Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Dougie Philand.

DEPUTATION

The Depute 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. She advised that Tracy Mayo, Emily Greenhalgh and Anne Marie Rigby who form the deputation were in attendance and they had been advised that if Council agrees the terms of the Motion outlined at Item 5, the final decision may not be taken today.  Dependent on the decision taken at Item 5, the deputation may be carried forward and it was the intention to address the matter of the deputation after the Motion at Item 5 had been determined. 

There were no declarations of interest intimated.

The Minutes of the Meeting of Argyll and Bute Council held on 21 November 2024 were approved as a correct record.

The Minutes of the Meeting of the Special Argyll and Bute Council held on 20 December 2024 were approved as a correct record.

The Minutes of the Meeting of the Policy and Resources Committee held on 5 December 2024 were noted.

Arising from Item 4 of these Minutes (Financial Reports Monitoring Pack – 31 October 2024) the Council agreed the recommendation to approve the revenue virements over £0.200m during September and October 2024.

Arising from Item 8 of these Minutes (Volunteer Policy and Volunteer Procedure) the Council agreed the recommendation to approve the Volunteer Policy.

Arising from Item 14 of these Minutes (Oban Airport Business Park) the Council dealt with this item at the Special Meeting of the Council held on 20 December 2024.

The Minutes of the Meeting of the Community Services Committee held on 12 December 2024 were noted.

The Minutes of the Meeting of the Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee held on 19 December 2024 were noted.

The Minutes of the Meeting of the Policy and Resources Committee held on 20 February 2025 were noted.

Arising from item 5 (Budgeting Pack 2025-26) the Council agreed that this item would be dealt with at item 6 of the agenda (Budgeting Pack 2025-26).

Arising from item 6 (Treasury Management Strategy and Annual Investment Strategy 2025-26) the Council agreed that this item would be dealt with at item 8 of the agenda.

Arising from item 10 (Sustainable Procurement Strategy 2025/2028 – Draft Document and Consultation) the Council agreed the recommendation to agree the revised final Sustainable Procurement Strategy 2025-2028, and the publication on the Council’s website in April 2025.

Arising from item 15 (Strategic Events and Festivals Fund – Round 7 2025/2026) the Council approved, as part of the budget process for February 2025, a minimum of £90,000 base funding for Strategic Events and Festivals in order that the application process can commence for Round 8 (2026/27) and that any underspend from SEF Round 6 (2024/25) is earmarked and used to augment a future SEF round.

Learning Estate Investment Programme (LEIP) – Mull Campus, Preferred Site Recommendation

The agenda for today’s meeting includes a report on the Learning Estate Investment Programme (LEIP) – Mull Campus, Preferred Site Recommendation.

This is an issue of considerable complexity and scale. The reports contain a very high level of detailed information which Members must take time and care to consider fully in order to allow them to take an informed decision on the matter.

This motion does not deal with the business of that report, nor its merits.

It does recognise that it is essential that Members have sufficient time to consider and scrutinise this information, reflecting the significance of the matter for the current and future generations of children and young people on Mull and the wider island community.

To provide the time that detailed consideration of the report deserves and to scrutinise the proposals, I move that:

1.    The business of determining the Preferred Site Recommendation for the Mull Campus is not considered today;

2.    The report and its appendices are considered instead at a Special Meeting of Argyll and Bute Council, convened solely for the purpose of deciding on a preferred site for the Mull Campus, to be held on Friday 7^th March 2025.

Moved by: Cllr Jim Lynch

Seconded by: Cllr Ross Moreland

The following Notice of Motion Under Standing Order 13 was before the Council for consideration:-

Motion

Learning Estate Investment Programme (LEIP) – Mull Campus, Preferred Site Recommendation

The agenda for today’s meeting includes a report on the Learning Estate Investment Programme (LEIP) – Mull Campus, Preferred Site Recommendation.

This is an issue of considerable complexity and scale. The reports contain a very high level of detailed information which Members must take time and care to consider fully in order to allow them to take an informed decision on the matter.

This motion does not deal with the business of that report, nor its merits.

It does recognise that it is essential that Members have sufficient time to consider and scrutinise this information, reflecting the significance of the matter for the current and future generations of children and young people on Mull and the wider island community.

To provide the time that detailed consideration of the report deserves and to scrutinise the proposals, I move that:

1.    The business of determining the Preferred Site Recommendation for the Mull Campus is not considered today;

2.    The report and its appendices are considered instead at a Special Meeting of Argyll and Bute Council, convened solely for the purpose of deciding on a preferred site for the Mull Campus, to be held on Friday 7^th March 2025.

Moved by Councillor Jim Lynch, seconded by Councillor Ross Moreland

Decision

The Council agreed to defer the determination of the report and its appendices for the Preferred Site Recommendation for Mull Campus to a Special Meeting of Argyll and Bute Council, convened solely for the purpose of deciding on a preferred site for the Mull Campus to be held on Friday 7^th March 2025.

As the Council had considered and agreed the Notice of Motion Under Standing Order 13, this item was deferred for consideration at a Special Council Meeting to be held on Friday 7^th March 2025.

The Depute Provost advised that the deputation request would also be considered at the meeting to be held on 7 March 2025 and that officers would be in touch with Ms Mayo to confirm arrangements.</AI13>

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Councillor Luna Martin joined the meeting during the consideration of the following item of Business.

Reports by Section 95 Officer

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 20 February 2025, considered such other appropriate resolutions in relation to these papers and fixed the Council Tax for the year to 31 March 2026.

Motion

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

Moved by Councillor Jim Lynch, seconded by Councillor Ross Moreland.

Amendment

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

Moved by Councillor Gary Mulvaney, seconded by Councillor Andrew Vennard.

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.

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 –

Decision

The Motion was carried by 22 votes to 10, with 2 no votes, and the Council resolved accordingly.

(Reference: Budgeting Pack 2025/26 dated February 2025, submitted; Motion by Councillor Jim Lynch, seconded by Councillor Ross Moreland, tabled; and Amendment by Councillor Gary Mulvaney, seconded by Councillor Andrew Vennard, 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 2025-26 which had been referred without recommendation by the Policy and Resources Committee held on 20 February 2025.

Decision

The Council –

1.    approved the Treasury Management Strategy and Annual Investment Strategy for 2025-26 and the Prudential and Treasury indicators for 2025-26 to 2027-28; and

2.    noted that the Strategy will be further scrutinised by the Audit and Scrutiny Committee at its meeting of 13 March 2025, with any recommendations requiring Council approval brought back to full Council at the earliest opportunity.

(Reference: Report by Section 95 Officer dated 10 February 2025, submitted)

Report by Chief Executive

A report presenting the Council Annual Report 2023/24 was before the Council for consideration.

Decision

The Council noted the content of the Council Annual Report 2023/24 and the wide ranging examples of exceptional service delivery prior to publishing on the Council website.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Customer Support Services dated 19 November 2024, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Legal and Regulatory Support

The Council’s Standing Orders for meetings require the Council to approve a Programme of Meetings for the Council and its Committees every year. The Council gave consideration to a draft programme of meetings for the year 2025-26 based on the current committee cycle.

Decision

The Council approved the draft Programme of Meetings for the year 2025-26.

(Reference:  Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Legal and Regulatory Support dated 13 February 2025, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Legal and Regulatory Support

The Council considered a report which advised on changes to the Council Constitution in respect of Roads and Infrastructure Services.

Decision

The Council agreed to the adjustments to the Constitution as set out in the report.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Legal and Regulatory Support, dated 30 January 2025, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth

The Council gave consideration to a report providing information on three requests for funding from the Strategic Housing Fund (SHF), all of which were considered important contributions to tackling the Housing Emergency. The proposals contained within the report will be funded from the ring fenced housing budget for activities relating to affordable housing delivery in Argyll and Bute.

Decision

The Council:-

1.    approved £60,000 from the Strategic Housing Fund to enable the delivery of the Housing Need and Demand Assessment – a statutory obligation of the local authority;

2.    delegated to the Executive Director with Responsibility for Development and Economic Growth in consultation with the relevant Policy Lead for Housing the power to approve discretionary feasibility funding up to a maximum of £10,000 per unit from the Strategic Housing Fund to enable Community Trusts to bring potential affordable housing developments to delivery stage; and

3.    approved feasibility and design funding from the Strategic Housing Fund to a maximum of £150,000 for West Highland Housing Association to enable delivery of road and footpath proposals unlocking LDP2 housing site H4009 at Ganavan.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth dated 21 January 2025, submitted)

E1      Paragraph 8  The amount of any expenditure proposed to be incurred by the authority under any particular contract for the acquisition of property or the supply of goods or services.

Paragraph 9  Any terms proposed or to be proposed by or to the authority in the course of negotiations for a contract for the acquisition or disposal of property or the supply of goods or services.