Agenda and minutes

Prior to the commencement of Business the Chair expressed his sadness at the sudden passing of Councillor John McAlpine and made the following tribute to him –

Today is the first formal committee meeting since we heard of the sudden and tragic passing of our colleague and indeed our friend, John McAlpine.

Our thoughts are first and foremost with his wife Karen and son Sam, and his wider family and many friends who are mourning such a sad loss.

John would have been sitting with us today as a member of this committee. Instead we find ourselves paying tribute to him, remembering him, and regretting a life cut short far too soon.

We will remember John as one of the local members for Kintyre and the Islands, and for his passion for his home of Tarbert, as a fine sportsman, as a lively character with a ready smile and a twinkle in his eye. An Argyll man through and through. We will miss him very much. Let us pause for a moment to remember John.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Audrey Forrest.

Councillor Reeni Kennedy-Boyle advised that she had a relevant connection in relation to item 8 of the Agenda (UK Shared Prosperity Fund – Argyll and Bute Investment Plan) by virtue of her position as General Manager of Fyne Futures.  She advised that she would leave the meeting during consideration of this item of business.

Policy and Resources Committee held on 16 June 2022

The Minutes of the meeting of the Policy and Resources Committee held on 16 June 2022 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 2022.  There were five detailed reports, setting out the position as at 30 June 2022.

Decision

The Policy and Resources Committee –

1.    Noted the revenue budget monitoring report as at 30 June 2022;

2.    Noted the financial risks for 2022-23;

3.    Noted the capital plan monitoring report as at 30 June 2022 and approved the proposed changes to the capital plan as outlined in Appendix 4 of that report;

4.    Noted the treasury monitoring report as at 30 June 2022;

5.    Noted the reserves and balances report as at 30 June 2022; and

6.    Noted there were no revenue virements over £0.200m between April and June 2022.

(Reference:  Report by Section 95 Officer dated 8 July 2022, submitted)

Report by Section 95 Officer

The Committee gave consideration to a report providing an update to the budget outlook 2023-24 to 2027-28 reported to the Policy and Resources Committee on 16 June 2022.

Decision

The Policy and Resources Committee noted the current estimated budget outlook position for the period 2023-24 to 2027-28.

(Reference:  Report by Section 95 Officer dated 20 July 2022, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Customer Support Services

The Committee gave consideration to a report presenting the Service Annual Performance Review and Scorecard 2021/22 for Financial Services; Community Planning and Development; Legal and Regulatory Support; Commercial Services; and Customer Support Services.

Decision

The Policy and Resources Committee approved the Service Annual Performance Reviews and Scorecards 2021/22 as presented for publication on the Council’s website.

(Reference:  Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Customer Support Services dated 13 July 2022, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Customer Support Services

The Committee gave consideration to a report proposing the inclusion of a new discretion in the Council’s Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) Discretionary Pension Policy Statement to permit Local Government Pension Scheme members to participate in a Shared Cost Additional Voluntary Contributions (AVC) Scheme.

Decision

The Policy and Resources Committee approved the amendment to the Council’s Pensions Discretion Policy to allow employees to access this financial benefit if they so choose.

(Reference:  Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Customer Support Services dated 19 July 2022, submitted)

Councillor Reeni Kennedy Boyle, having declared an interest in the following item of business, left the meeting and took no part in the consideration of this item.

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth

The Committee gave consideration to a report which sought approval of the Argyll and Bute UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) Investment Plan to deliver the Council’s allocation of just under £4.5M to be delivered over 3 years.

Decision

The Policy and Resources Committee –

1.    Agreed the Argyll and Bute UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) Investment Plan appended to the submitted report at Appendix A for submission to the UK Government, subject to addressing amendments/ comments from committee members; and

2.    Agreed that regular updates be provided to the Policy and Resources Committee on the progress of the delivery of the Argyll and Bute UKSPF Investment Plan aligned to the predefined outputs and outcomes.

(Reference:  Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth dated 11 August 2022, submitted)

Councillor Reeni Kennedy Boyle re-joined the meeting.

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth

The Committee gave consideration to a report which detailed the process for allocation of the remaining Place Based Investment Funding for 2022/23 of £322,486, taking into account the Place Based Investment Criteria as set out by the Scottish Government and the associated timeline for spend.  The report also sought consideration of the unallocated Crown Estate funding for 2022/23.

Decision

The Policy and Resources Committee agreed –

1.    That the Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth seeks suggestions for potential projects that would fit with the funds criteria and timeline from all Elected Members;

2.    That delegated authority be given to the Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth, in consultation with the Leader and Depute Leader of the Council, and Leader of the largest Opposition Group; to agree expenditure on the projects that fit best for the 2022/23 allocation, following receipt of any suggestions; and

3.    That arrangements are put in place which would facilitate Area Committees and / or Area Community Planning Groups being involved in the discussions around the 2023/24 allocation of Place Based Investment funding prior to it coming before Members for decision.

(Reference:  Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth dated 21 July 2022, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Commercial Services

The Committee gave consideration to a report highlighting the Council’s overall annual carbon emissions for the most recent period 2020/21 and outlining that changes to the process would be forthcoming in future months due to change in The Climate Change (Duties of Public Bodies: Reporting Requirements) (Scotland) Amendment Order 2020.  The report also invited the Policy Lead with the responsibility for Climate Change to be a member of the Climate Change Board to ensure a seamless link with regards to strategic leadership and operational delivery.

Decision

The Policy and Resources Committee –

1.    Noted the publication of the Council’s 2020/21 carbon emissions report and its continued positive trend highlighting that carbon dioxide equivalent emissions have reduced by 33% in past 6 years;

2.    Noted the climate change projects that would be developed in 2022 onwards that are aligned to the additional £500,000 commitment that was allocated at the February 2022 Council Budget; and 

3.    Agreed to the inclusion of the Policy Lead with responsibility for Climate Change as a member of the Climate Change Board.

(Reference:  Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Commercial Services dated 14 July 2022, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Commercial Services

The Committee gave consideration to a report presenting the updated De-carbonisation Plan Action Tracker and supplementary case studies providing additional information on positive climate change work the Council was undertaking.

Decision

The Policy and Resources Committee noted –

1.    The progress of specific actions from the Decarbonisation Action Plan; and

2.    The supplementary case studies that provide information on positive climate change projects being undertaken by different departments of the Council.

(Reference:  Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Commercial Services dated 11 August 2022, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Commercial Services

A report advising on the operation of the processes in regard to formal Asset Transfer Requests (ATR) and Participation Requests in terms of the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015; current live informal Expressions of Interest (EOI’s) which may become subject to a formal asset transfer request or be dealt with outwith the formal asset transfer request process; current live ongoing or agreed Participation Requests received by the Council; and the annual reporting requirements in respect of Asset Transfer Requests and Participation Requests set out in Section 95 and 32 of the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015 respectively; was before the Committee for noting.

Decision

The Policy and Resources Committee noted the content of the submitted report and agreed that this would be listed as a substantive item at the next meeting of the Committee for discussion by all Members.

(Reference:  Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Commercial Services dated 27 June 2022, submitted)

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

Decision

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

(Reference: Policy and Resources Committee Workplan dated 11 August 2022, submitted)