Agenda and minutes

The Committee were advised that Councillor Donald Kelly had been admitted to hospital.  The Committee asked that their best wishes be passed on to Councillor Kelly for a speedy recovery.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Donald Kelly, Duncan MacIntyre, Ellen Morton and Gary Mulvaney.

There were no declarations of interest intimated.

The Minutes of the Meeting of the Policy and Resources Committee held on 19 March 2015 were approved as a correct record.

The Minutes of the Special Meeting of the Policy and Resources Committee held on 2 April 2015 were approved as a correct record.

Councillor James Robb raised a point of order with regard to the Minutes of the Project Board being made available to Members.  The Executive Director of Customer Services advised that to facilitate workshops and the preparation of a recommendation, notes of a Project Board would be taken but these notes were not a formal record of the meeting and therefore would not be circulated to Members.

Report by Interim Head of Strategic Finance

A report setting out proposed arrangements for financial reporting during 2015/16 was considered.

Decision

The Committee approved the arrangements for routine financial reporting during 2015/16 as detailed in the submitted report and appendix.

(Reference:  Report by Interim Head of Strategic Finance dated 5 May 2015, submitted)

Report by Executive Director – Customer Services

The Committee considered the Customer Services departmental performance report with scorecards for Strategic Finance and Customer Services for FQ4 2014/15 (January-March 2015).

Decision

The Committee noted the performance report and scorecards as presented.

(Reference:  Report by Executive Director – Customer Services dated 6 May 2015 and Performance report and Scorecards for FQ4, submitted)

Report by Executive Director – Customer Services

The Committee considered a report which presented the draft Corporate Plan 2015-2017 for approval.  The Chief Executive advised that the Plan was based on the Single Outcome Agreement which had been subject to extensive consultation.

Motion

That the Committee approve the draft Corporate Plan 2015-2017 for consideration by Council.

Moved Councillor Dick Walsh, seconded Councillor Aileen Morton.

Amendment

That the Committee notes the draft Corporate Plan, notes that it will be considered by the Council and requests that a process be put in place to allow Members to provide comment before the Council meeting.

Moved Councillor James Robb, seconded Councillor Sandy Taylor.

Decision

On a show of hands vote, the Motion was carried by 7 votes to 5 and the Committee resolved accordingly.

(Reference:  Report by Executive Director – Customer Services dated May 2015 and Draft Corporate Plan, submitted)

Recommendation by Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee held on 13 April 2015 and report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure Services

The Committee considered a recommendation from the Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee held on 13 April 2015 which sought approval of a Flood Risk Management Policy as a Council Policy.

Decision

The Committee approved the Flood Risk Management Policy for consideration by the Council.

(Reference:  Recommendation from the Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee held on 13 April 2015 and report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure Services dated March 2015, submitted)

Recommendation by Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee held on 13 April 2015 and report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure Services

The Committee considered a recommendation from the Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee held on 13 April 2015 which sought approval of a Coast Protection Policy as a Council Policy.

Decision

The Committee approved the Coast Protection Policy for consideration by the Council.

(Reference:  Recommendation from the Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee held on 13 April 2015 and report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure Services dated March 2015, submitted)

Report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure Services

Following the agreement by the Committee at their meeting on 5 February 2015, a period of consultation was held in relation to the draft framework on Community Benefits from Onshore Renewable Energy.  The Committee considered a report advising of changes proposed as a result of the consultation and requesting that the revised guidance be approved.

Decision

The Committee –

1.    Noted the content of the report and the consultation and review process which had been undertaken.

2.    Approved the updated guidance which was contained at Appendix 2 to the submitted report.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure Services dated May 2015, submitted)

Report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure Services

The Committee considered a report detailing a proposed response to a consultation on the Scottish Government draft document ‘Good Practice Principles for Shared Ownership of Onshore Renewable Energy Developments’.

Decision

The Committee –

1.    Noted the content of the report.

2.    Approved the consultation response as attached at Appendix 1 to the submitted report.

(Reference:  Report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure Services dated 13 April 2015, submitted)

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

Decision

The Committee noted the up to date work plan as at May 2015.

(Reference:  Policy and Resources Committee Work Plan dated May 2015, submitted)

Extract from Minutes of Oban, Lorn and the Isles Area Committee of 15 April 2015 and report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure Services Committee

The Committee considered a recommendation from the Oban, Lorn and the Isles Area Committee held on 15 April 2015 with regard to the drawdown of funding to support the delivery of the Oban North Pier Maritime Quarter.

Decision

The Committee endorsed the draw down of £45,000 funding to implement the development stage of the interim step ashore solution for 2016.

(Reference:  Recommendation from Oban, Lorn and the Isles Area Committee held on 15 April 2015 and report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure Services dated April 2015, submitted)

The Committee resolved in terms of Section 50(A)(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 to exclude the public for the following items of business on the grounds that it was likely to involve the disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 8&9; 8&9; 8&9; 4; 4; 12; and 8&9 respectively of Part 1 of Schedule 7A to the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973.

The Committee considered a recommendation from the Oban, Lorn and the Isles Area Committee held on 15 April 2015 with regard to the drawdown of funding for the development of a full business case for Lorn Arc Project 5 – Oban North Pier Extension.

Decision

The Committee

1.    Approved the drawdown of borrowing for a total of up to £560K for the development of a full business case for Lorn Arc Project 5.

2.    Noted that the full business case would be reported to a future Committee before moving to implementation stage.

(Reference:  Recommendation from Oban, Lorn and the Isles Area Committee held on 15 April 2015 and report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure Services dated April 2015, submitted)

Recommendation by Oban, Lorn and the Isles Area Committee held on 1 May 2015 and report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure Services

The Committee considered a recommendation from the Oban, Lorn and the Isles Area Committee held on 1 May 2015 in respect of the full business case for Lorn Arc TIF Asset Project 9 – Oban and the Isles Business Park:  Access Road Enablement.

Decision

The Committee agreed the recommendation from the Oban, Lorn and the Isles Area Committee and as contained at paragraph 3.1 of the submitted report.

(Reference: Recommendation from the Oban, Lorn and the Isles Area Committee held on 1 May 2015 and report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure Services dated 23 April 2015, submitted)

Recommendation from Oban, Lorn and the Isles Area Committee and report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure Services

The Committee considered a recommendation from the Oban, Lorn and the Isles Area Committee held on 15 April 2015 in respect of an updated cost report for Oban CHORD Oban Waterfront Phase 2: North Pier to Station Square including George Street and Queen’s Park Place.

Decision

The Committee agreed the recommendation from the Oban, Lorn and the Isles Area Committee and as contained at paragraph 3.1 of the submitted report.

(Reference: Recommendation from the Oban, Lorn and the Isles Area Committee held on 15 April 2015 and report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure Services dated April 2015, submitted)

Recommendation from Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands Area Committee held on 8 April 2015 and report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure Services

The Committee considered a report from the Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands Area Committee in respect of a request for financial assistance from The Picture House, Campbeltown.

Decision

Approved the recommendation by the Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands Area Committee as detailed at paragraph 3.1 of the submitted report.

(Reference:  Report by Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands Area Committee held on 8 April 2015 and report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure Services dated 12 March 2015, submitted)

Report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure Services

The Committee considered a report in respect of a request for financial assistance from the Kilmahew/St Peter’s Project.

Decision

The Committee agreed the recommendations as detailed at paragraphs 3.1 to 3.3 of the submitted report.

(Reference:  Report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure Services dated April 2015, submitted)

Recommendation from Short Life Working Group on Local Government Boundary Commission Review 2015 held on 11 May 2015

The Chair advised that the Short Life Working Group on the Local Government Boundary Commission Review 2015 had met on 11 May 2015 where they had considered a number of different models.  At that meeting it was agreed to adjourn the meeting to 22 May 2015 to allow officers to look at further models and report back to the Group.

In light of this, the Chair proposed and the Committee agreed, to adjourn consideration of this item until 26 May 2015.

Report by Executive Director – Customer Services

A report providing an update with regard to the Helensburgh Office Project was considered.

Decision

The Committee noted the recommendations as detailed at paragraph 3.1 (a) to (e) contained within the submitted report.

(Reference: Reference:  Report by Executive Director – Customer Services dated 5 May 2015, submitted)

The Chair adjourned the meeting at this point.

The Policy and Resources Committee reconvened on Tuesday 26 May 2015 at 10.30am in Committee Room 1, Kilmory, Lochgilphead.

Present:         Councillor Dick Walsh (Chair)

                        Councillor Roderick McCuish

                        Councillor Douglas Philand

                        Councillor James Robb

                        Councillor Len Scoullar

                        Councillor Isobel Strong

                        Councillor Sandy Taylor

                        Councillor Richard Trail

Also Present: Councillor Elaine Robertson

Attending:      Charles Reppke, Head of Governance and Law

                        Patricia O’Neill, Central Governance Manager

                        Graham Whitefield, GIS Manager

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Robin Currie, Vivien Dance, Donald Kelly, Alistair MacDougall, Duncan MacIntyre, Aileen Morton and Ellen Morton.

There were no declarations of interest intimated.

The Committee resolved in terms of Section 50(A)(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 to exclude the public for the following item of business on the grounds that it was likely to involve the disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 12 of Part 1 of Schedule 7A to the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973.

The Committee considered a report which outlined recommendations by the Short Life Working Group which had been set up to consider the Local Government Boundary Commission’s proposals in detail.

Decision

The Committee agreed to delegate to the Head of Governance and Law in consultation with the Chair of the Policy and Resources Committee to prepare a response to the Local Government Boundary Commission on the basis that the Council were opposed in principle to the ward structure as presented by the Commission, however, the Council would attach to the response a technical submission as discussed at the Policy and Resources Committee which seeks to address matters relating to polling district boundaries and which proposes a more administrative convenient set of arrangements to minimise the impact of the proposals.  The response to the Local Government Boundary Commission would be circulated to members of the Policy and Resources Committee and Short Life Working Group.

(Reference: Supplementary Pack 1 containing report by Executive Director – Customer Services and appendices dated 24 May 2015, tabled)

E1,E2,E3,E7             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.

E4, E5                        Paragraph 4  Information relating to any particular applicant for, or recipient or former recipient of, any financial assistance provided by the authority.