Agenda and minutes

Venue: Via Skype

Contact: Hazel MacInnes Tel: 01546 604269 

Items
Note No. Item

1.

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Aileen Morton and Len Scoullar.

2.

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest.

3.

MINUTES

3a

Policy and Resources Committee held on 20 February 2020 pdf icon PDF 233 KB

Minutes:

The Minutes of the Meeting of the Policy and Resources Committee held on 20 February 2020 were approved as a correct record.

3b

Sub-Committee of the Policy and Resources Committee held on 24 September 2020 pdf icon PDF 183 KB

Minutes:

The Minutes of the meeting of the Sub-Committee of the Policy and Resources Committee held on 24 September 2020 were noted.

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4.

FINANCIAL REPORTS MONITORING PACK – 31 AUGUST 2020 pdf icon PDF 5 MB

Report by Section 95 Officer

Minutes:

The Committee gave consideration to a report providing a summary of the financial monitoring reports as at the end of August 2020.  There were six detailed reports summarised within the executive summary including the Revenue Budget Monitoring Report as at 31 August 2020; Monitoring of Policy Savings Options as at 31 August 2020; Monitoring of Financial Risks as at 31 August 2020; Capital Plan Monitoring Report as at 31 August 2020; Treasury Monitoring Report as at 31 August 2020 and Reserves and Balances as at 31 August 2020.

 

Decision

 

The Policy and Resources Committee –

 

1.    Noted the revenue budget monitoring report as at 31 August 2020 and noted the comments in respect of the Health and Social Care Partnership.

 

2.    Noted the progress with the policy savings options as at 31 August 2020.

 

3.    Noted the financial risks for 2020-21.

 

4.    Noted the capital plan monitoring report as at 31 August 2020 and approved the proposed changes to the capital plan as detailed in Appendix 4 to the report.

 

5.    Noted the treasury monitoring report as at 31 August 2020.

 

6.    Noted the reserves and balances report as at 31 August 2020.

 

7.    Agreed to recommend to Council that the revenue virements over £0.200m during

July and August are approved.

 

(Reference: Report by Section 95 Officer dated 1 October 2020, submitted)

5.

BUDGET OUTLOOK 2021-22 TO 2025-26 pdf icon PDF 546 KB

Report by Section 95 Officer

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee gave consideration to a report providing an update to the budget outlook 2021-22 to 2025-26 reported to the Business Continuity Committee on 13 August 2020.  The estimates within the report were based on the mid-range scenario with best and worst case scenarios noted in Appendix 1.

 

Decision

 

The Policy and Resources Committee noted the current estimated budget outlook position for the period 2021-22 to 2025-26.

 

(Reference:  Report by Section 95 Officer dated 17 September 2020, submitted)

6.

UPDATE ON 2021/22 SAVINGS THEME REVIEWS pdf icon PDF 149 KB

Report by Section 95 Officer

Minutes:

The Committee gave consideration to a report providing an update on the theme reviews identified savings options to be considered as part of the 2021-22 budget.

 

Decision

 

The Policy and Resources Committee noted the update on the Council’s approach to identifying savings options to be considered as part of the 2021-22 budget process.

 

(Reference:  Report by Section 95 Officer dated 15 October 2020, submitted)

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7.

IMPLEMENTATION OF DOMESTIC ABUSE POLICY pdf icon PDF 309 KB

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Customer Support Services

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee gave consideration to a report presenting a new Domestic Abuse Policy for approval.  The new Policy set out the Council’s commitment to providing a safe and supportive environment at work for those who are being affected by, or who are at risk from, domestic abuse or violence.

 

Decision

 

The Policy and Resources Committee approved the new Domestic Abuse Policy for onward transition to the Council.

 

(Reference:  Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Customer Support Services dated 4 September 2020, submitted)

8.

ARGYLL & BUTE HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE PARTNERSHIP (HSCP) CULTURE SURVEY RESPONSE UPDATE pdf icon PDF 292 KB

Report by Chief Officer – Health and Social Care Partnership

Minutes:

The Committee gave consideration to a report providing an update and assurance on culture change activity and the monitoring of that activity though the IJB as a result of the findings of an Argyll and Bute Culture Survey published on 15 May 2020.

 

Motion

 

The Policy and Resources Committee:

 

Welcomes the actions taken by the NHS Highland Board and Argyll and Bute IJB in response to the Sturrock Report and the follow on Culture Survey engagement exercise.

 

Endorses the approach adopted by the HSCP in delivering a 100 Day Plan building on the NHS Highland Culture Fit for Future Programme, which will benefit both NHS and Council employees through the cultural changes.

 

Notes that work by the Argyll and Bute Culture Group is ongoing to further embed and improve processes within the HSCP.

Moved Councillor Kieron Green, seconded Councillor Robin Currie.

Amendment

 

That the Committee:

a.    acknowledges the enduring concerns regarding bullying behaviours in the local health and social care staffs,

b.    agrees that all Argyll and Bute Health & Social Care Partnership staff should have the opportunity to relate their views to an independent body free from NHS and Argyll and Bute Social services, and

c.    agrees to refer this matter to the Council at its earliest meeting together with a recommendation that the Council request that the Integration Joint Board of the Health and Social Care Partnership instigate a comprehensive review of bullying behaviours affording all staff the opportunity to report on their experience past and present.

 

Moved Councillor Douglas Philand, seconded Councillor Audrey Forrest.

 

As the meeting was being held virtually the vote was taken by calling the roll and Members voted as follows –

 

Motion                                                            Amendment

 

Councillor Rory Colville                                  Councillor Lorna Douglas

Councillor Robin Currie                                  Councillor Audrey Forrest

Councillor Bobby Good                                  Councillor Douglas Philand

Councillor Kieron Green                                 Councillor Sandy Taylor

Councillor Yvonne McNeilly                           Councillor Richard Trail

Councillor Gary Mulvaney

Councillor Alistair Redman

Councillor Elaine Robertson

 

The Motion was carried by 8 votes to 5 and the Committee resolved accordingly.

 

Decision

 

The Policy and Resources Committee –

 

1.    Welcomed the actions taken by the NHS Highland Board and Argyll and Bute IJB in response to the Sturrock Report and the follow on Culture Survey engagement exercise.

 

2.    Endorsed the approach adopted by the HSCP in delivering a 100 Day Plan building on the NHS Highland Culture Fit for Future Programme, which will benefit both NHS and Council employees through the cultural changes.

 

3.    Noted that work by the Argyll and Bute Culture Group is ongoing to further embed and improve processes within the HSCP.

 

(Reference:  Report by Chief Officer – Health and Social Care Partnership dated 23 September 2020, submitted)

9.

COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT (SCOTLAND) ACT 2015 - UPDATE - EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST / ASSET TRANSFER REQUESTS/PARTICIPATION REQUESTS/ ANNUAL REPORTING REQUIREMENTS pdf icon PDF 314 KB

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Commercial Services

Minutes:

A report providing an update on annual activity in respect of the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015 was before the Committee for noting.

 

Decision

 

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

 

(Reference:  Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Commercial Services dated 8 September 2020, submitted)

10.

POLICY AND RESOURCES COMMITTEE WORKPLAN pdf icon PDF 292 KB

Minutes:

The Policy and Resources Committee work plan as at October 2020 was before the Committee for noting.

 

Decision

 

The Policy and Resources Committee noted the content of the work plan.

 

(Reference:  Policy and Resources Committee Workplan as at October 2020, submitted)