Argyll and Bute HSCP Finance and Policy Committee held on 24 June 2025
Argyll and Bute Council · 17 September 2025
Back to Argyll and Bute HSCP Integration Joint Board (IJB) — 17 September 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 MEETING of ARGYLL AND BUTE HSCP FINANCE AND POLICY COMMITTEE held BY MICROSOFT TEAMS on TUESDAY, 24 JUNE 2025 Present: Councillor Dougie McFadzean (Chair) Graham Bell Kenny Mathieson Tracey White Karen Leach Fiona Thomson Attending: Evan Beswick, Chief Officer, Argyll and Bute HSCP Fiona Broderick, Staffside Lead, Argyll and Bute HSCP (Health) Charlotte Craig, Interim Head of Strategic Planning, Performance and Technology, Argyll and Bute HSCP David Gibson, Head of Children, Families and Justice, Argyll and Bute HSCP Nicola Gillespie, Interim Head of Adult Services (Mental Health, Disabilities, ASP & Dementia Services), Argyll and Bute HSCP James Gow, Head of Finance, Argyll and Bute HSCP Alison McGrory, Associate Director of Public Health, Argyll and Bute HSCP Angela Tillery, Principal Accountant, Argyll and Bute Council Donald Watt, Interim Head of Adult Services (Acute and Community Care), Argyll and Bute HSCP Katie McKenzie, Committee Services Officer, Argyll and Bute Council 1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Gary Mulvaney. 2. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST There were no declarations of interest. 3. MINUTES (a) ARGYLL AND BUTE HSCP FINANCE AND POLICY COMMITTEE MEETING HELD ON 18 MARCH 2025 The Minutes of the Meeting of the Finance and Policy Committee held on 18 March 2025 were approved as a correct record. (b) SPECIAL MEETING OF ARGYLL AND BUTE HSCP FINANCE AND POLICY COMMITTEE MEETING HELD ON 19 MAY 2025 The Minutes of the Special Meeting of the Finance and Policy Committee held on 19 May 2025 were approved as a correct record. Kenny Mathieson and Tracey White joined the meeting during consideration of the following item of business.
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4. FINANCE AND POLICY COMMITTEE ANNUAL REPORT - 2024/25 The Committee gave consideration to the Finance and Policy Committee Annual report for financial year 2024/25. Decision The Finance and Policy Committee – 1. considered and approved the draft Committee Annual Report for 2024/25; and 2. requested that the final report is placed on the agenda of the next meeting of the Integration Joint Board. (Reference: Report by Chair of Finance and Policy Committee dated 24 June 2025, submitted) Kenny Mathieson raised a point of order regarding the Social Work / Social Care Financial Recovery Plan that was considered at the Integration Joint Board meeting on 28 May 2025, specifically in relation to the Ceiling of Care consultation timescales. The Chair advised that he would raise the concerns with the Chief Officer. 5. BUDGET MONITORING - 12 MONTHS TO 31 MARCH 2025 The Committee gave consideration to a report providing a summary of financial performance for the 2024/25 year. Decision The Finance and Policy Committee – 1. noted that the HSCP had overspent its budget by £1.9m; 2. noted that the overspend related to Older Adult social care budgets; 3. noted that the HSCP had utilised all of the available £3.05m in pension fund savings to fund its overspending; 4. noted that general reserves reduced from £7.8m to £2.6m with total reserves increasing by £0.9m to £20.7m; and 5. noted savings of £5.1m had been delivered, 77% of target. (Reference: Report by Head of Finance dated 24 June 2025, submitted) 6. UNAUDITED ANNUAL ACCOUNTS 2024/25 The Committee gave consideration to a report detailing the Unaudited Accounts prior to issue to the External Auditors. Decision The Finance and Policy Committee –
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1. reviewed the Unaudited Annual Accounts and Report, including the Annual Governance Statement and approved them for issue, subject to the addition of information regarding the future risk of potential additional costs; 2. noted that the IJB was reporting that it overspent its Social Care budget but was reporting an increase in total reserves carried forward; 3. endorsed the earmarking of reserves (note 6); and 4. noted that the accounts were prepared on a going concern basis. (Reference: Report by Head of Finance dated 24 June 2025, submitted) 7. TRANSFORMATION UPDATE The Committee gave consideration to a report detailing the work undertaken so far in the review of the change management function of the HSCP. Decision The Finance and Policy Committee noted the update to practice and structure. (Reference: Report by Interim Head of Strategic Planning, Performance and Technology dated 24 June 2035, submitted) 8. DATE OF NEXT MEETING The Finance and Policy Committee noted the date of the next meeting as Tuesday 16 September 2025.