Item 6b COUNCIL 05 03 25 M DRAFT
West Dunbartonshire Council · 26 March 2025
Back to West Dunbartonshire Council — 26 March 2025 and its agenda
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WEST DUNBARTONSHIRE COUNCIL At a Hybrid Meeting of West Dunbartonshire Council held in the Civic Space, 16 Church Street, Dumbarton on Wednesday, 5 March 2025 at 4.02 p.m. Present: Provost Karen Murray Conaghan and Councillors Jim Bollan, Ian Dickson, Diane Docherty, Fiona Hennebry, Gurpreet Singh Johal, Daniel Lennie, David McBride, Michelle McGinty, John Millar, Lawrence O’Neill, Lauren Oxley, Chris Pollock, Martin Rooney, William Rooney, Gordon Scanlan, Hazel Sorrell, Clare Steel and Sophie Traynor. Attending: Peter Hessett, Chief Executive; Alan Douglas, Chief Officer – Regulatory and Regeneration (Legal Officer); Laurence Slavin, Chief Officer – Resources, and Section 95 Officer; Beth Culshaw, Chief Officer – Health & Social Care Partnership; Peter Barry, Chief Officer – Housing and Employability; Amanda Graham, Chief Officer – Citizen, Culture and Facilities; Gail Macfarlane, Chief Officer – Roads and Neighbourhood; Victoria Rogers, Chief Officer – People and Technology; Carol Alderson, Finance Manager; Lauren Crooks, Strategic Communication, Culture and Performance Manager; Michelle Lynn, Asset Manager; Julie Slavin, Chief Financial Officer; Michael McDougall, Manager of Legal Services; Michael Mulgrew, Planning, Building Standards and Environmental Health Manager; Elaine Troup, Economic Development Manager and Carol-Ann Burns, Senior Democratic Services Officer. Also Attending: Tom Reid, Audit Director, Forvis Mazars. Apologies: Apologies for absence were intimated on behalf of Councillors Jonathan McColl and June McKay. Provost Karen Murray Conaghan in the Chair STATEMENT BY CHAIR Provost Murray Conaghan advised that the meeting was being audio streamed and broadcast live to the internet and would be available for playback. ITEM 6(b)
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DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST In relation to the item under the heading ‘General Services Budget Setting 2025/26 and 2026/27 to 2029/30 Budget Estimates’, Councillors McBride, Hennebry, Singh Johal, McGinty, Millar, Oxley, Martin Rooney, William Rooney and Sorrell made transparency statements. The aforementioned Councillors indicated that they would remain in the meeting and take part in consideration of the item. RECORDING OF VOTES The Council agreed that all votes taken during the meeting would be carried out by roll call vote to ensure an accurate record. OPEN FORUM The Council noted that no open forum questions had been submitted by members of the public. DEPUTATION Having heard Provost Murray Conaghan, the Council noted that a request had been received from GMB and EIS to address the Council in relation to ‘General Services Budget Setting 2025/26 and 2026/27 to 2029/30 Budget Estimates’. The Council agreed to suspend Standing Orders 18 (b) and (e) in order to allow the deputation which, the Provost advised, would be taken immediately prior to the aforementioned item of business. The Council agreed to hear the deputations and the Provost then invited the delegation, namely David Scott, Convener, GMB, and Mick Dolan, Convener, EIS, to come forward and address the Council, and Mr Scott and Mr Dolan were heard in relation to their concerns regarding potential cuts to services. The Provost thanked the Mr Scott and Mr Dolan for their contributions. GENERAL SERVICES BUDGET SETTING 2025/26 AND 2026/27 TO 2029/30 BUDGET ESTIMATES It was noted that an Erratum Notice containing a revised version of this report had been issued to Members in advance of the meeting. A report was submitted by the Chief Officer – Resources:- (1) summarising the key issues relating to the revenue budget estimates and setting of Council Tax for 2025/26 and the Council’s capital plan, and providing budget estimates for 2026/27 to 2029/30; and
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(2) seeking approval to set the General Services revenue and capital budgets for 2025/26 through approval of options to close the 2025/26 revenue budget gap. After discussion and having heard the Chief Executive and the Chief Officer – Resources, in further explanation and in answer to Members’ questions, Councillor Martin Rooney moved:- That the Council agrees:- 1) to approve the list of savings as attached to this Motion (shown as Appendix 1 to these Minutes); 2) to note the management adjustments set out in Appendix 3 to the report to be used to set the General Services revenue budget for 2025/26 and assist with future projected budget gaps; 3) the 2025/26 Health and Social Care Partnership Requisition including the 2024/25 pay award; the Gross Aggregate Expenditure (GAE) indicators; and funding to increase National Insurance. The result of this is to increase the HSCP Requisition to £1.686m. (This is the equivalent to a 4.14% increase in Council Tax); 3) the 2025/26 West Dunbartonshire Leisure Trust Management Fee as per option 3 and include a further £202,000 to fund the increase in the employer national insurance contributions. The result of this is to increase the WDLT Management Fee by £729,900 to £4,597,492. (This is the equivalent of a 1.79% increase in Council Tax); 4) the 2025/26 constituent contribution to the Dunbartonshire and Argyll and Bute Valuation Joint Board increasing our contribution by £94,000, contingent on the other two councils agreeing a similar contribution. (This is the equivalent of a 0.23% increase in Council Tax; 5) the 2025/26 Council Tax increase of 11.5% of which 6.16% will be used to support our partners in Health & Social Care, West Dunbartonshire Leisure Trust, and the Dunbartonshire and Argyll and Bute Valuation Joint Board, and the other 5.34% will support council wide services; 6) to approve the proposed 2025/26 capital plan set out in Appendix 5 to the report; 7) to transfer the 2024/25 HMTO surplus of £594,000 from the general fund to the HRA which will offer some protection to the HRA reserves at a time when the HRA is facing financial challenges. (The equivalent of a 1.45% increase in Council Tax); 8) to also note the budget growth items appended to this motion (shown as Appendix 2 and 3 to these Minutes); and
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9) Furthermore, in relation to the Municipal Golf Course, the council would be willing to explore options for either community asset transfer or lease with the current user groups. Our local MP Douglas McAllister will today set up a task force with the aim of continuing to operate the golf course by way of community asset transfer. As an amendment, Councillor Dickson moved:- Council agrees the recommendations at 2.1 of the report, subject to the following provisions. Council agrees to set the Council Tax rate at 8.5%, which is below average in Scotland as of 5th March 2025. This is equivalent to £1,517.89 per annum for a Band D property. Council agrees to balance the budget as follows (shown as Appendix 4 to these Minutes). The people of Scotland are consistently paying the price of Westminster decisions that hurt our public services, economy and society. Notably, this year West Dunbartonshire Council is facing a £3.9 million bill from the Labour UK Government as a result of the hike to National Insurance contributions. Therefore, both as a nation and a Council, we have a moral obligation to do everything we can to protect public services and make things easier for people in the face of the ongoing cost of living crisis. That is why the SNP Scottish Government's budget for 2025/26 delivers on people’s priorities – eradicating child poverty, growing the economy, improving public services like our NHS, and tackling the climate emergency. The Scottish Budget contributes to protect the social contract including: • Free prescriptions. • Free university tuition. • Free school meals. • Free childcare for 3 and 4 year olds, as well as eligible 2 year olds. • Access to free bus travel for almost 2.3 million people. • An NHS free at the point of use. • 7 social security payments with no equivalent elsewhere in the UK, including the Scottish Child Payment. The Scottish Budget received cross-party support from the Scottish Greens and the Scottish Liberal Democrats. Disappointingly, Scottish Labour MSPs chose to abstain.
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To protect the local public services that the people of West Dunbartonshire rely on, this SNP budget includes no cuts to services and no compulsory redundancies. This budget rejects the savings options and protects: • Funding for several organisations that provide vital support to our communities, including YSortIt, West Dunbartonshire Citizen’s Advice Bureau, and both Clydebank and Dumbarton District Women’s Aid to name a few; • Working4U employees who deliver essential services, like employability support and adult learning; • Budgets for CCTV services and street lighting to keep communities safe; • Investment in modern apprenticeships, supporting young people to enter positive destinations; • Recreational spaces like Bowling Clubs and Dalmuir Golf Course, helping people to stay active, socialise, and improve their physical and mental wellbeing; • Management of our roads, neighbourhoods, play parks, and outdoor spaces. As a second amendment, Councillor Bollan moved:- Council agrees not to apply the cuts or management adjustments detailed in item 6 on the agenda. Council agrees to set a needs-based budget, including these additional figures. Council agrees to raise the C Tax by 10%. Council also calls on the Government to scrap the C Tax and replace it with a Scottish Service Tax, based on the ability to pay. WDC should lead a campaign with the Unions, Tenants, Community Groups and the wider public to organise support for a needs-based budget approach. Enough is enough. The time for resistance is now, to save vital public services and jobs for our Constituents. ADJOURNMENT The Provost adjourned the meeting for a short recess. The meeting reconvened at 5.33 p.m. with all those listed in the sederunt present. Councillor Lennie seconded Councillor Bollan’s second amendment, Councillor Scanlan seconded Councillor Dickson’s first amendment, and Councillor McBride seconded Councillor Martin Rooney’s motion.
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After debate and having heard from the Legal Officer, on a roll call vote being taken between the first amendment (Councillor Dickson) and the second amendment (Councillor Bollan), 2 Members voted for the second amendment, namely Councillors Bollan and Lennie and 7 Members voted for the first amendment, namely Provost Murray Conaghan and Councillors Dickson, Docherty, Oxley, Pollock, Scanlan and Traynor. 10 Members abstained from voting, namely Councillors Singh Johal, Hennebry, McBride, McGinty, Millar, O’Neill, Martin Rooney, William Rooney, Sorrell and Steel. The first amendment from Councillor Dickson was accordingly declared carried. On a further roll call vote being taken between the amendment (Councillor Dickson) and the motion (Councillor Rooney), 7 Members voted for the amendment, namely Provost Murray Conaghan and Councillors Dickson, Docherty, Oxley, Pollock, Scanlan and Traynor and 10 Members voted for the motion, namely Councillors Singh Johal, Hennebry, McBride, McGinty, Millar, O’Neill, Martin Rooney, William Rooney, Sorrell and Steel. 2 Members abstained from voting, namely Councillors Bollan and Lennie. The motion was accordingly declared carried. ADJOURNMENT The Provost adjourned the meeting for a short recess. The meeting reconvened at 7.02 p.m. with all those listed in the sederunt present except Councillor McGinty. CAPITAL STRATEGY 2025/26 TO 2034/35 A report was submitted by the Chief Officer – Resources seeking approval of the Council's Capital Strategy for the period 2025/26 to 2034/35. The Council agreed to approve West Dunbartonshire Council’s updated capital strategy for the period 2025/26 to 2034/35. CHARGING POLICY FOR NON-RESIDENTIAL CARE SERVICES 2025/2026 A report was submitted by the Chief Officer – Health & Social Care Partnership providing an overview of the proposed changes to West Dunbartonshire Council’s Charging Policy for Non-Residential Care Services 2025/2026 for consideration and approval. The Council agreed to approve the following amendments to the 2025/26 Charging Policy for Non-Residential Care Services after consideration of the consultation outputs and current guidance:- (1) to approve strengthening of current policy wording around the inclusion of partners earnings when undertaking a Financial Assessment, to remove current ambiguity;
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(2) to approve set Minimum Income Thresholds for a single person or couple based on being either under state pension qualifying age or over pension qualifying age; (3) to approve people who are in receipt of Independent Living Fund (ILF) will be subject to a Financial Assessment and may be required to make a contribution to their care package; (4) to approve the increase of the current percentage taper on disposable income, in excess of the Minimum Income Threshold from 50% to 75%; and (5) to approve to retain the maximum weekly charge for services which will increase by 5% to £90.50 in 2025/26. Note: Councillor McGinty re-entered the meeting at this point. HOUSING REVENUE ACCOUNT (HRA), HOUSING CAPITAL INVESTMENT PROGRAMME, REVENUE BUDGET, AND RENT LEVELS FOR 2025/26 It was noted that an Erratum Notice containing a revised version of the report had been issued to Members in advance of the meeting. A report was submitted by the Chief Officer – Housing and Employability seeking approval of the proposed HRA capital investment programme and the HRA revenue budget for 2025/26 and agreement of the level of weekly rent increase for 2025/26. After discussion and having heard the Chief Officer – Housing and Employability in further explanation and in answer to Members’ questions, the Council agreed:- (1) to note the progress made in delivering the HRA Capital Investment Programme for 2024/25 as detailed in Appendix 1 to the report; (2) to approve the HRA Capital Investment Plan 2025/26 – 2029/30 as detailed in Appendix 2 to the report; (3) to approve the HRA revenue budget for 2025/26 as detailed in Appendices 3 and 4 to the report; (4) to approve an 8.0% weekly house rent increase for 2025/26: an average increase of £7.57 per week on a 52-week basis (£8.38 per week on a 47- week basis), inclusive of the Gypsy Traveller site at Dennystoun Forge; (5) to approve an 8.0% lock up and garage site rent increase for 2025/26: an increase to lock-up rents of £0.48 per week to £6.52 per week on a 52- weekbasis; (£0.53 per week to £7.21 per week on a 47-week basis); (6) to approve a 8.0% rent increase for homeless temporary accommodation;
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(7) to note the outcome of the tenant consultation process as detailed in Appendix 5 to the report; (8) to note that the HRA revenue account continues to face considerable ongoing cost pressures and that the latest forecast is for HRA to draw on all £0.968m of HRA reserves in 2024/25 with a General Fund contribution of circa £0.350m needed to balance the HRA account; and (9) to note that the HRA prudential reserve target for 2025/26 is £1.16m (2% of gross expenditure) and that the HRA will need to steadily rebuild its reserves to this level through future years rent strategies. Councillor Bollan, having failed to find a seconder for a proposed amendment asked for his dissent to be recorded in respect of this item. NOTICE OF MOTION (a) Motion by Councillor Jim Bollan – Fire & Rehire Council agrees the Fire & Rehire document recently sent to employees breaches the Scottish Government & our own Council's "Fair Work Statement" and should be abolished immediately. The trades unions advised management they could not support this position. Many Council workers are in fear of losing their job after receiving the recent communication from WDC and the Unions have been inundated with enquiries from worried and concerned employees. Pausing the Fire & Rehire proposal is insufficient, and it should be abolished immediately. As an amendment, Councillor McBride moved:- Council notes that the Fire and Rehire letter was withdrawn within 48 hours of its issue and staff were promptly informed that the process had been halted. Further discussions with the Joint Trade Unions were planned and took place this week. In addition, the Chief Executive and Trade Unions have issued the following joint statement: “Dear Colleague, Further to the communication you received last month confirming that the individual variation of terms and conditions had been paused, the Council and Trade Unions wish to provide you with an update.
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Following further discussions with our local and regional trade union colleagues, we have agreed that the individual variation to contract letters, issued to the workforce at the beginning of February, which included a potential dismissal and re-engagement clause, are now null and void. Please do not be concerned if you have already submitted your return, as it will not be actioned. We had a constructive discussion today and have agreed to meet again in the coming weeks to further discuss the allocation of public holidays and annual leave. Kind regards, Peter Hessett, along with GMB, Unison, and Unite Unions” Councillor Lennie then seconded Councillor Bollan’s motion and Councillor Martin Rooney seconded Councillor McBride’s amendment. On a roll call vote being taken, 10 Members voted for the amendment, namely Councillors Singh Johal, Hennebry, McBride, McGinty, Millar, O’Neill, Martin Rooney, William Rooney, Sorrell and Steel and 9 Members voted for the motion, namely Provost Murray Conaghan and Councillors Bollan, Dickson, Docherty, Lennie, Oxley, Pollock, Scanlan and Traynor. The amendment was accordingly declared carried. The meeting closed at 7.28 p.m.
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BUDGET 2025/26 1 Motion: General Services Budget Setting 2025/26 and 2026/27 – 2029/30 Appendix 1 2025/26 Savings: Budget Savings 2025/26 Recurring Savings 2026/27 Savings 2027/28 Citizens Culture & Facilities CCF01: Highland Games (15,000) CCF09: Reduce Contact Centre by 2 FTE - option 2 (30,000) (30,000) CCF10: Reduce Community Budgeting fund (27,000) CCF11: Reduce Community Engagement Budget (22,000) CCF18: Reduction in Arts and Heritage Option 1: 1.5 FTE. (30,000) (50,000) Education EDU02: Reduce School Clothing Grant for primary school pupils to the statutory level (£120) (64,000) EDU03: Reduce Education Maintenance Allowance to statutory level and reduce carers enhancement - Option 3 (75,000) (39,000) EDU11:Shared Head at two early learning centres (Clydebank and Whitecrook) (31,000) (16,000) EDU14: Align funding for 1140 hours for 3 year olds with statutory guidance Option 2 (62,000) (74,000) EDU15: Reduce School Music Instructors (30,000) EDU20: Remove secondary school registration (383,000) (189,000) Housing & Employability HE02: Reduce Working4U service by 50% - Option 2 (206,000) (206,000) HE03: Reduce budget for temporary accommodation furniture (18,000) HE04: CCTV Service Reduction Option 2 (31,000) (31,000) People & Technology PT12: Reduce Corporate Administration Support Option 2 3 FTE Reduction. (91,000) PT14 - People & Change Team Restructure (62,000) (35,000) PT15: Organisational Development Reduction (60,000) PT18: Outsource Print Room function (25,000) (25,000) PT20: Reduce ICT team Option 2: 4 FTE (84,000) (84,000) Resources
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BUDGET 2025/26 2 RES01: Review External Funding • Delete Community Wellbeing Fund £20,000 (20,000) RES05: Review Council Tax and Benefits Service (14,000) RES06: Reduce Corporate Debt team (44,000) (23,000) RES08: Reduce number of caretakers (24,000) (8,000) RES14: Reduce Housing Benefit and Council Tax team (16,000) RES19: Review Asset Management team (55,000) Roads & Neighbourhood RN02: Review public toilet provision (93,000) (18,000) RN17: School Crossing Patrollers - Option 1 Retain 17 Crossing Patrollers (23,000) (35,000) RN18: Review or remove provision of footway gritting - option 2 Cease Footway Gritting (68,000) (68,000) RN20: Close or reduce Dalmuir golf course - Option 3 Close completely (184,000) (84,000) RN21: Cease the Care of Gardens scheme (143,000) RN22: Review levels of street cleaning - Option 1 Reduce by 2 staff (26,000) (26,000) RN24: Review of park maintenance Option 1 (60,000) (60,000) RN28: Remove open space maintenance on non-council land (20,000) RN29: Review Event Support by Grounds Service (15,000) RN30: Road Network & Capital Management Reduction Option 2 (50,000) (20,000) RN31: Review Winter Plan (55,000) (55,000) RN35: Reduce Grass Cutting (150,000) Regulatory & Regeneration RR04: Remove Members’ Secretary (22,000) RR17: Reduce Trading Standards team (14,000) (25,000) RR18: Reduce Records Management team (13,500) (41,000) RR19: Close Clydebank Registration Office (8,000) (8,500) Management Adjustments (751,000) (147,000) Labour 1: Transfer from Smoothing Fund (17,500) (3,125,000) (1,486,500) (18,000)
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BUDGET 2025/26 3 Appendix 2 Labour Group Growth Items Description of Labour Group Growth Items Labour Group 1: £3,000 a year for the next three years to Dalmuir Barclay Church Food Pantry to supplement food donations. £3000 Labour Group 2: £1.686m of recurring revenue uplift for HSCP Partnership. Equivalent to 4.14% increase in Council Tax £1,686,000 Labour Group 3: A total of £730,000 uplift for WDLT comprising a £274k funding for pay increases (already assumed in budget gap), £202,000 for National Insurance costs and £254,000 to assist with increased utility costs. Equivalent to 1.79% increase in Council Tax £456,000 Labour Group 4: Uplift for VJB (ask is for 94k in year, further 163k in year 2 and further 30k in year 3. Equivalent to 0.23% increase in Council Tax 94,000 Labour Group 5: Transfer £594,000 HMTO surplus to HRA. There is no revenue impact for the 2025/26 budget. 594,000 Labour Group 6: Earmark £150,000 of the Cost of Living Capital funding to Flourishing Faifley towards a new 4G Football Pitch at Faifley Knowes. The total cost of a new facility with a pitch, floodlights and fencing etc. would be £750k. The aim would be to secure external funding to deliver on the new 4G Football Pitch. There is no revenue impact for the 2025/26 budget. 150,000
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BUDGET 2025/26 4 Appendix 3 Based on the 28 councils who will have announced (including WDC) we would be at number 14 Council Actual Decision 25/26 Band D 1 Midlothian 10.00% £1,666.20 2 Argyll & Bute 9.90% £1,625.64 3 Stirling 8.80% £1,611.87 4 Glasgow City 7.50% £1,611.43 5 East Ayrshire 8.00% £1,606.44 6 Dundee City 8.00% £1,605.34 7 Clackmannanshire 13.00% £1,594.38 8 East Lothian 10.00% £1,579.18 9 Orkney Islands 15.00% £1,574.59 10 Moray 10.00% £1,573.76 11 Renfrewshire 9.50% £1,572.61 12 South Ayrshire 8.00% £1,569.41 13 City of Edinburgh 8.00% £1,563.51 14 West Dunbartonshire 11.50% £1,559.86 15 North Ayrshire 7.00% £1,553.77 16 Perth & Kinross 9.50% £1,537.04 17 Aberdeenshire 10.00% £1,532.76 18 East Renfrewshire 8.00% £1,528.44 19 Highland 7.00% £1,527.09 20 West Lothian 8.95% £1,515.45 21 Fife 8.20% £1,498.76 22 Scottish Borders 10.00% £1,491.72 23 Angus 11.00% £1,461.51 24 Dumfries & Galloway 9.00% £1,454.99 25 North Lanarkshire 10.00% £1,452.86 26 Comhairlie Nan Eilean Siar 7.50% £1,387.56 27 Shetland Islands 10.00% £1,386.67 28 South Lanarkshire 6.00% £1,378.86
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SNP Budget 2025/26 Appendix 4 Council agrees to balance the budget as follows: £000's Projected Budget Gap £5,571 Growth Options HSCP Pay award £488 HSCP GAE pass through £517 VJB £94 Revised Gap £6,670 Balancing Measures Council Tax £3,463 Management Adjustments £751 Reserve rebuilding benefit £1,381 Reduce Prudential Reserve to 2% £0 Smoothing Fund £1,075