Minute of Meeting of Perth and Kinross Council of 4 December 2024 for Approval
Perth and Kinross Council · 5 March 2025
Back to Perth and Kinross Council — 5 March 2025 and its agenda
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PERTH AND KINROSS COUNCIL Minute of hybrid meeting of Perth and Kinross Council held in the Council Chamber, 2 High Street, Perth on Wednesday 4 December 2024 at 10.30am. Present: Provost X McDade, Depute Provost A Parrott, Bailies C Ahern, R Brock, C McLaren and M Williamson, Councillors K Allan, L Barrett, P Barrett, B Brawn, S Carr, A Chan, D Cuthbert, S Donaldson, E Drysdale, J Duff, A Forbes, M Frampton, K Harvey, D Illingworth, I James, N Khogali, G Laing, I MacPherson, C Mair, I Massie, S McCole, T McEwan, J Rebbeck, W Robertson, C Shiers, F Smith, C Stewart, G Stewart, A Watt, R Watters and J Welch. In Attendance: T Glen, Chief Executive; C Mailer, Depute Chief Executive; L Simpson, Strategic Lead – Legal and Governance; F Crofts, Strategic Lead – Environment and Infrastructure; S Walker, Strategic Lead – Finance and Business Support; E Ritchie, Strategic Lead – Housing and Communities; J Pepper, Director/Chief Officer Health and Social Care Partnership, D Littlejohn, Strategic Lead – Economy, Development and Planning, R Stuart, R Stewart, D Grant, P Leonard (all Environment and Infrastructure), N Moran (Economy, Development and Planning), I Wilkie, B Atkinson, J Baker (all HSCP), S Hendry, A Brown and M Pasternak (all Legal and Governance). Also in Attendance: Pupils from Blairgowrie High School and Breadalbane Academy. Apologies: Bailie A Bailey and Councillors H Anderson and N Freshwater. Provost X McDade, Presiding. Provost led on Items 1-8 and 11-15, and Depute Provost led on Items 9 and 10. 1. Welcome and Apologies Provost McDade welcomed all those present to the meeting and apologies were noted as above. 2. Declarations of Interest There were no declarations of interest in terms of the Councillors’ Code of Conduct. 3. Minute of Perth and Kinross Council of 30 October 2024 for Approval The minute of meeting of Perth and Kinross Council of 30 October 2024 was submitted and approved as a correct record.
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4. Notice of Motion 4(i) Major Electricity Development Applications & Community Engagement The mover and seconder of the motion advised that they were deferring their motion to the next meeting of the Council and would discuss this further with relevant officers. 5. Outstanding Business Statement The Outstanding Business Statement was noted and it was agreed to remove the completed actions. 6. Annual Climate Action Report and Action Plan Update There was submitted a report by Strategic Lead –Environment and Infrastructure (24/345) (1) providing an update on Perth and Kinross Council’s (PKC) progress delivering its Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan, (2) reviewing overall performance and progress and then (3) exploring the progress in each of the eight themes identified in the plan, as well as proposing an annual update to the action plan for 2024/25 and the associated resources required to deliver them. Prior to the consideration of the report, pupils from both Blairgowrie High School and Breadalbane Academy provided members with a presentation on their work in relation to actions in the annual report and action plan. The Provost and members thanked the pupils for their work and presentations. Resolved: (i) The Climate Change Annual Report (Appendix A) be approved and the associated detailed Action Plan for 2024/25 and the recommended 25 top priority projects (Appendix B) be approved. (ii) It be noted that the resources required to take forward the priority actions will be included for consideration as part of the Revenue and Capital budget setting process. (iii) The changes to the Key Performance Indicators (Appendix C) be approved. (iv) Members and Officers be requested to continue to raise the resource and delivery challenges associated with addressing the climate and biodiversity emergency with COSLA, the Scottish and UK governments, and other relevant bodies whenever appropriate. (v) All Elected Members, the Strategic Leadership Team and Senior Managers be requested to complete Carbon Literacy training by 30 September 2025. Note: Councillor I James requested that his dissent be recorded at the approval of recommendations 2.1.(ii) and (v) in the report. (There Followed a Brief Recess and the Meeting Reconvened at 12.00pm.)
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7. South Kinross Flood Protection Scheme There was submitted a report by Strategic Lead – Environment and Infrastructure (24/346) (1) providing an update on the progress of the South Kinross Flood Protection Scheme and (2) proposing that the Council takes a preliminary decision under the Flood Risk Management (Scotland) Act 2009 to confirm the proposed Scheme without modification. Resolved: (i) The valid objections and the Environmental Impact, as outlined in the report, be noted. (ii) A preliminary decision be made to confirm the proposed South Kinross Flood Protection Scheme without modification as outlined in the report. (iii) The Strategic Lead - Environment and Infrastructure be authorised to carry out all necessary steps to progress the statutory process, including: a) Giving notice of the preliminary decision to confirm the Scheme to those landowners who submitted an objection and to the Scottish Ministers; b) Participating in a public local enquiry or to arrange a local authority hearing as directed by the Scottish Ministers. c) Bringing a further report to Committee once b) has been concluded. 8. Chief Social Work Officer Annual Report 2023/24 There was submitted a report by Chief Social Work Officer (CSWO) (24/347) (1) providing an overview of statutory social work duties delivered by social work and social care staff during the reporting period, (2) focusing on key areas of progress across Children and Families social work, Adult social work, and Justice social work over the past year, providing assurance on key areas of public protection and frontline service delivery, (3) highlighting the continued impact of the cost-of-living crisis on communities and service delivery, with significant inflationary pressures impacting both, and also (4) detailing the arrangements to enable the CSWO to fulfil the responsibilities outlined in Section 5 (1) of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968 (as amended). Resolved: (i) The Council takes assurance from the CSWO Annual Report 2023/24 that overall performance in delivering high quality services for people who use social work and social care services has remained positive despite challenges. (There Followed a Recess and the Meeting Reconvened at 1.45pm) 9. Perth and Kinross Child Protection Committee Standards and Quality Report 2023/2024
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There was submitted a report by Chief Social Work Officer (24/348) for the academic year 2023/2024, (1) providing an overview of the key activities and work of the Child Protection Committee (CPC) partners to protect children and young people from harm, abuse and exploitation, (2) describing the CPC’s achievements, key strengths, and areas for improvement, and also (3) including an update on the CPC’s new Improvement Plan, confirming that the CPC continues to focus on learning and improvement, and has in place a comprehensive programme of improvement work for 2024/2025. Resolved: (i) The wide range of work being carried out by Perth and Kinross Council and their partners, through the CPC, to provide high quality services to protect children and young people, in particular, the high level of commitment to continuous improvement through quality assurance and self-evaluation, be noted. (ii) The contents of this report, the Perth and Kinross CPC S&Q Report 2023/2024 (Appendix 1), the contents of the Perth and Kinross CPC Improvement Plan 1 April 2023 – 31 July 2026 (Update) (Appendix 2) and the Executive Summary of the CPC S&Q Report and Infographic 2023/2024 (Appendix 3), be endorsed. 10. Perth and Kinross Adult Protection Committee Biennial Report 2022 – 2024 There was submitted a report by Chief Social Work Officer (24/349) providing an overview of the key activities and work of the Perth and Kinross Adult Protection Committee (APC) and its partners to safeguard the welfare and interests of adults who are at risk from harm for the period 2022 to 2024. Resolved: (i) The wide range of work being carried out by Perth and Kinross APC and partner agencies throughout the reporting year to safeguard adults considered to be at risk of harm be noted. (ii) The contents of the Perth and Kinross APC Biennial Report 2022 - 2024 (Appendix 1) be endorsed. 11. Medium Term Financial Plan 2025 – 31 There was submitted a report by Strategic Lead – Finance and Business Support (24/350) (1) summarising the implications of the latest projections on future Council General Fund Revenue Budgets over the medium term, (2) providing an update on the Council’s Capital Budget, Housing Revenue Account and Reserves position, (3) setting out a proposed approach to the development of the Revenue and Capital Budgets over the short and medium term, and finally (4) proposing the introduction of a Council Tax strategy for the next three years through to 2027/28, to protect front line services that are valued by communities and improve the Council’s
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financial sustainability given the future forecasts for public sector funding and growing need / demand. Motion by Councillors G Laing and E Drysdale To approve all recommendations as set out in the report. Amendment by Councillor J Duff and Bailie C Ahern In accordance with the Motion but to reject recommendation 2 in the report. In terms of Standing Order 21.1 a roll call vote was taken. 22 Members voted for the Motion as follows: Provost X McDade, Depute Provost A Parrott, Bailies R Brock, C McLaren and M Williamson, Councillors L Barrett, P Barrett, S Carr, S Donaldson, E Drysdale, M Frampton, K Harvey, G Laing, I MacPherson, C Mair, I Massie, S McCole, T McEwan, J Rebbeck, G Stewart, R Watters and J Welch. 15 Members Voted for the Amendment as follows: Bailie C Ahern, Councillors K Allan, B Brawn, A Chan, D Cuthbert, J Duff, A Forbes, D Illingworth, I James, N Khogali, W Robertson, C Shiers, F Smith, C Stewart and A Watt. Resolved: In accordance with the Motion. 12. Update to Scheme of Administration Resolved: The proposed update to the Scheme of Administration, as set out on the agenda, be agreed. 13. Committee Timetable 2025 Resolved: The changes to 2025 committee timetable, as set out on the agenda, be agreed. 14. Appointments to Committees/Outside Bodies
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Planning and Placemaking Committee Motion by Councillor J Duff and Bailie C Ahern The number of members on the Planning and Placemaking Committee should remain at 13. Amendment by Councillors G Laing and I Massie To reduce the number of members on Planning and Placemaking Committee to 11. In terms of Standing Order 21.1 a roll call vote was taken: 11 Members voted for the Motion as follows: Bailie C Ahern, Councillors K Allan, B Brawn, A Chan, J Duff, A Forbes, D Illingworth, I James, N Khogali, C Shiers and F Smith. 22 Members voted for the Amendment as follows: Depute Provost A Parrott, Bailies C McLaren and M Williamson, Councillors L Barrett, P Barrett, S Carr, S Donaldson, E Drysdale, M Frampton, K Harvey, G Laing, I MacPherson, C Mair, I Massie, S McCole, T McEwan, J Rebbeck, W Robertson, G Stewart, A Watt, R Watters and J Welch. 4 Members abstained as follows: Provost X McDade, Bailie R Brock, Councillors D Cuthbert and C Stewart. Resolved: In accordance with the Amendment. Appointments to Employees Joint Consultative Committee and Perth and Kinross Sport Council to be deferred to the next Council meeting. Bailie C McLaren be replaced by Councillor A Watt on Licensing Committee. 14. Elected Members Briefing Notes Resolved: The Elected Members Briefing Notes, issued since the previous Council meeting and as set out on the agenda, be noted. 15. Valedictory – David Littlejohn, Strategic Lead – Economy, Development and Planning The Provost, Councillors G Laing, J Duff and P Barrett all passed on their best wishes and appreciation on behalf of all elected members to David Littlejohn, Strategic Lead – Economy, Development and Planning, who was retiring at the beginning of 2025 after 14 years of working for the Council.