Agenda and minutes

The Provost reported to the Council about Argyll and Bute’s success in the recent Mod where Isle of Islay did extremely well and the Isle of Mull won 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd in the adult categories. On behalf of the Council, he congratulated everyone in their success at the Mod.

Apologies for absence were intimated from Councillors Currie, Kelly, McKenzie, Moffat, E Morton and Philand.

There were no declarations of interest intimated.

Report by Head of Strategic Finance

The Council gave consideration to a report which advised of the current estimated budget outlook position 2018-19 to 2020-21 and to the recommendations of the Policy & Resources Committee of 19 October 2017.

Report by Head of Strategic Finance

The Council gave consideration to a report which provided members with information on management / operational savings that have been identified between 2018-19 and 2020-21 together with the recommendations of the Policy & Resources Committee of 19 October 2017.

Report by Executive Director – Customer Services

The Council gave consideration to a report which provided members with information on policy savings that have been identified between 2018-19 and 2020-21 together with the recommendations of the Policy & Resources Committee of 19 October 2017.

Report by Executive Director – Customer Services

The Council gave consideration to a report which set out a consultation exercise that will give our communities the opportunity to contribute to transforming the work of the Council together with the recommendations of the Policy & Resources Committee of 19 October 2017.

Decision

The Council:

1.     Noted the current estimated budget outlook position for 2018/19 to 2020/21 as outlined in report 3(a).

2.     Endorsed the management and operational savings identified in report 3(b) and that officers will proceed to implement as part of normal business.

3.     Agreed further development of the policy savings identified in report 3(c) for consideration at the council budget in February 2018.

4.     Noted that even if all the savings listed in reports 3(b) and 3(c) were to be accepted, there would still be a revenue funding gap for 2018/19 and subsequent years and that a balanced budget would not be delivered based on current mid-range estimates.

5.     In light of the above and the requirement for the council to deliver a balanced budget, requests that officers explore and bring forward additional savings options.

6.     Agreed to carry out a budget consultation exercise as proposed in report 3(d), which should be updated to reflect comments made by members at the Policy and Resources Committee meeting of 19^th October and any further comments from today’s meeting of the council, as appropriate.

(Ref: Report by Head of Strategic Finance dated 5 October 2017, submitted, Report by the Head of Strategic Finance dated 5 October 2017, submitted, Report by Executive Director of Customer Services dated 22 September 2017, submitted, Report by Executive Director of Customer Services dated 22 September 2017, submitted)

Report by Chief Executive

The Council considered a report which provided members with an update on the work of the Joint Steering Group in developing proposals for regional improvement collaborations for the Education Governance Review.

Decision

1.     Noted the work of the joint steering group in developing proposals for regional improvement collaboratives as set out in the appendices to the submitted report.

2.     Noted the agreement of COSLA Leaders at their meeting of 29 September 2017 to the report of the joint steering group and that this positions Argyll and Bute Council within the Northern Alliance area.

3.     Noted the requirement of the Depute First Minister that the Regional Improvement Collaboratives and Regional Improvement Leads are in place for the end of October 2017 and that a Regional Improvement Plan is required to be agreed by end January 2018.

4.     Noted the establishment of the Northern Alliance Collaborative’s Convenor’s Convention across the Northern Alliance area.

5.     Noted that expressions of interest have been sought from existing Directors of Education across the Northern Alliance authorities for a secondment opportunity to the Regional Improvement Lead role and that interviews are scheduled to take place in the last week in October 2017.

6.     Endorsed the actions taken by officers to give effect to the agreement made by COSLA Leaders with the Scottish Government.

7.     Agreed that further reports on the progress of the Regional Improvement Collaborative or on the details of any other significant element of the Next Steps proposals be reported to the Community Services Committee.

(Ref: Report by the Chief Executive dated 9 October 2017, submitted)