Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were intimated from Councillors Blair, Morton, Mulvaney, Douglas Cowan HIE and Derek Leslie HNS Highland.

There were no declarations of interest intimated.

Performance Review and Scrutiny Committee 20 June 2013

The Minutes of the Performance Review and Scrutiny Committee of 20 June 2013 were approved as a correct record.

Arising under item 6 (Scrutiny of Local Police and Fire Plans) Jane Fowler advised that the report would be submitted to the November PRS Committee on proposed measures for the scorecards.

Report by Chief Executive

The Committee considered a report which advised that the Council publishes an annual report as a part of the statutory duty relating to Public Performance Reporting. The submitted report presented the Annual Report before its publication on the Council website.

Decision

The Committee noted the Performance of the Council in the Annual Report which will be submitted to the Council Meeting in September and thereafter published on the Council website.

(Ref: Report by Chief Executive’s Unit dated 22 August 2013, submitted)

Report by Chief Executive

The Committee considered a report which updated Members on progress that had been made on developing the Argyll and Bute 2013-23 Single Outcome Agreement.

Decision

The Committee noted:-

1.      The progress that had been made in developing the Argyll and Bute Single Outcome Agreement 2012-23.

2. That the Quality Assurance process is nearing completion.

(Ref: Report by the Chief Executive dated 22 August 2013, submitted)

Report by Chief Executive

The Planning and Performance Management Framework sets out the process for presentation of the Council’s quarterly performance reports. The Committee considered a report which presented the Council and Departmental performance reports with associated scorecards for performance in FQ1 2013-14 (April – June2013).

Decision

The Committee noted the reports and scorecards as presented and noted that the Chief Executive will liaise with the Chair of the PRS Committee with regard to the revising of the format of the report for future Meetings.

(Ref: Report by the Chief Executive dated 22 August 2013, submitted)

Report by Chief Executive

Prior to consideration of the report the Chair of the Fire and Rescue Service and the Local Senior Officer outlined the background to the consultation process and what the Service wished to achieve through its strategic plan.

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) replaced the previous eight regional Fire and Rescue Services on 1 April 2013. The Service had issued its first Strategic Plan for consultation and the Committee considered the questions that had been issued with the plan to formulate a response by the deadline of 31 August 2013.

Decision

The Committee noted:-

1. That the Council will consider the content of this report as Argyll and Bute Council’s response to the consultation on the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Strategic Plan 2013-16.

2. That the response is sent to the SFRS by the consultation end date of 31 August 2013.

3. The timescale in the draft Strategic Plan for the preparation of local fire and rescue plans, the commitment to partnership working and the role of the Local Senior Officer in delivering the local plan.

(Ref: Report by the Chief Executive dated 22 August 2013, submitted)

Report by Head of Improvement and Strategic HR

The Committee considered a report which provided an update on the Council’s performance against targets and performance indicators for Maximising Attendance during the period April – June 2013.

Decision

The Committee noted the content of the report.

(Ref: Report by Head of Improvement and HR dated 22 August 2013, submitted and amended Page 176 tabled)

Report by Head of Strategic Finance

The Committee considered a report which updated Members on the key strategic risks facing the Council, the associated mitigating actions and changes in these risks.

Decision

The Committee noted the Strategic Risk Register and key risks, changes, trends and exceptions highlighted in the submitted report and recognised that this would be an evolving process.

In response to a request for feedback to the Council on the register the Committee indicated a degree of comfort in relation to the key risks identified at this time, confirmed the importance of clarity on how the risk base changes and supported the approach of regular reporting to the PRS Committee.

(Ref: Report by Head of Strategic Finance dated 22 August 2013, submitted and Appendix 1-2, tabled)

Report by Head of Strategic Finance

The Committee considered a report which provided an update on the progress of the Corporate Improvement Plan.

Decision

The Committee noted the contents of the report.

(Ref: Report by Head of Strategic Finance dated 29 July 2013, submitted)

Report by Head of Strategic Finance

The Committee considered a report which summarised the monitoring as at 30 June 2013 of the Council’s Overall Borrowing Position; Borrowing Activity; Investment Activity; Economic Forecast and Prudential Indicators.

Decision

The Committee noted the Treasury Management monitoring report.

(Ref: Report by Head of Strategic Finance dated 30 July 2013, submitted)