A meeting of the Resources Committee will take place in the Council Chamber, Council Headquarters, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness on Wednesday, 11 June, 2008 at 10.30am.
You are invited to attend the meeting and a note of the business to be considered is attached.
Yours faithfully,
Alistair B Dodds
Chief Executive
Declarations of Interest – Members are asked to consider whether they have an interest to declare in relation to any item on the agenda for this meeting. Any Member making a declaration of interest should indicate whether it is a financial or non-financial interest and include some information on the nature of the interest. Advice may be sought from Officers prior to the meeting taking place.
1. Apologies for Absence
2. Successes
Charter Mark Standard – Customer Service
The Highland Council has been awarded the Charter Mark Standard for excellence in customer service delivery for its network of 37 Service Points and its Service Centre at Alness. After first achieving Charter Mark status in 1999, this is the fifth time that the Cabinet Office has presented the Council with this UK Government award which recognises top quality service delivery.
The Council’s Service Centre at Alness handles on average 6,000 to 6,400 telephone calls each week from the public. Last year 299,188 calls were dealt with and 98% of customers surveyed said they were satisfied with a further 97% saying that they were very or extremely satisfied with the service.
Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy
Jennifer McGonagle joined the Council in November 2004, having completed a Business Studies degree at Robert Gordon’s. In the last three years with the Finance Service, Jennifer has had the opportunity to work in and experience most sections of the Service. Importantly though while gaining that experience she was also sitting and passing her professional exams. Jennifer has now completed the final part of her course and has qualified as a Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy accountant.
3. Central Services Revenue Budget Monitoring
There is circulated Reports by the Chief Executive and Director of Finance which provides the Revenue Budget Monitoring Statements for Central Services for the period to 30 April, 2008.
i. Chief Executive’s Service Report No. res-48-08
ii. Finance Service – Report No. res-49-08
The Committee is asked to note the terms of the reports as circulated.
4. Corporate Revenue Monitoring Statement – Period to End April, 2008
There is circulated Report No. res-50-08 dated 30 May, 2008 by the Director of Finance which presents the revenue budget monitoring position for the period to 30 April, 2008 and the projected year end position.
The Committee is invited to agree the revenue expenditure monitoring statement for financial year 2008/09 at 30 April, 2008.
5. Near Final Revenue Monitoring Report
There is circulated Report No. res-51-08 dated 2 June, 2008 by the Director of Finance which presents the Near Final Revenue Monitoring Statement for the period to 31 March, 2008.
Members are asked to agree the near final outturn position for 2007/08 and an under spend of £2.766m.
6. Capital Monitoring Near Final Outturn 2007/08
There is circulated Report No. res-52-08 dated 2 June, 2008 by the Director of Finance which provides an overview of the General Fund and HRA capital programmes for the year to 31 March, 2008.
Members are asked to agree the financial position on the General Fund and HRA capital programmes as at 31 March, 2008.
7. Property Revenue Maintenance Budget 2008/09
There is circulated Report No. res-53-08 dated 22 May, 2008 by the Director of Housing and Property which sets out the current position with regard to the component parts of the 2008/09 Property Revenue Maintenance Budget.
Members are asked to note the current position with regard to progress with the 2008/09 Property Revenue Maintenance Budget.
8. Property Capital Monitoring Statement
There is circulated Report No. res-54-08 dated 29 May, 2008 by the Director of Housing and Property which sets out the current position with regard to the 2008/09 Property Capital Programme.
Members are asked to note:
i. the current position with regard to budget allocation and progress with the
2008/09 Property capital programme.
ii. Approve the commencement of investigative works for preparation of the
2009/10 Strategic Asset Management programme; and
iii. Approve the allocation of the Energy Management Budget to the projects
identified in Table 1, paragraph 6.2 of the report.
9. Treasury Management: Summary of Transactions
There is circulated Report No. res-55-08 dated 19 May, 2008 by the Director of Finance which provides details of the Treasury Management transactions undertaken for March and April, 2008 which are submitted in compliance with CIPFA’s Code of Practice on Treasury Management and the Council’s approved Financial Regulations.
The Committee is invited to note the terms of the report.
10. Service Plans 2007-11
i. Chief Executive’s Service – Service Plan
There is circulated Report No. res-56-08 dated 19 May 2008 by the Chief Executive which presents a revised and updated Chief Executive’s Service Plan for the period 2007-2011. A copy of the Service Plan is circulated separately in Booklet A (Chief Executives).
The committee is asked to:
a) comment on the draft Service Plan and agree any amendments required;
b) agree to delegate finalisation of the Service Plan, subsequent to outcome
of the Strategic Environmental Assessment, in consultation with the
Chairman of the Resources Committee; and
c) note that, when approved, the refreshed and updated Service Plan for
2008/09 onwards will become subject to a review of progress in autumn
2008.
ii. Finance Service – Service Plan
There is circulated Report No. res-57-08 dated 20 May 2008 by the Depute Chief Executive and Director of Finance which presents a revised and updated Finance Service Plan for the period 2007-2011. A copy of the Service Plan is circulated separately in Booklet A (Finance).
The committee is asked to approve the updated Finance Service Plan 2007-2011.
11. Healthy Living Centres
There is circulated Report No. res-58-08 dated 3 June, 2008 by the Director of Education, Culture & Sport which updates Members on the funding issues relating to Healthy Living Centres. Members are asked to consider two options and agree a way forward.
The Committee is asked to agree:
i. Option 2 as the way forward. This is to withdraw both lottery applications
and submit a new bid under a single banner and which includes the Janny’s
Hoose as one of delivery centres;
ii. That an independent review of both Janny’s Hoose and Healthways should
be commissioned to inform future decisions should these be required; and
iii. Officers continue to explore Healthy Living Centres funding with NHS
Highland.
12. Suicide Prevention Funding
(Programme for the Administration; Care in the Community “With our Community Planning Partners we will give a high priority to health improvement in the Highlands and will focus on combating drug and alcohol misuse, improving healthy eating and increasing the opportunities for people to stop smoking and take exercise”.)
There is circulated Joint Report No. res-59-08 dated 26 May, 2008 by the Head of Policy and Performance and Dr Cameron Stark, Consultant in Public Health NHS Highland, which provides contextual information on suicide rates in the Highlands, changes to funding arrangements and proposals for allocating funding.
Members are asked to agree:
i. Funding for partnership training at £35,000 in year 2008/09 reducing to
£24,500 for years 2 and 3 to meet the Single Outcome Agreement targets
for training and in accordance with the training plan appended to the report;
ii. Funding of £5,000 for 2008/09 reducing to £500 in years 2 and 3 for
website maintenance;
iii. An annual allocation of £30,000 reducing to £20,000 in years 2 and 3 for
funding small grants to voluntary organisations, with delegated authority as
set out in paragraph 4.3 for 2008-9 pending the review of the process for
grants to the voluntary sector;
iv. Retaining £35,000 in 2008/09 reducing to £25,000 in years 2 and 3 for the
Council’s use in supporting mental wellbeing activities;
v. A mid year review of performance and spending with flexibility to adjust
spending across the categories to ensure the suicide prevention targets are
met;
vi. The offer to Elected Members to participate in a Suicide Talk awareness
raising session (this could follow a future Resources Committee meeting).
13. Local Government Pension Scheme Amendment to Admission Scheme
There is circulated Report No. res-60-08 dated 15 May, 2008 by the Director of Finance which invites Members to agree a change to Admission Agreements currently in place for Highlands and Islands Enterprise Careers Scotland, Highland Careers Service and Western Isles Careers following a restructure of these organisation.
Members are asked to agree to one new Careers/Scottish Development Skills Admission Agreement from 1 April, 2008 and to cease all existing Careers Scotland Admission Agreements with effect from 31 March, 2008.
14. Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions - Common Agricultural
Policy Health Check Meeting
(Programme for the Administration: Corporate Objectives: “We will work to secure the maximum benefit for the Highlands from European Funding”)
There is circulated Report No. res-61-08 dated 22 May, 2008 by the Corporate Manager (Ross, Skye & Lochaber) which summarises the involvement of the Council in the recent meeting of the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions (CPMR). This is in support of the Programme for Administration Objective that we will “work to secure the maximum benefit for the Highlands from European funding”.
Members are asked to agree that:
i. The Council commits to full engagement (via the European Team) with
CPMR Health Check sub-groups, focussing primarily on the Regional
Governance and Disadvantaged Areas sub groups;
ii. Reports from the work of these sub-groups be brought to future meetings
of the Resources Committee; and
iii. Cross-Service working should characterise the Council’s involvement with the
CPMR on these important policy themes.
15. European Union Funding: Update on Developments
(Programme for the Administration: Corporate Objectives: “We will work through the Highlands and Islands European Partnership and the Scottish Government to secure the maximum benefit for the Highlands from European funding programmes for the region and play a full part in key European organisations”.)
There is circulated Report No. res-62-08 dated 26 May, 2008 by the Head of Policy and Performance which provides an update on recent developments in European funding programmes.
Members are asked to note the outcome of Round 1 submissions for Structural Funds and to note that various briefings will be carried out by the European Unit to encourage bids to be made for future Rounds. Members are asked to agree for a briefing on EU funding programmes and networks to be arranged for them to follow a future Resources Committee meeting in 2008.
For the delivery of the Leader programme Members are asked to agree:
i. With the partners on the draft operating guidelines attached at Appendix 2
of the report;
ii. With the partners on the formula for the area allocations to eligible areas
(based on 2/3 population and 1/3 area by ward, with wards combining
where appropriate);
iii. In consultation with partners an indicative allocation announced for areas up
to the £5m as shown in Appendix 3 to enable the launch of the programme
and the shadow round for this year;
iv. A further report is brought back to this Committee to consider the
proposed full area allocation along with allocations for strategic, trans
national / regional projects and administration costs once all partners are
aware of the final Highland award and grant conditions and have identified
their match funding availability;
v. Members participate in local community development groups, with
implementation of projects reported also through Ward Business meetings
and Ward reports (facilitated by the Ward Manager);
vi. An annual financial report is brought to Resources Committee.
Members are also asked to note the developments with the European Fisheries Fund and the INTERREG programme, which are likely to be subject to future reports.
16. Equal Opportunities Update
(Programme for the Administration states that it places “equality and fairness at the centre of the way it conducts business”)
There is circulated Report No. res-63-08 dated 26 May, 2008 by the Head of Policy and Performance which updates Members on the Council’s progress in meeting its statutory public sector equality duties.
Members are asked to consider and approve Appendix 3 of the report as the current progress report against the Council’s equalities schemes. This will be highlighted on the Council’s website as the most recent update on progress thus fulfilling the Council’s reporting duties.
17. Local Income Tax Consultation
There is circulated Report No. res-64-08 dated 15 May, 2008 by the Director of Finance which provides Members with an opportunity to discuss the Council’s response to the Scottish Government’s Local Income Tax Consultation.
Members are asked to:
i. consider whether the key principles set out at paragraph 2.1 in the report
are reasonable ones against which any taxation system can be assessed;
and thereafter
ii. agree the Draft Consultation Responses attached to this paper.
18. Fujitsu: Performance Report
There is circulated Report No. res-65-08 dated 26 May, 2008 by the Information Systems Client Manager which summarises the performance of the Information and Communication Systems Partnership agreement with Fujitsu Services during the period March and April, 2008.
The Committee is asked to note the contents of the report.
19. Pathfinder North Progress Update Report
There is circulated Report No. res-66-08 dated 20 May, 2008 by the Head of E-Government which provides an update on the progress of the Pathfinder North Broadband Project which will provide high capacity broadband links to schools, libraries and other Council buildings throughout the Highlands and Islands.
Members are asked to note the actions taken, and the progress , in relation to the Project to date.
20. Asset Management
There is circulated Report No. res-67-08 dated 2 June, 2008 by the Director of Housing and Property which provides an update on asset management planning in Highland Council and introduces proposals for rationalising assets and prioritising capital investment.
Members are asked to note the progress being made on asset management and the links between this work, asset rationalisation and capital planning.
21. Minutes of Meetings
The following Minutes of Meetings are circulated for confirmation:-
i. Early Retirement Sub-committe of 16 April 2008;
ii. Appointment Panel of 1 May 2008;
iii. Appeals Committee of 9 May 2008;
iv. Investment Advisory Group of 23 May 2008;
v. IT Procurement Working Group of 22 May 2008;
vi. Modernising Employment Sub-committee of 23 May 2008.
22. Amendments to Organisational Structures/Establishments
There is circulated Report No. res-68-08 dated 2 June, 2008 by the Assistant Chief Executive which recommends amendments to organisational structures/establishments as a consequence of proposals from Service Directors.
Members are asked to:
i. Agree the amendments to the staffing establishment and other staffing
changes as detailed in Section 2 and Appendix 1 to the report; and
ii. Note the trends shown in Appendix 2 of the report.
23. Property Disposals Requiring Scottish Ministers’ Consent
There is circulated Report No. res-69-08 dated 29 May, 2008 by the Director of Housing and Property which invites Members to approve a property disposal at below market value, subject to receipt of Scottish Ministers consent.
Members are invited to approve the disposal of the following property interests at below market value, subject to other terms and conditions to be agreed by the Director of Housing and Property in consultation with owning Services:
• the Council sells the subjects at Embo Community Centre to the Embo Community Centre Association on sub-market value terms subject to the Director of Housing and Property receiving consent for this transaction from the Scottish Ministers under Section 74(2) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973.
24. Wick Office Rationalisation
There is circulated Joint Report No. res-70-08 dated 27 May, 2008 by the Director of Housing and Property and Corporate Manager (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) which proposes a change in the approach to office rationalisation in Wick and seeks the Committee’s approval to develop detailed design and cost proposals.
Members are asked to:
i. Approve the new approach to the rationalisation of offices in Wick;
ii. Authorise the Corporate Manager (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross)
to establish a Project Team to take forward the actions set out in
paragraphs 4.1 and 4.2 of the report; and
iii. Note that a detailed report on project design, cost and timetable will come
forward to a future Committee.
25. Exclusion of The Public
The Committee is asked to resolve that, under Section 50A(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, the public be excluded from the meeting during discussion of the following items on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 6 and 9 of Part 1 of Schedule 7A of the Act.
26. Property Transactions Monitoring Report
There is circulated to Members only Report No. RES/71/08 dated 2 June, 2008 by the Director of Housing and Property which advises on sales targeted for completion within the financial year 2008/09 and summarises progress together with details of the Property Account property transactions approved by the Head of Housing Development and Estates.
The Committee is invited to note progress on property sales with anticipated settlement within financial year 2008/09 and the Property Account transactions approved by the Head of Housing Development and Estates.