 (Round 7), and that this fund be augmented by any underspend in Round 5 (23/24); will be dealt with under item 5 of the agenda (Budgeting Pack 2024/25); and

 

2.     Agree that that any underspend from SEF Round 6 is earmarked and used to augment a future SEF round.

Reports by Section 95 Officer

 

Please note that the Budget Pack 2024-2025 relative to the consideration of the foregoing matters has been published separately under a meeting entitled “Budget Pack”, please ensure that you have downloaded this to your iPad before coming to the meeting.

 

The budget pack will stand alone and will be published here separately from the Policy and Resources Committee and Council agendas. This will enable the same pack to be accessed at all meetings.

 

Accessing the Budget Pack from your iPad –

To access this years’ Budgeting Pack 2024/25 Members should log into the Modern.Gov App on their iPad and tap the cog symbol on the top right hand side of the screen. In the next screen, tap the “Select Committees of Interest” option, scroll down until you find the Budget Pack. Tap on this line and a tick should appear opposite the Budget Pack to show that you have made your selection. Click “OK” at the bottom right hand side of the screen. This should now appear on your list of Committees.

The Council considered the Revenue Budget and Capital Budget papers as contained within the budgeting pack which had been referred without recommendation by the Policy and Resources Committee held on 15 February 2024, considered such other appropriate resolutions in relation to these papers and fixed the Council Tax for the year to 31 March 2025.

 

Motion

 

The Motion moved by the Administration is attached at Appendix 1 to this Minute.

 

Moved by Councillor Robin Currie, seconded by Councillor Gary Mulvaney.

 

Amendment

 

The Amendment  moved by the Strategic Opposition Partnership is attached at Appendix 2 to this Minute.

Moved by Councillor Jim Lynch, seconded by Councillor Dougie Philand.

The Provost requested the Section 95 Officer to confirm that the Motion and Amendment before the Council, containing budget proposals were competent and balanced.  The Section 95 Officer confirmed that this was the case.

 

The Provost ruled and the Council agreed to take a 10 minute comfort break at this point.

 

The Council reconvened with all those Members present as per the Sederunt.

 

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

 

Motion                             Amendment                               No Vote

 

Cllr Garret Corner              Cllr John Armour                         Cllr Tommy MacPherson

Cllr Maurice Corry             Cllr Gordon Blair

Cllr Robin Currie                Cllr Jan Brown

Cllr Kieron Green              Cllr Math Campbell Sturgess

Cllr Amanda Hampsey       Cllr Audrey Forrest

Cllr Daniel Hampsey          Cllr Fiona Howard

Cllr Graham Hardie           Cllr Willie Hume

Cllr Andrew Kain               Cllr Mark Irvine

Cllr Paul Kennedy              Cllr Jennifer Kelly

Cllr Liz McCabe                 Cllr Reeni Kennedy Boyle

Cllr Yvonne McNeilly          Cllr Jim Lynch

Cllr Ross Moreland            Cllr Luna Martin

Cllr Gary Mulvaney            Cllr Ian McQuire

Cllr Gemma Penfold          Cllr Dougie McFadzean

Cllr Alastair Redman          Cllr Julie McKenzie

Cllr William Sinclair            Cllr Dougie Philand

Cllr Andrew Vennard        

Cllr Peter Wallace

 

Decision

 

The Motion was carried by 18 votes to 16 and the Council resolved accordingly.

 

(Reference: Budgeting Pack 2024/25 dated 15 February 2024, submitted; Motion by Councillor Robin Currie, seconded by Councillor Gary Mulvaney, tabled; and Amendment by Councillor Jim Lynch, seconded by Councillor Dougie Philand, tabled)

 

Report by Section 95 Officer

The Council gave consideration to a report which sought approval of the proposed Treasury Management Strategy Statement and Annual Investment Strategy which set out the Council’s Strategy for borrowing and investment for the forthcoming year. The report also set out the policy for the repayment of loans fund advances for 2024-25 which had been referred without recommendation by the Policy and Resources Committee held on 15 February 2024.

 

Decision

 

The Council –

 

1.     approved the proposed Treasury Management Strategy Statement and Annual Investment Strategy and the indicators contained within; noting that the figures within the Strategy would be updated to reflect the budget decisions agreed at Council;

 

2.     approved the continued use of the asset life method for the repayment of loan fund advances using a 5.1% annuity interest rate, with the exception of spend to save schemes where the funding/income profile method could be used;

 

3.     approved the proposed asset repayment periods as detailed within section 2.7 of the Treasury Management Strategy Statement; and

 

4.     approved the ability to continue to use countries with a sovereign rating of AA- and above, as recommended by the Council’s external treasury management advisors.

 

(Reference: Report by Section 95 Officer dated 6 February 2024, submitted)

The Provost ruled and the Council agreed to adjourn the meeting at this point for a 30 minute lunch break.

 

The Council reconvened at 2.10pm with all those Members present as per the Sederunt.

Report by Section 95 Officer

The Council gave consideration to a report providing an update on the audit of the accounts for 2022/23 which had still to be completed by external auditor’s Mazars. The report expressed the dissatisfaction by officers with the situation which had been reported to both Mazars and Audit Scotland.

 

Decision

 

The Council noted the content of the submitted report.

 

(Reference: Report by Section 95 Officer dated 5 February 2024, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Legal and Regulatory Support

The Council gave consideration to a report advising of a vacancy that had arisen on the Live Argyll Board; and to a request from Glasgow City Council to appoint a Trustee to the Blindcraft Trust Fund.

 

Decision

 

The Council –

 

1.     agreed to appoint Councillor Fiona Howard as an Argyll and Bute Council representative on the Live Argyll Board; and

 

2.     agreed to appoint Councillor Graham Archibald Hardie as a Trustee to the Blindcraft Trust Fund.

 

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Legal and Regulatory Support dated 19 January 2024, submitted)

Councillor Iain Shonny Paterson left the meeting during the consideration of the following item of business.

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Legal and Regulatory Support

The Council gave consideration to a report outlining the process that had been undertaken in terms of the appointment of an Independent Chairperson for the Audit and Scrutiny Committee; and seeking agreement to the appointment of Mrs Janice Wason Hall to that position.

 

Decision

 

The Council agreed the appointment of Mrs Janice Wason Hall to the post of Independent Chairperson of the Audit and Scrutiny Committee for an initial period of 2 years until 21 February 2026.

 

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Legal and Regulatory Support dated 31 January 2024, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Legal and Regulatory Support

The Council gave consideration to a report providing a proposed response to the Democracy Matters 2 consultation.

 

Decision

 

The Council -

 

1.     agreed the proposed response to the Democracy Matters 2 consultation; and

 

2.     agreed that the draft response be submitted to the Scottish Government by the 28 February 2024 deadline.

 

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Legal and Regulatory Support dated 23 January 2024, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth

The Council gave consideration to a report advising that the proposed Local Development Plan 2 (as modified) had been considered by Scottish Ministers and as such a direction had been issued on 15 December 2023 requiring further modifications to the Plan before it could be adopted to take into account new policies, regulations and targets.

 

Decision

 

The Council –

 

1.     noted the further modifications proposed to Proposed Local Development Plan 2 by the Scottish Ministers in their direction, as contained at Appendix 1 to the submitted report;

 

2.     agreed to the proposed modifications to Proposed Local Development Plan 2 and to proceed to adoption; and

 

3.     agreed that officers notify Scottish Ministers that the modifications be made and that Local Development Plan 2 would be adopted on confirmation from Scottish Ministers that they are satisfied the modifications had been duly made.

 

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth dated 22 February 2024, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth

The Council gave consideration to a report providing information on worker accommodation proposals in areas of Argyll and Bute to enable essential services to be delivered to our communities and to request Strategic Housing Fund grants to support these proposals. The report confirmed the requirement for the Council to work with partners to improve innovative housing solutions on Coll, Tiree, Mull and in the Lorn area.

 

Decision

 

The Council –

 

1.     approved a grant of £100,000 from the Strategic Housing Fund to enable 2 NHS properties on Coll to be brought back into use for HSCP staff delivering health and social care services on the island;

 

2.     approved a grant of £160,000 from the Strategic Housing Fund to enable a Council owned property on Tiree to be brought back into use for HSCP staff delivering health and social care services on the island;

 

3.     approved a contingency of up to £250,000 from the Strategic Housing Fund to enable the important first phase of delivering worker accommodation properties at Tobermory on Mull;

 

4.     approved a grant or loan of £200,000 from the Strategic Housing Fund to enable the refurbishment of an ACHA owned 4 bedroom property in Lorn and enable accommodation for HSCP staff and staff contracted by the HSCP to deliver care to households in the community; and

 

5.     delegated to the Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth, in consultation with the Executive Director with responsibility for Legal and Regulatory Support, the terms and conditions to be attached to any grant and / or loan agreement required as a consequence of this report.

 

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth dated February 2024, submitted)

 

Report by Chief Executive

A report presenting the Council Annual Report 2022/23 was before the Council for noting.

 

Decision

 

The Council noted the content of the Council Annual Report 2022/23 and the wide ranging examples of exceptional service delivery prior to publishing on the website.

 

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Customer Support Services dated 22 February 2024, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth

A report advising of a Scottish Government intention to designate a new National Park during 2026 was before the Council for noting.

 

Decision

 

The Council –

 

1.     noted the information contained within the submitted report; and

 

2.     noted that should a National park within Argyll and Bute be proposed as part of the nominations process, the Council will get opportunity to express its views on such a proposal as part of the assessment process.

 

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth dated 10 January 2024, submitted)

The Provost, on behalf of the Council, advised that Fiona Davies, Chief Officer – Health and Social Care Partnership was moving on to take up a new role as Chief Executive of NHS Highland; he thanked her for all her work and wished her well for the future.