Meeting Details

In terms of Standing Order 20 and the Councillors’ Code of Conduct, Councillor Leadbitter on behalf of the SNP Group declared that the SNP Group had discussed Item 7 - "Financial Planning" on the agenda. Councillors Eagle and Alexander on behalf of the Conservative and Councillors Open Groups respectively also declared that their respective Groups had discussed Item 7. The Meeting noted that there were no further 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 Council 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 paragraph 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.

A report was submitted by the Corporate Director (Corporate Services) updating the Council on progress in the development of the Improvement and Modernisation (I&M) programme and seeking homologation and agreement on how to progress the work, including allocation of resources to initiate and advance projects.

Prior to discussion of this item a copy of revised recommendations 2.2 (i) – (iii) were circulated as follows:

“2.2 In order to progress the finidngs of the i-ESE diagnostic in relation to the 3 main areas of work , it is recommended that the Council agrees the following:

1. Customer Services: Change to an enabling model of customer services, supported by accelerated and widely applied digital solutions and that this is incorporated into the I&M programme with support secured from i-ESE to be considered further once a proposal is received;

2. Children’s Services: reviews to proceed as specified in the I&M programme, including the development of technology to support changes in service delivery and new ways of working with further consideration to be given to external support (including from i-ESE) for the work required to deliver change and reported back to the council once proposals are further developed;

3. Leisure and Libraries:  it is recommended that the Council provides direction in respect of the re-consideration of Leisure Review and consideration of options for Libraries”

Councillor Leadbitter stated that a considerable amount of work had gone into producing the report which included a number of discussion with both Group Leaders and a variety of briefings to Councillors and it was clear to him that this is the way forward to avoid having to go through another vey difficult budget process in the future and the Council need to progress a variety of strategic projects in a bid to change how the Council delivers its services.  In regard to the recommendations he proposed to amend recommendation 2.2 (iii) to read “ Leisure and Libraries Service: Reviews to proceed to profile customer demand, assess commercialisation options, future service models and consider alternative ways of working with the understanding that the closure of swimming pools is unlikely to have strong political support.

Councillor Warren in referring to the I&M Programme Stream 7: Transforming Education stated that the Administration Group’s main priority is education and getting it right for every child. She further stated that the learning experience of educational attainment of young people is vitally important and it is curitcial to look at the quality and consistency of eduction in entirety and that the first bullet point should focus on educational attainment and outcomes and moved that this be included under Stream 7.  There being no one otherwise minded this was agreed.

Councillor Alexander sought further clarification in regard to the changes that had been circulated.

In response the Corporate Director (Corporate Services) advised that it had been hoped to have had discussions with i-ESE in advance of this meeting to firm up on the proposals that they could offer in relation to the three areas where they had undertaken some work and identified some potential projects. Unfortunately those discussions had not progressed as far as had been hoped and there was not a proposal from them in relation to Customer Services and there was not an updated proposal in relation to Children’s Services. She further advised that in light of the foregoing did not consider it appropriate to ask for agreement to proceed with that work until it was fully defined and costed and why it was suggested that the recommendations altered to allow that work to progress before a final decision is taken.

During further discussion Councillor Gatt sought clarification in regard to recommendation 2.4 (ii) relating to the remit of the Transformation Boards as it was his understanding that they were advisory bodies and would make recommendation to committee and they were not in his opinion the correct body for approving anything.

In response the Chief Executive advised that Transformation Board is part of the Council's policy in terms of project management and the recommendation is in accordance with that policy.

Councillor Gatt stated that he did not accept what the Chief Executive had advised and asked if the word ‘approval’ could be removed and leave the word ‘monitoring’.

Following further discussion on this issue during which Councillor Gatt stated that it would be useful for the recommendation to be made clearer, the Chief Executive advised that, in consultation with the Head of Legal and Democratic Services and Councillor Gatt, would amend the wording in order to clarify more fully the role of the Boards and that of the committees.

Following lengthy discussion clarification was sought in regard to which version of the recommendations 2.2 (i) – (iii) were being considered for  approval and it was noted that it was the amended version of the recommendations as circulated at the meeting.

Councillor Feaver, in referring to the clarification sought by Councillor Gatt regarding the role of the Transformation Boards and that of the committees, asked that this clarification be provided prior to consideration of recommendation 2.4 (ii). This was agreed and thereafter the Chief Executive advised the amended wording of recommendation 2.4 (ii) as "that this is reported to the relevant Transformation Boards for approval and monitoring within the remits agreed by Council".

Following clarification sought by the Clerk, it was noted in terms of Recommendation 2.2 (iii), the motion proposed by Councillor Leadbitter at the beginning of the debate on this item, that this was seconded by Councillor Coy.

The Chair stated that the recommendations should now be considered in order.

Thereafter the Council agreed recommendations 2.1, 2.2 (i)–(iii), 2.3 and 2,4 (i)–(iii) as follows:

Following consideration the Council agreed:

A report was submitted by the Corporate Director (Economic Development, Planning and Infrastructure) presenting the findings arising from the Property Asset Management Appraisal (2018) (PAMA) and seeking approval of various recommendations arising from the appraisal.

During discussion clarification was sought as to how buildings are assessed and how condition ratings etc. are arrived at and it was agreed that a briefing be arranged for Members to provide this clarification

Thereafter following further lengthy discussion the Council agreed:

A report was submitted by the Corporate Director (Corporate Services) asking the Council to approve the Capital Strategy presented in draft as Appendix 1 to the report.

Following consideration the Council agreed to approve the Capital Strategy as presented as Appendix 1 to the report.

The Meeting was chaired by Councillor S Morrison.

Councillor Allan advised the meeting that on the 3 November 2018 at the FPSG Annual Awards Dinner held in Glasgow Scottish Athletics honoured a well known Moray resident, Don Ritchie, by adding him into the Scottish Athletics Hall of Fame for his achievement as an ultra distance runner and holder of several world records for long distance events such as the 100 kilometres. As he had sadly passed away in June 2018, his wife accepted the honour on his behalf.  In had he also received a lifelong achievement award from SportsMoray in 2017 and was  well known throughout the world of athletics and this recognition both in Scotland and locally meant a great deal to him. As he had sadly passed away in June 2018, his wife accepted the honour on his behalf. The meeting joined Councillor Allan in commending this recognition and achievements of the late Don Ritchie MBE.