Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Audrey Forrest, Jim Lynch and Alastair Redman.

There were no declarations of interest intimated.

Policy and Resources Committee held on 11 May 2023

The Minutes of the meeting of the Policy and Resources Committee held on 11 May 2023 were approved as a correct record.

Report by Section 95 Officer

The Committee gave consideration to a report providing a summary of the financial monitoring reports as at the end of June 2023.  There were five detailed reports setting out the position as at 30 June 2023 which included the Revenue Budget Monitoring Report; Monitoring of Financial Risks; Capital Plan Monitoring Report; Treasury Monitoring Report and Reserves and Balances.

Decision

The Policy and Resources Committee –

1.    noted the revenue budget monitoring report as at 30 June 2023;

2.    noted the financial risks for 2023-24;

3.    noted the capital plan monitoring report as at 30 June 2023;

4.    approved the proposed changes to the capital plan as outlined in Appendix 4 of the capital plan monitoring report;

5.    noted the treasury monitoring report as at 30 June 2023;

6.    noted the reserves and balances report as at 30 June 2023;

7.    agreed to recommend to Council that the revenue virements over £0.200m during April to June 2023 are approved; and

8.    agreed to recommend to Council that the revenue virements over £0.200m outstanding from 2022-23 year are approved, per paragraph 2.6.3 of the submitted report.

(Reference:  Report by Section 95 Officer dated 7 July 2023, submitted)

Report by Section 95 Officer

The Committee gave consideration to a report providing an update to the budget outlook covering the period 2024-25 to 2028-29, previously reported to the Policy and Resources Committee on 11 May 2023.

Decision

The Policy and Resources Committee noted the current budget outlook position for the period 2024-25 to 2028-29.

(Reference:  Report by Section 95 Officer dated 14 July 2023, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Commercial Services

The Committee gave consideration to a report that sought approval of the Council’s new Capital Investment Strategy and which outlined the approach for sound management of the Council’s assets.

Decision

The Policy and Resources Committee agreed to recommend to the Council, approval of the Council’s new Capital Investment Strategy contained at Appendix A to the submitted report.

(Reference:  Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Commercial Services dated 21 July 2023, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Commercial Services

The Committee gave consideration to a report advising on the operation of the processes in regard to Asset Transfer Requests and Participation Requests in terms of the Community Empowerment Act 2015. The report provided an update on Asset Transfer Requests, Expressions of Interest and Participation Requests to date.

Decision

The Policy and Resources Committee noted the content of the submitted report.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Commercial Services dated 27 June 2023, submitted)

Councillor Dougie Philand joined the meeting at this point.

Councillor Gordon Blair left the meeting during the consideration of the following item of business.

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure and Development and Economic Growth

The Committee gave consideration to a report providing an update on feedback received from the UK Government on two Levelling Up Bids that had been submitted the previous year as part of round two of the fund.

Decision

The Policy and Resources Committee –

1.    noted the feedback by the UK Government on the two submitted Levelling Up Bids;

2.    agreed the principle of prioritising a single project from elements previously identified in Round 2 as a Round 3 submission of the UK Government Levelling Up Fund;

3.    agreed that the Chief Executive and the two Executive Directors are delegated authority to approve the final bid submissions after consultation with the Leader, Depute Leader and Leader of the largest Opposition Group; and

4.    agreed that the funds previously allocated by the Council in the sum of £150k be utilised to support the use of consultants to help with Bid/Project preparation.

(Reference:  Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth dated 10 August 2023, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth

The Committee gave consideration to a report advising of an allocation of £496,000 from the Scottish Government via its Place Based Investment Programme.  The report sought formal approval of the projects to be supported via the current year’s Place Based Investment funding allocations as detailed at Table 1 within the submitted report.

Decision

The Policy and Resources Committee –

1.    agreed to the allocation of the Place Based Investment funding for 2023/24 to the projects as outlined in Table 1 at paragraph 4.8 of the submitted report.

2.    noted that the Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth would consult with all Elected Members via email to seek suggestions for potential projects that would fit with the Crown Estate 2023/24 funds criteria and timeline; and

3.    noted that, following consultation with all elected members as detailed under 2 above, a further report would be brought forward to the 12 October meeting of the Policy and Resources Committee.

(Reference:  Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth dated 13 July 2023, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth

The Committee gave consideration to a report advising of the Scottish Government’s £1M Islands Cost Crisis Emergency Fund allocation which would support those on islands facing even more significant cost of living challenges. The report advised that, based on island population, Argyll and Bute’s allocation would be £141k and recommended a delegation to ensure that the funding could be issued as quickly as possible once Argyll and Bute’s allocation had been confirmed by letter with all the relevant criteria provided by the Scottish Government.

Decision

The Policy and Resources Committee –

1.    noted the funding announced by the Scottish Government as part of its Emergency Budget Review for 2023/24 financial year for Local Authorities with responsibility for islands; and

2.    agreed that arrangements for the fund be based on funding to support similar initiatives to those agreed for 2022/23 and as detailed in Table 1 within the submitted report but that the specific details and funding split be delegated to the Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth in consultation with the Leader, Depute Leader, Leader of the Largest Opposition Group and the Policy Lead for Islands to ensure that the support reached communities as quickly as possible.

(Reference:  Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth dated August 2023, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth

A report advising of changes to the governance structure of Argyll Community Housing Association (ACHA) was before the Committee for noting.

Decision

The Policy and Resources Committee noted the changes to the governance structure as outlined within the submitted report.

(Reference:  Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth dated June 2023, submitted)

The Policy and Resources Committee Workplan was before the Committee for noting.

Decision

The Policy and Resources Committee noted the content of the work plan as at August 2023.

(Reference: Policy and Resources Committee Workplan dated August 2023, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth

The Committee gave consideration to a report providing an update on the Rural Growth Deal (RGD) and in particular an update on the “Tourism – Creating a World Class Visitor Destination” theme.  The report advised on decisions taken by the Rural Growth Deal Programme Board on what projects would be taken forward within the tourism theme and advised that a decision had been taken to allocate £9M towards the completion of the Rothesay Pavilion as a priority project, subject to approval by the UK and Scottish Government.

Decision

The Policy and Resources Committee –

1.    endorsed the decision of the Rural Growth Deal Programme Board to allocate £9m of Rural Growth Deal Funding to Rothesay Pavilion under the “Tourism – Creating a World Class Visitor Destination” theme;

2.    noted that all funding brought through the Rural Growth Deal was subject to approval of Treasury 5 business cases by the UK and Scottish Government; and

3.    noted that a further update would be brought to the Policy and Resources Committee following approval of the Rural Growth Deal Full Business Case by the UK and Scottish Government.

(Reference:  Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth dated July 2023, submitted)

The Committee 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 Paragraphs 8 and 9 of Part 1 of Schedule 7A to the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973.

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Commercial Services and Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth

The Committee gave consideration to a report providing an update on the construction work at Rothesay Pavilion since physical works recommenced in May 2023.

Decision

The Policy and Resources Committee agreed the recommendations as contained within the submitted report.

(Reference:  Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Commercial Services and Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth dated 7 July 2023, submitted)

E1       Paragraph 8  The amount of any expenditure proposed to be incurred by the authority under any particular contract for the acquisition of property or the supply of goods or services.

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.