Agenda and minutes

In the absence of the Chair and Vice Chair, Councillor Douglas Philand was nominated to Chair the meeting.

The Chair advised that there had been a technical issue with the video conferencing equipment and that the Group would be unable to link up with Campbeltown, Islay, Colonsay and Jura.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Donald Kelly, Councillor Anne Horn, Councillor John MacAlpine, Councillor Rory Colville, Councillor Donald MacMillan, Councillor John Semple, Stuart Irvine, Bob Chicken and Susan Paterson.

The Group received an informative presentation from the Executive Director of Community Services, Cleland Sneddon, on the Council’s Budget for 2013/14 advising that the Council would be taking a longer term approach to budgeting over a 7 year period.  This would be approached by a detailed one year budget followed by a 2 year summary budget followed by a 4 year high level budget.  He advised of the funding gap and previously agreed savings but advised that currently the Council was looking at prioritising its budget rather than making savings.  An overview of the budget was given, service by service.  The Group were then presented with some consultation questions and were given the opportunity to comment.

Decision

1.      Noted the comments by the Group which would be taken into account as part of the budget consultation process.

2.      Noted that copies of the presentation would be circulated to all partners for information.

(Reference: Argyll and Bute Budget Consultation presentation by Executive Director of Community Services)

The Group were given an informative presentation by the IOD Project Officer, Chris Carr advising that the current Community Plan and Single Outcome Agreement were due for revision and that they were looking to roll out a 3 year plan.  Her presentation updated the Group on the outcomes of the Strategic Needs Assessment carried out in December 2012.  She advised that a feedback report from the consultation had been prepared and that draft outcomes for the Plan would be considered by the Community Planning Management Committee in February with a draft Community Plan going to the Full Partnership in March.  Once finalised the Plan would be submitted to the Scottish Government.

Decision

1.      Noted the comments by the Group which would be taken into account as part of the Community Plan consultation process.

2.      Noted that copies of the presentation would be circulated to all partners for information.

(Reference: Community Plan Consultation Presentation by IOD Project Officer)