Policy and Resources Committee of 16 June 2022
Argyll and Bute Council · 30 June 2022
Back to Argyll and Bute Council — 30 June 2022 and its agenda
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MINUTES of MEETING of POLICY AND RESOURCES COMMITTEE held BY MS TEAMS on THURSDAY, 16 JUNE 2022 Present: Councillor Robin Currie (Chair) Councillor Gordon Blair Councillor Audrey Forrest Councillor Kieron Green Councillor Amanda Hampsey Councillor Fiona Howard Councillor Willie Hume Councillor Andrew Kain Councillor Reeni Kennedy-Boyle Councillor John McAlpine Councillor Liz McCabe Councillor Yvonne McNeilly Councillor Gary Mulvaney Councillor Douglas Philand Attending: Pippa Milne, Chief Executive Douglas Hendry, Executive Director Kirsty Flanagan, Executive Director Patricia O’Neill, Governance Manager Fergus Murray, Head of Development and Economic Growth The Chair of the Policy and Resources Committee started and adjourned the meeting until 11.30am to address technical issues with the Hybrid meeting. 1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE An apology for absence was intimated from Councillor Lynch. 2. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST Councillor Fiona Howard declared a financial interest in item 8 of the agenda (Strategic Events and Festivals) by virtue of her appointment as a trustee of the Helensburgh Winter Festival. She advised that she would leave the meeting during consideration of this item of business. Councillor Reeni Kennedy-Boyle declared a financial interest in item 6 of the agenda (Place Based Investment and Crown Estate Fund) by virtue of her appointment as General Manager of Fyne Futures. She advised that she would leave the meeting during consideration of this item of business. 3. MINUTES The Minutes of the Policy and Resources Committee held on 17 February 2022 were approved as a correct record. 4. BUDGET OUTLOOK 2023-24 TO 2027-28 The Committee considered a report which summarised the budget outlook covering the period 2023-24 to 2027-28 taking into consideration the budget decisions taken at the Council Budget Meeting held on 24 February 2022. Decision The Committee agreed to -
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a) The current estimated budget outlook position for the period 2023-24 to 2027-28. b) To the establishment of a cross party Budget Working Group with a composition of six administration Members being Councillors Currie, Mulvaney, McNeilly, McCabe, Green and Kain, three opposition Members being Councillors Lynch, Philand and Irvine and two Trade Union representatives. (Ref: Report by Section 95 Officer, dated 2 June 2022, submitted) Councillor Reeni Kennedy-Boyle joined the meeting at this point. 5. KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS FQ4 2021/22 The Committee considered a report which outlined the FQ4 2021/22 Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for Community Planning and Development, Financial Services, Commercial Services, Legal and Regulatory Support and Customer Support Services. Decision The Committee reviewed and scrutinised the FQ4 2021/22 KPI Report as presented. (Ref: Report by the Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth dated 20 May 2022, submitted) 6. PLACE BASED INVESTMENT AND CROWN ESTATE FUND 2022/23 - PROJECTS AND ALLOCATION The Committee considered a report which advised that the Council had been allocated £712,000 for financial year 2022/23 from Scottish Government, via its Place Based Investment (PBI). Decision The Committee agreed to - a) The allocation of the Place Based Investment funding for 2022/23 to the projects in Table 1, paragraph 4.7. b) The allocation of the Crown Estate funding for 2022/23 to the projects in Table 1, paragraph 4.7. a) The amendment to the proposals relating to the award of £50,000 of CES funding as detailed under paragraph 2.5, and note the amendment of the detail at paragraph 2.5 which removes funding to ACT, following ACT advising officers that they are no longer able to deliver the proposal and therefore do not require the grant, and that the Council will take the lead on the project. b) Note that a further report on the allocation of the remaining unallocated £322,486 Place Based Investment and £397,453 Crown Estate Funding for 2022/23 will be brought forward to the August meeting of the Policy and Resources Committee. (Ref: Report by the Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth dated 25 April 2022, submitted)
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7. HISTORIC ENVIRONMENT SCOTLAND HERITAGE AND PLACE PROGRAMME - OPPORTUNITY FOR PLACE BASED HERITAGE FUNDING The Committee considered a report which highlighted the new Historic Environment Scotland (HES) and sought the endorsement for the submission of an expression of interest (EDI). Decision The Committee agreed - 1. That an expression of interest be made to Historic Environment Scotland for the Heritage and Place Programme, and potentially also to National Lottery Heritage Fund for the Grants for Heritage Programme if applicable for the conservation town that is considered to best fit with the new criteria and to stand the best chance of success bearing in mind that this will be a highly competitive process. 2. That delegated authority be given to the Executive Director of Development and Infrastructure in consultation with the Leader, Depute Leader and Leader of the largest Opposition Group to submit subsequent applications to the heritage funders, should the Council be invited to do so. 3. To the principle of funding from the Council to support the delivery of the Development Phase should an EOI be successful and a development grant from HES be offered, normally of up to 50% of eligible costs. It is estimated that Council funding would be £60,000 for the development phase works. 4. To the principle of match funding from the Council for the delivery phase were a stage one development bid to go forward and be successful. Note that a future report will be brought back to Members for their consideration were this to be the case. (Ref: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth dated 3 May 2022, submitted) 8. STRATEGIC EVENTS AND FESTIVALS - ROUND 4.2 - 2022/2023 The Committee considered a report which updated Members on the further call for applications in respect of Round 4 2022/23 of the Council’s Strategic Events and Festivals (SED) and provided details of the bids submitted and recommendations regarding all the eligible bids being put forward to receive grant funding. Decision The Committee agreed - a) To the aware of eligible SEF Round 4.2 grants amounting to £29,800 to a total of 7 events as detailed at Appendix 1, Table 1 of the submitted report. b) That any SEF grant offer only be formally issued upon confirmation from the individual event organisation that the event is formally confirmed and is definitely going ahead and still meets the SEF Round 4. Criteria. These grants are detailed in Appendix 1, Table 1.
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c) Not to award ineligible SEF Round 4.2 grant as detailed in Appendix 1, Table 2. d) To continue delegation powers to the Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth to allow any subsequent amendment to existing grant requests to be made brought about as a consequence of future Covid restrictions regarding holding of events/mass gathering in 2022/23. Any amendment to a current grant request/offer would only be considered if the amendment related to either the same level or a reduction in the request from the constitute up to 75% of legitimate and eligible expenditure. e) To note that £25,064 would be left to be earmarked towards a future SEF round as previously agreed by Committee in February 2022. (Ref: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth dated 28 April 2022, submitted) 9. SCOTLAND LOVES LOCAL GIFT CARD UPDATE The Committee considered a report which updated Members on the Scotland Loves Local Argyll and Bute Gift Card Scheme. Decision The Committee considered the contents of the report and the progress of the Scotland Loves Local Gift Card scheme within Argyll and Bute. (Ref: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth dated 6 May 2022, submitted) 10. POLICY AND RESOURCES WORKPLAN The Policy and Resources Committee Workplan was before the Committee for noting. Decision The Policy and Resources Committee noted the content of the workplan as at June 2022. (Ref: Policy and Resources Committee Workplan dated June 2022, submitted)