Civic Activities and Forward Planning
Perth and Kinross Council · 23 January 2023
Back to Provost's Sub-Committee — 23 January 2023 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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PERTH & KINROSS COUNCIL Provost’s Sub-Committee 23 January 2023 CIVIC ACTIVITIES AND FORWARD PLANNING Report by Acting Democratic Services Manager (Report No. 23/14) 1. PURPOSE 1.1 The purpose of this report is to provide the Sub-Committee with an update on civic activities since the local government elections in May 2022 and also proposed future planning. 2. RECOMMENDATIONS 2.1 It is recommended that the Sub-Committee: • Notes and endorses the contents of the report. 3. STRUCTURE OF REPORT 3.1 This report is structured over the following sections: • Section 4: Background • Section 5: Introduction of Bailies • Section 6: Civic Car • Section 7: Twinning • Section 8: Civic Receptions and Hospitality • Section 9: Forward planning and significant Civic events • Section 10: Civic Report and Review • Section 11: Conclusion 4. BACKGROUND 4.1 The role of the Provost and Civic Leadership Team, including Depute Provost and Bailies, is very busy and varied throughout the course of the year. 5. BAILIES 5.1 The Provost is supported in their civic duties by the Depute Provost.
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5.2 In addition to this, Council introduced an additional 5 Bailies for the term 2022 – 2027. The busy diary of official civic engagements demands additional support from the five Bailies by deputising when required at civic, ceremonial functions and events. 5.3 The 5 Bailies have been chosen from all political groups therefore the Civic Leadership Team has cross party support in their day-to-day civic activities. 5.4 The number of civic engagements which the Provost, Depute Provost and Bailies attend is likely to continue with the same trends going forward. 6. CIVIC CAR 6.1 It is proposed to replace the current civic car with a more practical and environmentally friendly hybrid vehicle. 6.2 There are potential savings to be made by replacing the existing civic car, and a reduction of ongoing maintenance and repair costs going forward. 6.3 The vehicle will be more widely used across the Council as a joint resource and will be part of the Council’s pool car arrangements. 7. TWINNING 7.1 Perth currently recognises 6 twinned city/sister city relationships: - - Aschaffenburg/Germany - Bydgoszcz/Poland - Cognac/France - Perth/Canada - Haikou/China - Perth/Australia (sister city relationship). 7.2 Other towns across Perth and Kinross have recognised twinning and friendship relationships: - - Kinross with Gacé/France - Dull with Boring/USA and Bland/Australia - Inchture with Fléac/France - Comrie with Carleton Place/Canada - Errol with Mardié/France - Blairgowrie & Rattray with Fergus/Ontario, Pleasanton/USA and Brebières/France - Abernethy with Grisy Suisnes/France - Pitlochry with Confolens/France - Dunkeld & Birnam with Asheville/USA - Blackford with Trebsen/Germany. 7.3 It is proposed to consolidate the twinning budget expenditure, where groups would be eligible to apply for a funding grant. This is a move away from the annual grant system which has been in place for a number of years for recognised Perth city twinnings.
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7.4 All Perth and Kinross twinning groups and associations would be eligible to apply for a funding grant if there is a significant event they would wish to mark. It will allow for a fairer process for all groups to apply on a needs based basis, and will assist the Council to allocate the funding appropriately. 7.5 A new process/application procedure will be submitted to a future meeting of the Sub-Committee and will then be communicated with all relevant parties. 8. CIVIC RECEPTIONS AND HOSPITALITY 8.1 It is proposed that the current Civic Hospitality procedure and eligibility criteria is reviewed and reformatted, with a view to holding two main Civic ceremonies each year which encompasses individuals and organisations being recognised, along with any BEM/Honours and award presentations. 8.2 This review will lead to a reduction in number of civic receptions taking place, therefore financial savings and efficiencies will be made across the year. A further report will be submitted to a future meeting of the Sub-Committee. 9 FORWARD PLANNING AND SIGNIFICANT CIVIC EVENTS 9.1 In terms of forward planning, there are a number of major events and significant anniversaries on the horizon as follows: - 2023 • Rescheduled Service of Dedication of the Council and Freedom of the City Ceremony • 25th Twinning Anniversary Perth and Bydgoszcz. 2024 • Formal Opening of Perth Museum • 50th Twinning Anniversary Kinross and Gacé. 2025 • 25th Twinning Anniversary Errol and Mardié • 25th Twinning Anniversary Pitlochry and Confolens. 2026 • 70th Twinning Anniversary Perth and Aschaffenburg • 25th Twinning Anniversary Perth and Perth/Ontario. 10 CIVIC REPORT AND REVIEW 10.1 It is proposed that an annual report be created to report on civic activity, number of engagements attended, etc to be reported to Provost’s Sub-Committee.
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11 CONCLUSION 11.1 This report provides the Sub-Committee with an update on civic activities since the local government elections in May 2022 and also proposed future planning. 11.2 The Civic Team have already been working towards making changes to ways of working, reviewing processes to make savings and efficiencies whilst keeping a civic presence and balancing the traditional civic role with moving towards a more modern way of working. Authors Name Designation Contact Details Michelle Glencorse Stewart Grant Scott Hendry PA to Provost and Depute Provost Council Officer Acting Democratic Services Manager Civicservices@pkc.gov.uk Approved Name Designation Date Karen Donaldson Chief Operating Officer 18 January 2023
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ANNEX 1. IMPLICATIONS, ASSESSMENTS, CONSULTATION AND COMMUNICATION Strategic Implications Yes / None Community Plan / Single Outcome Agreement None Corporate Plan None Resource Implications Financial Yes Workforce No Asset Management (land, property, IST) No Assessments Equality Impact Assessment Yes Strategic Environmental Assessment None Sustainability (community, economic, environmental) None Legal and Governance None Risk None Consultation Internal Yes External No Communication Communications Plan None 1. Strategic Implications Corporate Plan 1.1 The Council’s Corporate Plan 2018 – 2023 lays out five outcome focussed strategic objectives which provide clear strategic direction, inform decisions at a corporate and service level and shape resources allocation. They are as follows: (i) Giving every child the best start in life. (ii) Developing educated, responsible and informed citizens. (iii) Promoting a prosperous, inclusive and sustainable economy. (iv) Supporting people to lead independent, healthy and active lives; and (v) Creating a safe and sustainable place for future generations. 1.2 This report relates to outcomes (ii) and (iii). 2. Resource Implications Financial 2.1 Full details on savings proposals and costings to be developed. Workforce 2.2 There are no direct workforce implications arising from this report other than those reported within the body of the main report.
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Asset Management (land, property, IT) 2.3 There are no direct asset management implications arising from this report other than those reported within the body of the main report. 3. Assessments Equality Impact Assessment 3.1 Under the Equality Act 2010, the Council is required to eliminate discrimination, advance equality of opportunity, and foster good relations between equality groups. Carrying out Equality Impact Assessments for plans and policies allows the Council to demonstrate that it is meeting these duties. Strategic Environmental Assessment 3.3 The Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005 places a duty on the Council to identify and assess the environmental consequences of its proposals. 3.4 The information contained within this report has been considered under the Act. However, no action is required as the Act does not apply to the matters presented in this report. Sustainability 3.5 Under the provisions of the Local Government in Scotland Act 2003 the Council has to discharge its duties in a way which contributes to the achievement of sustainable development. In terms of the Climate Change Act, the Council has a general duty to demonstrate its commitment to sustainability and the community, environmental and economic impacts of its actions. 3.6 The information contained within this report has been considered under the Act. However, no action is required as the Act does not apply to the matters presented in this report. 4. Consultation Internal 4.1 The Provost, Depute Provost, Chief Executive and Executive Director (Communities) have all been consulted during the preparation of this report. External 4.2 N/A
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5. BACKGROUND PAPERS No background papers, as defined by Section 50D of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 (other than any containing confidential or exempt information) were relied on to any material extent in preparing the above report. 6. APPENDICES N/A