Minute of Meeting of Perth and Kinross Council of 6 March 2024 for Approval
Perth and Kinross Council · 15 May 2024
Back to Perth and Kinross Council — 15 May 2024 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 6 March 2024 at 10.47am. Present: Provost X McDade, Depute Provost A Parrott, Bailies C Ahern, A Bailey, R Brock (up to and including item 7), C McLaren and M Williamson, Councillors K Allan, H Anderson L Barrett, P Barrett, B Brawn, S Carr, A Chan, D Cuthbert, S Donaldson, E Drysdale, J Duff, A Forbes, M Frampton, N Freshwater, K Harvey, D Illingworth, I James, N Khogali, G Laing, B Leishman, I MacPherson, I Massie, S McCole, T McEwan, J Rebbeck, C Reid (up to and including item 7), W Robertson, C Shiers, F Smith, C Stewart, G Stewart, R Watters and J Welch. In Attendance: T Glen, Chief Executive; C Mailer, Director – Strategy, People and Resources; B Renton, Executive Director (Communities); S Devlin, Strategic Lead - Education and Learning; K Donaldson, Chief Operating Officer; S Walker, Strategic Lead – Finance & Business Support, E Ritchie, Strategic Lead – Housing and Communities; J Pepper, Director/Chief Officer – Health and Social Care Partnership; A Singh, Strategic Lead – Children, Families and Justice; A Williams, Director – Economy, Place and Learning; H Robertson, Head of Children, Young People and Families; R Drummond and I Wilkie (both Economy, Place and Learning); D McPhee, S Hendry, A Brown and M Pasternak (all Strategy, People and Resources); B Atkinson, Independent Chair of Perth and Kinross Adult Protection Committee and Perth and Kinross Child Protection Committee. Provost X McDade, Presiding. The Depute Provost led discussion on Items 6 and 7, and the Provost led discussion on all other items of business. 1. WELCOME AND APOLOGIES Provost McDade welcomed all those present to the meeting. 2. DECLARATION OF INTEREST In terms of the Councillors’ Code of Conduct, Councillor S McCole declared a non-financial interest in item 7 on the agenda.
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A1. URGENT BUSINESS In terms of Standing Order 9.3(b), the Provost agreed to accept the following motion as urgent business as the related announcement from Stagecoach on a reduction in bus services in Perth and Kinross had come after the deadline stated in Standing Orders for political business items. Motion by Bailies A Bailey and R Brock Reduction in Bus Services in Perth & Kinross 1. This Council notes with grave concern the proposal from Stagecoach to remove weekday bus services in their entirety from the Carse of Gowrie and to severely reduce the service in other areas of Perth and Kinross, including the Highland, Strathtay, Strathearn and Perth City wards, amongst other detrimental changes affecting the PRI to Ninewells, and other services announced on February 27. 2. Council further recognises the disadvantage this will put people at in these wards in terms of ability to access education, health, work, shopping, and leisure services if the cuts proceed. 3. Whilst recognising the valuable contribution that Stagecoach makes to the local economy and community, it formally lodges its concern about this proposal and its timing, coming immediately prior to our budget meeting thus reducing options for counteraction. 4. Council requests that Stagecoach now enter into a constructive dialogue with the Council's officers about potential ways to minimise the impact of these reductions on local residents. Amendment by Councillor P Barrett and Bailie C McLaren In accordance with the Motion but to add the following as points 5 and 6: 5. Council requests that Stagecoach extend the consultation period to allow the general public, local Councils, NHS Tayside and other interested parties to fully consider and assess the proposed cuts and to provide comprehensive responses. 6. Council requests that the leaders of all political groups write jointly to the Cabinet Secretary for Transport and Infrastructure calling for Scottish Government intervention with Stagecoach to pause and extend the consultation pending publication of the full details and impact assessment. The Mover and Seconder of the Motion agreed to incorporate the Amendment into the Motion.
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Resolved: In accordance with Revised Motion. 3. OUTSTANDING BUSINESS STATEMENT The Outstanding Business Statement was noted, and it was agreed to remove the completed actions. 4. CHIEF SOCIAL WORK OFFICER ANNUAL REPORT 2022-2023 There was submitted a report by Chief Officer/Director of Integrated Health and Social Care (24/66) (1) providing the Chief Social Work Officer’s overview of social work services in Perth and Kinross during 2022/23; (2) setting out how social care, social work, and criminal justice social work services have been delivered up until end of March 2023, and in some instances up to end of July 2023; (3) covering the key challenges that have continued, many associated with Covid-19; (4) outlining the additional needs and demands that were managed over the year for our most vulnerable and at-risk citizens. The report also (5) details the arrangements to enable the Chief Social Work Officer to fulfil the responsibilities outlined in Section 5 (1) of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968 (as amended). Resolved: The annual report on social care and social work services for 2022-23 (24/66) be approved. 5. MINUTE OF MEETING OF PERTH AND KINROSS COUNCIL OF 22 JANUARY 2024 FOR APPROVAL The minute of meeting of Perth and Kinross Council of 22 January 2024 was submitted and approved as correct record. THERE FOLLOWED A RECESS AND THE MEETING RECONVENED AT 12.15PM 6. PERTH AND KINROSS CHILD PROTECTION COMMITTEE STANDARDS AND QUALITY REPORT 2022/2023 There was submitted a report by the Chief Officer/Director of Integrated Health and Social Care (24/67) (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 2023 and beyond.
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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 the report, the Perth and Kinross CPC Standards and Quality Report 2022/2023 (Appendix 1) and the contents of the Perth and Kinross CPC Improvement Plan 1 April 2023 – 31 July 2026 (Update) (Appendix 2), be endorsed. 7. ADULT PROTECTION COMMITTEE ANNUAL REPORT 2022/2023 There was submitted a report by Chief Officer/Director of Integrated Health and Social Care (24/68) providing an overview of the key activities and work of the Perth and Kinross Adult Protection Committee and the partnership approach to safeguarding vulnerable adults at risk of harm over 2022 to 2023. Resolved: The Adult Protection Committee report for 2022-23 (24/68) be approved. THERE FOLLOWED A RECESS AND THE MEETING RECONVENED AT 2.20PM. 8. TREASURY & INVESTMENT STRATEGY AND PRUDENTIAL INDICATORS 2024/25 – 2029/30 There was submitted a report by the Strategic Lead – Finance and Business Support (24/69) detailing the Council’s proposed Treasury Strategy for 2024/25 to 2029/30, the Investment & Property Strategy for 2024/25 and Prudential Indicators for 2024/25 to 2029/30. Resolved: (i) The contents of the report be noted. (ii) The 6-year Treasury Strategy for 2024/25 to 2029/30, as detailed in the report, which was submitted in accordance with the Council’s approved Treasury Management Practices (TMP), be approved. (iii) The Permitted Investments and Investment Strategy for 2024/25, outlined at Section 7 and detailed at Appendix III of the report, be approved. (iv) The Property Investment Strategy for 2024/25, outlined at Section 8 and detailed at Appendix IV of the report, be approved. (v) The proposed Prudential Indicators for 2024/25 to 2029/30, as outlined at Section 11 and detailed at Appendix V of the report, be approved.
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9. UK CITY OF SANCTUARY BID REPORT AND COMMITMENT TO RESETTLEMENT There was submitted a joint report by the Director – Strategy, People and Resources and Executive Director (Communities) (24/70) providing members with the Council’s Policy Statement and Action Plan for approval for submission to become a UK City of Sanctuary member with an accompanying commitment to settle a minimum of 20 people seeking sanctuary each year. Resolved: (i) The contents of the report be noted. (ii) The accompanying Policy Statement and Action Plan for submission to become a UK City of Sanctuary member (Appendices 1 and 2) be approved. (iii) The recommended commitment to settle a minimum of 20 people seeking sanctuary each year be approved. 10. UPDATES TO SCHEME OF ADMINISTRATION There was submitted a report by the Strategic Lead – Legal and Governance (24/79) (1) advising members of updates to the Council’s Scheme of Administration in terms of both delegation to officials that are in line with the recently approved revised Executive and Strategic Leadership structure and (2) bringing forward proposals to amend the terms of reference for two of the Council’s committees. Resolved: The revisions to the Scheme of Administration as set out in Appendices 1 and 2 of the report be approved. 11. 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. 12. VALEDICTORIES The Provost and Bailies / elected members passed on their best wishes to Barbara Renton (Executive Director (Communities)), Karen Donaldson (Chief Operating Officer), Stewart MacKenzie (Head of Finance), and Hazel Robertson (Head of Service, Children, Young People and Families) who were all retiring from the Council at the end of March following each of them working for a number of years with the Council.