Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Mary Jean Devon, Donald Kelly and Gary Mulvaney.

There were none intimated.

Policy and Resources Committee held on 29 October 2015

The Minutes of the meeting of the Policy and Resources Committee held on 29 October 2015 were approved as a correct record.

Report by Head of Strategic Finance

The Committee considered a report providing a summary of the financial monitoring reports as at the end of October 2015. The report provided summaries of the Revenue Budget Monitoring Report as at 31 October 2015; Monitoring of Financial Risks; Reserves and Balances; Capital Plan Monitoring Report as at 31 October 2015 and Treasury Monitoring Report as at 31 October 2015.

Decision

The Committee noted –

1.    The Revenue Budget Monitoring Report as at 31 October 2015.

2.    The current assessment of the Council’s financial risks.

3.    The overall level of reserves and balances and the monitoring of the earmarked reserves.

4.    The Capital Plan Monitoring Report as at 31 October 2015.

5.    The Treasury Monitoring Report as at 31 October 2015.

(Reference:  Report by Head of Strategic Finance dated 17 November 2015, submitted)

Report by Executive Director – Customer Services

The Committee considered a report inviting them to review the Customer Services Departmental Performance Report with the Scorecards for Strategic Finance and Customer Services for financial quarter two 2015/16.

Decision

The Committee noted the Customer Services Departmental Performance Report with the Scorecards for Strategic Finance and Customer Services for financial quarter two 2015/16.

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

Report by Executive Director – Customer Services

The Committee were presented with a report inviting them to consider 4 options on how the new permanent Scottish Welfare Fund could be delivered by the Council in future within the resources made available for this purpose by the Scottish Government.

Motion -

That the Committee –

1.    Agree that from 1 April 2016 all Scottish Welfare Fund awards will be made by cash as described in option 2 contained within the detail of the report.

2.    Agree that customers be encouraged to apply for Scottish Welfare Grants online wherever possible in order to reduce administration costs.

3.    Note the financial and staffing implications of the proposed option as described within the report and that the telephony service will only be available from 1 April 2016 Monday to Friday and from 1.30pm to 5.00pm excluding public holidays.

Moved Councillor Dick Walsh, seconded Councillor Ellen Morton.

Amendment

That the Committee -

1.    Progress Option 3 as detailed in the report.

2.    That the tender should allow for delivery of the service on a same service basis or a cash substitute basis as outlined in Option 2.

3.    Delegate to the Executive Director – Customer Services to ensure that the tender includes a clause to address concerns as raised in paragraph 4.25 of the report.

Moved Councillor James Robb, seconded Councillor Sandy Taylor.

Decision

On a show of hands vote the Motion was carried by 9 votes to 3 and the Committee resolved accordingly.

(Reference:  Report by Executive Director – Customer Services dated 4 December 2015, submitted)

Recommendation from Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee held on 12 November 2015

The Committee considered a recommendation from the Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee held on 12 November 2015 in respect of the street lighting project for upgrading the lighting assets within Argyll and Bute.

Decision

The Committee agreed the recommendation from the Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee and agreed to recommend to the Council –

1.    To progress with an innovative lighting energy efficient scheme as detailed in the attached business case, the costs of which are summarised at 5.4 of the report by the Executive Director, in order to reduce future cost pressure relating to street lighting electricity.

2.    To agree to a tender process being completed and that the energy efficient scheme is progressed utilising the most cost effective model as determined from the tender process.

3.    To agree to a tender process being completed and that the energy efficient scheme is progressed utilising the most cost effective model as determined from the tender process.

4.    To agree that the remaining reduced electricity budget, as a result of the innovative lighting scheme, is inflated in line with energy costs on an annual basis.

5.    To agree that the balance of savings generated is used to fund a column replacement programme with replacements being prioritised on condition.

(Reference:  Recommendation from the Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee held on 12 November 2015 and report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure Services dated October 2015, submitted)

The Committee considered their Work Plan as at December 2015.

Decision

The Committee noted the Work Plan

(reference: Policy and Resources Committee Work Plan as at December 2015, submitted)

The Chair advised that in terms of Section 50(A)(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, appendices A & B relating to the following item of business would require him to exclude the press and public should any Member wish to discuss the content of those appendices on the grounds that it was likely to involve the disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 8&9 respectively of Part 1 of Schedule 7A to the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973. In this regard, the press and public were excluded part way through the discussion of the following item of business.

The Committee considered a report updating them on progress with delivering the 12 major capital regeneration projects led by Development and Infrastructure Services, which excluded the 9 Lorn Arc Projects.  The report also advised on key issues which would impact on the successful delivery of the projects from the design development stage through to procurement and implementation.

Decision

The Committee noted the current progress and agreed allocation of budget resources to date against each of the projects.

(Reference:  Report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure Services dated 3 December 2015, 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 2 items of business on the grounds that it was likely to involve the disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 8&9 respectively of Part 1 of Schedule 7A to the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973.

Report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure Services

A report which set out the current position with the Rothesay Pavilion regeneration project was considered by the committee.  The report also advised on key issues which would impact on the successful delivery of the project from the design development stage through to procurement and implementation.

Decision

The Committee agreed the recommendations as contained within the report by the Executive Director.

(Reference:  Report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure Services dated 11 November 2015, submitted)

Report by Executive Director – Community Services

The Committee considered a report providing an update on the new schools redevelopment project.  The report also provided an update in respect of the Dunoon Primary School Refurbishment Project.

The report was supported by a presentation which explained the Council’s current financial position for the new schools project and which clarified the revised financial position as a result of the new ESA10 financial arrangements.

Decision

The Committee agreed the recommendations as contained within the report by the Executive Director.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director – Community Services dated 21 November 2015, 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.