Agenda frontsheet
Argyll and Bute Council · 26 November 2025
Back to Argyll and Bute Council — 26 November 2025 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
Page 1
Argyll and Bute Council Comhairle Earra-Ghàidheal Agus Bhòid Executive Director: Douglas Hendry Kilmory, Lochgilphead, PA31 8RT Tel: 01546 605522 DX 599700 LOCHGILPHEAD 19 November 2025 NOTICE OF MEETING A meeting of ARGYLL AND BUTE COUNCIL will be held ON A HYBRID BASIS IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER, KILMORY, LOCHGILPHEAD AND BY MICROSOFT TEAMS on WEDNESDAY, 26 NOVEMBER 2025 at 10:15 AM, or at the conclusion of the Special meeting of Argyll and Bute Council at 10.00am, whichever is the later, which you are requested to attend. Douglas Hendry Executive Director BUSINESS 1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE 2. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST (IF ANY) 3. MINUTES (a) Special meeting of Argyll and Bute Council held on 20 September 2025 (Pages 5 - 6) (b) Argyll and Bute Council held on 24 September 2025 (Pages 7 - 16) 4. MINUTES OF COMMITTEES (a) Policy and Resources Committee held on 9 October 2025 (Pages 17 - 20) 5. EDUCATION SERVICE REVIEW (Pages 21 - 82) Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Education 6. AUDIT AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE ANNUAL REPORT 2024/25 (Pages 83 - 92) Report by Chair of Audit and Scrutiny Committee 7. LEADER'S REPORT (Pages 93 - 108) Report by Leader of the Council 8. POLICY LEADS REPORT (Pages 109 - 144) Report by Policy Leads
Page 2
9. BUDGET UPDATE (Pages 145 - 216) Report by Section 95 Officer 10. REVIEW OF POLICY TO CHARGE DOUBLE COUNCIL TAX ON SECOND HOMES (Pages 217 - 250) Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Finance 11. DISCRETIONARY HOUSING PAYMENT POLICY 2025 (Pages 251 - 264) Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Finance 12. ANNUAL COUNCIL BUSINESS PLAN 2024-25 OUTCOMES (Pages 265 - 312) Report by Chief Executive 13. COMMUNITY WEALTH BUILDING – A COMMUNITY PLANNING PARTNERSHIP (CPP) MEMBER CHARTER FOR ARGYLL AND BUTE (Pages 313 - 328) Report by Chief Executive 14. FINDINGS OF STANDARDS COMMISSION HEARING - COUNCILLOR TOMMY MACPHERSON (Pages 329 - 344) Report by Monitoring Officer 15. FINDINGS OF STANDARDS COMMISSION HEARING - COUNCILLOR LIZ MCCABE (Pages 345 - 368) Report by Monitoring Officer 16. POLITICAL MANAGEMENT ARRANGEMENTS (Pages 369 - 374) Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Legal and Regulatory Support 17. APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDIT AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSON (Pages 375 - 376) Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Legal and Regulatory Support 18. DRAFT PROGRAMME OF MEETINGS 2026/27 (Pages 377 - 382) Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Legal and Regulatory Support 19. ARGYLL AND BUTE REFUGEE AND ASYLUM STRATEGY (Pages 383 - 416) Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Resettlement 20. REVIEW OF STANDBY (Pages 417 - 430) Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Customer Support Services 21. STRATEGIC HOUSING INVESTMENT PLAN (SHIP) 2026-27 - 2030-31 (Pages 431 - 498) Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth 22. HOUSING EMERGENCY – LOCAL HOUSING STRATEGY ANNUAL UPDATE 2025 (Pages 499 - 574) Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth 23. ARGYLL AND BUTE VISITOR LEVY UPDATE (Pages 575 - 580) Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth
Page 3
E1 24. OBAN AIRPORT BUSINESS PARK (Pages 581 - 736) Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Commercial Services E2 25. LIVEARGYLL - BUSINESS PLAN & SCOPE OF SERVICES 2026/27 - COUNCIL BUDGET (Pages 737 - 796) Report by Section 95 Officer and Executive Director with responsibility for Commercial Services 26. NOTICE OF MOTION UNDER STANDING ORDER 13 Health and Social Care Emergency in Argyll and Bute Council notes the publication of the Scottish Fiscal Commission’s 2025 Fiscal Sustainability Report and subsequent national documents including the Medium-Term Financial Strategy and Social Work Scotland’s sector response. Council further notes the publication of the Chief Officer’s Report to the Integration Joint Board (IJB) dated 17 September 2025, which outlines the scale of financial and workforce pressures facing health and social care services in Argyll and Bute. Council recognises that Argyll and Bute face distinct challenges in delivering sustainable health and social care due to its rural and island geography, demographic change, and infrastructure limitations. Council believes that urgent, coordinated action is required to safeguard the wellbeing of our communities and ensure equitable access to care. Council therefore resolves to: 1. Declare a ‘Health and Social Care Emergency’ in Argyll & Bute. 2. Call on the Scottish Government to urgently reassess the rural health and social care premium in national funding allocations, recognising the higher costs and logistical challenges of service delivery in areas like Argyll and Bute, recognising that action is needed to tackle inequalities across rural and urban Scotland. 3. Call on the Scottish Government to ensure that realistic funding is available for local authorities and HSCPs to deliver integrated care, and support sustained investment in early intervention, family support, and community-led services to reduce demand on crisis care. 4. Support further development of local training pathways and key worker housing initiatives; partnering with colleges and NHS Highland to create care apprenticeships and training for local residents to address recruitment and retention challenges in the health and social care workforce. The Council instructs the Leader of the Council to write to the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care to convey this motion and request a meeting between the Cabinet Secretary and the Leader/Depute of the Council and the Leader/Depute of the Opposition to set out how it proposes to address the issues identified in the 2025 Fiscal Sustainability Report, in particular the specific steps
Page 4
that it will take to address the forecast gaps and to discuss targeted support for Argyll and Bute. Proposed: Councillor Peter Wallace Seconded: Councillor Amanda Hampsey The Council will be asked to pass a resolution in terms of Section 50(A)(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 to exclude the public for items of business with an “E” on the grounds that it is likely to involve the disclosure of exempt information as defined in the appropriate paragraph of Part I of Schedule 7a to the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973. The appropriate paragraphs are :- E1 Paragraph 6 Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (other than the authority). Paragraph 8 The amount of any expenditure proposed to be incurred by the authority under any particular contract for the acquisition of property or the supply of goods or services. Paragraph 9 Any terms proposed or to be proposed by or to the authority in the course of negotiations for a contract for the acquisition or disposal of property or the supply of goods or services. E2 Paragraph 6 Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (other than the authority). Contact: Hazel MacInnes, Senior Committee Officer Tel:01546 604269