Special Argyll and Bute HSCP Finance and Policy Committee held on 27 October 2025
Argyll and Bute Council · 19 November 2025
Back to Argyll and Bute HSCP Integration Joint Board (IJB) — 19 November 2025 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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MINUTES of SPECIAL MEETING of ARGYLL AND BUTE HSCP FINANCE AND POLICY COMMITTEE held BY MICROSOFT TEAMS on MONDAY, 27 OCTOBER 2025 Present: Councillor Dougie McFadzean (Chair) Graham Bell Kenny Matheson Fiona Thomson Attending: Evan Beswick, Chief Officer, Argyll and Bute HSCP Fiona Broderick, Staffside Lead, Argyll and Bute HSCP (Health) David Gibson, Head of Children, Families and Justice, Argyll and Bute HSCP Nicola Gillespie, Head of Service, Complex Care and Registered Services, Argyll and Bute HSCP James Gow, Head of Finance, Argyll and Bute HSCP Hazel MacInnes, Senior Committee Officer, Argyll and Bute Council Alison McGrory, Associate Director of Public Health, Argyll and Bute HSCP Morven Moir, Head of Finance, NHS Highland Caroline Robertson, Head of Adults – Hospital and Community Services, Argyll and Bute HSCP Angela Tillery, Principal Accountant, Argyll and Bute Council 1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE Apologies for absence were received from Charlotte Craig, Karen Leach, Councillor Gary Mulvaney and Tracey White. 2. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST (IF ANY) There were no declarations of interest. 3. BUDGET MONITORING – 6 MONTHS TO 30 SEPTEMBER 2025 The Committee gave consideration to a report providing a summary of financial performance for the first six months of the financial year. The report provided the financial position and forecast to the year end and highlighted uncertainties and risk associated with the forecast, particularly with high reliance on agency staffing which created uncertainty and lack of stability in costs. The Chief Officer delivered a presentation on Financial Strategy Options to address the budget challenges faced by the Health and Social Care Partnership. Decision The Finance and Policy Committee – 1. noted the presentation by the Chief Officer; 2. noted that the HSCP had overspent its budget by £1.4m as at M6; 3. noted an overspend of £1.4m was forecast and that management were working to bring spend back in line with budget;
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4. noted recovery restrictions remain in place; 5. noted savings of £5.9m had been delivered, 67% of target; and 6. noted that the HSCP was proposing to re-allocate a number of earmarked reserves to manage its financial situation. (Reference: Report by Head of Finance dated 27 October 2025, submitted; and Presentation by Chief Officer) 4. SOCIAL WORK / SOCIAL CARE FINANCIAL RECOVERY The Committee gave consideration to a report advising that the budget outlook for Social Work / Social Care services was forecasting a significant deficit position if action was not taken to reduce spend. The report provided options for addressing the budget deficit as per the budget outlook. Decision The Finance and Policy Committee – 1. noted the proposals outlined in the report and appendices; 2. noted the report sat alongside the recovery plan and budget outlook; and 3. considered the next stages and wider engagement. (Reference: Report by Head of Finance dated 27 October 2025, submitted) 5. ANALYSIS OF SPEND The Committee gave consideration to a report providing an analysis of budgets which were considered to be non-discretionary. Decision The Finance and Policy Committee noted the content of the report and its implications for the budget setting process. (Reference: Report by Head of Finance dated 27 October 2025, submitted) 6. SINGLE AUTHORITY MODEL UPDATE The Committee gave consideration to a report providing a further update on options for the development of a Single Authority Model for Argyll and Bute which had been presented to the meeting of Argyll and Bute Council held on 24 September 2025. Decision The Finance and Policy Committee noted the update on Single Authority Model provided to the Council on 24 September 2025. (Reference: Report by Chief Officer dated 27 October 2025, submitted)