Meeting Details

In terms of Standing Order 20 and the Councillors’ Code of Conduct, there were no declarations from Group Leaders or Spokespersons in regard to any prior decisions taken on how Members will vote on any item on the agenda or any declarations of Member’s interests in respect of any item on the agenda.

The meeting resolved that in terms of Section 50A (4) and (5) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, as amended, the public and media representatives be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the items of business appearing at the relevant paragraphs of this minute as specified below, so as to avoid disclosure of exempt information of the class described in the appropriate paragraphs of Part 1 of Schedule 7A of the Act.

The Committee noted that no written questions had been submitted.

A Notice of Motion was submitted by Councillor Laing, seconded by Councillor Morrison in the following terms:

"This Committee notes the issue of plastic pollution and the negative impact it has on the environment and welcomes that it is a concern of the public.

The Committee also notes the excellent work done by local groups to address the problem by carrying out litter picks and beach cleans.

This Committee asks officers to phase out the use of single use plastics unless no alternative can be found, in all council buildings, as soon as practically possible.

The Committee would like to congratulate local businesses who are already taking steps to do this and would encourage more to join them."

In response to terms of the Notice of Motion the Head of Direct Services advised that the Council has already made progress away from single use plastic by using alternative packaging for sandwich wedges, recyclable containers for pot lunch and salads, plastic cutlery is now only used when a dishwasher breaks down and paper drinking cups placed at drinking fountains.  He further advised that a set of questions could be developed challenging potential bidders to explain their use of, and policy on, single use plastics in appropriate tenders and evaluated.

He further advised that while officers will look at alternative market products from single use plastic and incorporate a SUP tendering evaluation, the definition of practicable in the motion must inevitably take account of any increased costs for sourcing alternative products. For example where a product is budget neutral and its application is appropriate then use of this will be phased in at the earliest opportunity.  Where additional expenditure would be required to make a change, however, given the current financial constraints, officers would suggest that this will be considered by the service only where any change can be accommodated within existing budgets or by accessing any available grant or other external funding streams.

During discussion Councillor Alexander asked if the wording of the motion at paragraph 3 could be amended to read that "officers be asked to continue their efforts to phase out the use of single use plastics etc...."   This was agreed.

Thereafter following further discussion the Committee agreed the terms of the motion as follows:

"This Committee asks officers to continue their efforts to phase out the use of single use plastics unless no other alternative can be found, in all council buildings, as soon as possible."; this approach also being as requiring to include the considerations outlined in the response by the Head of Direct Services.

Councillor Gatt joined the meeting at this juncture.

A report was submitted by the Corporate Director (Economic Development, Planning and Infrastructure) presenting the Annual Energy Report for 2017/18 and advising the Committee on actions to minimise the Council's energy consumption, as well as progress and developments on a number of energy issues.

Following consideration Committee agreed to note the terms of the 2017/18 Annual Report and that in 2017/18 the Council’s energy consumption in non-domestic operational properties increased by 7.4%, and the energy bill increased by 7.6% (£188,132).

A report was submitted by the Corporate Director (Corporate Services) providing the Committee with a progress report against commitments made in the partnership agreement with tsiMoray and to update the partnership agreement for 2018/19.

Following  consideration the Committee agreed to:

1. note the progress in relation to the partnership commitments made in 2016/17, and
   
   

2. approve the proposed partnership agreement for 2018/19.

A report was submitted by the Corporate Director (Economic Development, Planning and Infrastructure) informing the Committee of the changes to legislation in respect of the licensing of residential caravan sites and the timetable for implementing these changes.  The report also sought the Committee's agreement of the fees to be charged for handling a first site licence application and for a licence renewal as set out in Appendix 2 to the report.

Following consideration the Committee agreed:

1. to note that the Housing (Scotland) Act 2014 has made significant changes to the Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960 in respect of the licensing of residential caravan sites;
   

    

2. to note the changes to the licensing of residential caravan sites including the establishment of a fit and proper person test in respect of the applicant for a residential caravan site licence and any person involved with the day to day management of the site (including a site manager appointed by the site owner to manage the site);
   

    

3. to note that those who already hold a site licence issued under the previous licensing regime have to be licensed in terms of the new regime 1 May 2019; and

    

4. the fees to be charged for handling a first site licence application and for a licence renewal as set out in Appendix 2 of the report.
   
   

A report was submitted by the Corporate Director ( Corporate Services) inviting the Committee to approve the proposal to seek Living Wage Accreditation for the Council.

Following lengthy discussion, Councillor Morrison moved that the Committee approve the attainment of Living Wage accreditation providing Living Wage Employer status.  There being no-one otherwise minded this was agreed.

A report was submitted by the Corporate Director (Corporate Services) asking the Committee to consider the current pressures on the Human Resources (HR) service and seeking approval for provision of a scaled down workforce plan.

Following consideration the Committee agree to:

1.  note the current pressures on the HR Service;
   
   

2. approve the provision of a scaled down workforce plan, and
   
   

3. review the situation in 2019 as part of the annual workforce plan report.
   
   
   
   

A report was submitted by the Corporate Director (Corporate Services) inviting the Committee to consider an asset transfer request made under Part 5 of the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015 for a transfer of ownership of Marine Park, Lossiemouth.

Following consideration the Committee agree to:

1.  approve the request to transfer ownership of Marine Park to Action Marine Park at nil consideration subject to the terms set out in section 6 of the report, and
   
   
   

2. note that, if the asset transfer request is agreed, Action Marine Park will have 6 months from the date of the decision notice within which to submit a formal offer to purchase the property, failing which the agreement will have no further effect and the asset transfer process will come to an end.
   
   

A report was submitted by the Corporate Director (Corporate Services) inviting the Committee to consider an asset transfer request for a transfer of ownership of the Portknockie bowling green and tennis courts outwith the provisions of the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015.

Following consideration the Committee agreed to:

1. approve the request to transfer ownership of the Portknockie bowling green and tennis courts to Portknockie Bowling and Tennis Club at nil consideration subject to the terms set out in section 6 of the report, and
   
   

2. remit the matter to the Estates Manager and the Legal Services Manager (Property and Contracts) to complete the transfer of title.
   
   

A report was submitted by the Corporate Director (Corporate Services) advising the Committee of the expenditure to 30 September 2018 under the capital plan for financial year 2018/19 and of the estimates of projected expenditure profiled into quarters.

 Following consideration the Committee agreed to:

1. note expenditure to 30 September 2018 of £8,230,000;
   
   
2. note  the current projected expenditure of £25,561,000 for 2018/19 profiled into quarters;
   
   
3. note the projected overall expenditure for projects spanning more than one financial year, as set out in Appendix 2 of the report;
   
   
4. approve the proposed budget deferments of £8,685,000 arising from slippage and expenditure reprofiling from 2018/19 to 2019/20 and future years as detailed in paragraph 5.9 of the report;
   
   
5. approve reduction of the programme by £110,000 for the budget saving detailed in paragraph 5.6.2 of the report, and
   
   
6. approve that unscheduled work is undertaken in early course to repair storm damage at harbours.
   
   

A report was submitted by the Corporate Director (Corporate Services) advising the Committee of the revenue budget monitoring position to 30 September 2018 and of the current estimated out-turn for 2018/19.

Following consideration the Committee agreed to note:

1. the budget monitoring position of £410,000 over budget for 2018/19 as at 30 September 2018;
   
   
   
   
2. that this position consists of an underspend on Devolved School budgets of £552,000, an overspend on Social Care services delivered on behalf of the  Moray Integration Joint Board (MIJB) of £1,125,000 and an underspend on other services of £163,000;
   
   
   
   
3. movement of £102,000 in the General Revenue Grant, as detailed in paragraph 3.4 of the report;
   
   
   
   
4. the current estimated out-turn for 2018/19 of an overspend of £2,024,000 resulting in an increase of £2,024,000 in use of Council reserves;
   
   
   
   
   
5. emerging budget pressures as summarised in paragraph 6.2 of the report;
   
   
   
   
6. the position regarding MIJB as described in paragraph 6.11 of the report, with cost implications of £532,000 for the Council, and
   
   
   
   
7. further commitments of £5,678,000 against reserves as summarised in Section 8 of the report.
   
   

The Committee further approved the release from provisions to meet budget pressures of:

1. £123,000 as identified at paragraph 5.6 of the report in relation to children transitioning into adult social care;
   
   
   
   
2. £78,000 as identified at paragraph 6.2 of the report in relation to the withdrawal of WRVS deliver of meals on wheels, and
   
   
   
   
3. £30,000 as identified at paragraph 6.7 of the report in relation to the implementation of the introduction of a charge for recycling garden waste.
   
   
   
   
   
   

Councillor Alexander asked for clarification from the Chief Executive on what percentage of the Council’s procurement money is spent on buying food within Moray as there had been some discrepencies in what had been reported recently in the local media.

In response the Chief Executive advised that he had provided this information to the Convener and could make this available to all members.

The Chairman stated for clarification that this issue had arisen from a press release following an FOI request submitted by the Scottish Conservative Party to Scotland Excel which stated that 16% of food in our school canteens was from within Scotland.

Councillor Leadbitter advised that in response to the comments that were made Scotland Excel have stated that the claims were misleading given that the actual percentage of food sourced in Scotland for school meals is 64%.  He further advised that in Moray that figure is 44% of food sourced for school meals comes from local suppliers in and around Moray.