Agenda and minutes

The Provost convened and adjourned the meeting at 1.30pm and reconvened at 2.00pm.

The Provost announced that Carl Olivarius, Road Safety Training Officer was retiring after 39 years of service to Argyll and Bute Council. He thanked Carl on behalf of the Council for his outstanding service and presented him with a quaich to mark his retirement.

The Spokesperson for Transportation also announced that the Road Safety Section had won a major national award for their innovative interactive project to make cycling theory fun for primary pupils. He congratulated the team on receiving the award on behalf of the Council.

The Provost accepted from Councillor Macdonald a Certificate of Appreciation which had been presented to Argyll and Bute Council for hosting the Scottish Accident Prevention Council Home Safety Committee.

The Director of Corporate Services advised that in terms of Standing Order 14 the following Notice of Motion by Councillor Currie, seconded by Councillor McNaughton had been received for consideration as a matter of urgency at this meeting:-

“That Argyll and Bute Council resolves to contact the Bank of Scotland as a matter of urgency regarding proposals to remove Business Banking Advisers from remote and rural branches in Argyll and Bute, recognising that any such removal will have a detrimental effect on small businesses in those communities, with a subsequent negative impact on already fragile economies, and that the Council requests that any such proposals be urgently re-considered in light of these expressed concerns.”

The Provost ruled that the motion be considered as a matter of urgency by reason of the need for the Council to consider whether it wished to make urgent representations.

The Council agreed to consider the motion and this is dealt with at Item 11 of these Minutes.

Apologies for absence were intimated from Councillors McQueen and Robb.

There were no declarations of interest intimated.

Argyll and Bute Council 1 October 2009

The Council approved the Minutes of the Council Meeting of 1 October 2009 as a correct record.

Report by Head of Strategic Finance

The external auditors, Grant Thornton UK LLP, had completed their audit of the Council’s accounts for the year to 31 March 2009. The Audited Accounts and External Audit Report to Members were submitted for consideration together with the Audit Certificate which the Council were asked to note contained no qualifications. The Council formally recorded their appreciation of the work undertaken by the Head of Strategic Finance and his team.

Following the presentation of the accounts by the Head of Strategic Finance, the Chief Executive spoke about the Best Value Audit Progress report from the external auditors which she had sent to Members the previous day, and more generally about progress which had been made to improve processes within the Council over the past year.

Decision

The Council:

1) Noted the audited accounts, the terms of the audit certificate the external audit report;

2) Noted that the Audit Committee would monitor the action plans agreed in response to individual audit reports issued during the year;

3) Noted the terms of the report from the Chief Executive which set out a summary of the key findings of the best value audit report;

4) Noted that copies of the full report had been provided to members by the Chief Executive and specifically:-

a) Noted that the Council had responded positively to address the areas for improvement identified in Audit Scotland’s recent best value report and has made good progress in implementing the Improvement Plan following the appointment of the new Chief Executive.

b) Endorsed that the Chief Executive had implemented a strategy which has resulted in significant improvements in the Council’s best value arrangements and had increased the pace of change and reform to meet best value expectations.

c) Recognised that it needs to continue with the current pace of change and to ensure improvements in performance and strategic management lead to real and measurable improvement in service delivery, and noted the external auditors were satisfied that officers and Elected Members understood the scale of this challenge.

d) Noted the view of the external auditors that the Council’s prospects for future improvement is good.

e) Commended the overall assessment that the Council had made good progress and put on record its thanks to all Elected Members and officers who had worked hard throughout the year to achieve this improvement.

(Ref: Report by the Head of Strategic Finance dated 5 November 2009, 2008/2009 Annual Accounts and Audit Certificate, submitted)

The Community Plan 2009-2013

The Council considered a report which advised of the background to and the processes involved in developing the new Community Plan for 2009-2013. The Council was asked to approve the Community Plan and to publish it widely, as the agreed Community Plan for Argyll and Bute. Some particular issues, including discussion at the meeting of the Economy Thematic Community Planning Partnership Group held the previous day were referred to which would be taken account of in finalising the wording.

Decision

The Council:-

1. Adopted the Argyll and Bute Community Plan 2009-2013.

2. Approved the priorities outlined for the 4 year lifespan of the Plan.

3. Noted the background to and processes involved in developing the Plan.

(Ref: Report by Head of Improvement and Strategic HR dated 26 November 2009 and Community Plan 2009-2013, submitted)

Report by Chief Executive

In terms of Standing Order 11.10 the Leader of the SNP Group gave notice that the Group whip had been applied to Members of the Group to vote to approve the recommendations contained in the report by the Chief Executive which the Council considered at this item.

The Council considered the report by the Chief Executive which contained proposals to modernise the management arrangements of the Council and which sought approval for a number of specific future steps and outcomes that arise from these changes.

Decision

The Council

(1) noted the terms of the report by the Chief Executive and as arising there from agreed to:-

a) Phase 1 of the modernisation programme, the revised structure of the Council’s Strategic Management Team made up of 3 Directors and the Head of Strategic Finance with a report being provided to the Council’s Executive on Directors’ executive designations and remits

b) Phase 2, the 12 outline Heads of Service posts as described in the Chief Executive’s report

(2) noted the assessment process will consist of a number of elements outlined in the report which will collectively give us comfort that we have the competencies, behaviours and attitudes that the organisation wants and needs to take us on the next stage of our improvement journey

(3) delegated authority to the Chief Executive to implement the revised structure subject to the costs being recovered within a 3 year period

(4) delegated authority to the Chief Executive to agree final designations and remits of Executive Directors and Heads of Service as appropriate; and

(5) established an Appointments Panel for all of the posts detailed in the report and appointed Councillor Walsh (as chair) and Councillors Robert Macintyre, Duncan MacIntyre, Ellen Morton, John Semple, and Gary Mulvaney to be members of the Panel, with the provision that in the event that any member was unable to attend, the relevant Group Leader may appoint a substitute to be advised in advance of any meeting.

(Ref: Report by Chief Executive dated 18 November 2009, submitted)

Report by Director of Corporate Services

In terms of Standing Order 11.10 the Leader of the SNP Group gave notice that the Group whip had been applied to Members of the Group to vote to approve the recommendations contained in the report by the Head of ICT and Financial Services which the Council considered at this item.

The Council considered the report which sought approval to hold a Special Council Meeting on Tuesday 22 December 2009 to consider the detailed design for Customer Management and Workforce Deployment projects within the Process for Change Programme.

Decision

1. Noted the arrangements for a Council Business Day and Special Council Meeting on 22 December 2009 to present the detailed design reports for the Customer Management and Workforce Deployment projects.

2. Agreed that papers seeking approval on proceeding to implementation for the Process for Change Programme be submitted to a Council Meeting to be held on 22 December 2009.

(Ref: Report by Head of ICT and Financial Services dated 19 November 2009, submitted)

Recommendation by the Executive 19 November 2009

The Council considered a report which presented the Proposed Final Loch Fyne Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) Plan to be adopted as supplementary planning guidance. The Executive had recommended that the Council consider and approve the Plan as supplementary planning guidance.

Decision

1. Approved the Proposed Final ICZM plan in light of the Consultation Report, feedback from public stakeholder meetings and recommendations from the Bute and Cowal and Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands Area Committees, and

2. Adopted the proposed Final Loch Fyne ICZM plan as supplementary planning guidance.

(Ref: Report by Director of Development Services dated 26 November 2009 and Extract from Executive, submitted)

The following question had been submitted under Standing Order 15 for answer by the Transportation Spokesperson:-

By Councillor Nisbet

“The recently published Arbuthnott Report has identified that significant benefits could be gained by eight West of Scotland authorities creating a single roads service. Has this authority had any discussions on the possibility of being part of that grouping and, if that is not deemed to be practicable, what alternative grouping could be considered.”

Answer

The review undertaken by Sir John Arbuthnott involved eight Local Authorities in the Clyde Valley Area (West and East Dunbartonshire; North and South Lanarkshire; Renfrewshire; East Renfrewshire; Glasgow and Inverclyde).  He suggested a number of options to improve service provision and this did include the possibility a shared roads maintenance service for these eight Local Authorities.

This Local Authority was not part of this review but clearly if benefits can arise from integrated service delivery then they must be looked at.

The Head of Roads & Amenity Services in his capacity in SCOTS (Society of Chief Officers of Transportation in Scotland) is already involved in reviewing service delivery models/options throughout Scotland and clearly the work undertaken by Sir John Arbuthnott will now be included in this work.  This review work is being reported to SCOTS in the spring of 2010, and the results will also be reported to the relevant Council Committees thereafter.

From an Argyll and Bute Council perspective, it is important that the correct service delivery model is provided to ensure that all our customers get the best possible deal.  All options will be considered during this work including single Local Authority service delivery; inter-Local Authority partnerships; private sector involvement.

In terms of Standing Order 14 the following Notice of Motion had been received for consideration as a matter of urgency at this meeting.

Motion

That Argyll and Bute Council resolves to contact the Bank of Scotland as a matter of urgency regarding proposals to remove Business Banking Advisers from remote and rural branches in Argyll and Bute, recognising that any such removal will have a detrimental effect on small businesses in those communities, with a subsequent negative impact on already fragile economies, and that the Council requests that any such proposals be urgently re-considered in light of these expressed concerns.

Moved by Councillor Robin Currie, seconded by Councillor Alex McNaughton

Decision

The Council resolved in terms of the Motion.