Agenda and minutes

The Chair advised that there was an appendix containing exempt information included under item 5 of the agenda (Budgeting Pack 2018/19) and if Members wished to discuss this substantively then she would require to exclude the press and public from the meeting.

There were none intimated.

There were none intimated.

The Central Governance Manager advised that in terms of Standing Order 14 the following Notice of Motion by Councillor Kieron Green, seconded by Councillor Robin Currie, had been received for consideration as a matter of urgency at this meeting –

This Committee;

Recognises the vital role that GPs have in delivering a wide range of health services in our area.

Acknowledges concerns made by rural GPs, including in Argyll and Bute, about the future sustainability of services as a result of the proposed GP contract negotiated between the British Medical Association (BMA) and the Scottish Government.

Calls for the BMA and Scottish Government to reconsider this proposed contract in order to ensure that the local delivery of services in rural areas will not be adversely impacted by its implementation.

Requests that council officers use any appropriate opportunity to raise this issue.

The Chair ruled and the Committee agreed that the Motion was urgent by reason that the proposed GP contract was due to be implemented on 1 April 2018 which therefore restricted the time that officers could raise the issue.  The Chair advised that the Motion would be dealt with after item 9 of the Agenda.

Policy and Resources Committee held on 8 December 2017

The Minutes of the meeting of the Policy and Resources Committee held on 8 December 2017 were approved as a correct record.

Report by Head of Strategic Finance

A report providing a summary of the financial monitoring reports as at the end of December 2017 was given consideration.  There were six detailed reports summarised including the Revenue Budget Monitoring Report as at 31 December 2017, Monitoring of Service Choices Savings as at 31 December 2017, Monitoring of Financial Risks as at 31 December 2017, Capital Plan Monitoring Report as at 31 December 2017, Treasury Monitoring Report as at 31 December 2017 and Reserves and Balances as at 31 December 2017.

Decision

The Policy and Resources Committee –

1.    Noted the Revenue Budget Monitoring Report as at 31 December 2017.

2.    Agreed to recommend to the Council that the 2017-18 Live Argyll management fee is increased from £1.728m to £1.776m  in line with the analysis carried out by Strategic Finance.

3.    Agreed to recommend to Council, providing that there is no impact on the Council’s bottom line position, delegation is given to the Head of Strategic Finance to vary the management fee to reflect any accounting adjustments required at year end.

4.    Agreed to recommend to Council that the payment to the Health and Social Care Partnership in 2017-18 is increased by £0.044m to transfer over the budget required for auto enrolment.

5.    Noted the progress of the Service Choices Policy Saving Options as at 31 December 2017.

6.    Noted the current assessment of the Council’s financial risks.

7.    Noted the Capital Plan Monitoring Report as at 31 December 2017 and approved the over project cost changes, the project slippages and accelerations noted within Appendix 7 of the Capital Plan Monitoring Report.

8.    Noted the Treasury Monitoring Report as at 31 December 2017.

9.    Noted the Reserves and Balances Report as at 31 December 2017.

(Reference:  Report by Head of Strategic Finance dated 16 February 2018, submitted)

1.    Introductory Report and Recommendations for Budget Papers

2.    Revenue Pack

a)    Budget Consultation – Findings Report

b)    Service Plans 2018-20

c)    Revenue Budget Overview (Appendix 8 is marked exempt (E1))

d)    Report on Fees and Charges

e)    Revenue Budget Monitoring 2017-18 as at 31 December 2017

f)     Report on Financial Risks Analysis

g)    Report on Reserves and Balances

3.    Capital Plan

a)    Capital Plan Summary

b)    Corporate Asset Management Strategy

c)    Corporate Asset Management Plan

d)    Community Services Asset Management Plan

e)    Customer Services Asset Management Plan

f)     ICT Group Asset Management Plan

g)    Development and Infrastructure Asset Management Plan

h)    Health and Social Care Partnership Asset Management Plan

i)     Live Argyll Asset Management Plan

Consideration was given to the full package of papers included in the budget pack in relation to the revenue and capital budgets for 2018/19.

The Head of Strategic Finance advised that amendments to the Budgeting Pack 2018/19 would be issued later that day in relation to the future years funding estimates.

Decision

The Committee agreed to refer this item, without recommendation, for consideration by the Council at their meeting on 22 February 2018.

(Reference:  Report by Head of Strategic Finance dated 2 February 2018, Revenue Budget Pack and Capital Budget Pack 2018/19)

Report by Head of Strategic Finance

The Committee gave consideration to a report  which sought approval of the proposed Treasury Management Strategy Statement and Annual Investment Strategy which set out the Council’s Strategy for borrowing and investment for the forthcoming year.  The report also set out the policy for the repayment of loans fund advances for 2018-19.

Decision

The Policy and Resources Committee agreed to recommend to the Council that they –

1.    Approve the proposed Treasury Management Strategy Statement and Annual Investment Strategy and the indicators contained within.

2.    Approve the use of Option 1 (statutory method) for the repayment of loan fund advances in respect of existing capital expenditure and new advances up to 31 March 2021 at an interest rate of 4.423%, with the exception of spend to save schemes where Option 4 (funding/income profile method) will be used.

3.    Approve the ability to continue to use countries with a sovereign rating of AA- and above, as recommended by Link Asset Services.

(Reference:  Report by Head of Strategic Finance dated 2 February 2018, submitted)

Report by Executive Director – Customer Services

The Policy and Resources Committee gave consideration to a report which set out proposals for a change in approach to the management of the Council’s land and buildings from a static or reactive position to a proactive property development service.  The change would mean that all heritable property owned by the Council would be held corporately and not by individual departments enabling the Council to take a more consistent and strategic corporate view across all heritable property it owns.

Decision

The Policy and Resources Committee agreed to recommend to the Council at their budget meeting on 22 February 2018 that –

1.    The “One Council” approach be adopted.

2.    Provision of £130k be made in financial years 2018/19 and 2019/20 to resource the taking forward of the new approach, as per paragraph 4.7.4.3 of the submitted report.

3.    The Executive Director of Customer Services bring forward further reports to the Policy and Resources Committee as required in relation to –

a)    Any procedural issues which arise from implementing this proposal, and;

b)    Progress implementing change and delivering benefits therefrom.

(Reference:  Report by Executive Director – Customer Services dated February 2018, submitted)

Report by Executive Director – Customer Services

A report which presented the Committee with the new Corporate Plan 2018-2022 was given consideration.  The Corporate Plan sets out the strategic context for the Service Plans and the Council Budget.

Decision

The Policy and Resources Committee agreed the Corporate Plan 2018-2022; and agreed to recommend its approval to the Council.

(Reference:  Report by Executive Director – Customer Services dated 24 January 2018, submitted)

Recommendation from Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands Area Committee held on 6 December 2017 and report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure Services

The Policy and Resources Committee gave consideration to a recommendation from the Mid Argyll, Kintyre and Islands Area Committee held on 6 December 2018 in relation to the siting of the Screen Machine in Inveraray.

Motion

The Policy and Resources Committee –

1.    Notes the recommendation from the Mid Argyll, Kintyre and Islands Area Committee meeting of 6^th December 2017;

2.    Notes the substantial safety concerns Roads Officers have regarding the use of Fisher Row for the Screen Machine; including encroachment onto the public road and pedestrian safety;

3.    Agrees that the screen machine be located at either the hardstanding area near Inveraray Shinty Pitch or at Inveraray Castle Car Park, with the agreement of the site owner and on the basis that the use of these sites does not impact on local car parking availability, or present safety concerns;

4.    Notes that if new information is made available by Screen Machine this decision could be revisited by either the Area Committee or Policy and Resources Committee.

Moved Councillor Robin Currie, seconded Councillor Roddy McCuish.

Amendment

To refer the decision to the Council for deliberation.

Moved Councillor Douglas Philand, seconded Sandy Taylor.

Decision

Following a show of hands vote the Motion was carried by 11 votes to 5 and the Policy and Resources Committee resolved accordingly.

(Reference:  Extract of the Minute of the Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands Area Committee held on 6 December 2017 and report by Traffic and Development Manager dated November 2017, submitted)

In terms of Standing Order 14 the following Notice of Motion was before the Committee for consideration –

This Committee;

Recognises the vital role that GPs have in delivering a wide range of health services in our area.

Acknowledges concerns made by rural GPs, including in Argyll and Bute, about the future sustainability of services as a result of the proposed GP contract negotiated between the British Medical Association (BMA) and the Scottish Government.

Calls for the BMA and Scottish Government to reconsider this proposed contract in order to ensure that the local delivery of services in rural areas will not be adversely impacted by its implementation.

Requests that council officers use any appropriate opportunity to raise this issue.

Moved Councillor Kieron Green, seconded Councillor Robin Currie.

Decision

The Committee unanimously agreed the terms of the Motion.

(Reference: Notice of Motion by Councillor Kieron Green, seconded by Councillor Robin Currie)

The Policy and Resources Committee Work Plan as at February 2018 was before the Committee for information.

Decision

The Policy and Resources Committee noted the content of the Work Plan as at February 2018.

(Reference:  Policy and Resources Committee Workplan dated February 2018, submitted)

The Council 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 Paragraph 6 of Part 1 of Schedule 7A to the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973.

Report by Head of Strategic Finance

A report which set out a summary of cash flow support loans over the period 1 September 2017 to 31 December 2017 was before the Committee for information.

Decision

The Policy and Resources Committee noted the content of the report.

(Reference:  Report by Head of Strategic Finance dated 16 January 2018, submitted)

E1       Paragraph 6  Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (other than the authority).