Agendas, reports and minutes

A meeting of the Resources Committee will take place in the Council Chamber, Council Headquarters, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness on Wednesday, 25 May 2016 at 10.30 am.

Webcast Notice: This meeting will be filmed and broadcast over the Internet on the Highland Council website and will be archived and available for viewing for 12 months thereafter.

You are invited to attend the meeting and a note of the business to be considered is attached.

Yours faithfully

Michelle Morris
Depute Chief Executive/
Director of Corporate Development

1. Apologies for Absence 
Leisgeulan

2. Declarations of Interest
Foillseachaidhean Com-pàirt

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.

3. Good News Stories
Naidheachdan Matha

A short presentation on Fair Trade will be undertaken at the meeting by Mr Hamish Wood.

The Committee is also invited to note that the Sutherland Participatory Budgeting event will take place in Lairg on Saturday 21 May 2016.

4. Appointments to Sub-Committees, Working Groups etc.
Cur an Dreuchd gu Fo-Chomataidhean, Buidhnean-obrach is eile

The Committee is invited to note that a representative from the SNP Group for the ICT Executive Board (Members) will be confirmed at the meeting.

DEVELOPMENT AND INFRASTRUCTURE
LEASACHADH AGUS BUN-STRUCTAIR

5. National Housing Trust Model 
Modail Urras Taigheadais Nàiseanta

There is circulated Report No RES/21/16 dated 12 May 2016 by the Director of Development and Infrastructure which provides an update on the progress of The Highland Council’s participation in the Scottish Government’s National Housing Trust (NHT) model and seeks approval to amalgamate three Limited Liability Partnerships (LLPs) which manage the housing into one LLP to simplify processes and ensure continued delivery of the NHT model in 2016/17 onwards.

The Committee is invited to approve the merging of three LLPs referred to in section 2.1 of this report into one LLP, subject to detailed considerations of the legal implications by the Head of Corporate Governance.

FINANCIAL MONITORING
SGRÙDADH IONMHASAIL

6. Corporate Revenue Near Final Monitoring Report for 2015/16 
Aithisg Sgrùdaidh Faisg air Deireannach a thaobh Teachd-a-steach Corporra airson 2015/16

There will follow Report No RES/22/16 by the Director of Finance which presents the financial position of the revenue budgets of the General Fund and Housing Revenue Account (HRA) for the period from 1 April 2015 to 31 March 2016.

The Committee is invited to approve the financial position of the General Fund and HRA revenue budgets as at 31 March 2016.

7. Corporate Capital Near Final Monitoring Report for 2015/16  
Aithisg Sgrùdaidh Faisg air Deireannach a thaobh Calpa Corporra airson 2015/16

There will follow Report No RES/23/16 by the Director of Finance which provides an overview of expenditure on the General Fund and Housing Revenue Account (HRA) capital programmes for the period from 1 April 2015 to 31 March 2016.

The Committee is invited to approve the financial position of the General Fund and HRA Capital Programmes as at 31 March 2016.

8. Major Capital Projects Monitoring Report 
Aithisg Sgrùdaidh Phròiseactan Mòra Calpa

There is circulated Report No RES/24/16 dated 16 May 2016 by the Director of Finance which provides a status update on all live capital projects with a total budget in excess of £4m. Reporting on all major capital projects to this Committee is intended to complement individual service reports to their respective service committees.

The Committee is invited to consider the:-

i.    status of the Council’s major capital projects as contained in Appendix 1 to the report;
ii.   governance structure now in place around the capital plan in accordance with the Council’s Project Management Governance Policy; and
iii.  factors that may necessitate a review of the capital plan within the coming year.

FINANCE SERVICE
SEIRBHEIS AN IONMHAIS

9. Voluntary Redundancy Scheme – Financial Implications 
Sgeama Call-dreuchd Saor-thoileach

There is circulated Report No RES/25/16 dated 17 May 2016 by the Director of Finance which updates the Committee on the results of the Voluntary Redundancy (VR) Scheme, highlighting near final numbers of staff accepting VR, the revenue budget implications and the financing of redundancy payments.

The Committee is invited to note and consider:-

i.    the staffing implications as identified in Section 2 of the report;
ii.   ongoing revenue savings of £10.86m arising from successful applications for voluntary redundancy, with initial savings of £9.57m in 2016/17;
iii.  that, once service specific savings are accounted for, that the general savings target from the Voluntary Redundancy Scheme of £5.9m will have been exceeded on a full year basis; 
iv.   the required use of balances of £13.4m to fund the lump sum cost of voluntary redundancies, but that, on average, this achieves a payback of 1.25 years; and
v.    the risk around the remaining level of reserves, and that this will be reviewed once the accounts are finalised for 2015/16.

10. Treasury Management Summary of Transactions 
Geàrr-chunntas Ghnothaichean Rianachd Ionmhais

There is circulated Report No RES/26/16 dated 20 April 2016 by the Director of Finance which provides details on the Treasury Management transactions undertaken within the period which is submitted to the Committee in compliance with CIPFA's Code of Practice on Treasury Management and the Council's approved Financial Regulations.

The Committee is invited to consider the Treasury Management Summary of Transactions reports.

11. Welfare Reform
Ath-leasachadh Shochairean

(a) Welfare Reform Update
Cunntas às Ùr mu Ath-leasachadh Shochairean

There is circulated Joint Report No RES/27/16 dated 11 May 2016 by the Director of Finance and the Director of Community Services which provides information on the current status of Universal Credit and other Welfare initiatives.  It also makes available financial monitoring information, covering the Council’s considerable involvement in this area of work.

The Committee is invited to:-

i. note the ongoing impact that Universal Credit is having on rent arrears;
ii. agree to continue to support the Trust Partner pilot with Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and note the increasing number of Alternative Payment Arrangements that have been implemented to support council tenants;
iii. agree to support the work being undertaken by the Council and DWP to assist the implementation of Universal Credit Full Service, initially in Inverness Job Centre;
iv. note the ongoing concerns regarding the affordability of temporary accommodation for those in receipt of Universal Credit;
v. note the changes to the National and Minimum Living Wage and be aware that the Council has implemented the Scottish Living Wage for all employees which provides a higher rate than the National rates; and
vi. note the management information and near final budget monitoring position for the Welfare Budget

(b) Digital Highland Project
Pròiseact Gàidhealtachd Dhidseatach

There is circulated Report No RES/28/16 dated 13 May 2016 by the Depute Chief Executive/Director of Corporate Development which provides an update on the Digital Highland Project, a project run by Citizens Online aimed at developing a sustainable approach to the delivery of digital skills training and support for residents in the Highlands.

The Committee is invited to note the progress of this project to date.

12. Capital Discretionary Fund 
Maoin Calpa fo Ùghdarras

(a) Criteria for Considering Applications
Slatan-tomhais airson Beachdachadh air Iarrtasan

There is circulated (pp 43-46) Report No RES/29/16 dated 12 May 2016 by the Director of Finance which seeks approval to establish a set of criteria by which all applications for financial support from the Capital Discretionary Fund can be considered by the Council.

The Committee is invited to consider and agree the key principles as outlined in Section 2 of the report.

(b) Application from Kyle of Sutherland Hub Ltd
Iarrtas bho Kyle of Sutherland Hub Ltd

There is circulated Report No RES/30/16 dated 13 May 2016 by the Director of Finance which outlines an application for funding of £50,000 from the Capital Discretional Fund for Kyle of Sutherland Hub Ltd.

The Committee is invited to consider the proposal.

13. Relocation of Grantown Library 
Gluasad Leabharlann Bhaile nan Granndach

There is circulated Report No RES/31/16 dated 13 May 2016 by the Director of Finance which seeks agreement to amend the Capital Plan to include expenditure to relocate the Grantown Library to the Courthouse. The cost of borrowing will be more than offset by savings on rental payments.

The Committee is invited to agree to:-

i.    adjust the Capital Plan to include expenditure of £0.165m to allow this project to proceed; and
ii.   vire the sum of £0.018m from the Care and Learning budget to the Loans Fund budget to fund the cost of borrowing as outlined in paragraphs 3.2 and 3.3 to the report.

14. Finance Service – Quarterly Performance Report 2015/16 
Seirbheis an Ionmhais – Aithisg Dèanadais Ràitheil 2015/16

There is circulated Report No RES/32/16 dated 12 May 2016 by the Director of Finance which provides a summary of key and statutory performance indicators for the Finance Service as at 31 March 2016.

The Committee is invited to note these statutory and key performance indicators.

CORPORATE DEVELOPMENT SERVICE
SEIRBHEIS AN LEASACHAIDH CHORPORRA

15. Transformational Savings Programme 
Prògram Shàbhalaidhean Cruth-atharrach

There is circulated Report No RES/33/16 dated 3 May 2016 by the Depute Chief Executive/Director of Corporate Development which explains that the Transformation Savings Programme (TSP) is progressing with a target to achieve £18.43m in efficiency savings for the period 2015/16 - 2018/19, as agreed by Council in December 2014.

The Committee is invited to note the progress with the delivery of the Transformational Savings Programme and the actions being taken to ensure savings are delivered.

16. Corporate Development – Annual Statutory Performance Indicators and Improvement Actions  (PP 90-98)
Leasachadh Corporra – Comharran Coileanaidh Reachdail Bliadhnail agus Gnìomhan Leasachaidh

There is circulated Report No. RES/34/16 dated 18 April 2016 by the Depute Chief Executive/Director of Corporate Development which provides analysis of the Corporate Development Service Statutory Performance indicators and improvement actions for the year 2014/15.

The Committee is invited note the performance in relation to sickness absence and equalities indicators.

17. ICT Services Performance Report October 2015 to March 2016 
Aithisg Coileanaidh Sheirbheisean ICT Dàmhair 2015 gu Màrt 2016

There is circulated Report No RES/35/16 dated 22 April 2016 by the Depute Chief Executive/Director of Corporate Development updates Members on the key achievements of the ICT Services Team and the delivery of services by the Council’s ICT providers, principally Fujitsu Services and Vodafone, for the period from October 2015 to March 2016.

The Committee is invited to note:-

i.    the content of the report and the positive outcomes being delivered from the contracts with Fujitsu, Vodafone and Capita; and
ii.   that robust contract management and governance arrangements continue to be applied and pursued by the Council to the Fujitsu, Vodafone and Capita contracts.

18. ICT Projects Update 
Cunntas as Ùr mu Phròiseactan ICT

There is circulated Report No RES/36/16 dated 22 April 2016 by the Depute Chief Executive/Director of Corporate Development which provides Members with an update of the status of current ICT projects as required by the Council’s Project Management Governance Policy.

The Committee is invited to note the report.

MINUTES OF MEETINGS
GEÀRR-CHUNNTAS CHOINNEAMHAN

19. Minutes of Meetings 
Geàrr-chunntasan Choinneamhan

There following Minutes of the Meetings are circulated for confirmation:-

i.    Employment Release Sub-Committee held on 2 March, 8 March, 24 March and 14 April 2016;
ii.   Appeals Committee held on 7 March and 14 April 2016;
iii.  Head of Service Recruitment Panel held on 9 March, 14 March, 25 April and 29 April 2016; and
iv.  Central Safety Committee held on 22 April 2016.

20. Exclusion of The Public
Às-dùnadh a’ Phobaill

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.

CORPORATE DEVELOPMENT SERVICE
SEIRBHEIS AN LEASACHAIDH CHORPORRA

21. ICT Executive Board: Minutes of Meeting 
Bòrd-gnìomha ICT: Geàrr-chunntas Coinneimh

There is circulated to Members only for approval, Minutes of Meeting of the ICT Executive Board (Members) held on 9 May 2016 .

22. Pathfinder North – Transition to Scottish Wide Area Network 
Pathfinder a Tuath – Gluasad gu Lìonra Sgìreil Thar-Alba

There is circulated to Members only Report No RES/37/16 dated 2 May 2016 by the Depute Chief Executive/Director of Corporate Development which provides an update on the current status of Pathfinder North (PfN) which is the six local authorities shared services partnership comprising of Argyll & Bute Council, Comhairle nan Eilean Sear, Highland Council, Moray Council, Orkney Islands Council and Angus Council, and its membership within the Scottish Wide Area Network Partnership (SWAN).

The Committee is invited to note the recommendations as set out in the report.

23. ICT Reprovision Programme Progress Report 
Aithisg Adhartais mu Ath-sholar Prògram ICT

There is circulated to Members only Report No RES/38/16 dated 9 May 2016 by the Depute Chief Executive/Director of Corporate Development which provides Members with a Progress Report for the ICT Reprovision Programme.

The Committee is invited to note the recommendations as set out in the report.

DEVELOPMENT AND INFRASTRUCTURE
LEASACHADH AGUS BUN-STRUCTAR

24. Land and Property Report  
Aithisg Fearainn agus Cuid-seilbh

There is circulated to Members only Report No RES/39/16 dated 10 May 2016 by the Director of Development and Infrastructure in respect of a number of land and property transactions.

The Committee is invited to agree the recommendations as set out in the report.