1. Report Campbell and McNeil Bequests - March 2025
Argyll and Bute Council · 5 March 2025
Back to Mid Argyll, Kintyre & the Islands Area Committee — 5 March 2025 and its agenda
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ARGYLL AND BUTE COUNCIL MID ARGYLL, KINTYRE AND THE ISLANDS AREA COMMITTEE LEGAL & REGULATORY SUPPORT 5 MARCH 2025 CAMPBELL AND MCNEIL BEQUESTS AWARD RECOMMENDATIONS 1.0 APPLICATIONS 1.1 This report gives Members information regarding an application that has been received for support from the Campbell and McNeil Bequests. 2.1 RECOMMENDATIONS 2.1 The Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands Area Committee are asked to award £100 to the family applicant that meets the criteria of the Campbell and McNeil Bequests. 3.0 DETAIL 3.1 The Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands Area Committee on 06 March 2024 agreed new distribution arrangements for the Campbell and McNeil Bequests, which had been established to benefit the poor of the Parish of Kildalton and Oa. The Area Committee agreed to invite applications: 3.1.1 where the income of the household is below £250 per resident in the household per week 3.1.2 live within the Parish of Kildalton and Oa; and 3.1.3 be over the age of 16. 3.2 Furthermore, it was agreed that successful individual applicants would receive £50 while those applying on behalf of their family would receive £100. 3.3 Following agreement of the new distribution arrangements a single, family, applications has been received. This application meets the criteria of the Bequests and is therefore recommended for award. 3.4 The total funds available for distribution from the Campbell and McNeil Bequests are approximately £7k. Should members be minded a total of £100 will be awarded during this award cycle. 3.5 The Area Committee also agreed on 06 March 2024 that a review would be undertaken concerning the updated arrangements for awards following the first 12 months of operation. 3.6 The number of applications that have been submitted are consistent with a comparable fund in another administrative area. Consequently, it is proposed to
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continue with the existing criteria and arrangements and that Officers will continue to advertise and promote the fund in the hope of attracting further applications. 4.0 CONCLUSION 4.1 Members are invited to consider the application that has been received for support from the Campbell and McNeil Bequests and to approve the financial award recommended within the report. 5.0 IMPLICATIONS 5.1 Policy – Consideration of the questions raised will ensure that the intentions of the original bequests are honoured. 5.2 Financial – None, the Council acts as trustee for the Fund, it does not represent assets of the Council. However, there is a risk that the Council would have to repay the Trust if an objection was raised as to the use of the funds. 5.3 Legal – Area Committees, as Trustees, must ensure that the distribution arrangements comply with the terms of the funds, failure to do so would result in the Council being liable. 5.4 HR – None 5.5 Fairer Scotland Duty – None 5.5.1 Equalities – protected characteristics – None 5.5.2 Socio-economic Duty – None 5.5.3 Islands – None 5.6 Climate Change – None 5.7 Risk – Recent changes to the benefit system, and low interest rates may result in an oversubscription to the bequest. If there was an objection raised as to the use of the funds in a particular way, there is a risk that the Council could have to pay Page 155 the costs themselves and repay the Trust the costs. The level of risk is considered to be acceptable. 5.8 Customer Service – None 5.9 The Rights of the Child (UNCRC) – None Douglas Hendry - Executive Director with responsibility for Legal and Regulatory Support Councillor Mark Irvine, Policy Lead for Community Planning and Corporate
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Services February 2025 For further information contact: Stuart McLean, Committee Manager Tel. No: 01436 658717 Email: Stuart.Mclean@argyll-bute.gov.uk APPENDICES: Appendix 1: Spreadsheet of application(s) - exempt