Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Mary Jean Devon, Julie McKenzie and Alastair Redman.

There were no declarations of interest intimated.

The Minutes of the Meeting of Argyll and Bute Council held on 20 April 2017 were approved as a correct record.

 

The Council noted under item 14 of the Minutes (World War One Commemoration) that an informal officer working group had been established as per the recommendation by the Council and that the first meeting of the Group would be in July.

 

 

The Minutes of the Meeting of Argyll and Bute Council held on 18 May 2017 were approved as a correct record.

 

Under item 10 of the Minutes, Political Management Arrangements, the Council noted that at the meeting of the Helensburgh and Lomond Area Committee held on 13 June 2017 an amended cycle of dates for the Committee were agreed which were had been a departure from what was agreed at the Council meeting on 18 May 2017.

Report by Leader of the Council

The Council gave consideration to a report which updated Members on the activities undertaken by the Leader of the Council since she was elected on 18 May 2017 and the issues which had been represented to her in her role.

 

Decision

 

The Council –

 

1.    Noted the content of the report.

 

2.    Noted that the full Leader’s report pack was available in the Leader’s office which included COSLA Briefing Papers as referenced in the report.

 

3.    Noted that COSLA items heard in public session could be provided to members electronically and the papers for items taken in private session could be reviewed in the Leader’s office.

 

(Reference:  Report by Leader of the Council dated 23 June 2017, submitted)

 

The Provost congratulated the Leader of the Council on her first report since she had been elected.

 

 

Reports by Head of Strategic Finance

Consideration was given to a report which gave an overview of the Unaudited Annual Accounts for 2016/17 and a summary of the significant movements from 2015-16.  The report also gave information on the revenue outturn for 2016-17 and sought approval of the unaudited financial statements in respect of 2016/17 for issue.

 

Decision

 

The Council approved the Unaudited Annual Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2017 for issue.

 

(Reference: Report by Head of Strategic Finance dated 15 June 2017, submitted)

The Council gave consideration to the Summary Accounts 2016/17 which provided a summary of some of the key issues from the 2016/17 Annual Accounts.  The report provided information on the comprehensive income and Expenditure Statement, the Balance Sheet, Reserves, Cash Flow Statement and also provided comment on plans for the future.

 

Decision

 

The Council noted the Summary Accounts 2016/17.

 

(Reference:  Report by Head of Strategic Finance dated June 2017, submitted)

A report which advised Members of the revenue budget position of the Council as at the end of the financial year 2016/17 was given consideration.  The report also summarised the movement in the General Fund Balance.

 

Decision

 

The Council -

 

1.    Noted the revenue budget monitoring position as at the end of the financial year 2016/17.

 

2.    Noted that the unallocated balance within the General Fund as at 31 March 2017 after taking into account the contingency and that the agreed smoothing for 2019/20 amounted to £3.299M.

 

(Reference:  Report by Head of Strategic Finance dated 30 May 2017, submitted)

The Council gave consideration to a report which provided them with information on progress with balances already earmarked within the General Fund, new balances earmarked at the end of 2016/17 that qualify for automatic carry forward and which sought approval for 13 new unspent earmarking proposals.

 

The Executive Director - Customer Services referred to decisions which had been made by the Special Policy and Resources Committee held at 11.00am that morning in respect of earmarked reserve proposals for the New Schools Redevelopment Project and for Rothesay Pavilion which were dealt with within Appendix 1 to the submitted report.

 

Decision

 

The Council –

 

1.    Approved the 13 new unspent budget earmarked reserve proposals totalling £2.865M, as per the business cases submitted and as were outlined in Appendix 1 to the submitted report.

 

2.    Approved two new categories for automatic carry forward of unused funds relating to funding provided by the Scottish Government to implement new legislation or to deliver government initiatives and for investment in energy efficiency as were set out in the revised Policy on Year End Flexibility as included at Appendix 2 to the submitted report.

 

3.    Noted the new balances at the end of 2016/17 that qualify for automatic carry forward as outlined in Appendix 3 to the submitted report.

 

4.    Noted the previously approved unspent budget earmarked reserves and the justification for continuing to earmark these as outlined in Appendix 4 to the submitted report.

 

5.    Noted that £0.046 of earmarked balances will be released back into the General Fund as these balances were no longer required.

 

6.    Noted the other balances contained within Appendix 5 to the submitted report, both previously earmarked and new balances that had been subject to a previous Council decision.

 

(Reference:  Report by Head of Strategic Finance dated 30 May 2017, submitted)

 

A report which provided information in the position of the Capital Budget as at 31 March 2017 was given consideration.  The report provided information on the financial position in respect of the Capital Plan and also the performance in terms of delivery of capital plan projects.

 

Decision

 

The Council noted the content of the financial summary.

 

(Reference:  Report by Head of Strategic Finance dated 17 May 2017, submitted)

A report which outlined the Council’s Treasury Management Position for 2016/17 was given consideration.

 

Decision

 

The Council approved the Treasury Management Annual Report.

 

(Reference:  Report by Head of Strategic Finance dated 15 June 2017, submitted)

A report which presented the Council’s Annual Efficiency Statement to the Council for noting, was given consideration.

 

Decision

 

The Council noted the Annual Efficiency Statement for 2016/17.

 

(Reference:  Report by Head of Strategic Finance dated 30 May 2017, submitted)

The Council gave consideration to a report which provided an annual update of the Strategic Housing Fund income and expenditure position for 2016/17, the current balance on the Strategic Housing Fund as at 31 March 2017 and all future commitments which were against that balance.

 

Decision

 

The Council –

 

1.    Noted the report on income and expenditure for 2016/17 and the balance on the Strategic Housing Fund as at 31 March 2017.

 

2.    Noted the estimated future income for the Strategic Housing Fund for 2017/18.

 

(Reference:  Report by Head of Strategic Finance dated 26 May 2017, submitted)

Report by Chief Executive

Consideration was given to a report advising that there was an unprecedented level of change anticipated in the delivery of education services over the coming few years which would require consistent and strong leadership of the Service.  The report advised of broad ranging proposals for the Governance of Education in Scotland which had been published by the Scottish Government and which would have a significant impact on the management and governance of Education Services in Argyll and Bute.

 

Decision

 

The Council –

 

1.    Noted the outcome of the Scottish Government’s Review of Education Governance and the proposals for fundamental changes to the governance and management of education services in every Scottish local authority as detailed in the Education Governance: Next Steps document published on 15 June 2017.

 

2.    Agreed the Chief Executive would engage with colleagues in COSLA and the Scottish Government regarding the implementation arrangements for the proposals and bring forward further reports following the Council recess providing detail on the process and providing an indication of resource implications to support the transitionary period.

 

3.    Noted the announcement of the proposals in the Next Steps document had meant the Chief Executive was unable at this time to bring forward proposals to formalise the senior staffing structure within the service and to create a future permanency within the senior management arrangements for Community Services.

 

4.    Noted that the Chief Executive would make arrangements for the continuation of the acting Executive Director and Head of Service posts to ensure continuity and that the focus remained on the implementation of the Education Improvement Plan.

 

5.    Agreed the appointment of Anne Paterson, Acting Head of Education to undertake the role of Chief Education Officer from August 2017 as required by the Education (Scotland) Act 2016.

 

(Reference:  Report by Chief Executive dated 20 June 2017, submitted)

 

Report by Executive Director – Customer Services

A report which provided Members with an overview of the progress that had been made to date in implementing the various elements of the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act which received Royal Assent on 24 July 2015 was given consideration.

 

Decision

 

The Council –

 

1.    Agreed that further reports on community and locality engagement with agencies would come to future meetings of the Community Services Committee, given that the report before Council was a technical update on the Community Empowerment Working Group’s progress.

 

2.    Noted the key requirements of the Council in terms of the Act and the progress achieved by officers in operational terms against each element, to ensure compliance as and when subordinate legislation comes into force.

 

(Reference:  Report by Executive Director – Customer Services dated 24 May 2017, submitted; Notice of Motion by Councillor Robin Currie, seconded by Councillor Aileen Morton, tabled)

Report by Executive Director – Customer Services

The Council gave consideration to a report which updated them on vacancies which had arisen on the Council’s Committees and on appointments which required to be made to outside bodies/organisations in addition to those made at the Council meeting on 18 May 2017.  The report also sought consideration of appointments in relation to an Armed Forces Champion, World War One Commemoration Steering Group representatives and Children’s Champions.

 

The Council adjourned for 5 minutes to allow Members an opportunity to read a Motion by the Leader of the Council, seconded by the Depute Leader.

 

Decision

 

The Council –

 

1.    Agreed the appointments to committees and outside bodies and nomination for appointment as set out in Table 1, Appendix 1 below.

2.    Noted the Leader’s appointment of Depute Policy Leads as set out in Table 2, Appendix 1 below.

3.    Accepted the recommendation of the Short Life Working Group – Argyll Islands Task Force at its final meeting on 20^th March 2017, that the council should continue the focus of the work commenced by the Task Force, and established the Argyll Islands Strategic Group, to consider strategic issues affecting the inhabited island communities of Argyll and Bute, with the wider remit as set out in Appendix 2 below.

4.    Agreed that the group will operate on the same constitutional basis as a Short Life Working Group and will report to the Policy and Resources Committee.

5.    Agreed that the membership of the group will comprise 10 councillors, to include the Leader and Policy Lead for Islands, and made the following appointments to the group:

·         Councillor Robin Currie (Chair)

·         Councillor Len Scoullar (Vice Chair)

·         Councillor Aileen Morton

·         Councillor Yvonne McNeilly

·         Councillor Elaine Robertson

·         Councillor Jamie McGrigor

·         Councillor Mary Jean Devon

6.    Invited members of the opposition to nominate three of their number to sit on the Argyll Islands Strategic Group [The Leader of the largest opposition group confirmed these nominations to be Councillors Anne Horn, Julie McKenzie and Jean Moffat]

7.    Established the Industry and Regional Development Sounding Board to ensure that Argyll and Bute’s interests would be promoted during the UK negotiations to leave the European Union, with the wider remit as set out in Appendix 2 below;

8.    Noted that the board would have an advisory function, that it would have no executive powers, and that it wouldl report to the Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee;

9.    Appointed the following to the Industry and Regional Development Sounding Board:

·         Councillor Aileen Morton (Chair)

·         Councillor Gary Mulvaney (Vice Chair)

·         Councillor Kieron Green

·         Councillor Alan Reid

10.  Invited members of the opposition to nominate two of their number to sit on the Industry and Regional Development Sounding Board [The Leader of the largest opposition group confirmed these nominations to be Councillors Jim Findlay and Sandy Taylor] 

11.  Agreed that the board could invite contributions from representatives outwith the Council, for example from relevant industry sectors, to assist in its deliberations.

 

 

Appendix 1

 

Table 1

Councillor Name	Committee/Organisation	Notes
Alan Reid	Community Services Committee	To fill vacancy
Mary Jean Devon	Argyll and Bute Area Support Team
Elaine Robertson	Trustee to the Scottish National War Memorial	COSLA nomination
Barbara Morgan	Argyll and Bute Armed Forces Champion
Bobby Good	World War 1 Steering Group	Bute and Cowal
Barbara Morgan	World War 1 Steering Group	Helensburgh and Lomond
Donnie MacMillan	World War 1 Steering Group	Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands
Andrew Vennard	World War 1 Steering Group	Oban, Lorn and the Isles
Audrey Forrest	Children’s Champion	Bute and Cowal
Graham Hardie	Children’s Champion	Helensburgh and Lomond
Anne Horn	Children’s Champion	Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands
Mary Jean Devon	Children’s Champion	Oban, Lorn and the Isles
John Armour	Argyll and Bute Harbour Board	In place of Gordon Blair

 

Table 2

Councillor Name	Depute Policy Lead Remit
Bobby Good	Economic Development
Alan Reid	Strategic Finance and Capital Regeneration Projects
Kieron Green	Education
Andrew Vennard	Corporate Services
Mary Jean Devon	Health and Social Care
Ellen Morton	Roads and Amenity Services
Jamie McGrigor	Communities, Housing, Gaelic and Islands

 

 

Appendix 2

 

Argyll Islands Strategic Group – high level remit detail:

·      To consider strategic issues affecting the inhabited island communities of Argyll and Bute

·      To link into the work of the Scottish Government’s Islands Strategic Group and Islands Transport Forum, contributing to the identification and design of solutions for the unique challenges our island communities face

·      Promote the optimal development of our island communities

·      Make recommendations to Policy and Resources/Council in regard to lobbying national government on key issues which impact on our islands’ sustainable economic growth and community development

·      Consider strategic policy issues and challenges to ensure that proper, fit for purpose solutions are considered to stimulate greater economic growth and community development in our island communities

·      Consider current and potential new powers to enable improved service delivery and outcomes

 

Industry and Regional Development Sounding Board – high level remit detail:

In the context of leaving the European Union and understanding the full implications on the Argyll and Bute economy and related service provision, the group’s remit is:

·         Identifying effective ways of promoting Argyll and Bute’s interests to national government and the European Union, while recognising the importance of a collective voice through existing membership of established groups

·         Focusing on advancing the further development of a Rural Growth Deal and strengthening the position of Argyll and Bute’s sectors such as tourism, agriculture, aquaculture and fisheries

·         Influencing regional policy measures and initiatives, ensuring that Argyll and Bute benefits fully from any EU schemes and accesses specific and appropriate support measures post-Brexit

·         Advising on the nature and scope of the council’s engagement with the EU during and following the process

(Reference:  Report by Executive Director – Customer Services dated 1 June 2017, submitted; Notice of Motion by Councillor Aileen Morton, seconded by Councillor Gary Mulvaney, tabled)

The Council resolved in terms of Section 50(A)(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 to exclude the press and public for the following 2 items of business on the grounds that it was likely to involve the disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 6&9 and 4 respectively of Part 1 of Schedule 7A to the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973.

 

Report by Executive Director – Customer Services

A report which advised Members of action that was taken in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 3.2.5 of the Council’s Constitution to conclude an agreement with Helensburgh Amateur Athletic Club for the partial renunciation of their lease of an area of the site of the former Hermitage Academy.

 

Decision

 

The Council noted the content of the report.

 

(Reference:  Report by Executive Director – Customer Services dated 26 May 2017, submitted)

Report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure Services

The Council gave consideration to a report in relation to a request from the Citizen’s Advice Bureau for emergency financial support.

 

Decision

 

The Council unanimously agreed the terms of a Motion by the Leader of the Council, seconded by the Provost.

 

(Reference:  Report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure Services dated 26 May 2017, submitted; Notice of Motion by Councillor Aileen Morton, seconded by Councillor Len Scoullar)

E1       Paragraph 6  Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (other than the authority).

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.

E2       Paragraph 4  Information relating to any particular applicant for, or recipient or former recipient of, any financial assistance provided by the authority.