Minutes
Argyll and Bute Council · 19 May 2026
Back to Argyll and Bute HSCP Finance and Policy Committee — 19 May 2026 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
Page 1
MINUTES of MEETING of ARGYLL AND BUTE HSCP FINANCE AND POLICY COMMITTEE held BY MICROSOFT TEAMS on TUESDAY, 17 MARCH 2026 Present: Councillor Dougie McFadzean (Chair) Graham Bell Karen Leach Kenny Matheson Councillor Gary Mulvaney Attending: Fiona Broderick, Staffside Lead, Argyll and Bute HSCP (Health) Charlotte Craig, Business Improvement Manager, Argyll and Bute HSCP Councillor Kieron Green, Argyll and Bute Council Nikki Gillespie, Head of Complex Care and Registered Services, Argyll and Bute HSCP Kristin Gillies, Head of Strategic Planning, Performance and Technology, Argyll and Bute HSCP James Gow, Head of Finance, Argyll and Bute HSCP Rebecca Helliwell, Depute Medical Director, Argyll and Bute HSCP Julie Hodges, Scottish Care Inspectorate Fiona McCallum, Committee Services Officer, Argyll and Bute Council Alison McGrory, Associate Director of Public Health – NHS Highland, Argyll and Bute HSCP Kevin McIntosh, Staffside Lead, Argyll and Bute HSCP (Council) Councillor Ross Moreland, Argyll and Bute Council Kirstie Reid, Carers Representative, NHS Highland Takki Sulaiman, Chief Executive, Argyll and Bute Third Sector Interface Angela Tillery, Principal Accountant, Argyll and Bute Council 1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE Apologies for absence were received from Fiona Thomson and Evan Beswick. 2. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST Julie Hodges declared a non-financial interest in respect of the Integrated Impact Assessments which were discussed as part of item 4 of this Minute. 3. MINUTES The Minute of the meeting of the Argyll and Bute HSCP Finance and Policy Committee held on 24 February 2026 was approved as a correct record. 4. HSCP BUDGET 2026/27 The Committee gave consideration to the draft Budget report for the IJB which included information about public engagement and Integrated Impact Assessments.
Page 2
Decision The Finance and Policy Committee considered and endorsed the draft IJB report which recommended the IJB - 1. approve the HSCP expenditure budget for 2026/27 totalling £430.2m, incorporating a savings plan totalling £8.0m, and allocation of £5.2m in non- recurring resourcing, 2. note the budget gap before savings and use of non-recurring resources is £13.2m, 3. note two savings proposals require further process and governance prior to final approval, 4. note that the SLA with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde presents a potential additional risk totalling £16.0m and that this issue is still to be resolved, 5. note the HSCP has worked with both partners to develop its budget, and 6. request further service re-design is progressed to move the HSCP to a more sustainable operating model. (Reference: Report by Head of Finance dated 17 March 2026, Reprot by Business Improvement Manager dated 17 March 2026 and Integrated Impact Assessments, submitted) 5. BUDGET MONITORING - 11 MONTHS TO 28 FEBRUARY 2026 The Committee gave consideration to a report providing a summary of financial performance for the first 11 months of the year and the financial position and year end forecast. Decision The Finance and Policy Committee noted – 1. the HSCP was now reporting a small year to date underspend and was forecasting a £0.8m underspend against budget, 2. recovery restrictions remain in place as spend was still being financed by use of reserves and the HSCP was not operating on a sustainable basis, 3. savings of £8m had been delivered, 89% of target, 4. that any actual underspend would reduce reliance on reserves which would be carried forward to support the budget in 2026/27, and 5. the risk in respect of the SLA with Greater Glasgow and Clyde. (Reference: Report by Head of Finance dated 17 March 2026, submitted)
Page 3
6. IJB FINANCIAL BULLETIN 2024/25 On behalf of the Accounts Commission, Audit Scotland has undertaken an analysis of the annual accounts for 2024/25 in respect of Scotland’s Integrated Joint Boards, and a report outlining the findings was before the Committee for information. Decision The Finance and Policy Committee noted the contents of the report. (Reference: Report by Audit Scotland dated February 2026, submitted) 7. CARE HOMES STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT - UPDATE REPORT The Strategic Development project in respect of Care Homes has been ongoing for some time. Stages 1 and 2 have been completed and reported previously. The Committee gave consideration to a report outlining the next steps in the process and the governance arrangements. Decision The Finance and Policy Committee noted that - 1. the Care Homes Strategic Review was continuing in partnership with HUB North, 2. Public Engagement was expected to commence in June 2026, 3. a workshop to start consideration of the potential new investment had been scheduled, and 4. governance was complex and further Council engagement was required. (Reference: Report by Head of Finance and Head of Complex Care and Registered Services dated 17 March 2026, submitted)