Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies for absence intimated.

There were no declarations of interest intimated.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Policy and Resources Committee held on 8 December 2022 were approved as a correct record.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Special Policy and Resources Committee held on 19 January 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 December 2022.  There were five detailed reports setting out the position as at 31 December 2022 which were summarised in the executive summary.

Decision

The Policy and Resources Committee –

1.    noted the revenue budget monitoring report as at 31 December 2022;

2.    noted the financial risks for 2022-23;

3.    noted the capital plan monitoring report as at 31 December 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 31 December 2022;

5.    noted the reserves and balances report as at 31 December 2022; and

6.    agreed to recommend to Council that the revenue virements over £0.200m during November and December 2022 are approved.

(Reference:  Report by Section 95 Officer dated 13 January 2023, submitted)

Councillors Amanda Hampsey and Yvonne McNeilly joined the meeting during consideration of the following item of business.

Reports by Section 95 Officer

The Committee gave consideration to the full package of papers included in the Budgeting Pack 2023-24 in relation to the Revenue and Capital Budgets for 2023-24.

Decision

The Policy and Resources Committee agreed to refer consideration of the Budgeting Pack 2023-24 to the Council meeting on 23 February 2023, without recommendation.

(Reference:  Budgeting Pack 2023-24 dated 9 February 2023, submitted)

Report by Section 95 Officer

The Committee gave consideration to a report seeking approval of the proposed Treasury Management Strategy Statement and Annual Investment Strategy.  The report also set out the Policy for the repayment of loans fund advances for 2023-24.

Decision

The Policy and Resources Committee agreed to recommend to Council approval of –

1.    the proposed Treasury Management Strategy Statement and Annual Investment Strategy and the indicators contained within; noting that the figures within the Strategy would be updated to reflect the budget decisions agreed at Council;

2.    the continued use of the asset life method for the repayment of loan fund advances using a 5.1% annuity interest rate, with the exception of spend to save schemes where the funding/income profile method could be used;

3.    the proposed asset repayment periods as detailed within section 2.7 of the Treasury Management Strategy Statement; and

4.    the ability to continue to use countries with a sovereign rating of AA- and above, as recommended by the Council’s external treasury management advisors.

(Reference:  Report by Section 95 Officer dated 9 February 2023, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Customer Support Services

The Committee gave consideration to a report seeking approval of an additional day’s annual leave for staff scheduled to work on 8 May 2023 which had been announced by the UK and Scottish Governments as an additional bank holiday to commemorate the coronation of King Charles. The additional day’s leave would allow staff and their families to participate in the planned long weekend of commemorative events.

Decision

The Policy and Resources Committee agreed to authorise an additional day’s annual leave on 8 May 2023 to allow staff to participate in celebrations related to the coronation of King Charles.

(Reference:  Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Customer Support Services dated 23 December 2022, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth

The Committee gave consideration to a report providing an update on Round 5 – 2023-24 of the Council’s Strategic Events and Festivals Fund (SEF).  The report provided details of the applications submitted and recommendations regarding all eligible applications put forward to receive grant funding. The report also sought agreement to allocate any underspend from this round to a future SEF round (Round 5.2); and agreement to allocate funding to allow a future round (Round 6) for 2024-25.

Decision

The Policy and Resources Committee –

1.      agreed to the award of eligible SEF Round 5 grants amounting to £78,975 as detailed in Table 1 of Appendix 1 to the submitted report;

2.      agreed to award £3,600 to West Highland Yachting Week on the basis declared in the body of the report as detailed in Table 2 of Appendix 1 to the submitted report; 

3.      agreed that any SEF grant offer only be formally issued upon confirmation from the individual event organisation that the event is formally confirmed, is definitely going ahead and still meets the SEF Round 5 criteria.  These grants are detailed in Appendix 1, Tables 1 & 2, to the submitted report;

4.      agreed to continue delegation of powers to the Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth to allow any subsequent amendment to existing grant requests to be made brought about as a consequence of changes to the event/event budget. Any amendment to a current grant request/offer would only be considered if the amendment related to either the same level or a reduction in the request from and constitute up to 75% of legitimate and eligible expenditure;

5.      agreed to continue to assist with the economic recovery of the fragile events and festivals sector within Argyll and Bute and agree that any underspend from SEF Round 5 is made available to a second call for applications (SEF 5.2) with a deadline of April 2023; and

6.      agreed to recommend to the Council that as part of the budget in February 2023, that they agree £90,000 base funding for Strategic Events and Festivals in order that the application process can commence during 2024/25 and that this fund be augmented by any underspend remaining from the current financial year. 

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth dated 23 December 2023, submitted

Councillor Reeni Kennedy-Boyle left the meeting during consideration of the following item of business.

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth

The Committee gave consideration to a report providing an update in respect of the allocation of both Place Based Investment (PBI) and Crown Estate (CE) funding for 2022/23.  The report also sought approval of a number of changes in regard to specific allocations of funding as already agreed in regard to both PBI and CE funding against respective projects.

Decision

The Policy and Resources Committee –

1.    noted the update in regard to PBI and CE funding allocations for 2022/23;

2.    noted that following the announcement of the final allocation of funding, the Cemetery Maintenance and Roads Access Fund and the Public Conveniences project could now proceed, as agreed in principle at the Policy and Resources Committee in October 2022; 

3.    agreed to switch the allocation of £100,000 PBI funding 2022/23 against the Glenmorag Campsite, Dunoon project to £100,000 CE funding allocation 2022/23 and to then in turn allocate the PBI funding to those projects as detailed in Table 1 that previously had the CE funding allocated against them thereby simply changing the funding source;

4.    agreed to use the allocation of £400,000 CE funding currently allocated against the delivery of the Tobermory Car Park project to instead deliver the extension to the cemetery at Tobermory;

5.    agreed that delegated authority be given to the Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth, in consultation with the Leader, Depute Leader, and the Leader of the largest Opposition Group in regard to any necessary future changes required to be made between specific CE and PBI funding allocations already agreed by members to individual projects.  This delegation would ensure that funding timelines could be met and funding does not require to be paid back.  This would not impact the projects that had been agreed but simply change the source of funding that would support their delivery and officers would report any updates to Elected Members. 

(Reference:  Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth dated January 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 Scottish Government 2023/24 Islands Programme and how it would be delivered.  The report also sought agreement to put in place a delegation to ensure that the Council could adhere to the tight timescales set by the Scottish Government in bidding for funding for the 2023/24 Islands Programme.

Decision

The Policy and Resources Committee –

1.    noted that the next round of funding would likely be a one stage process;

2.    agreed that arrangements for the fund 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 Council could submit a bid(s) within the short timescales proposed by the Scottish Government for round 2023/24; and

3.    noted that the delegation would also engage with the Argyll Islands Sounding Board in relation to any potential bids for funding for the round in 2023/24.

(Reference:  Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth dated January 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 workplan.

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

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 current situation facing the Rothesay Pavilion project including a summary of the work undertaken by the Rothesay Pavilion Lobbying Group.  The report contained an accompanying Action Plan that had been taken forward by the Lobbying Group and a number of recommendations in relation to the delivery of the associated Action Plan and the continuation of the project for completion.

Decision

The Policy and Resources Committee –

1.    noted the content of the report and the progress made to date as contained within the report and Action Plan at Appendix B of the submitted report;

2.    agreed the continuation of the Rothesay Pavilion project as detailed in the accompanying report entitled Rothesay Pavilion – Financial and Contractual Issues.

(Reference:  Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Commercial Services and Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth dated 2 February 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 & 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 seeking approval of a package of interim works to the Rothesay Pavilion.

Decision

The Policy and Resources Committee approved the recommendations 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 2 February 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.