Printed minutes
Argyll and Bute Council · 1 September 2025
Back to Single Authority Model Short Life Working Group — 1 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 SINGLE AUTHORITY MODEL SHORT LIFE WORKING GROUP held BY MICROSOFT TEAMS on MONDAY, 1 SEPTEMBER 2025 Present: Councillor Jim Lynch (Chair) Councillor Dougie McFadzean Councillor Gary Mulvaney Councillor Ross Moreland Attending: Pippa Milne, Chief Executive Douglas Hendry, Executive Director David Logan, Head of Legal and Regulatory Support Stuart McLean, Committee Manager Graeme McMillan, Transformation Programme Manager Laura Blackwood, Directorate Support Officer Jane Jarvie, Communications Manager Fiona Davies, Chief Executive, NHS Highland Gareth Adkins, Director of People and Culture, NHS Highland Sarah Compton-Bishop, NHS Highland Chair Evan Beswick, Chief Officer, Argyll and Bute HSCP Graham Bell, NHS Highland Non-Executive Board Member/Chair of the Argyll and Bute Integration Joint Board Karen Leach, NHS Highland Non-Executive Board Member Gerard O’Brien, NHS Highland, Non-Executive Board Member Boyd Peters, Medical Director, NHS Highland 1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE Apologies for absence were intimated on behalf of Councillor Yvonne McNeilly. 2. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST (IF ANY) There were no declarations of interest intimated. 3. MINUTES The Minutes of the meeting of the Single Model Authority Short Life Working Group held on 3 June 2025, were approved as a correct record. 4. SINGLE AUTHORITY MODEL - PRESENTATION / EVALUATION OF OPTIONS Consideration was given to a presentation outlining the key principles and background of the proposed Single Authority Model (SAM) for Argyll and Bute. The presentation highlighted the potential benefits of adopting a SAM within the area and provided an overview of the models identified. It also addressed the advantages of change and the anticipated impacts over the short, medium and long term. Further information was shared regarding the parameters requiring consideration, including governance, staffing, engagement, responsibilities, accountability and both legal and financial frameworks. The presentation concluded with a summary of the benefits of transitioning to a SAM; a high
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level critique of each identified model and the decisions necessary to progress to the next stage. Discussion was had on the appraisal of options undertaken by senior officers, noting that, at this stage, Options 4 and 5 were identified as the preferred choices for an Argyll and Bute SAM. Further discussion focussed on the importance of establishing a compelling case to support the preferred options, including the need to consider the delivery of financial savings as part of the process. It was suggested that Option 3 could be further explored with the Scottish Government, particularly in relation to the introduction of primary legislation to support the creation of a New Integrated Authority. The conversation also included concerns over the funding required to aid the implementation of any of the options and the timescales associated with the development of detailed proposals. Decision The Short Life Working Group:- 1. noted the content of the presentation; and 2. agreed that officers would prepare reports for consideration by both NHS Highland and Argyll and Bute Council at their respective meetings in September 2025 and that these reports would recommend that Options 4 and 5 are to be subject to further investigation to support the development of detailed proposals. (Reference: Presentation by Executive Director, Argyll and Bute Council and Director of People and Culture, NHS Highland, submitted) 5. CONSULTATION AND ENGAGEMENT SPECIFICATION The Short Life Working Group considered a verbal update from the Director of People and Culture, who advised that funding had been made available through the Scottish Government’s Invest to Save Fund to support the development of a SAM for Argyll and Bute. The group noted that officers from Argyll and Bute Council and NHS Highland had engaged on a proposal to allocate a portion of this funding to Commissioning Support for consultation and engagement and that a formal proposal would need to be drafted and cleared by the Council with Scottish Government. Decision The Short Life Working Group noted the information provided. (Reference: Verbal Update by Director of People and Culture, NHS Highland)