Meeting Details

 4.1

(i)
 

to note the updated financial overview and the increase in the deficit in the council’s 2019/20 budget arising from developments since the meeting of the Council on 12 December 2018;

 (ii)

to proceed with the savings deferred from the 12 December Council meeting and more fully detailed in para 4.5 of the report as follows:

Councillor Leadbitter, seconded by Councillor Morrison, moved that the council agree to implement increased charging and reduced cost measures in order to reduce the overall running costs and that a closure date of 31 March 2020 be applied to allow those privately operated organisations currently based within the Community Centre time to find alternative premises. 

As an amendment Councillor Eagle, seconded by Macrae moved that the council agree to implement increased charging and reduced cost measures in order to reduce the overall running costs with a 4 month review to assess whether the required savings are emerging and whether to continue to operate ECC.

On a division there voted:

For the Motion (10)

Councillors Leadbitter, Morrison, A McLean, Bremner, Coull, Coy, Divers, Laing, Patience and Warren

For the Amendment (12)

Councillors Eagle, Macrae, Alexander, Allan, Brown, Cowie, Creswell, Feaver, Gatt, M McLean, R McLean and Shepherd

Abstentions (1)               

Councillor Ross

Accordingly the Amendment became the finding of the meeting and the Council agreed to implement increased charging and reduced cost measures in order to reduce the overall running costs with a 4 month review to assess whether the required savings are emerging and whether to continue to operate Elgin Community Centre;

agreed to replace this saving with the closure of Auchernack and transfer of services and staff to Forres Community Centre and to reduce staff operating costs of FCC;

 Following discussion Councillor Eagle, seconded by Councillor Feaver, moved that the council delay the proposed saving until 27 February 2019.

As an amendment Councillor Leadbitter, seconded by Councillor A McLean, moved that the council proceed with the savings as proposed in September 2018.

On a division there voted:

For the Motion (13)                 

Councillors Eagle, Feaver, Allan, Bremner, Cowie, Creswell, Divers, Eagle, Gatt, M McLean, Macrae, R McLean, Ross and Shepherd

For the Amendment (9)          

Councillors Leadbitter, A McLean, Alexander, Coull, Coy, Laing, Morrison, Patience and Warren

Abstentions (1)                       

Councillor Brown

Accordingly the Motion became the finding of the meeting and the Council agreed to delay the proposed saving until 27 February 2019.

 (iii)

Following discussion Councillor Leadbitter, seconded by Councillor Morrison, moved approval of the greatest level possible of the savings in Appendix B of the report for implementation, development and workforce consultation in order to assist in addressing the council's 2019/20 budget gap as follows:

•  All savings categorised ‘green’ with those rediness categories i and ii to proceed as indicated;

•  A5c4 - Swimming Pools at Lossiemouth and Keith only to close subject to review on 27 February following concerted campaign to      promote  'Fit Life' membership;

• Spend to save – Water controls on urinals;
  

• A5d – Fit Life charges savings be agreed in principle subject to the actual amount of the increase being subject to discussion with Moray Leisure;
             

• C3 – Marleon House – still under contract - future year saving;

• D7-7 – Winter Maintenance – gritting routes P1 -  defer to 27 February – further information to be provided;

• D9d - agreed to grant delegated authority to Head of Direct Services in consultation with Group Leaders (with input from local members) to determine where additional car parking charges should be introduced subject to there being no reduction to the proposed saving.
             

• Other savings

As an amendment, Councillor Eagle, seconded by Councillor Feaver, moved that the Council defer savingin Appendix B with the exception of those listed below, recognising that at this stage no proposal should be removed in its entirety but put on hold pending further information on the final Scottish Government settlement, the outcome of official discussions with the Scottish Government and other external partners and when taken into consideration with remainder of necessary savings options on 27 February 2019:

• D6a3 - Burial Grounds - additional charges for non-Moray residents.
• D6b1 - Grounds Maintenance open spaces - not for profit - Cease maintenance.
• D6b3 - Grounds Maintenance open spaces - owner unknown - Cease maintenance.
• D92a - Harbours Charges - increase leisure harbour fees by 10%
• School Transport - Procurement savings
• VAT - Bulky uplifts (no VAT)

On a division there voted:

For the Motion (13)                 

Councillors Leadbitter, Morrison, Alexander, Bremner, Brown, Coull, Coy, Creswell, Divers, Laing, A McLean, Patience and Warren.

For the Amendment (10)          

Councillors Eagle, Feaver, Allan, Cowie, Gatt, M Clean, R McLean, Macrae, Ross and Shepherd.

Abstentions (0)                       

Accordingly the Motion became the finding of the meeting and the Council approved the greatest level possible of the savings in Appendix B of the report for implementation, development and workforce consultation in order to assist in addressing the council's 2019/20 budget gap as follows:

 (a)

 A5c4 - Swimming Pools at Lossiemouth and Keith only to close subject to review on 27 February following concerted campaign to promote  ‘Fit Life’ membership;

Spend to save – Water controls on urinals;

 A5d – Fit Life charges savings agreed in principle subject to the actual amount of the increase being subject to discussion with Moray Leisure;

 (e)

 (f)

 D7-7 – Winter Maintenance – gritting routes P1c -  defer to 27 February – further information to be provided;
 

 (g)

Other Savings

agreed that for savings identified as requiring workforce consultation, the outcome of this is reported to the Council on 27 February to agree how to proceed.

Following discussion Councillor Eagle, seconded by Councillor Feaver, moved that Directors should provide full information of the underspend in devolved school management in each school in Moray stating the total underspend and what the underspend is being allocated or saved for and that this is reported for final decision to the Council on 27 February 2019.

As an Amendment, Councillor Leadbitter, seconded by Councillor Morrison, moved that the devolved school management underspend that is uncommitted as of today's date is clawed back and allocated to general reserves.

On a division there voted:

For the Motion (10)                 Councillors Eagle, Feaver, Allan, Brown, Gatt, M Mclean, R McLean, Macrae, Ross and Shepherd.  

For the Amendment (13)         Councillors Leadbitter, Morrison, A McLean, Alexander, Bremner, Coull, Cowie, Coy, Creswell, Divers,

                                                Laing, Patience and Warren.

Abstentions (0)    

Accordingly the Amendment became the finding of the meeting and the Council agreed that the devolved school management underspend that is uncommitted as of today's date is clawed back and allocated to general reserves.

Following discussion Councillor Leadbitter, seconded by Councillor Morrison, moved that the Council agree additional use of reserves of £0.7m held in general reserves for repairs and renewals requires and agrees the use of up to a further £0.7m from general reserves based on this being repaid to revert to policy position of £5m reserves as soon as possible.

As an Amendment, Councillor Brown, seconded by Councillor Gatt, moved that the Council agree additional use of reserves of £0.7m held in general reserves for repairs and renewals requires but does not  agree to the use of up to a further £0.7m from general reserves based on this being repaid to revert to policy position of £5m reserves as soon as possible;

On a division there voted:

For the Motion (11)                

Councillors Leadbitter, Morrison, A McLean, Alexander, Bremner, Coull, Cowie, Coy, Laing, Patience and Warren.

For the Amendment (11)         

Councillors Brown, Gatt, Allan, Creswell, Divers, Eagle, Feaver, M McLean, Macrae, Ross and Shepherd.

Abstentions (1)                       

Councillor R McLean.

There being an equality of votes, and in terms of Standing Order 62(e), the Chair cast her casting vote in favour of the motion.

Accordingly the Motion became the finding of the meeting and the Council agreed the additional use of reserves of £0.7m held in general reserves for repairs and renewals requires and agreed the use of up to a further £0.7m from general reserves based on this being repaid to revert to policy position of £5m reserves as soon as possible.

 (vii)

agreed to continue contact with external bodies as noted in the report to keep them apprised of the situation and seek such support and assistance as they may be able to provide.

 agreed that work continues to identify options to improve financial sustainability and ability to set balanced budget.  In particular: 

continue to identify and bring forward further savings for consideration in setting the 2019/20 budget;

in respect of the possible savings listed in paragraph 4.30 to delegate authority to the Chief Executive in liaison with Group Leaders to approve such preparatory work and consultation as may be necessary to enable these savings to be progressed as early as possible, with reporting for approval at the council meeting on 27 February;

continue the development of the Improvement and Modernisation Programme to take forward transformational change for the future;