Meeting Details

Moray Council
17 Dec 2019 - 14:00 to 17:00
Occurred
  • Documents
  • Attendance
  • Visitors
  • Declarations of Interests

Documents

Agenda

Public Items
1 Sederunt
2 Declaration of Group Decisions and Members Interests *
3 Resolution

Consider, and if so decide, adopt the following resolution:

"That under Section 50A (4) and (5) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, as amended, the public and media representatives be excluded from the meeting for Items 7, 8 and 9 of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information of the class described in the relevant Paragraphs of Part 1 of Schedule 7A of the Act.”

 

2

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.

 

Paragraph Number of Minute

Paragraph Number of Schedule 7A and reason

7

11

Information relating to any consultations or negotiations in connection with any labour relations.

8

1

Information relating to staffing matters.

 

9

9

Information on terms proposed or to be proposed by or to the Authority.

Report by Depute Chief Executive (Economy, Environment and Finance)

 

4

A report by the Depute Chief Executive (Economy, Environment and Finance) informed the Council of proposals to replace the bridge between Lossiemouth and East Beach.

 

The report detailed the importance of having a bridge linking Lossiemouth to the East Beach to preserve the economy and amenity of the town however, as the Community did not wish to take ownership of the bridge after it had been replaced, the Council was asked to consider taking ownership of the bridge so that the project could go ahead.

 

Following an invitation from the Chair, Councillor Cowe provided the Council with a brief history of the Lossiemouth Footbridge which the Council has maintained until recently when ownership of the bridge was under dispute following the bridge having to be closed to preserve public safety.  He pointed out how many local businesses relied on the popularity of Lossiemouth as a tourist destination for their livelihood, particularly due to its 2 beaches and how closure of the bridge, being the main access to the East Beach, is having a devastating effect on the visitor numbers and the local economy.  He commended the work of the Lossiemouth Community Development Trust in raising funds that will be used for the options appraisal and thanked the Scottish Government for their commitment to provide funding for a replacement bridge.  He acknowledged that some members of the Council may not support the proposal given the current financial state of the Council however urged members to consider the future viability of Lossiemouth and support the recommendations.

 

The Council Leader also commended the efforts of the Lossiemouth Community in seeking support to replace the bridge and welcomed the commitment of funding from the Scottish Government to replace the bridge and encouraged the Council to support the project.

 

Following consideration, the Council agreed:

  1. in principle, that the Council will take ownership of the new or refurbished bridge on completion of construction, as this is a necessary precondition to the project progressing;

  2. to the Council providing staff resources to progress to option appraisal, phase 1 subject to tenders being within the existing funding package outlined in paragraph 3.5 of the report (bullet point 2); and

  3. to submit a report to Council on the outcome of the option appraisal, which will detail whether there is a viable option to progress to phase 2 (Design and Build) that can be fully funded by the Scottish Government.

 

Report by Depute Chief Executive (Education, Communities and Organisational Development)

 

5

Councillors R McLean and Taylor, having declared an interest in this item, left the meeting at this juncture and took no part in the discussion.

 

A report by the Depute Chief Executive (Education, Communities and Organisational Development) provided an update to the Council regarding Moray Leisure Centre's (MLC) progress and sought approval for an extension to their lease of the Moray Leisure Centre and Rainbow Castle Nursery.

 

During discussion, concern was raised that the Council was being asked to agree a further 10 year lease when a report on the future of Leisure Services in Moray would be considered in early 2020, and reassurance was sought that the Council was not at risk of being tied into an agreement which may need to change when the outcome of the leisure review is known.

 

In response, the Head of Governance, Strategy and Performance advised that Officers were recommending that Council agree the longer lease as this puts MLC in a stronger position when negotiating utility rates as more competitive rates are available to properties with longer leases and assured the Council that appropriate break clauses had been built into the agreement.  The Depute Chief Executive (Education, Communities and Organisational Development) further highlighted paragraph 4.4 in the report which stated that, as the Council has not yet resolved the future model for delivery of leisure services in Moray or the long-term aims and outcome requirements for the service, break options would be included in the lease extension to retain flexibility for a full range of service provision options to remain open until a decision is reached, including a Service Level Agreement with Moray Leisure Limited.

 

Councillor Alexander noted the financial benefits available to MLC should they be provided with a long term lease in terms of negotiating cheaper utilities and was of the view that this would help the organisation get to a point where the Council could reduce the amount of financial support given to MLC and moved that the Council agree the recommendations as printed within the report.  This was seconded by Councillor Leadbitter.

 

There being no-one otherwise minded, the Council agreed to:

  1. note the progress of Moray Leisure Centre over the past year;

  2. approve 10 year lease extensions and other variations of the existing leases (as set out in Section 4 of this report) of the Moray Leisure Centre and Rainbow Castle Nursery with Moray Leisure Limited; and

  3. note the arrangements to include an improved Service Level Agreement being in place by 30 June 2020.

 

Councillors R McLean and Taylor rejoined the meeting at this juncture.

 

Report by Chief Executive

 

6

A report by the Chief Executive informed the Council of the annual report of the Chief Social Work Officer on the statutory work undertaken on the Council's behalf during the period 1 April 2018 to 31 March 2019 inclusive.

 

Following consideration, the Council agreed to note the contents of the report.

 

Item(s) which the Committee may wish to consider with the Press and Public excluded

 

Declaration of Group Decisions and Members Interests
1

In terms of Standing Order 20 and the Councillors’ Code of Conduct, Councillors R McLean and Taylor declared an interest in item 5 “Moray Leisure Centre” being Council representatives on the Moray Leisure Centre Board of Directors. 

 

There were no other declarations of Member’s interests in respect of any item on the agenda or declarations from Group Leaders or Spokespersons in regard to any prior decisions taken on how Members will vote on any item on the agenda.

 

Withdrawal of Item 8 “Proposed Restructure of Property Services and Building Services (DLO)”
3

The Chair advised that item 8 ““Proposed Restructure of Property Services and Building Services (DLO)” has been removed from the agenda so that a full briefing can be provided to Members prior to consideration.

 

Private Items
7 Review of Moray's Leisure and Libraries Service Update [Para 11]
  • 11. Information relating to any consultations or negotiations in connection with any labour relations;
  1. Review of Moray's Leisure and Libraries Service Update Appendix 1
    • 11. Information relating to any consultations or negotiations in connection with any labour relations;
8 Proposed Restructure of Property Services and Building Services (DLO) [Para 1]
  • 1. Information relating to staffing matters;
  1. Proposed Restructure of Property Services and Building Services (DLO) - Appendix I
    • 1. Information relating to staffing matters;
  2. Proposed Restructure of Property Services and Building Services (DLO) - Appendix II
    • 1. Information relating to staffing matters;
  3. Proposed Restructure of Property Services and Building Services (DLO) - Appendix III
    • 1. Information relating to staffing matters;
  4. Proposed Restructure of Property Services and Building Services (DLO) - Appendix IV
    • 1. Information relating to staffing matters;
  5. Proposed Restructure of Property Services and Building Services (DLO) - Appendix V
    • 1. Information relating to staffing matters;
  6. Proposed Restructure of Property Services and Building Services (DLO) - Appendix VI
    • 1. Information relating to staffing matters;
  7. Proposed Restructure of Property Services and Building Services (DLO) - Appendix VII
    • 1. Information relating to staffing matters;
9 Coastal Communities Fund [Para 9]
  • 8 & 9. Information on proposed terms and/or expenditure to be incurred by the Authority;
  1. Coastal Communities Fund Appendix I
    • 8 & 9. Information on proposed terms and/or expenditure to be incurred by the Authority;
  2. Coastal Communities Fund Appendix II
    • 8 & 9. Information on proposed terms and/or expenditure to be incurred by the Authority;

Declarations of Interests

Member NameItem Ref.DetailsNature of DeclarationAction
No declarations of interest have been entered for this meeting.

Visitors

Chief Executive, Depute Chief Executive (Education, Communities and Organisational Development), Depute Chief Executive (Education, Communities and Organisational Development), Head of Environmental and Commercial Services, Head of Economic Growth and Development, Head of Governance, Strategy and Performance, Chief Financial Officer, Consultancy Manager, Acting Educational Resources Manager, Chief Social Work Officer and Mrs L Rowan, Committee Services Officer as Clerk to the Meeting.

 

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IV30 1BX

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committee.services@moray.gov.uk

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