mco0102

Minute of Meeting held in the Council Offices, Stornoway, on Tuesday, 20 February 2001 at 12.00noon.

PRESENT

Mr Alexander A Macdonald (Chairman)

Mr Roderick J Murray (Vice-Chairman)

Mr Donald I Nicholson

Mrs Katie M Mackenzie

Mr Norman M Macleod

Mr Iain Morrison

Mr Donald J Macsween

Mr Norman A Macdonald

Mr Finlay Morrison

Mr Angus M Graham

Mr Donald M Mackay

Mr Malcolm J Graham

Mrs Morag Munro

Mr Ian M Macleod

Mr Donald Macdonald

Mr George Lonie

Mr Archie Campbell

Mr Angus Nicolson

Mr Donald Maclean

Mr Murdo Macleod

Mr James L McArthur

Mr Norman L Macdonald

Mrs Mary Bremner

Mr Alasdair G Macrae

Mr Ronald J Mackinnon

Mr Angus Campbell

Mr David Blaney

Mr Philip R McLean

Mr Donald Manford

APOLOGIES

Mr Malcolm J Macleod

Mr Roderick Morrison

Prayer

The meeting was opened with prayer led by Mr Donald I Nicholson

REVENUE ESTIMATES

Revenue Estimates 2001/2002

6

With reference to item 2 of the minute of meeting of the Policy and Resources Committee of 20 February 2001, the following were submitted:

(1) a report regarding the finalising of the Comhairle's Revenue Estimates for the financial year 2001/2002, including approval of the base budget for the year, setting the level of the Council Tax for the year, allocating the estimated additional revenue resources available and indicating assumed Council Tax levels at Band D for the years 2002/2003 and 2003/2004. Proposals to allocate the additional revenue resources were appended to the report, together with suggested criteria to shape committee priorities in relation to the budgetary pressures;

(2) minute of meeting of the Policy and Resources Committee of 20 February 2001; and

(3) the Draft Summary Budget Book for 2001/2002.

The Vice-Convener referred to the meeting of the Policy and Resources Committee of 20 February 2001 and outlined the background to the setting of the Council Tax and he budget process. In his statement, the Vice-Convener indicated that it had been possible to defend front line services and to introduce real growth into the budgets for the first time for a long number of years. He stated that the key features of the budget were prudence, progress and partnership. He outlined the effect on individual service budgets of the better than anticipated settlement, highlighting the areas of growth which had been included. The Vice-Convener concluded by paying tribute to the members and officers who had worked tirelessly to finalise the budgets.

Mr Roderick J Murray, seconded by Mr Norman L Macdonald, moved:

(1) approval of the recommendations of the Policy and Resources Committee of 20 February 2001;

(2) approval of the Draft Revenue Budget contained in the Draft Budget Book for 2001/2002, together with the allocations to base budgets detailed in Appendix 1 to the report by the Director of Finance;

(3) that for the purposes of Section 93(1)(a) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, the Council Tax for properties in Na Eileanan an Iar listed in the Valuation Band D be set at an amount of £765 for the financial year 2001/2002;

(4) that the assumed Level of Council Tax at Band D for 2002/2003 and 2003/2004 be £815 and £867 respectively;

(5) approval of the additional allocations to service committee budgets set out in Appendix 2 to the report by the Director of Finance;

(6) that service committees should revisit service priorities in the light of the additional allocations.

Mr Angus Nicolson, seconded by Mr Philip R McLean, moved as an amendment that the Comhairle give notice to CoSLA that it would cancel its subscription to the organisation from the end of the 2001/2002 financial year and that no provision be made for the subscription in future years.

Mr Angus M Graham, seconded by Mr Donald Macdonald, moved as a second amendment that, in light of the anomalies arising in the charging system for the Home Help Service, in preparing its budgets for 2002/03, the Comhairle give consideration to the provision of a Home Care Service free at the point of delivery.

The Chairman ruled that the amendments would be debated against the motion separately in the order in which they had been moved.

On a vote being taken between the motion and the first amendment, the motion received the majority of the votes cast and became the finding of the meeting in respect of that issue.

The Comhairle agreed in terms of Standing Order 58 that the vote between the motion and the second amendment be taken by roll call.

On a vote being taken between the motion and the second amendment, there voted as follows:

Motion

Mr Roderick J Murray

Mr Roderick Morrison

Mr Norman A Macdonald

Mr George Lonie

Mr Norman L Macdonald

Mr Donald I Nicholson

Mr Donald M Mackay

Mr Archibald K Campbell

Mr Donald Maclean

Mrs Mary Bremner

Amendment

Mr Alexander A Macdonald

Mrs Katie M Mackenzie

Mr Angus M Graham

Mr Malcolm J Graham

Mr Ian M Macleod

Mr Angus Nicolson

Mr Murdo Macleod

Mr Angus Campbell

Mr Philip R McLean

Mr Norman M Macleod

Mr Donald J Macsween

Mr Finlay Morrison

Mrs Morag Munro

Mr Donald Macdonald

Mr James L McArthur

Mr Ronald J Mackinnon

Mr David Blaney

Mr Donald Manford

The Chairman declared that the amendment had been carried.

The Comhairle agreed to:

(1) approve of the Draft Revenue Budget contained in the Draft Budget Book for 2001/2002, together with the allocations to base budgets detailed in Appendix 1 to the report by the Director of Finance;

(2) approve that for the purposes of Section 93(1)(a) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, the Council Tax for properties in Na Eileanan an Iar listed in the Valuation Band D be set at an amount of £765 for the financial year 2001/2002;

(3) approve that the assumed Level of Council Tax at Band D for 2002/2003 and 2003/2004 be £815 and £867 respectively;

(4) approve of the additional allocations to service committee budgets set out in Appendix 2 to the report by the Director of Finance;

(5) approve that service committees should revisit service priorities in the light of the additional allocations; and

(6) approve that in light of the anomalies arising in the charging system for the Home Help Service, in preparing its budgets for 2002/03, the Comhairle give consideration to the provision of a Home Care Service free at the point of delivery.

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PRESENT	Mr Alexander A Macdonald (Chairman)
	Mr Roderick J Murray (Vice-Chairman)	Mr Donald I Nicholson
	Mrs Katie M Mackenzie	Mr Norman M Macleod
	Mr Iain Morrison	Mr Donald J Macsween
	Mr Norman A Macdonald	Mr Finlay Morrison
	Mr Angus M Graham	Mr Donald M Mackay
	Mr Malcolm J Graham	Mrs Morag Munro
	Mr Ian M Macleod	Mr Donald Macdonald
	Mr George Lonie	Mr Archie Campbell
	Mr Angus Nicolson	Mr Donald Maclean
	Mr Murdo Macleod	Mr James L McArthur
	Mr Norman L Macdonald	Mrs Mary Bremner
	Mr Alasdair G Macrae	Mr Ronald J Mackinnon
	Mr Angus Campbell	Mr David Blaney
	Mr Philip R McLean	Mr Donald Manford

APOLOGIES	Mr Malcolm J Macleod	Mr Roderick Morrison

Prayer		The meeting was opened with prayer led by Mr Donald I Nicholson
		REVENUE ESTIMATES
Revenue Estimates 2001/2002	6	With reference to item 2 of the minute of meeting of the Policy and Resources Committee of 20 February 2001, the following were submitted: (1) a report regarding the finalising of the Comhairle's Revenue Estimates for the financial year 2001/2002, including approval of the base budget for the year, setting the level of the Council Tax for the year, allocating the estimated additional revenue resources available and indicating assumed Council Tax levels at Band D for the years 2002/2003 and 2003/2004. Proposals to allocate the additional revenue resources were appended to the report, together with suggested criteria to shape committee priorities in relation to the budgetary pressures; (2) minute of meeting of the Policy and Resources Committee of 20 February 2001; and (3) the Draft Summary Budget Book for 2001/2002.
		The Vice-Convener referred to the meeting of the Policy and Resources Committee of 20 February 2001 and outlined the background to the setting of the Council Tax and he budget process. In his statement, the Vice-Convener indicated that it had been possible to defend front line services and to introduce real growth into the budgets for the first time for a long number of years. He stated that the key features of the budget were prudence, progress and partnership. He outlined the effect on individual service budgets of the better than anticipated settlement, highlighting the areas of growth which had been included. The Vice-Convener concluded by paying tribute to the members and officers who had worked tirelessly to finalise the budgets.
		Mr Roderick J Murray, seconded by Mr Norman L Macdonald, moved:
		(1) approval of the recommendations of the Policy and Resources Committee of 20 February 2001; (2) approval of the Draft Revenue Budget contained in the Draft Budget Book for 2001/2002, together with the allocations to base budgets detailed in Appendix 1 to the report by the Director of Finance; (3) that for the purposes of Section 93(1)(a) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, the Council Tax for properties in Na Eileanan an Iar listed in the Valuation Band D be set at an amount of £765 for the financial year 2001/2002; (4) that the assumed Level of Council Tax at Band D for 2002/2003 and 2003/2004 be £815 and £867 respectively; (5) approval of the additional allocations to service committee budgets set out in Appendix 2 to the report by the Director of Finance; (6) that service committees should revisit service priorities in the light of the additional allocations.
		Mr Angus Nicolson, seconded by Mr Philip R McLean, moved as an amendment that the Comhairle give notice to CoSLA that it would cancel its subscription to the organisation from the end of the 2001/2002 financial year and that no provision be made for the subscription in future years.
		Mr Angus M Graham, seconded by Mr Donald Macdonald, moved as a second amendment that, in light of the anomalies arising in the charging system for the Home Help Service, in preparing its budgets for 2002/03, the Comhairle give consideration to the provision of a Home Care Service free at the point of delivery.
		The Chairman ruled that the amendments would be debated against the motion separately in the order in which they had been moved.
		On a vote being taken between the motion and the first amendment, the motion received the majority of the votes cast and became the finding of the meeting in respect of that issue.
		The Comhairle agreed in terms of Standing Order 58 that the vote between the motion and the second amendment be taken by roll call.


	On a vote being taken between the motion and the second amendment, there voted as follows:
	*Motion* Mr Roderick J Murray Mr Roderick Morrison Mr Norman A Macdonald Mr George Lonie Mr Norman L Macdonald Mr Donald I Nicholson Mr Donald M Mackay Mr Archibald K Campbell Mr Donald Maclean Mrs Mary Bremner	*Amendment* Mr Alexander A Macdonald Mrs Katie M Mackenzie Mr Angus M Graham Mr Malcolm J Graham Mr Ian M Macleod Mr Angus Nicolson Mr Murdo Macleod Mr Angus Campbell Mr Philip R McLean Mr Norman M Macleod Mr Donald J Macsween Mr Finlay Morrison Mrs Morag Munro Mr Donald Macdonald Mr James L McArthur Mr Ronald J Mackinnon Mr David Blaney Mr Donald Manford
	The Chairman declared that the amendment had been carried.
	The Comhairle agreed to: (1) approve of the Draft Revenue Budget contained in the Draft Budget Book for 2001/2002, together with the allocations to base budgets detailed in Appendix 1 to the report by the Director of Finance; (2) approve that for the purposes of Section 93(1)(a) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, the Council Tax for properties in Na Eileanan an Iar listed in the Valuation Band D be set at an amount of £765 for the financial year 2001/2002; (3) approve that the assumed Level of Council Tax at Band D for 2002/2003 and 2003/2004 be £815 and £867 respectively; (4) approve of the additional allocations to service committee budgets set out in Appendix 2 to the report by the Director of Finance; (5) approve that service committees should revisit service priorities in the light of the additional allocations; and (6) approve that in light of the anomalies arising in the charging system for the Home Help Service, in preparing its budgets for 2002/03, the Comhairle give consideration to the provision of a Home Care Service free at the point of delivery.
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