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West Dunbartonshire Council Assurance and Improvement Plan 2014–17

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West Dunbartonshire Council Assurance and Improvement Plan 2014–17 WEST DUNBARTONSHIRE COUNCIL At the Meeting of West Dunbartonshire Council held in the Council Chambers, Council Offices, Garshake Road, Dumbarton on Wednesday, 18 December 2013 at 2.05 p.m. Present: Provost Douglas McAllister and Councillors Denis Agnew, George Black, Gail Casey, Jim Finn, David McBride, Jonathan McColl, Michelle McGinty, Patrick McGlinchey, Marie McNair, John Millar, John Mooney, Ian Murray, Lawrence O’Neill, Tommy Rainey, Gail Robertson, Martin Rooney, Kath Ryall and Hazel Sorrell. Attending: Joyce White, Chief Executive; Angela Wilson, Executive Director of Corporate Services; Richard Cairns, Executive Director of Infrastructure and Regeneration, Terry Lanagan, Executive Director of Educational Services; Keith Redpath, Director – West Dunbartonshire Community Health & Care Partnership; Peter Hessett, Head of Legal, Democratic & Regulatory Services; Jackie Irvine, Chief Social Work Officer; Stephen West, Head of Finance & Resources; Gillian McNeilly, Finance Manager; Joe Reilly, Finance Business Partner and Christine McCaffary, Senior Democratic Services Officer. Also Attending: Elaine Boyd, Senior Audit Manager, Audit Scotland. Apologies: Apologies for absence were intimated on behalf of Councillors Jim Bollan, Jim Brown and William Hendrie. Provost Douglas McAllister in the Chair MINUTE OF SILENCE Having heard Provost McAllister, Chair, the Council observed a minute of silence as a mark of respect for those killed in the helicopter crash at The Clutha bar in Glasgow on 29 November 2013; the passing of a great world statesman, Nelson Mandela on 7 December 2013 and also to mark the 6th anniversary on 19 December of the sinking of the Flying Phantom tug boat on the River Clyde and the loss of 3 of her crew. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST It was noted that there were no declarations of interest in any of the items of business on the agenda at this point in the meeting. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETINGS The Minutes of the Meeting of West Dunbartonshire Council held on 30 October 2013 were submitted and approved as a correct record. MINUTES OF WEST DUNBARTONSHIRE COMMUNITY HEALTH & CARE PARTNERSHIP – 20 NOVEMBER 2013 The Minutes of meeting of the West Dunbartonshire Community Health & Care Partnership held on 20 November 2013 were submitted and approved as a correct record. OPEN FORUM The Council noted that no open forum questions had been submitted by members of the public. INDICATIVE BUDGET POSITION 2014/15 (GENERAL SERVICES REVENUE ESTIMATES 2014/15 – UPDATE) A report was submitted by the Executive Director of Corporate Services providing an update of the projected financial position following the completion of the draft revenue estimates for 2014/15. Following discussion, the Council agreed to note:- (1) the updated budget position for 2013/14 (the current year), which is indicating a projected surplus of £0.133m, after adjusting for the in-year impact of the management adjustments; (2) the draft expenditure position for 2014/15 of £220.932m which results in a budget deficit of £0.189m, after adjusting for the impact of the management adjustments. This budget is subject to further review and consultation prior to it being submitted to the Council meeting on 6 February 2014; (3) the indicative budgets for 2015/16 and 2016/17 which currently indicates in-year budget gaps of £2.800m and £13.739m (after adjusting for management adjustments), respectively; (4) that this budget is subject to amendment as assumptions continue to be clarified and revised between now and the meeting of the Council on 6 February 2014; and (5) the projected year end position regarding reserves and provisions (paras 4.9 to 4.13 of the report refer). ESTABLISHING A SHADOW HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE PARTNERSHIP FOR WEST DUNBARTONSHIRE A report was submitted by the Director of West Dunbartonshire Community Health & Care Partnership seeking approval to transition the current Community Health and Care Partnership (CHCP) to a shadow Health and Social Care Partnership for West Dunbartonshire in preparation for the enactment of the Public Bodies (Joint Working) (Scotland) Bill 2013. The Council agreed to approve:- (1) the transitioning of the current West Dunbartonshire CHCP arrangements to a shadow Health and Social Care Partnership from the 1 April 2014 (as unanimously endorsed by the CHCP Committee); (2) the adjustments to the CHCP Scheme of Establishment proposed to facilitate that transition as set out within paragraph 4.3 of the report; and (3) that the CHCP Director be directed to prepare an integration plan (as required by the legislation) for agreement by full Council and the NHSGGC Board, prior to it being submitted to the Scottish Government for approval during 2014/15. REVIEW OF STANDING ORDERS The Provost advised that in terms of Standing Order 27 the Council was required to suspend Standing Order 19(c) in order to consider this item of business. On a vote being taken, 18 Members voted for the suspension of Standing Orders and 1 against. As two thirds of those present and voting voted in favour of the suspension, Standing Orders were suspended and the matter was considered by Council. Request for Deputation In accordance with Standing Order 17(b) the Council agreed to hear a deputation from the Secretary of Silverton & Overtoun Community Council in relation to this item of business. Mrs Rose Harvie circulated copies and was heard in support of a request from Silverton & Overtoun Community Council asking the Council to consider changing Standing Orders to provide the same right to individuals and other community groups currently afforded to Community Councils allowing them to request a deputation up to 5 days before meetings. Following discussion, a report was submitted by the Executive Director of Corporate Services recommending changes to the Council’s Standing Orders. Councillor Rooney, seconded by Councillor McGlinchey moved:- Council thanks the Head of Legal, Democratic & Regulatory Services and his staff for the work carried out in reviewing these Standing Orders. Council accepts the recommended changes to Standing Orders as outlined in the report with the exception of:- Item 3(b) after first sentence add: “No requisition shall be unreasonably refused.” Item 6(c) replace with “No business, except business which requires to be dealt with by law or by these Standing Orders, shall be introduced after 8.30 p.m. If items of business have not been introduced by 8.30 p.m, subject to there being no earlier motion under Standing Order 16(b) the Convener will reconvene the meeting within fourteen days. Item 28(l) of the draft revised Standing Orders to include changes to the Deputy Leader and Deputy Conveners. Appendix 3(l)1.1 – replace with “The membership of the Recruitment & Individual Performance Management Committee will comprise up to five standing Elected Members plus, where not already one of the standing Elected Members, the relevant service convener.” The standing Elected Members of the Committee to be the Provost; the Leader of the Council and the Leader of the Opposition. As there is a current lack of female representation on the Committee, to ensure there is adequate female representation, the Administration and the Opposition are invited to nominate a female Member as a nominated Member on the Committee. The Standing Order will be amended to require the Administration and Opposition to ensure representation from both sexes among those nominated by each party (including Standing Members of the Committee). In addition Council agrees that:- The Chief Executive, in consultation with the Leader of the Council and Legal Officer is to review the committee structure of the Council including service spokespersons and senior councillors. Council also agrees that following the review, to delegate authority to the Head of Legal, Democratic & Regulatory Services to amend Standing Orders to incorporate the changes resulting from the review. ADJOURNMENT At the request of Councillor McColl, the Provost agreed to adjourn for a period of 5 minutes. The meeting reconvened at 3.04 p.m. with all those Members shown on the sederunt in attendance. As an amendment Councillor McColl, seconded by Councillor Robertson moved:- That the Council agrees Councillor Rooney’s motion subject to the membership of the Recruitment & Individual Performance Management Committee being 6 members (3 standing members plus 3 others, 2 of which must be female) and add that the Leader of the Opposition be included in the review of the committee structure, service spokespersons and senior councillors. On a vote being taken, 4 Members voted for the amendment and 12 for the motion which was declared carried. REVIEW OF POLLING DISTRICTS AND POLLING PLACES A report was submitted by the Executive Director of Corporate Services advising of the response to the consultation on the review of polling districts and polling places and seeking approval of the final polling scheme. Councillor Ryall moved that the Council adopt the scheme of polling districts and polling places as detailed in Appendix 1 to the report subject to a change in Ward 6; that voters in former WC22 continue to vote in Dalmuir Barclay Church and voters in the former WC23 be redirected from the Church to a new polling place in Dalmuir Community Centre. Councillor Black asked if Councillor Ryall would be willing to accept as an addendum to her motion that officers continue to seek an alternative to the Leven Suite, Abbotsford Hotel. Councillor Ryall confirmed her acceptance of the addendum to her motion which was then agreed unanimously by the Council. COUNCIL TAX ON LONG TERM EMPTY PROPERTIES A report was submitted by the Executive Director of Corporate Services seeking authority to implement new council tax charges for relevant empty properties from 1 April 2014 as enabled by the Local Government Finance (Unoccupied Properties etc.) (Scotland) Act and relevant legislation. Having heard the Chief Executive and the Head of Finance & Resources in answer to Members’ questions, the Council agreed that this matter be continued and a further report brought to a future meeting of the Council that provided clarification on the impact to the Housing Revenue Account; Registered Social Landlords and individuals.
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