Agenda and minutes

Apologies were intimated on behalf of :-

Councillor Jim Lynch

Rev Margi Campbell

Fr. James MacNeil

There were no declarations of interest.

The minutes of the Oban Common Good Fund held on 30 March 2023 were approved as a correct record.  Arising from item 5 (Income Expenditure Report) the Governance Officer confirmed the Footprint Alba grant had been paid in full and advised the Trustees of the circumstances behind the unclaimed grant awarded to Oban Ganavan Heritage Trust (OGHT) despite the project having been completed.  The Trustees invited the Governance Officer to make enquiries to establish that the expenditure had been incurred by an individual member of the group, noting receipts for the project within the scope of the award had been submitted, and that providing that a firm link can be confirmed, Trustees delegated the decision as to whether to release payment directly to the individual member of the OGHT to the Governance Officer, in consultation with the Chair.

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

The Governance Officer advised that following the changes to the Trusts status there remained an outstanding question for the council’s finance team as to  how year-end accounts should be presented.   As this had not been resolved in time to prepare draft accounts for this meeting, the Governance Officer spoke to the annual summaries provided by Simmers & Co and questioned whether the Trustees would like to continue the item to a future date before the draft accounts are presented to Council in June.

The Governance Officer also referred to the annual summaries which had been prepared by Simmers & Co and invited the Trustees to set their annual grant budget for financial year 2023/24.

Decision

The Trustees agreed:-

1)    That the draft accounts should go straight to the Council meeting in June;

2)    That Simmers & Co be invited to a future meeting to present the audited annual accounts; and

3)    To set a grant budget of £50,000 for financial year 2023/24.

(Ref:  Reports on annual cash balance and accruals balance by Simmers & Co, submitted)

The Trustees were invited to consider the End of Project Monitoring Form from the Argyllshire Gathering Trust.

Decision

The Trustees noted the end of project report.

(Ref:  End of Project Monitoring Form, submitted)

The Trustees were invited to consider the End of Project Monitoring Form from the Oban Celtic Shinty Club.

Decision

The Trustees noted the end of project report.

(Ref:  End of Project Monitoring Form, submitted)

The Trustees were invited to consider the End of Project Monitoring Form from the Oban Sailing Club and the Governance Officer read out an expression of support received from UHI Wind and Wave Club.

Decision

The Trustees noted the end of project report.

(Ref:  End of Project Monitoring Form, submitted)

The Trustees were invited to consider the End of Project Monitoring Form from  Hebridean Pursuits.

Decision

The Trustees noted the end of project report.

(Ref:  End of Project Monitoring Form, submitted)

The Trustees considered the application submitted by Adventure Oban/Oban Wild Life.

Decision:

It was unanimously agreed to award the amount of £755.39.

(Reference: application submitted by Adventure Oban/Oban Wild Life)

The Trustees considered the application submitted by the Argyllshire Gathering Trust.

Decision:

After careful consideration it was unanimously agreed to refuse the application as the Trustees agreed it was not consistent with their criteria.

(Reference: application submitted by the Argyllshire Gathering Trust)

The Trustees considered the application submitted by Developing Potential.

Decision:

It was unanimously agreed to award £1000 to this project.

(Reference: application submitted by Developing Potential)

The Trustees considered the application submitted by Hebridean Pursuits.

Decision:

After careful consideration it was unanimously agreed to refuse the application as the Trustees agreed it was not consistent with their criteria..

(Reference: application submitted by Hebridean Pursuits)

The Trustees considered the application submitted by Oban Life Savers Club.

Decision:

It was agreed to make an in principle award of £2120 towards the overall projects cost, with the final decision on whether to release the award delegated to the Governance Officer, in consultation with the Chair, following their consideration of the club’s latest approved accounts.

(Reference: application submitted by Oban Life Savers Club)

The Trustees considered the application from Soroba Community Enterprise that had been continued from their March meeting and heard from Mrs Malloy, who spoke on behalf of the Group, regarding project.

After responding to questions from Trustees, Mrs Malloy left the meeting.

Decision

The Trustees unanimously agreed to fund the project up to the value of £1000.

(Reference: application submitted by Soroba Community Enterprise)

It was agreed that the next Oban Common Good Fund would take place on Monday 21 August 2023, at 2pm, by MS Teams.

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