Printed minutes
Argyll and Bute Council · 16 May 2025
Back to Single Authority Model Short Life Working Group — 16 May 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 FRIDAY, 16 MAY 2025 Present: Councillor Jim Lynch (Chair) Councillor Dougie McFadzean Councillor Gary Mulvaney 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 1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE Apologies for absence were intimated on behalf of Councillors Yvonne McNeilly and Ross Moreland. 2. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST There were no declarations of interest intimated. 3. SINGLE AUTHORITY MODEL SLWG - TERMS OF REFERENCE The Short Life Working Group gave consideration to a report detailing the Terms of Reference of the Short Life Working Group as agreed by the Council at the meeting held on 24 April 2025. Decision The Short Life Working Group – 1. noted the detail of the Terms of Reference as set out at section 3.1 of the submitted report; and 2. noted that early engagement with NHS Highland was imperative and agreed that appropriate NHS Highland Non-executive Board Members and officers be invited to attend the next meeting. (Reference: Report by Chief Executive dated 1 May 2025, submitted) 4. A SINGLE AUTHORITY MODEL FOR ARGYLL AND BUTE - OVERVIEW OF KEY PRINCIPLES AND MODELS The Short Life Working Group gave consideration to a paper outlining the work undertaken thus far by Argyll and Bute Council to explore the possibility of a Single Authority Model for the area. Decision The Short Life Working Group –
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1. noted the content of the paper; 2. agreed that no Single Authority Model option would be dismissed prior to engagement with relevant partners; and 3. agreed that options 3 and 5, outlined within the submitted report, be identified as options for further exploration when engaging with partners. (Reference: A Single Authority Model for Argyll and Bute – Overview of Key Principles and Models dated 25 March 2025, submitted) 5. SINGLE AUTHORITY MODEL - UPDATE TO 24 APRIL COUNCIL The Short Life Working Group gave consideration to a report that had been presented to the Council at their meeting held on 24 April 2025 providing an overview of the activity that had taken place to date in relation to the development of alternative governance arrangements such as a Single Authority Model for Argyll and Bute. Decision The Short Life Working Group noted the content of the submitted report. (Reference: Report by Chief Executive dated 25 March 2025, submitted) 6. ASSESSMENT OF OPTIONS - KEY PRINCIPLES / CRITERIA The Short Life Working Group gave consideration to a report proposing a set of guiding principles / criteria, based on the anticipated outcomes and benefits of a single authority model, which could be used to assess the main five single authority model options identified so far for Argyll and Bute. Decision The Short Life Working Group – 1. agreed, subject to inclusion of better strategic outcomes and benefits for people and communities, the proposed assessment criteria detailed at section 3.2 of the submitted report as a basis on which to evaluate the options identified to date; and 2. agreed that officers prepare a report for the next meeting of the Short Life Working Group, detailing the outcome of the appraisal exercise, including a proposed recommendation for Council to consider at their meeting on 26 June 2025. (Reference: Report by Chief Executive dated 1 May 2025, submitted)