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MINUTES
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Minute of Meeting of 30 September 2003
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1
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The Minute of Meeting of 30 September 2003 was approved.
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FINANCE
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Second Quarter Revenue Forecast Out-turn
2003/04
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2
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The Director of Finance submitted a
Report relating to the Comhairle’s Forecast Revenue Out-turn 2003/04 at the
end of the second quarter.
It was agreed to recommend approval
of the recommendations detailed in the Report by the Director of Finance concerning
the Second Quarter Revenue Forecast Out-turn 2003/04, insofar as the
Committee’s interests were concerned.
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General Fund Capital Monitoring: 1 April 2003-30 September 2003
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3
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The Director of Finance submitted a
Report relating to changes in the Capital Programme as at 30 September 2003.
It was agreed to recommend approval
of the recommendations detailed in the Report by the Director of Finance
concerning the General Fund Capital Monitoring: 1 April 2003-30 September
2003, insofar as the Committee’s interests were concerned.
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Capital
Programme 2003-04
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4
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The Director of Finance submitted a Report
relating to slippage in the Capital Programme 2003/2004. It was stated that
in order to maximise the likely level of future loan charge support, capital consent
for 2003/2004 needed to be fully utilised.
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It was agreed to recommend approval of
the recommendations detailed in the Report by the Director of Finance
concerning the Capital Programme 2003-04, insofar as the Committee’s
interests were concerned.
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General
Fund Capital Programme 2004-2008 (APERs)
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5
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The Director of Finance submitted a Report
containing a comprehensive list of the Abbreviated Project Evaluation Reports
(APERs) and sought approval for these to enter the scoring process, prior to
ranking, for inclusion in the 2004-2008 Capital Programme. It was stated
that 105 APERs, totalling £58,668K had been received and categorised as new
projects, New Renovation/Composite Programmes and Existing
Renovation/Composite Programmes.
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It was agreed to recommend approval of
the recommendations detailed in the Report by the Director of Finance
concerning General Fund Capital Programme 2004-2008 (APERs), insofar as the
Committee’s interests were concerned.
It was
further agreed that the Ness Heritage Project be the subject of an APER.
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General
Fund Capital Programme 2004-2008: Existing Renovation/
Composite
Programmes
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6
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The Director of Finance submitted a Report
relating to reduction in line with normal tolerances, in bids for Existing
Renovation/Composite Programmes to £12m for the four years 2004-2008.
It was
agreed to recommend approval of the recommendations detailed in the Report by
the Director of Finance concerning the General Fund Capital Programme
2004-2008: Existing Renovation/Composite Programmes, insofar as the
Committee’s interests were concerned.
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POLICY
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Draft
Corporate Strategy 2003-07
PR11.40
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7
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The Chief Executive submitted a copy of the
draft Corporate Strategy. It was stated that the CIPFA/SOLACE Guidance
Framework advised that local authorities should maintain effective
arrangements for explicit accountability to stakeholders for the authorities’
performance and its effectiveness in the delivery of services and the
sustainable use of resources. It was further intimated that once the
Corporate Strategy had been approved the Comhairle's Departments would use
the strategic objectives to direct their Business Plans for 2004 – 2007.
It was
agreed to recommend that the Draft Corporate Strategy 2003-2007 be approved,
insofar as the Committee’s interests were concerned, subject to the addition of a further Best Value Strategic Objective
concerning all the Comhairle's buildings.
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Programme
and Progress
AL02
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8
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The Director of Technical Services submitted
a Report detailing the Capital Works Programme and Progress in relation to
Arts and Leisure properties.
It was agreed to recommend that the
Report be noted.
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R & M
(Revenue) Programme 2003/2004: Quarterly Expenditure Report to 31 October 2003
AL03.03.02
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9
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The Director of Technical Services submitted
a Report detailing expenditure on repairs and maintenance of properties held
on the Arts and Leisure account in the current financial year to 31 October 2003.
It was agreed to recommend that:
(1)
the Report be noted; and
(2)
further Reports on the repairs and
maintenance of properties held on the Arts and Leisure Account continue to be
placed before the Committee at quarterly intervals.
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It was agreed that the public, including the
press, be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following
item on the grounds that exempt information as defined in Paragraph 6 of
Schedule 7A of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 would be disclosed,
namely information relating to the financial or business affairs of any
particular person, other than the Comhairle.
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Nicolson
Lewis Sports Centre
AL02.01
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The Director for Sustainable Communities and
Acting Director of Corporate Services submitted a joint Report giving
information on the offers received following advertisement of the Nicolson Lewis
Sports Centre on the open market. Details of the proposed use of the
premises and any other relevant terms of the offers, as well as the proposed
price, were provided in the Report.
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It was agreed to recommend that the
Comhairle do not accept any of the offers for the Nicolson Lewis Sports
Centre and proceed to demolish the building, retaining the Clock Tower and
any other element of the building which was listed, in accordance with the
provision in the contract for the New Sports Centre and to retain the site in
Comhairle ownership for future proposals to be submitted.
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Name of
the New Leisure Centre in Stornoway
AL02.20
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The Director for Sustainable Communities
submitted a Report inviting Members to consider a name for the new Leisure
Centre in Stornoway. The Report detailed suggestions put forward by the
Nicolson Lewis Sports Centre Member/Officer Working Group.
It was agreed to recommend that the new
Leisure Centre in Stornoway be named Ionad Spòrs Leòdhais.
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SPORT
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Group
Membership Schemes
AL06
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The Director for Sustainable Communities
submitted a Report requesting that the Comhairle give consideration in
principle, to supporting group membership schemes for Comhairle run sports
facilities from private or public companies.
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It was agreed to recommend that it be
delegated to the Director for Sustainable Communities to negotiate fees and
charges for sports facilities, to allow for the incorporation of group
membership schemes to maximise the use of sports facilities.
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It was
agreed that the public, including the press, be excluded from the meeting
during consideration of the following item on the grounds that exempt
information as defined in Paragraph 8 of Schedule 7A of the Local Government
(Scotland) Act 1973 would be disclosed, namely any terms proposed or to be
proposed by or to the Comhairle, in the course of negotiations for a contract
for the acquisition or disposal of property or the supply of goods or
services.
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Proposed Management Arrangements for
Harris Sports Centre
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The Director for Sustainable Communities,
the Director of Finance and the Acting Director of Corporate Services
submitted a Report proposing future management arrangements for the Harris
Sports Centre. The Report detailed the history of the project and the
current issues in relation to the future management of the premises.
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AL02.14
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It was agreed to recommend that the
Acting Director of Corporate Services, in consultation with the Director for
Sustainable Communities and the Director of Finance, be authorised to enter
into a management agreement with a Committee to be set up representative of
the community in Harris, to manage the Harris Sports Centre on the basis that
the Comhairle would report to that Committee at not less than six-monthly
intervals and subject to:
(a)
written confirmation being obtained
from all external funders of the Harris Sports Centre that the proposed
arrangement would not contravene their grant conditions;
(b)
written confirmation being obtained
from the Comhairle’s specialist advisers that the proposed arrangement would
not give rise to any restrictions on reclaiming VAT, and;
(c)
the Comhairle agreeing to make
financial provision for this operation as detailed in the report to the
Policy and Resources Committee of 4 December 2003, namely to include £53,000
for the Harris Sports Centre as part of the revenue estimates for 2004/05.
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COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
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Mr Ian M Macleod declared an interest in
the following Item.
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Community
Centres and Village Halls – Performance Grant Scheme 2003/04
AL03.01
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The Director for Sustainable Communities
submitted a Report giving an update on the Comhairle’s Scheme of Performance
Grants towards the operating costs of local community centres and village
halls. The Report provided details of the Scheme and of the level of revenue
funding paid to different categories of facility.
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It was agreed to recommend that:
(1)
the continuation of the rates of
payment as outlined in Appendix 1 for 2003/04 be approved, and;
(2)
the Director for Sustainable
Communities submit a proposal for increasing the budget for the Community
Centres and Village Halls Performance Grant Scheme, identifying options for
the source of funding, during the budget setting process for the next and
subsequent financial years.
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Harris
Mutual Improvement Association
AL11.01
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The Director for Sustainable Communities
submitted a Report inviting Members to consider a request for financial
assistance from Harris Mutual Improvement Association. The Report detailed
that it was intended to undertake renovation and improvement works to Tarbert
Community Centre, which would include improving disabled access, developing
disabled toilet facilities, replacing windows and kitchen refurbishment.
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It was agreed to recommend that a grant
of £20,000 be awarded to Harris Mutual Improvement Association from the
Capital Programme for Voluntary Organisations, for the purpose of renovating
the Tarbert Community Centre, subject to evidence of a full financial package
being in place and all relevant works being completed by 31 March 2004.
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The Chairman declared an interest in the
following item and left the Meeting. The Vice-Chairman chaired the Meeting
during consideration of the item.
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Back
Football and Recreation Club Request for Financial Assistance
AL11.01
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The Director for Sustainable Communities
submitted a Report inviting consideration of a request for financial
assistance from Back Football and Recreation Club. The Report detailed that
the application for financial assistance was to assist the Club to purchase
grass cutting equipment and that it would have been dealt with under
delegated powers, had the Chairman not been associated with the Club.
It was agreed to recommend that Back
Football and Recreation Club be awarded £3,670 for the purchase of grass
cutting equipment, subject to evidence of expenditure on such equipment in
the region of £7,500.
Arising
from consideration of this item, it was further agreed to recommend that the
Director for Sustainable Communities submit a Report concerning the policy on
financial support for play areas, highlighting the current policy on funding
for both revenue and capital support and detailing the basis for both the
categorisation and treatment of revenue and capital support.
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Adult
Learning Classes
AL04.01
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The Director for Sustainable Communities
submitted a Report inviting consideration of future management arrangements
for Adult Evening Class Activities. The Report stated that the Comhairle’s
Community Education Service and Lews Castle College had been working in
partnership in relation to the management of such classes since Autumn 2003.
This joint approach had allowed classes to be available in local communities
as well as Lews Castle College campus.
It was agreed to recommend that the
continuation of the partnership agreement with Lews Castle College for the
management and delivery of Adult Evening Class activities be supported.
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Adult
Literacy and Numeracy Mid-Year Report: Feedback
AL04.01
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The Director for Sustainable Communities
submitted a Report giving information of the feedback received from the
Scottish Executive following a mid-year review of the Western Isles Adult
Literacy and Numeracy Action Plan. The Report detailed that progress towards
achieving the targets in the Action Plan had been assessed as “excellent” and
that the Western Isles was one of only four Community Learning Strategy
Partnerships in Scotland to be assessed as “excellent”.
It was agreed to recommend that the
Report and the progress made be noted.
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RELATED MATTERS
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Scottish
Lottery Officers Group
AL01.01
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The Director
for Sustainable Communities submitted a Report giving information on the
establishment of a Scottish Lottery Officers Group and requesting that the
Comhairle support the Group’s aims and send a relevant member of staff to its
meetings.
It was
agreed to recommend that the Comhairle:
(1)
support the aims and objectives of the
Scottish Lottery Officers Group as per its Constitution detailed in Appendix
1 to the Report; and
(2)
agree to send a relevant member of
staff to future meetings of the Scottish Lottery Officers Group.
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PERFORMANCE
MONITORING
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Reports
Outstanding
PR33.01.04
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The Acting
Director of Corporate Services submitted a Report concerning Reports
Outstanding arising from decisions of the Arts and Leisure Committee.
It was
agreed to recommend that the Report be noted.
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