Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies for absence.

There were no declarations of interest.

Policy and Resources Committee held on 13 December 2018

The Minutes of the meeting of the Policy and Resources Committee held on 13 December 2018 were approved as a correct record.

Report by Head of Strategic Finance

The Committee gave consideration to a report which provided a summary of the financial monitoring reports as at the end of December 2018.  There were 6 detailed reports summarised within the executive summary including the Revenue Budget Monitoring Report as at 31 December 2018; Monitoring of Service Package Policy Options as at 31 December 2018; Monitoring of Financial Risks as at 31 December 2018; Capital Plan Monitoring Report as at 31 December 2018; Treasury Monitoring Report as at 31 December 2018 and Reserves and Balances as at 31 December 2018.

In respect of the treasury monitoring update at paragraph 2.5.2 of the executive summary, the Head of Strategic Finance advised that there had been an error in the paper and advised that the paragraph should have read that there had been an increase of £0.019m in external borrowing due to new temporary borrowing of £0.028m and repayment of temporary borrowing of £0.09m.

Decision

The Policy and Resources Committee –

1.    Noted the Revenue budget Monitoring Report as at 31 December 2018.

2.    Noted the comments in respect of the Health and Social Care Partnership position and noted that a recommendation was included within the budget pack to agree to defer the pay-back of the 2017-18 Social Work overspend by the Health and Social Care Partnership by 1 year, resulting in repayments of £0.100m in 2019-20, £0.300m in 2020-21 and £0.755m in 2021-22.

3.    Noted the progress of the Service Package Policy Saving Options as at 31 December 2018.

4.    Noted the current assessment of the Council’s Financial Risks.

5.    Noted the Capital Plan Monitoring Report as at 31 December 2018 and approved the proposed changes to the Capital Plan as detailed at Appendix 7 to the submitted report.

6.    Noted the Treasury Monitoring Report as at 31 December 2018.

7.    Noted the Reserves and Balances report as at 31 December 2018.

(Reference: Report by Head of Strategic Finance dated 15 January 2019, submitted)

The Committee gave consideration to the full package of papers included in the Budget Pack 2019/20 in relation to the Revenue and Capital Budgets for 2019/20.

Decision

The Committee agreed to refer consideration of the Budget Pack 2019/20 to the Council meeting on 21 February 2019, without recommendation.

(Reference:  Budgeting Pack 2019/20 dated 7 February 2019, submitted)

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 2019-20.

Decision

The Policy and Resources Committee agreed to refer the Treasury Management Strategy Statement and Annual Investment Strategy to Council on 21 February 2019, without recommendation.

(Reference:  Report by Head of Strategic Finance dated 6 February 2019, submitted)

Report by Executive Director – Customer Services

The Committee gave consideration to a report which presented a draft of the updated Equality and Diversity Policy for approval.

Decision

The Policy and Resources Committee agreed to recommend to Council, approval of the updated Equality and Diversity Policy.

(Reference:  Report by Executive Director – Customer Services dated 13 December 2018, submitted)

Report by Executive Director – Customer Services

A report which presented the draft Equality Outcomes for the period 2019-2023 was before the Committee for consideration.  The report set out the reasons for developing new outcomes as well as the work carried out to develop them.

Decision

The Policy and Resources Committee –

1.    Noted that the Equality Legislation recognises the Council, the Education Authority and the Argyll and Bute Licensing Board as separate ‘listed authorities’, each of which is required to publish sets of, and report on progress towards achieving equality outcomes.

2.    Endorsed the draft Equality Outcomes 2019-2023.

3.    Agreed to recommend to Council approval of the draft Equality Outcomes 2019-2023.

(Reference:  Report by Executive Director – Customer Services dated 18 December 2018, submitted)

Report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure Services

A report which provided an overview of changes to parking permits and parking payment methods was before the Committee for consideration.  The report proposed to introduce a greater level of choice by introducing weekly and monthly permits.

Decision

The Policy and Resources Committee –

1.    Approved the introduction of weekly and monthly parking permits to be piloted in the Oban, Lorn and the Isles area for a 12 month period.

2.    Endorsed the proposed fees for new charges which would be subject to approval by the Council as part of its consideration of the Budget 2019/20.

(Reference:  Report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure Services dated January 2019, submitted)

Report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure Services

The Committee gave consideration to a report which provided Members with an update on a meeting held between the Council and the Royal National Mod with a view to the Council providing support to the Royal National Mod in Oban in 2023.

Decision

The Policy and Resources Committee agreed to refer the decision to Council as part of the budget decision, without recommendation.

(Reference:  Report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure Services dated February 2019, submitted)

The Policy and Resources Committee Workplan as at February 2019 was before the Committee for noting.

Decision

The Policy and Resources Committee noted the work plan as at February 2019.

(Reference:  Policy and Resources Committee Workplan as February 2019, 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 and 9 of Part 1 of Schedule 7A to the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973.

The Committee gave consideration to a report in relation to the contract for the provision of air services between Oban and the Islands of Coll, Colonsay and Tiree.

Decision

The Policy and Resources Committee –

1.    Agreed to retendering the Argyll Air Services PSO Contract, applying the minimum timescale possible, within the rules under the EC which apply to PSO Air Services.

2.    Noted that it is not legally possible to extend the existing air services contract with the provision of the indemnities requested by the provider.

3.    Noted that a further update would be provided as soon as practicable after the conclusion of the procurement exercise.

(Reference:  Report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure Services dated February 2019, submitted)

A report which set out the current position with the services Kintyre Recycling Limited contract to the Council was given consideration by the Committee.

Decision

The Policy and Resources Committee –

1.    Endorsed the proposals at paragraph 4.6 of the submitted report and that additional funding up to a maximum of £23,330 is offered to Kintyre Recycling Limited up until the end of August 2019.

2.    Agreed to a consultation with the community regarding the introduction of blue bin recycling collections in Kintyre.

3.    Agreed to recommend to the Council that provision is made for an increased payment of £23,330 for Kintyre Recycling Limited.

(Reference:  Report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure Services dated January 2019, 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.