Common Good Funds
Argyll and Bute Council · 19 May 2022
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ARGYLL AND BUTE COUNCIL COUNCIL LEGAL AND REGULATORY SUPPORT 19 MAY 2022 ADMINISTRATION OF COMMON GOOD FUNDS 1. INTRODUCTION The purpose of this report is to provide Members with information relating to the administration of Common Good Funds in Argyll, and to invite them to appoint members of the new council to serve as trustees on the funds relating to Campbeltown, Dunoon, Rothesay, Lochgilphead and Oban. 2. RECOMMENDATIONS 2.1 The Council agree that: 2.1.1. In respect of the Campbeltown, Dunoon, Rothesay and Lochgilphead Common Good Funds the members for the South Kintyre, Dunoon, Isle of Bute and Mid Argyll wards, respectively, form the panel of Common Good Fund Trustees for each; 2.1.2 In respect of the Oban Common Good Fund, that the Council appoint 2 members from those members elected within the Oban South and the Isles and 2 members from those members elected within the Oban North and Lorn wards to form the panel of Common Good Fund Trustees; 2.1.3 That each panel of Common Good Fund Trustees make all decisions in regard to financial matters relating to those Common Good Funds, including advice and investments from the Head of Financial Services or the relevant independent financial adviser to the funds, and the determination of applications for financial assistance. 2.1.4 That the Council agree to continue the delegation to the Executive Director with responsibility for Governance (or their representative) referred to in paragraph 3.5 below. 3. DETAIL
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3.1 Members will be aware that there are Common Good Funds in existence for Campbeltown, Rothesay and Oban, with smaller funds for Dunoon and Lochgilphead. Those smaller funds do not generate sufficient interest from income on the investment to allow them to effectively operate and as such are not currently active or advertised (although may require to meet upon request). 3.2 In the past these have been administered by the council on the basis of the local members appointed for the former Burgh areas being the panel which makes decisions on requests for final assistance in accordance with the rules which apply to Common Good Funds. 3.3 Since the introduction of the multi member wards these have been administered as follows:- In respect of Campbeltown, Dunoon, Rothesay and Lochgilphead, the multi member ward which covers the former Burgh area comprises of 3 Councillors and these Councillors have been identified as the decision making body for common good applications in respect of each of those Common Good Funds. In respect of Oban where the 2 multi member awards Oban South and the Isles and Oban North and Lorn both have an interest in the former Burgh of Oban, the Council, since January 2011, have appointed 2 members from Oban South and the Isles and 2 members from Oban, North and Lorn wards to serve as the decision making panel for Oban Common Good Fund applications. 3.4 The procedure for dealing with financial requests would be in accordance with existing practice. 3.5 The quorum for a meeting of the Common Good Fund members would be a full representation of members and this will ensure that matters can be dealt with in an efficient manner. There has been historically an agreement in place in the event a meeting became inquorate where the Executive Director (or their nominee) could participate as a decision maker due to a member declaring an interest. Councillors will want to satisfy themselves that this delegation continues to be appropriate. 4.0 IMPLICATIONS 4.1 Policy – The delegation to a group of local members is in keeping with the council’s policy of bringing decision making to the lowest possible level. 4.2 Financial – None 4.3 Legal-none.
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4.4 HR – none. 4.5 Fairer Scotland Duty: 4.5.1 Equalities – none. 4.5.2 Socio Economic Duty – None known. 4.5.3 Islands – none 4.6 Climate Change - none 4.7 Risk – none. 4.8 Customer Service – none. Douglas Hendry Executive Director with responsibility for Legal and Regulatory Support 10th May 2022 For further information contact: David Logan, Head of Legal and Regulatory Support, Tel: 01546 604322 email: David.Logan@argyll- bute.gov.uk