Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber, Kilmory, Lochgilphead

Contact: Hazel MacInnes Tel: 01546 604269 

Items
Note No. Item

The Provost advised that this was Cleland Sneddon’s last Council meeting.  He paid tribute to his contribution to Argyll and Bute and the Council joined the Provost in wishing him well for the future.

 

Congratulations were also extended to Pippa Milne who will take over the reins from Cleland on 19 December 2019.

 

The Provost referred to the Annual Update Report on the Syrian Vulnerable Persons Relocation Programme on today’s Agenda for noting.  He acknowledged that the Council staff that have led this programme won the “Excellent Outcomes, Excellent People” Award at the recent National COSLA Excellence Awards.  He also advised of having the privilege of handing out English language certificates to a number of new residents.  The Council showed their appreciation to all the staff involved in this Programme.

1.

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Graeme Archibald Hardie, Donald Kelly, Roderick McCuish, Sir Jamie McGrigor, Yvonne McNeilly, Ellen Morton, Iain Shonny Paterson, Douglas Philand and Alan Reid.

2.

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest.

3.

MINUTES pdf icon PDF 80 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

a)    The Minute of the meeting of the Argyll and Bute Council held on 26 September 2019 was approved as a correct record.

 

b)      The Minute of the special meeting of the Argyll and Bute Council held on 17 October 2019 was approved as a correct record.

4.

MINUTES OF COMMITTEES

*

4a

Policy and Resources Committee of 17 October 2019 pdf icon PDF 69 KB

Minutes:

The Minute of the Policy and Resources Committee held on 17 October 2019 was noted.

 

Arising under item 4 (Financial Report Monitoring Pack – 31 August 2019) - the Council approved the revenue virements over £0.200m during July and August.

 

Arising under item 9 (Procurement Strategy 2020/21 and Sustainable Procurement Policy 2020/21 – Final Documents and Consultation) – the Council approved the revised final Procurement Strategy 2020-21 and Sustainable Procurement Policy 2020-21.

5.

DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC HEALTH ANNUAL REPORT 2019 pdf icon PDF 11 MB

Presentation and report by Director of Public Health, Professor Hugo van Woerden

Minutes:

Dr Nicola Schinaia presented this year’s Annual Report by the Director of Public Health which focussed on important trends in populations, health and social inequity which have profound implications for the delivery of health and social care services. Members were given the opportunity to ask questions and then the Provost formally thanked Professor Woerdoen and Dr Schinaia for coming along today to give their presentation to the Council.

 

Decision

 

The Council noted the presentation and report.

 

(Ref: The Annual Report of the Director of Public Health 2019, submitted)

Councillor Mary-Jean Devon joined the meeting during consideration of the foregoing item.

6.

CHIEF SOCIAL WORK OFFICER ANNUAL REPORT 2018/2019 pdf icon PDF 52 KB

Report by Chief Social Work Officer, Health and Social Care

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Chief Social Work Officer Annual Report presented his Annual Report to the Council.  The Annual Report provided an overview of social work activity undertaken across Argyll and Bute during the year.  It outlined the statutory functions of the social work services, demonstrating the levels of activities and how the service is working to improve outcomes for the most vulnerable.  The report also detailed the expenditure across all social work services, the priorities and the challenges.  Members were given the opportunity to ask questions and then the Provost formally thanked the Chief Social Work Officer for his presentation to the Council.

 

Decision

 

The Council considered and endorsed the report prior to submission to the Scottish Government.

 

(Ref: Chief Social Work Officer Annual Report 2018/19 dated September 2019, submitted)

7.

AUDIT AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE ANNUAL REPORT 2018-2019 pdf icon PDF 138 KB

Report by Chair of Audit and Scrutiny Committee

Minutes:

The Council considered a report and presentation prepared by the Chair of the Audit and Scrutiny Committee which provided an overview of the Audit and Scrutiny Committee’s activity during the financial year 2018/19 and a summary of key developments since the commencement of 2019/20.  The report also set out how the Committee has fulfilled its remit and provides assurances to the Council.  The Provost formally thanked Mr Caldwell for his presentation to the Council.

 

Decision

 

The Council reviewed and endorsed the Chair’s Annual Report.

 

(Ref: Report by Chair of Audit and Scrutiny Committee dated 28 November 2019, submitted)

8.

LEADER'S REPORT pdf icon PDF 127 KB

Report by Leader of the Council

Minutes:

A report providing an update on the activities of the Leader of the Council from 6 September to 9 November 2019, together with an update from the Policy Lead for Commercial and Strategic Priorities was considered.

 

Decision

 

The Council:

 

1.    considered and noted the report and further verbal updates from the Leader; and

 

2.    noted that the full Leader’s Report Pack was available in the Leader’s Office.  This included COSLA and other papers and briefings as referenced in the report.

 

(Ref: Report by Leader of the Council dated 18 November 2019, submitted)

9.

POLICY LEADS REPORT pdf icon PDF 308 KB

Report by Policy Leads

Minutes:

A report providing an update on key areas of activity of Policy Lead Councillors during the period 26 September to 15 November 2019 was considered.

 

Decision

 

The Council considered and noted the report and further verbal updates from Policy Leads.

 

(Ref: Report by Policy Leads dated 15 November 2019, submitted)

10.

AUDITED ACCOUNTS 2018-19 pdf icon PDF 982 KB

Report by the Head of Financial Services

Minutes:

The Council considered a report which advised that the external auditors, Audit Scotland, had completed their audit of the Council’s Annual Accounts for 2018/19 together with the Charitable Trusts and have issued audit certificates containing no qualifications.  Members also considered Audit Scotland’s 2018/19 Annual Audit report.

 

Decision

 

The Council:

 

1.    noted that the unqualified certificates have been issued for both the Council Accounts and the Charitable Trusts, and that these were now included within the Accounts on the Council’s website; and

 

2.    considered and noted Audit Scotland’s Annual Audit Report for 2018-19.

 

(Ref: Report by Head of Financial Services dated 23 October 2019, submitted)

11.

APPOINTMENT OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE pdf icon PDF 52 KB

Report by Chief Executive

Minutes:

A report advising on the outcome of the interview process to appoint a new Chief Executive was considered.

 

Decision

 

The Council noted the appointment of Pippa Milne as the Council’s new Chief Executive and congratulated her on her success.

 

(Reference: Report by Chief Executive dated 25 November 2019, submitted)

12.

REVIEW OF THE HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE INTEGRATION SCHEME pdf icon PDF 91 KB

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Legal and Regulatory Support

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Council considered a report which set out proposed revisions to the Health and Social Care Integration Scheme (the Scheme) for the Argyll and Bute Health and Social Care Integration Joint Board (the IJB) following a joint review of the Scheme. 

 

Decision

 

The Council agreed:

 

1.    the revisions detailed within the updated Integration Scheme attached at Appendix of this report;

 

2.    that Officers now proceed with arrangements for the joint consultation exercise as set out at section 3.2 of this report; and

 

3.    in the event that the consultation feedback suggests no further changes to the Scheme and voices no opposition to the proposed changes, to authorise the Chief Executive Officer to approve the draft revised Integration Scheme on behalf of the Council prior to submitting it to the Scottish Government for approval.

 

(Ref: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Legal and Regulatory Support, submitted)

13.

DRAFT PROGRAMME OF MEETINGS 2020-21 pdf icon PDF 55 KB

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Legal and Regulatory Support

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Council considered a draft Programme of Meetings for the year 2020/21 based on the current Committee cycle.

 

Decision

 

The Council agreed the draft Programme of Meetings for the year 2020/21.

 

(Ref: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Legal and Regulatory Support dated 7 October 2019, submitted)

14.

RESPONSE TO THE CONSULTATION ON THE PRINCIPLES OF A LOCAL DISCRETIONARY TRANSIENT VISITOR LEVY OR TOURIST TAX pdf icon PDF 183 KB

Executive Director with the responsibility for Tourism

Minutes:

The Council considered a report which detailed a draft response to the Scottish Government consultation on the Principle of a Local Discretionary Transient Visitor Levy, or Tourist Tax.

 

Decision

 

The Council:

 

1.    noted the content of the report; and

 

2.    approved the response to this consultation for submission on 2 December 2019.

 

(Ref: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth dated 5 November 2019, submitted)

15.

UPDATE ON RURAL GROWTH DEAL pdf icon PDF 89 KB

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth

Minutes:

The Council considered a report which provided an update on the Rural Growth Deal.

 

Decision

 

The Council:

 

1.    noted the confirmation announcement made by UK and Scottish Governments to support Argyll and Bute Council’s Rural Growth Deal by investing £25million each;

 

2.    approved a delegation to the Chief Executive, to continue negotiations with UK and Scottish Government Officials;

 

3.    delegated to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Leader, Depute Leader and Leader of the Opposition, agreement of the Heads of Terms;

 

4.    noted that the final Heads of Terms Agreement will be signed by the Leader, as a commitment by the Council to achieve full implementation of the Argyll Rural Growth Deal; and

 

5.    delegated decision making in relation to the Rural Growth Deal, including agreement of governance arrangements, to the Policy and Resources Committee.

 

(Ref: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth dated 30 October 2019, submitted)

16.

CROWN ESTATES FUND UPDATE pdf icon PDF 63 KB

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth

Minutes:

Marine Scotland has written to the Council advising of the distribution of the Coastal Communities Fund.  This fund is based on available Crown Estate lease income that is calculated retrospectively.  The Council considered a report which sought the agreement to delegate the decision making process to the Policy and Resources Committee to determine the distribution of the Coastal Communities Fund.

 

Decision

 

The Council:

 

1.    agreed that the distribution of the 2019/20 Coastal Communities Fund be delegated to the Policy and Resources Committee for their determination; and

 

2.    noted that a report will be presented to the Policy and Resources Committee with proposals for the allocation of the Fund that support coastal defences and flood works, projects currently underway or in development that are experiencing funding pressures or other liabilities affecting council infrastructures.

 

(Ref: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth dated November 2019, submitted)

17.

YEAR 4 ARGYLL AND BUTE RESETTLEMENT PROGRAMME pdf icon PDF 120 KB

Report by Chief Executive

Additional documents:

Minutes:

A report which advised of the fourth annual evaluation of the Refugee Resettlement Programme informed by the feedback of the families rebuilding their lives in Argyll and Bute was before the Council for information.

 

Decision

 

The Council:

 

1.    noted the continued good work of the Refugee Resettlement Group and the local community in resettling Syrian refugees on the island of Bute; and

 

2.    noted that the Council continues to resettle refugees, on the island of Bute, through the Home Office’s rebranded Refugee Resettlement Scheme.

 

(Ref: Report by Chief Executive dated October 2019, submitted)

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 item of business on the grounds that it was likely to involve the disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 1 of Part 1 of Schedule 7A to the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973.

 

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18.

COUNCIL CONSIDERATION OF ABSENCE

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Legal and Regulatory Support

 

Minutes:

The Council considered a report which advised that in terms of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, Section 35, if a Councillor fails to attend a meeting for a continuous period of 6 months then they cease to be a Councillor unless prior approval to the absence has been taken by Council.

 

Decision

 

The Council approved the absence from Council business of a Councillor due to health related issues until 27 June 2020, or until their return to business, whichever is the earlier.

 

(Ref: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Legal and Regulatory Support dated 5 November 2019, submitted)

E1       Paragraph 1  Information relating to a particular employee, former employee or applicant to become an employee of, or a particular office-holder, former office-holder or applicant to become an office-holder under the authority.