Argyll and Bute Council held on 27 February 2025
Argyll and Bute Council · 24 April 2025
Back to Argyll and Bute Council — 24 April 2025 and its agenda
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MINUTES of MEETING of ARGYLL AND BUTE COUNCIL held ON A HYBRID BASIS IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER, KILMORY, LOCHGILPHEAD AND BY MICROSOFT TEAMS on THURSDAY, 27 FEBRUARY 2025 Present: Councillor Jan Brown (Chair) Councillor John Armour Councillor Gordon Blair Councillor Math Campbell-Sturgess Councillor Garret Corner Councillor Maurice Corry Councillor Audrey Forrest Councillor Kieron Green Councillor Amanda Hampsey Councillor Daniel Hampsey Councillor Graham Hardie Councillor Anne Horn Councillor Fiona Howard Councillor Willie Hume Councillor Mark Irvine Councillor Andrew Kain Councillor Jennifer Kean Councillor Paul Donald Kennedy Councillor Reeni Kennedy-Boyle Councillor Jim Lynch Councillor Luna Martin Councillor Tommy MacPherson Councillor Ian James MacQuire Councillor Liz McCabe Councillor Dougie McFadzean Councillor Julie McKenzie Councillor Yvonne McNeilly Councillor Ross Moreland Councillor Gary Mulvaney Councillor Iain Shonny Paterson Councillor Gemma Penfold Councillor William Sinclair Councillor Andrew Vennard Councillor Peter Wallace Margaret Anderson Attending: Pippa Milne, Chief Executive Douglas Hendry, Executive Director Kirsty Flanagan, Executive Director Evan Beswick, Chief Officer – Health and Social Care Partnership Carolyn Earl, Interim Head of Financial Services Ross McLaughlin, Head of Commercial Services Jane Fowler, Head of Customer Support Services David Logan, Head of Legal and Regulatory Support Shona Barton, Governance Manager 1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Dougie Philand. DEPUTATION The Depute Provost intimated that a request for a Deputation to be heard by the Council had been received from Ms Tracy Mayo on behalf of community members on Mull, including Parent Council representatives. She advised that Tracy Mayo, Emily Greenhalgh and Anne Marie Rigby who form the deputation were in attendance and they had been advised that if Council agrees the terms of the Motion outlined at Item 5, the final decision may not be taken today. Dependent on the decision taken at Item 5, the deputation may be carried forward and it was the intention to address the matter of the deputation after the Motion at Item 5 had been determined. 2. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST There were no declarations of interest intimated.
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3. MINUTES (a) Argyll and Bute Council held on 21 November 2024 The Minutes of the Meeting of Argyll and Bute Council held on 21 November 2024 were approved as a correct record. (b) Special Argyll and Bute Council held on 20 December 2024 The Minutes of the Meeting of the Special Argyll and Bute Council held on 20 December 2024 were approved as a correct record. 4. MINUTES OF COMMITTEES (a) Policy and Resources Committee held on 5 December 2024 The Minutes of the Meeting of the Policy and Resources Committee held on 5 December 2024 were noted. Arising from Item 4 of these Minutes (Financial Reports Monitoring Pack – 31 October 2024) the Council agreed the recommendation to approve the revenue virements over £0.200m during September and October 2024. Arising from Item 8 of these Minutes (Volunteer Policy and Volunteer Procedure) the Council agreed the recommendation to approve the Volunteer Policy. Arising from Item 14 of these Minutes (Oban Airport Business Park) the Council dealt with this item at the Special Meeting of the Council held on 20 December 2024. (b) Community Services Committee held on 12 December 2024 The Minutes of the Meeting of the Community Services Committee held on 12 December 2024 were noted. (c) Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee held on 19 December 2024 The Minutes of the Meeting of the Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee held on 19 December 2024 were noted. (d) Policy and Resources Committee held on 20 February 2025 The Minutes of the Meeting of the Policy and Resources Committee held on 20 February 2025 were noted. Arising from item 5 (Budgeting Pack 2025-26) the Council agreed that this item would be dealt with at item 6 of the agenda (Budgeting Pack 2025-26). Arising from item 6 (Treasury Management Strategy and Annual Investment Strategy 2025-26) the Council agreed that this item would be dealt with at item 8 of the agenda.
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Arising from item 10 (Sustainable Procurement Strategy 2025/2028 – Draft Document and Consultation) the Council agreed the recommendation to agree the revised final Sustainable Procurement Strategy 2025-2028, and the publication on the Council’s website in April 2025. Arising from item 15 (Strategic Events and Festivals Fund – Round 7 2025/2026) the Council approved, as part of the budget process for February 2025, a minimum of £90,000 base funding for Strategic Events and Festivals in order that the application process can commence for Round 8 (2026/27) and that any underspend from SEF Round 6 (2024/25) is earmarked and used to augment a future SEF round. 5. NOTICE OF MOTION UNDER STANDING ORDER 13 The following Notice of Motion Under Standing Order 13 was before the Council for consideration:- Motion Learning Estate Investment Programme (LEIP) – Mull Campus, Preferred Site Recommendation The agenda for today’s meeting includes a report on the Learning Estate Investment Programme (LEIP) – Mull Campus, Preferred Site Recommendation. This is an issue of considerable complexity and scale. The reports contain a very high level of detailed information which Members must take time and care to consider fully in order to allow them to take an informed decision on the matter. This motion does not deal with the business of that report, nor its merits. It does recognise that it is essential that Members have sufficient time to consider and scrutinise this information, reflecting the significance of the matter for the current and future generations of children and young people on Mull and the wider island community. To provide the time that detailed consideration of the report deserves and to scrutinise the proposals, I move that: 1. The business of determining the Preferred Site Recommendation for the Mull Campus is not considered today; 2. The report and its appendices are considered instead at a Special Meeting of Argyll and Bute Council, convened solely for the purpose of deciding on a preferred site for the Mull Campus, to be held on Friday 7th March 2025. Moved by Councillor Jim Lynch, seconded by Councillor Ross Moreland Decision The Council agreed to defer the determination of the report and its appendices for the Preferred Site Recommendation for Mull Campus to a Special Meeting of Argyll and Bute Council, convened solely for the purpose of deciding on a preferred site for the Mull Campus to be held on Friday 7th March 2025.
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6. LEARNING ESTATE INVESTMENT PROGRAMME (LEIP) - MULL CAMPUS - PREFERRED SITE RECOMMENDATION As the Council had considered and agreed the Notice of Motion Under Standing Order 13, this item was deferred for consideration at a Special Council Meeting to be held on Friday 7th March 2025. The Depute Provost advised that the deputation request would also be considered at the meeting to be held on 7 March 2025 and that officers would be in touch with Ms Mayo to confirm arrangements. Councillor Luna Martin joined the meeting during the consideration of the following item of Business. 7. BUDGETING PACK 2025/26 The Council considered the Revenue Budget and Capital Budget papers as contained within the budgeting pack which had been referred without recommendation by the Policy and Resources Committee held on 20 February 2025, considered such other appropriate resolutions in relation to these papers and fixed the Council Tax for the year to 31 March 2026. Motion The Motion moved by the Administration is attached at Appendix 1 to this Minute. Moved by Councillor Jim Lynch, seconded by Councillor Ross Moreland. Amendment The Amendment moved by the Opposition Group is attached at Appendix 2 to this Minute. Moved by Councillor Gary Mulvaney, seconded by Councillor Andrew Vennard. The Provost requested the Section 95 Officer to confirm that the Motion and Amendment before the Council, containing budget proposals were competent and balanced. The Section 95 Officer confirmed that this was the case. As the meeting was being held on a hybrid basis, the vote required to be taken by calling the Roll and Members voted as follows – Motion Amendment No Vote Cllr. John Armour Cllr. Garret Corner Cllr. Jennifer Kean Cllr. Gordon Blair Cllr. Maurice Corry Cllr. Tommy MacPherson Cllr. Jan Brown Cllr. Amanda Hampsey Cllr. Math Campbell-Sturgess Cllr. Daniel Hampsey Cllr. Audrey Forrest Cllr. Liz McCabe Cllr. Kieron Green Cllr. Yvonne McNeilly Cllr. Graham Hardie Cllr. Gary Mulvaney Cllr. Anne Horn Cllr. Gemma Penfold Cllr. Fiona Howard Cllr. Andrew Vennard Cllr. Willie Hume Cllr. Peter Wallace Cllr. Mark Irvine
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Cllr. Andrew Kain Cllr. Paul Kennedy Cllr. Reeni Kennedy Boyle Cllr. Jim Lynch Cllr. Luna Martin Cllr. Ian James McQuire Cllr. Dougie McFadzean Cllr. Julie McKenzie Cllr. Ross Moreland Cllr. Ian Shonny Paterson Cllr. William Sinclair Decision The Motion was carried by 22 votes to 10, with 2 no votes, and the Council resolved accordingly. (Reference: Budgeting Pack 2025/26 dated February 2025, submitted; Motion by Councillor Jim Lynch, seconded by Councillor Ross Moreland, tabled; and Amendment by Councillor Gary Mulvaney, seconded by Councillor Andrew Vennard, tabled) 8. TREASURY MANAGEMENT STRATEGY AND ANNUAL INVESTMENT STRATEGY 2025-26 The Council gave consideration to a report which sought approval of the proposed Treasury Management Strategy Statement and Annual Investment Strategy which set out the Council’s Strategy for borrowing and investment for the forthcoming year. The report also set out the policy for the repayment of loans fund advances for 2025-26 which had been referred without recommendation by the Policy and Resources Committee held on 20 February 2025. Decision The Council – 1. approved the Treasury Management Strategy and Annual Investment Strategy for 2025-26 and the Prudential and Treasury indicators for 2025-26 to 2027-28; and 2. noted that the Strategy will be further scrutinised by the Audit and Scrutiny Committee at its meeting of 13 March 2025, with any recommendations requiring Council approval brought back to full Council at the earliest opportunity. (Reference: Report by Section 95 Officer dated 10 February 2025, submitted) 9. 2023/24 COUNCIL ANNUAL REPORT A report presenting the Council Annual Report 2023/24 was before the Council for consideration. Decision The Council noted the content of the Council Annual Report 2023/24 and the wide ranging examples of exceptional service delivery prior to publishing on the Council website.
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(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Customer Support Services dated 19 November 2024, submitted) 10. DRAFT PROGRAMME OF MEETINGS 2025/26 The Council’s Standing Orders for meetings require the Council to approve a Programme of Meetings for the Council and its Committees every year. The Council gave consideration to a draft programme of meetings for the year 2025-26 based on the current committee cycle. Decision The Council approved the draft Programme of Meetings for the year 2025-26. (Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Legal and Regulatory Support dated 13 February 2025, submitted) 11. COUNCIL CONSTITUTION UPDATE 2025 The Council considered a report which advised on changes to the Council Constitution in respect of Roads and Infrastructure Services. Decision The Council agreed to the adjustments to the Constitution as set out in the report. (Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Legal and Regulatory Support, dated 30 January 2025, submitted) 12. HOUSING EMERGENCY - HOUSING NEED AND DEMAND AND SUPPORTING COMMUNITY HOUSING FEASIBILITY WORK The Council gave consideration to a report providing information on three requests for funding from the Strategic Housing Fund (SHF), all of which were considered important contributions to tackling the Housing Emergency. The proposals contained within the report will be funded from the ring fenced housing budget for activities relating to affordable housing delivery in Argyll and Bute. Decision The Council:- 1. approved £60,000 from the Strategic Housing Fund to enable the delivery of the Housing Need and Demand Assessment – a statutory obligation of the local authority; 2. delegated to the Executive Director with Responsibility for Development and Economic Growth in consultation with the relevant Policy Lead for Housing the power to approve discretionary feasibility funding up to a maximum of £10,000 per unit from the Strategic Housing Fund to enable Community Trusts to bring potential affordable housing developments to delivery stage; and 3. approved feasibility and design funding from the Strategic Housing Fund to a maximum of £150,000 for West Highland Housing Association to enable delivery of road and footpath proposals unlocking LDP2 housing site H4009 at Ganavan.
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(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth dated 21 January 2025, submitted)
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Appendix 1 Administration Budget Motion The Council: a) Approves the revenue budget for 2025/26 as set out in the Revenue Budget Overview Report, subject to the decisions set out below and within the Administration Revenue Budget Model provided at Appendix A to this motion. b) Approves the revenue estimates for 2025/26 and that consequently the local tax requirement estimated at £70.204m is funded from Council Tax. Approves the following rates and charges for the year, 2025-26: 1. Council Tax to be paid in respect of a chargeable dwelling in Band “D” of £1,625.64, representing a 9.9% increase. 2. Council Tax to be paid in respect of a chargeable dwelling in each of the other valuation bands in accordance with Section 74(1) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 as amended. 3. Business Rates as determined by Scottish Ministers. c) Acknowledges Argyll and Bute Health and Social Care Partnership’s transformation journey balanced with the delivery of services in a rural and island context, alongside numerous financial and other external pressures. Agrees to support the HSCP by: 1. Providing an additional recurring funding contribution of £500k to the HSCP alongside the contributions noted below and in the Administration Revenue Budget Model; 2. Agreeing that £0.5m of Strathclyde Pension Fund gain will be ring-fenced in 2025/26 for future HSCP transformation and/or spend-to-save projects; 3. Assisting the HSCP to fund 1% staff pay assumption with a contribution of £370k; 4. Ensuring the HSCP is able to cover increased employers National Insurance contributions with a top-up allocation of £346k, equating to 40% of the overall costs, noting that if there is any increase in national funding for this particular pressure, the council’s contribution will be adjusted or retained accordingly; 5. Approving a base allocation to the HSCP of £81.992m for 2025/26. Approving indicative base allocations for 2026/27 and 2027/28 of £85.045m, with the level of future years funding being subject to the level of Scottish Government funding and the Council’s overall financial position in future years. d) Endorses the new management/operational savings as outlined in Appendix 5 of the revenue budget overview report. In addition, agrees to the removal of the Provost’s car with a view to achieving any possible savings therein.
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e) Approves policy savings options for 2025-26 as outlined in Appendix 6 of the revenue budget overview report and, with the exception of the proposals set out at f) and g) below, agrees that any new policy savings relating to 2026-27 onwards will be considered as part of next year’s budget process. f) In recognition of Live Argyll’s current pressures, agrees, in respect of policy savings option LA 001 25/26, to fund from reserves the proposed management fee reduction of £311k on a one-off basis for 2025/26, deferring the saving until 2026/27 onwards. g) Agrees to fund Community Sports payments for shinty and rugby development, policy savings option CS 001 25/26, from reserves on a one-off basis for 2025/26, deferring the saving until 2026/27 onwards. h) Notes the detail provided at recommendation f) of the Section 95 Officer’s Introductory Report and Recommendations, and her subsequent update, in respect of the Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004 (Remuneration) Amendment Regulations 2025, and agrees that payments from 1st April 2025 will be made as per the updated recommendation. i) Agrees to fund from the Priorities Investment Fund the following external funding requests totalling £210k, as listed within Appendix 8 of the Revenue Budget Overview Report and in addition the subsequent request in respect of the Clipper Race advised to members by email on 24th February. Asks officers to explore future options for consideration of external funding requests from the 2026/27 budget process onwards, as appropriate, including through any potential future arrangements and/or income-generating activities, that may be agreed or introduced by the council: 1. CHARTS - £75k 2. Argyll and the Isles Tourism Co-operative - £75k 3. Mactaggart Leisure Centre, Islay - £30k 4. Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park - £10k 5. Clipper Round the World Race contribution to hosting fee - £20k j) Approves the following in relation to fees and charges with effect from 1 April 2025 unless otherwise noted: 1. Approves the proposals for the fees and charges inflationary increase of 6%, with the exception of charges for internal, council- run ferry services which will not be subject to an increase in 2025/26. Notes the introduction of six new concessionary fares, which will be charged on the basis of the proposed fare set out at Appendix C, which recognises the fare freeze this year, and a minor adjustment required in respect of specific single ferry fares on the Jura service, the detail of which is set out at Appendix C. Approves the charges that are over and above inflation. Notes that this would generate additional income of £0.323m in total; 2. Agrees there will be no increase to charges for school meals to assist families in managing cost of living expenses;
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3. Approves all other charges as noted within the Fees and Charges Schedule. 4. In respect of Electric Vehicle charging, approves a delegation to the Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure in consultation with the Leader and the Policy Lead for Roads, Transport and Amenity Services, to vary the charge in line with increasing utility prices. k) Notes the financial risks analysis. l) Approves the contingency level for the General Fund balance at a level of 2% of net expenditure, equivalent to £6.539m, and note the report on reserves and balances, subject to the decisions set out in the Administration Capital/Other Funds Budget Model at Appendix B to this motion. m) Approves the capital plan as set out in Appendix 3, noting that this incorporates the red risks (£0.376m) and estimated forecast overspend on the capital plan (£0.117m) and subject to the funding decisions set out below and in the Administration Capital/Other Funds Budget Model at Appendix B to this motion. n) Agrees the following priority investments, as set out in the Administration Capital/Other Funds Budget Model at Appendix B and noted below: 1. Increasing the Roads Reconstruction Budget for 2025/26 to £10m in total with an investment of £8m; 2. Boosting future resilience with provision of £2.9m for severe weather related costs, to include £2m funded from the Priorities Investment Fund; 3. Allocating £200k from the Priorities Investment Fund to assist in the creation of a business case for the future development of leisure facilities in Dunoon; 4. Contributes £5k each to 12 foodbanks across Argyll and Bute and its islands, making a total investment of £60k to assist local families in coping with cost of living pressures. o) Notes the remaining fund balances outlined in the Administration Capital/Other Funds Budget Model at Appendix B following the capital investments set out at (n) plus the funding requests and allocations set out at (f), (g) and (i). p) Notes that a review of the capital arrangements will be undertaken during the year and reported to Members. q) Acknowledges the contributions from local people to the Council’s Budget Survey and notes that these have been taken into consideration in the development of the Administration’s Budget. Requests that officers make the necessary arrangements to formally commence the planning process for the 2026/27 budget from June 2025, to include proactive engagement with the Health and Social
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Care Partnership and exploration of innovative and/or different approaches to delivery of services in line with the council’s agreed Priorities. r) Approves the Corporate Asset Management Strategy and Plan including the Priority Investments Plans (PIPS).
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Appendix A – Revenue Budget Position 2025-26 £000 2026-27 £000 2027-28 £000 2028-29 £000 2029-30 £000 Budget Gap as per Budget Pack (after measures to balance the budget) (2,471) (12,137) (22,640) (27,201) (32,556) Reject policy saving option ref: LA 001 25/26 in respect of 10% cut to Live Argyll in 2025-26 and fund from Priority Investment Fund. Accept saving for future years. (311) Reject policy saving option ref: CS 001 25/26 in respect of Community Support Shinty and Rugby in 2025-26 and fund from Priority Investment Fund. Accept saving for future years. (20) Freeze internal run ferry services fares at 2024-25 levels (40) (40) (40) (40) (40) Provide additional recurring funding to the HSCP in addition to that outlined in the budget pack (500) (500) (500) (500) (500) Cost of servicing £2.9m additional borrowing for capital plan (94) (189) (189) (189) (189) Transfer from Priority Investment Fund for two rejected savings options in 2025-26 (as noted above) 331 Revised Gap (3,105) (12,866) (23,369) (27,930) (33,285) Additional Council Tax of 4.9% bringing Council Tax up to 9.9% in 2025-26 3,105 3,278 3,442 3,614 3,795 Revised Budget Position 0 (9,588) (19,927) (24,316) (29,490)
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Appendix B – Capital Budget Position and Other Funds Capital Budget £000 Unallocated General Fund £000 Priorities Investment Fund £000 Storm Costs Provision £000 As Per Budget Pack 3,560 (283) 3,748 0 Additional Resources: Additional forecast underspend as at end of January 533 Refund on gift cards from LACER Funding 64 Reduce Private Sector Housing Grant Topslice in capital programme to £820k in 2025-26 and 2026-27 and £819k in 2027-28 640 Allocate previous years underspend on Private Sector Housing Grant accumulated to £1.8m to other purposes 1,800 Borrow £2.9m for capital plan 2,900 Revised Balances for Use 8,900 314 3,748 0 Additional budget in 2025-26 Roads Reconstruction Programme (8,000) Provision for Storm Costs allocated to capital budget (900) Provision for Storm Costs allocated to storm cost reserve (2,000) 2,000 Funding allocated towards creation of a business case for the future development of leisure facilities in Dunoon (200) Fund Live Argyll budget saving for 2025-26 (311) Fund Community Sport Shinty and Rugby saving for 2025-26 (20) CHARTS – funding capped at £75,000 (75) AITC (75) Islay Pool (30) National Park (10) Clipper Race contribution (20) 12 Foodbanks across Argyll and Bute at £5,000 each (60)
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Adjustment to maintain 2% Contingency (19) Revised Position 0 235 1,007 2,000
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Appendix C – Internal Ferry Fares (from J) fees and charges) Detail - introduction of new concessionary fares and adjustment required in respect of Jura service single fares New Fees and Charges Current Fare as per Fees and Charges Proposed Fare for 2025/26 (reduced by 6%) Detail Cuan Vehicle Fares – Car including concession driver return – must present SPT ferry travel card £12.40 £11.70 New concession fare introduced for 2025-26 to combine driver and car tickets in similar manner to other fares in 2024-25. Cuan Vehicle Fares - Car with blue badge holder (25% discount) including concession driver return - must present SPT ferry travel card £9.70 £9.15 New concession fare introduced for 2025-26 to combine driver and car tickets in similar manner to other fares in 2024-25. Blue badge holder discount reduced from 50% to 25% to align to common practice on other ferries (see Cal Mac) Cuan Vehicle Fares - Car with blue badge holder (25% discount) including driver return £11.10 £10.47 New concession fare introduced for 2025-26 to combine driver and car tickets in similar manner to other fares in 2024-25. Blue badge holder discount reduced from 50% to 25% to align to common practice on other ferries (see Cal Mac) Jura Vehicle Fares - Private Vehicles - Car including concession driver return - must present SPT ferry travel card £21.10 £19.91 New concession fare introduced for 2025-26 to combine driver and car tickets in similar manner to other fares in 2024-25. Jura Vehicle Fares - Private Vehicles - Car with blue badge holder (25% discount) including concession driver return - must present SPT ferry travel card £16.20 £15.28 New concession fare introduced for 2025-26 to combine driver and car tickets in similar manner to other fares in 2024-25. Blue badge holder discount reduced
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from 50% to 25% to align to common practice on other ferries (see Cal Mac) Jura Vehicle Fares - Private Vehicles - Car with blue badge holder (25% discount) including driver return £19.70 £18.58 New concession fare introduced for 2025-26 to combine driver and car tickets in similar manner to other fares in 2024-25. Blue badge holder discount reduced from 50% to 25% to align to common practice on other ferries (see Cal Mac Detail - Adjustment in respect of Jura ferry service: Exceptions to General Inflation Increase on Fees and Charges Report Current Fare on Fees and Charges Proposed Fare (reduced by 6% and increased by 40p) 2024/25 Rate Detail Jura Vehicle Fares - all vehicles up to and including 6m - single journey (incl driver) 10% £12.50 £11.80 £11.40 Service request for an additional £0.40 increase on what would have been the 6% uplift as the cost of 2 single journeys would come in less than the excursion return ticket
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Appendix 2 TALIG Opposition Budget – Amendment and Model It is recommended that the Council: a) Approve the revenue estimates for 2025-26 and that consequently the local tax requirement estimated at £67.099m is funded from Council Tax. Approve the following rates and charges for the year, 2025-26: 1. Council Tax to be paid in respect of a chargeable dwelling in Band “D” of £1,553.16 representing a 5% increase. 2. Council Tax to be paid in respect of a chargeable dwelling in each of the other valuation bands in accordance with Section 74(1) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 as amended. 3. Business Rates as determined by Scottish Ministers. b) Approve the revenue budget for 2025-26 as set out in the revenue budget overview report subject to the decisions set out below and included in the opposition model outlined in the appendices. c) Approve a base allocation to the Health and Social Care Partnership of £81.492m for 2025-26. Approve indicative base allocations for 2026-27 and 2027-28 of £84.545m. The level of future years funding is subject to the level of Scottish Government funding and the Council’s overall financial position in future years. d) Endorse the new management/operational savings as outlined in Appendix 5 of the revenue budget overview report. e) Approve the policy savings options for 2025-26 as outlined in Appendix 6 of the revenue budget overview report with the exception of: 1.Live Argyll – LA 001 25/26 – Reject a 10% cut in Management Fee for the 2025/26 Budget - £311,000 2.Community Sport – CS 001 25/26 -Reject the removal of payments for 2025/26 and thereafter - £20,000 f) Agree that any policy savings relating to 2026-27 onwards will be considered as part of next year’s budget process, unless it’s a full year effect of the 2025-26 saving, with the exception of Live Argyll for 2025/26. g) Agree to implement the Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004 (Remuneration) Amendment Regulations 2025 and that the payments from 1 April 2025 be as noted in the table below, accepting that implementation of these payments will supersede the Council’s decision of 19 May 2022 in relation to Member’s remuneration.
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Leader £50,063 Civic Head (Provost) £37,548 Senior Councillor (Policy Lead) £37,548 Senior Councillor (Area Chair) £30,038 Senior Councillor (Leader of the Largest Opposition Group) £30,038 Councillor £25,982 h) Approve the funding requests received as set out with the Opposition Budget Model, namely: CHARTS £95,000 AITC £75,000 Islay Swimming Pool £30,000 National Park £10,000 Clipper Race £20,000 i) Approve the following in relation to fees and charges with effect from 1 April 2025 unless otherwise noted: 5. Approve the proposals for the fees and charges inflationary increase of 10% and approve the charges that are over and above inflation. Note that this would generate additional income of £0.605m in total. This is an increase of £242,000 over and above the officer recommendations. 6. Approve all other charges as noted within the Fees and Charges Schedule. 7. In respect of Electric Vehicle charging, approve a delegation to the Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure in consultation with the Leader and the Policy Lead for Roads, Transport and Amenity Services, to vary the charge in line with increasing utility prices. j) Approve £500k allocated to a number of Community Priorities as set out in the appendix in Section 2. k) Note the financial risks analysis. l) Approve the Opposition Model as detailed below and the consequent impact on the Revenue Budget, Capital Budget, Reserves, Unallocated General Fund, and level of council tax required for 2025-2026. (Appendix A below) m) Approve the contingency level for the General Fund balance at a level of 2% of net expenditure, equivalent to £6.523m and note the report on reserves and balances. n) Approve the capital plan as set out in Appendix 3 (to capital plan report), noting that this incorporates the red risks (£0.376m) and estimated forecast overspend on the capital plan (£0.117m). o) Approves the allocation of capital resources as per the Opposition Budget
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Model, noting the unfunded priorities outlined in the report and outlined in the Priority Investment Plans. (Appendix A below) p) Notes increasing the level of investment from the redirection of resources or from additional borrowing as per the Opposition Budget Model noting that any additional borrowing would have an impact on the revenue budget. q) Note that a review of the capital arrangements will be undertaken during the year and reported to Members. r) Approve the Corporate Asset Management Strategy and Plan including the Priority Investments Plans (PIPS).
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Appendix A 1. Revenue Budget 2025-26 £000 2026-27 £000 2027-28 £000 2028-29 £000 2029-30 £000 Budget Gap as per Budget Pack (after measures to balance the budget) (2,471) (12,137) (22,640) (27,201) (32,556) Reject policy saving option ref: LA 001 25/26 in respect of 10% cut to Live Argyll in 2025-26 and fund from Unallocated General Fund. (311) Reject policy saving option ref: CS 001 25/26 in respect of Community Support Shinty and Rugby. (20) (20) (20) (20) (20) Cost of servicing £2m additional borrowing for capital plan (65) (130) (130) (130) (130) Increase Fees and Charges by a further 4% to 10% 242 256 271 288 306 Transfer £1m of SPF gain in 2026-27 to balance budget in 2025-26 1,000 (1,000) Live Argyll one year saving funded from Unallocated General Fund 311 Transfer from Unallocated General Fund 1,314 Revised Budget Position 0 (13,031) (22,519) (27,063) (32,400)
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2. Opposition Community Priorities (funded from one-off Unallocated General Fund) Project Description All one-off allocations £000 Citizens Advice – CAB Argyll In recognition of the cost of living crisis and allowing CAB to develop and pilot a service proposition in Oban and Campbeltown. 50 Bute Advice Centre In recognition of the cost of living crisis and the excellent work that Bute Advice do for our Bute and Cowal communities. 40 Foodbank Contingency Fund Allocate £5,000 each to the twelve foodbanks ( 5 in MAKI, 3 in OLI, 2 in H&L and B&C) 60 Inveraray War Memorial Allocate funding for repairs to the war memorial and adjacent sea wall. 50 Play Park Renewal Allocate additional funding for play park renewal, complementing the existing renewal programme. 50 Helensburgh Skate Park Association Allocate additional funding to assist the development of permanent site with improved equipment. 50 Tiree Ring and Ride Service Allocate one-off funding to assist with transport connectivity on island 20 Argyll and Bute Women’s Aid To support this group in tackling domestic abuse in Argyll and Bute. 20 Area Committee Priorities Fund Allocate £40,000 to each of our Area Committees for local community priorities with Area Committees delegated to agree the assessment criteria 160 Total Community Priorities 500
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3. Capital and Reserves Capital Budget £000 Priorities Investment Fund £000 Crown Estates 2025-26 £000 Unallocated General Fund £000 As Per Budget Pack 3,560 3,748 800 (283) Additional forecast underspend as at end of January 533 Refund on gift cards from LACER Funding 64 Reduce Private Sector Housing Grant top slice in capital programme to £707k across 2025-26 to 2027-28, saving of £326k per year 978 Transfer Crown Estate 2025-26 allocation in advance to Capital 800 (800) Borrow £2m for capital plan 2,000 Transfer from Priority Investment Fund to Capital and General Fund 1,293 (2,748) 1,455 Reduce Earmarked Redundancy and Transfer to General Fund leave £1.8m in Fund 1,000 Reduce Earmarked Reserve No 052 Education Purchase Officers by £52k, earmarking not needed 52 Revised Balances for Use 8,631 1,000 0 2,821 Increase Roads Reconstruction Funding from £2m to £9m in 2025-26 (7,000) Increase Footway Capital by £1m as per report in 2025-26 (1,000) Increase Street Lighting from £0.369m to £1m in 2025-26 (631) CHARTS (95) AITC (75) Islay Pool (30) National Park (10) Clipper Race (20) Live Argyll 2025-26 – 10% cut not taken (311) Opposition Community Priorities (500) Adjustment to maintain 2% Contingency (3) Transfer to Revenue Budget 2025-26 (1,314) Final balance following allocations, transfers and movements 0 1,000 0 463