Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Math Campbell-Sturgess, Jim Lynch and Gary Mulvaney.

There were no declarations of interest intimated.

Policy and Resources Committee held on 21 August 2025

The Minutes of the meeting of the Policy and Resources Committee held on 21 August 2025 were approved as a correct record.

Report by Section 95 Officer

The Committee gave consideration to a report providing a summary of the overall financial position of the Council for 2025-26 as at 31 August 2025.

Decision

The Policy and Resources Committee –

1.     approved the budget changes as set out in Section 3 of the 2025-26 Revenue Budget Monitoring report; and

2.     noted the content of the 2025-26 Revenue Budget Monitoring, Financial Risks, and Reserves and Balances reports as at 31 August 2025.

(Reference: Report by Section 95 Officer dated 9 September 2025, submitted)

Report by Section 95 Officer

The Committee gave consideration to a report summarising the Budget Outlook for the 5-year period 2026-27 to 2030-31 and providing an update to the position previously reported to the Policy and Resources Committee in August 2025.

Decision

The Policy and Resources Committee noted the current Budget Outlook position for the period 2026-27 to 2030-31.

(Reference: Report by Section 95 Officer dated 9 September 2025, submitted)

Report by Section 95 Officer

The Committee gave consideration to a report seeking approval for the adoption of a local Code of Practice on Funding External Bodies and Following the Public Pound, providing a consistent and structured framework for ensuring robust governance and accountability in the use of public funds.

Decision

The Policy and Resources Committee –

1.    approved the adoption of a local council Code of Practice for Funding External Bodies and Following the Public Pound;

2.    instructed officers to implement the Code of Practice across all relevant funding arrangements; and

3.    requested future reporting on compliance and effectiveness of the Code of Practice.

(Reference: Report by Section 95 Officer dated 20 August 2025, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth

The Committee gave consideration to a report providing an update on the implementation of the Empty Business Property Grant Scheme.

Decision

The Policy and Resources Committee –

1.    noted the early progress of the Business Grant Scheme;

2.    noted the implementation of a new data dashboard incorporated into Area Scorecards to ensure quarterly updates are provided on empty property rates by administration area;

3.    agreed that future updates on the Empty Business Property Grant Scheme would be reported as part of the 6 monthly Transformational Projects and Regeneration Team reports to the Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee; and

4.    noted that the Empty Business Grant Scheme would continue to be administered in line with the approved governance procedures.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth dated 13 August 2025, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth

The Committee gave consideration to a report providing an update on the Lorn Arc Programme and the current live Lorn Arc projects at Dunbeg and Oban Airport Business Park.

Decision

The Policy and Resources Committee noted –

1.     the significant ten-year extension to the TIF project; and

2.     the substantive progress that was being made both at Dunbeg Corridor and Oban Airport Business Park.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth dated August 2025, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth

The Committee gave consideration to a report providing an update on the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) Investment Plan 2022-2025, activity in the final transition year 2025/26, plans for evaluation of the programme, and issues surrounding its potential replacement.

Decision

The Policy and Resources Committee –

1.    noted the content of the submitted report; and

2.    endorsed that an evaluation of the lessons learned and initial impacts of the UKSPF be presented to the Policy and Resources Committee in August 2026.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth dated 2 October 2025, 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 9 October 2025, submitted)