Agenda Document Pack - Conference Allocation Committee - 19/08/2025
South Lanarkshire Council · 19 August 2025
Back to Conference Allocation Committee — 19 August 2025 and its agenda
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Council Offices, Almada Street Hamilton, ML3 0AA Monday, 11 August 2025 Dear Councillor Conference Allocation Committee The Members listed below are requested to attend a meeting of the above Committee to be held as follows:- Date: Tuesday, 19 August 2025 Time: 09:30 Venue: MS Teams and Committee Room 5, The business to be considered at the meeting is listed overleaf. Yours sincerely Paul Manning Chief Executive Members Gerry Convery (Chair), Maureen Devlin (Depute Chair), Maureen Chalmers, Richard Nelson, Kirsten Robb, David Shearer 1
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BUSINESS 1 Declaration of Interests 2 Minutes of Previous Meeting Minutes of the meeting of the Conference Allocation Committee held on 1 April 2025 submitted for approval as a correct record. (Copy attached) 3 - 4 Item(s) for Decision 3 Elected Member Representation at Conferences, etc Report dated 17 June 2025 by the Executive Director (Finance and Corporate Resources). (Copy attached) 5 - 6 Item(s) for Noting 4 Elected Member Representation at Conferences, etc Dealt with in Terms of Standing Order No 38(c) Report dated 17 June 2025 by the Executive Director (Finance and Corporate Resources). (Copy attached) 7 - 8 Urgent Business 5 Urgent Business Any other items of business which the Chair decides are urgent. For further information, please contact:- Clerk Name: Lynne Wyllie Clerk Telephone: 01698 455361 Clerk Email: lynne.wyllie@southlanarkshire.gov.uk 2
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CONFERENCE ALLOCATION COMMITTEE Minutes of meeting held via MS Teams and in Committee Room 5, Council Offices, Almada Street, Hamilton on 1 April 2025 Chair: Councillor Gerry Convery Councillors Present: Councillor Maureen Chalmers, Councillor Maureen Devlin (Depute), Councillor Richard Nelson, Councillor Kirsten Robb, Councillor David Shearer Attending: Finance and Corporate Resources M Greenwood, Members’ Services Officer; L Wyllie, Administration Assistant 1 Declaration of Interests No interests were declared. 2 Minutes of Previous Meeting The minutes of the meeting of the Conference Allocation Committee held on 4 March 2025 were submitted for approval as a correct record. The Committee decided: that the minutes be approved as a correct record. 3 Elected Member Representation at Conferences, etc A report dated 17 March 2025 by the Executive Director (Finance and Corporate Resources) was submitted providing details on:- ♦ the following conferences that the Council had been invited to attend:- the “Next Steps for Employment Rights in England, Scotland and Wales” online conference organised by Westminster Employment Forum to be held on 23 April 2025 ♦ the “Local Government Finance” conference organised by the National Association of Councillors (NAC) to take place in Scarborough between 11 and 13 April 2025 the following conference that religious representatives on the Council’s Education Resources Committee had been invited to attend:- the “National Conference of Church Representatives Across Scotland” jointly organised by the Scottish Catholic Education Service (SCES) and the Church of Scotland to be held on 13 May 2025 in Glasgow The Committee decided: that the Council be represented by:- ♦ Councillor McDougall at the “Next Steps for Employment Rights in England, Scotland and Wales” online conference organised by the Westminster Employment Forum to be held on 23 April 2025 2 3
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♦ Councillor Falconer at the “Local Government Finance” conference organised by the National Association of Councillors (NAC) to take place in Scarborough between 11 and 13 April 2025 A Milton, Roman Catholic Church and Reverend J Storrie, Church of Scotland at the “National Conference of Church Representatives Across Scotland” jointly organised by the Scottish Catholic Education Service (SCES) and the Church of Scotland to be held on 13 May 2025 in Glasgow 4 Urgent Business There were no items of urgent business. 4
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Report Agenda Item Report to: Conference Allocation Committee Date of Meeting: 19 August 2025 Report by: Executive Director (Finance and Corporate Resources) Subject: Elected Member Representation at Conferences, etc 1. Purpose of Report 1.1. The purpose of the report is to:- [purpose] provide details on the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) Annual Conference and Exhibition to take place on 13 and 14 November 2025 in St Andrews, which the Council has been invited to attend and to allow elected member representation to be determined 2. Recommendation(s) 2.1. The Committee is asked to:- [recs] (1) approve the nomination of up to 6 delegates to attend the COSLA Annual Conference and Exhibition to take place on 13 and 14 November 2025 in St Andrews. [1recs] 3. Background 3.1. In accordance with procedures for dealing with conferences, etc, details of the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) Annual Conference and Exhibition have been issued to the Leaders of the Political Groups. Their comments are available to assist the Conference Allocation Committee with its consideration of this invitation. 3.2. All Business Managers have been asked to nominate delegate(s) from their party to attend this Annual Conference and Exhibition. The cost of attending this conference, which includes one night’s accommodation is £475 per delegate. 4. Employee Implications 4.1. There are no employee implications. 5. Financial Implications 5.1. Delegate fees associated with members’ attendance at conferences can be met from within the existing budget. 5.2. The annual budget for attendance at Conferences and associated travel, subsistence and accommodation is £9,000, actual spend to date is £299 leaving a remaining balance of £8,701. 6. Climate Change, Sustainability and Environmental Implications 6.1. There are no implications for climate change, sustainability or the environment in terms of the information contained in this report. 3 5
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7. Other Implications 7.1. Attendance at conferences contributes to individual members’ learning and development profiles. In terms of good governance, it is important that elected members have the opportunity to attend events which keep them briefed on current developments and reinforce the knowledge and skills required to enable them to fulfil their role. 7.2. There are no other implications in terms of risk or sustainability associated with the content of this report. 8 Integrated Impact Assessment and Consultation Requirements 8.1. There is no requirement to carry out an impact assessment in terms of the proposals contained within this report. 8.2. Other than consultation with the appropriate elected members in terms of the process established for dealing with invitations received to attend conferences and seminars, no formal consultation was required. Jackie Taylor Executive Director (Finance and Corporate Resources) 17 June 2025 Link(s) to Council Values/Priorities/Outcomes Accountable, Effective, Efficient and Transparent Previous References ♦ None List of Background Papers ♦ Invitations received in respect of individual conferences, etc Contact for Further Information If you would like to inspect the background papers or want further information, please contact:- Lynne Wyllie, Administration Assistant Ext: 5361 (Tel: 01698 455361) E-mail: lynne.wyllie@southlanarkshire.gov.uk 6
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Report Agenda Item Report to: Conference Allocation Committee Date of Meeting: 19 August 2025 Report by: Executive Director (Finance and Corporate Resources) Subject: Elected Member Representation at Conferences, etc Dealt with in Terms of Standing Order No 38(c) 1. Purpose of Report 1.1. The purpose of the report is to:- [purpose] advise on action taken, in terms of Standing Order No 38(c), in view of the timescales involved, by the Executive Director (Finance and Corporate Resources), in consultation with the Chair and an ex officio member, to approve member attendance at conferences, etc [1purpose] 2. Recommendation(s) 2.1. The Committee is asked to approve the following recommendation(s):- [recs] (1) that the action taken, in terms of Standing Order No 38(c), by the Executive Director (Finance and Corporate Resources), in consultation with the Chair and an ex officio member, to approve the attendance of Councillor Falconer at the “Preparing Successful Bids for Grant Applications” conference organised by the National Association of Councillors from 27 to 29 June 2025 in Corby, Northamptonshire, be noted. 3. Background 3.1. An invitation had been received in respect of this conference and was required to be booked in advance of this Committee to allow the necessary arrangements to be made and, in terms of Standing Order No 38(c), the Executive Director (Finance and Corporate Resources), in consultation with the Chair and an ex officio member, had approved the attendance of Councillor Falconer at the “Preparing Successful Bids for Grant Applications” conference organised by the National Association of Councillors from 27 to 29 June 2025. 4. Employee Implications 4.1. There are no employee implications. 5. Financial Implications 5.1. Delegate fees associated with members’ attendance at conferences can be met from within the existing budget. 5.2. The annual budget for attendance at Conferences and associated travel, subsistence and accommodation is £9,000, actual spend to date is £299 leaving a remaining balance of £8,701. 4 7
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6. Climate Change, Sustainability and Environmental Implications 6.1. There are no implications for climate change, sustainability or the environment in terms of the information contained in this report. 7. Other Implications 7.1. Attendance at conferences contributes to individual members’ learning and development profiles. In terms of good governance, it is important that elected members have the opportunity to attend events which keep them briefed on current developments and reinforce the knowledge and skills required to enable them to fulfil their role. 7.2. There are no other implications in terms of risk or sustainability associated with the content of this report. 8 Integrated Impact Assessment and Consultation Requirements 8.1. There is no requirement to carry out an impact assessment in terms of the proposals contained within this report. 8.2. Other than consultation with the appropriate elected members in terms of the process established for dealing with invitations received to attend conferences and seminars, no formal consultation was required. Jackie Taylor Executive Director (Finance and Corporate Resources) 17 June 2025 Link(s) to Council Values/Priorities/Outcomes Accountable, effective, efficient and transparent Previous References None List of Background Papers ♦ Invitations received in respect of individual conferences, seminars, etc Contact for Further Information If you would like to inspect the background papers or want further information, please contact:- Lynne Wyllie, Administration Assistant Ext: 5361 (Tel: 01698 455361) E-mail: lynne.wyllie@southlanarshire.gov.uk 8