mfs0102

FINANCE SUB-COMMITTEE

Minute of Meeting held in the Council Offices, Stornoway, on Tuesday, 20 February 2001 at 10.00am.

PRESENT

Mr Roderick J Murray (Chairman)

Mr Alexander A MacDonald

Mr Donald Maclean

Mr Angus Nicolson

Mrs Mary Bremner

Mr Philip R McLean

APOLOGIES

Mr Norman A Macdonald

MINUTES

Finance Sub-Committee

26

The minute of meeting of 29 January 2001 was approved.

Finance Sub-Committee Working Party

27

The minute of meeting of the Finance Sub-Committee Working Party of 19 February 2001 was submitted.

It was agreed to note the conclusions of the working party.

REVENUE ESTIMATES

Revenue Estimates 2001/2002

28*

The Director of Finance 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; and

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

Mr Angus Nicolson, seconded by Mr Philip R McLean, moved 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 Alexander A Macdonald, seconded by Mr Donald Maclean, moved as an amendment that the Comhairle remain as a member of CoSLA and that the subscription to the organisation be not cancelled at this stage.

On the matter being put to the vote, the amendment received the majority of votes cast and it was agreed to recommend accordingly.

It was agreed to recommend:

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

(4) approval of the additional allocations to service committee budgets set out in Appendix 2 to the report by the Director of Finance, subject to the sum of £30,000 being transferred from the proposed provision for floral displays and Christmas decorations to provision for Home Care Services with consideration of additional funding for floral displays and Christmas lights to be considered at the mid-year financial review;

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

(6) that the Management Team be invited to prioritise the previously tabled savings on the basis of criteria set out in Appendix 3 to the report by the Director of Finance.

PRESENT	Mr Roderick J Murray (Chairman)
	Mr Alexander A MacDonald	Mr Donald Maclean
	Mr Angus Nicolson	Mrs Mary Bremner
	Mr Philip R McLean

APOLOGIES	Mr Norman A Macdonald

		MINUTES
Finance Sub-Committee	26	The minute of meeting of 29 January 2001 was approved.
Finance Sub-Committee Working Party	27	The minute of meeting of the Finance Sub-Committee Working Party of 19 February 2001 was submitted. It was agreed to note the conclusions of the working party.
		REVENUE ESTIMATES
Revenue Estimates 2001/2002	28*	The Director of Finance 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; and (b) the Draft Summary Budget Book for 2001/2002.
		Mr Angus Nicolson, seconded by Mr Philip R McLean, moved 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 Alexander A Macdonald, seconded by Mr Donald Maclean, moved as an amendment that the Comhairle remain as a member of CoSLA and that the subscription to the organisation be not cancelled at this stage. On the matter being put to the vote, the amendment received the majority of votes cast and it was agreed to recommend accordingly.
		It was agreed to recommend: (1) approval of the Draft 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) 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) that the assumed Level of Council Tax at Band D for 2002/2003 and 2003/2004 be £815 and £867 respectively; (4) approval of the additional allocations to service committee budgets set out in Appendix 2 to the report by the Director of Finance, subject to the sum of £30,000 being transferred from the proposed provision for floral displays and Christmas decorations to provision for Home Care Services with consideration of additional funding for floral displays and Christmas lights to be considered at the mid-year financial review; (5) that service committees should revisit service priorities in the light of the additional allocations; and (6) that the Management Team be invited to prioritise the previously tabled savings on the basis of criteria set out in Appendix 3 to the report by the Director of Finance.