Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Audrey Forrest and Ellen Morton.

There were no declarations of interest intimated.

Policy and Resources Committee held on 15 August 2019

The Minutes of the meeting of the Policy and Resources Committee held on 15 August 2019 were approved as a correct record.

Report by Head of Financial Services

The Committee gave consideration to a report that provided a summary of the financial monitoring reports as at the end of August 2019.

Decision

The Policy and Resources Committee –

1.    Noted the revenue budget monitoring report as at 31 August 2019 and noted the comments in respect of the Health and Social Care Partnership.

2.    Noted the progress with the policy savings options as at 31 August 2019 and agreed that saving option TB08 will no longer be pursued following the decision at the Oban, Lorn and the Isles Area Committee on 11 September 2019.  Noted that the shortfall of £0.347m from 2020-21 onwards would now be reflected within the budget outlook report.

3.    Noted the financial risks for 2019-20.

4.    Noted the capital plan monitoring report as at 31 August 20-19 and approved the proposed changes to the capital plan as detailed in Appendix 4 to the report.

5.    Noted the treasury monitoring report as at 31 August 2019.

6.    Noted the reserves and balances report as at 31 August 2019.

7.    Agreed to recommend to Council that the revenue virements over £0.200m during July and August are approved.

(Reference:  Report by Head of Financial Services dated 24 September 2019, submitted)

Report by Head of Financial Services

The Committee gave consideration to a report that provided an update to the budget outlook 2020-21 to 2022-23 reported to the Policy and Resources Committee on 16 May 2019 and 15 August 2019.  The estimates within the report were based on the mid rage scenario with the best and worst case scenarios noted at Appendix 1 to the report.

Decision

The Policy and Resources Committee noted the current estimated budget outlook position for the period 2020-21 to 2022-23.

(Reference:  Report by Head of Financial Services dated 23 September 2019, submitted)

Report by Head of Financial Services

The Committee considered a report that provided information on savings options identified by officers for consideration for financial year 2020-21 and beyond.

Decision

The Policy and Resources Committee –

1.    Agreed to recommend that Council, as part of the 2020-21 budget process, endorse the management/operations savings identified.

2.    Noted the policy options that had been identified with further information on the options to be brought forward to Council as part of the 2020-21 budget papers.

3.    Noted that officers would continue to identify further savings over the coming months to bridge the gap.

4.    Noted that the Head of Customer and Support Services would take forward a statutory consultation process with the Trade Unions for those savings options that could have a direct impact on jobs.

5.    Noted that the Policy and Resources Committee and Council meeting in February 2020 have been postponed by one week to allow officers time to finalise the budget pack assuming that there are similar delays to knowing the final funding settlement as has been the case over the last three years.

6.    Agreed to recommend to Council to endorse COSLA’s ask of the Scottish Government, that present budgets have a minimum uplift of inflation plus 3% and additionally all new commitments and duties are fully funded by the Scottish Government; noting that even this doesn’t necessarily address the challenges we face delivering services across such a geographically diverse area.

(Reference:  Report by Head of Financial Services dated 17 September 2019, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Customer Support Services

The Committee gave consideration to a report that set out a consultation exercise that would give communities the opportunity to contribute to transforming the work of the Council.

Decision

The Policy and Resources Committee agreed to recommend to the Council that it carries out the consultation exercise proposed within the report, noting that the presentation of the consultation would be developed prior to publication.

(Reference:  Report by Executive Director with the responsibility for Customer and Support Services dated October 2019, submitted)

Report by Head of Financial Services

The Committee gave consideration to a report which identified five options in respect of an approach to meet the 1% requirement of budget distribution by Community Choices by 2020-21.

Decision

The Policy and Resources Committee approved option 3 as the approach to meet the 1% requirement of budget distribution by Community Choices by 2020-21.  Option 3 is an enhanced version of the Council’s budget consultation exercise together with engagement on a number of initiatives each year.

(Reference:  Report by Head of Financial Services dated 17 September 2019, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Legal and Regulatory Support

The Committee gave consideration to a report that sought approval of the revised final Procurement Strategy 2020-21 and Sustainable Procurement Policy 2020-21.

Decision

The Policy and Resources Committee –

1.    Noted the key changes to the Procurement Strategy 2020-21 and Sustainable Procurement Policy 2020-21 and the outcome of the consultation.

2.    Agreed to recommend to Council approval of the revised final Procurement Strategy 2020-21 and Sustainable Procurement Policy 2020-21.

(Reference:  Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Legal and Regulatory Support dated 7 October 2019, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth

The Committee gave consideration to a report providing an overview of Transport Scotland’s National Transport Strategy 2 (NTS2) consultation which would set out the vision, priorities and proposed outcomes for Scotland’s Transport system over the next 20 years.  The report sought approval of a draft response to the NTS2 consultation, prepared by officers, in advance of the 23 October 2019 deadline for submission of responses.

Decision

The Policy and Resources Committee approved the draft NTS2 consultation response for submission to Transport Scotland in advance of the 23 October 2019 deadline subject to amendments following discussion by the Committee.

(Reference:  Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth dated 17 October 2019, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Customer and Support Services

A report which provided an update on progress on the actions contained within the Argyll and Bute Joint British Sign Language Plan 2018-2024 was before the Committee for noting.

Decision

The Policy and Resources Committee –

1.    Noted the progress made by Argyll and Bute Council between October 2018 and August 2019.

2.    Noted that a further update would be given to the Committee in October 2020.

3.    Noted that Argyll and Bute Council would provide regular progress reports to the Scottish Government with the timing and means of doing this still to be confirmed.

(Reference:  Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Customer and Support Services dated 3 September 2019, submitted)

The Policy and Resources Committee work plan was before the Committee for

noting.

Decision

The Policy and Resources Committee noted the content of the work plan.

(Reference: Policy and Resources Committee Work Plan dated October 2019,

submitted)