COMHAIRLE NAN EILEAN SIAR

PRESENT

Mr Angus Campbell (Chairman)

Mr Norman A MacDonald (Vice-Chairman)

Mr John A Maciver

Mr Donald Manford

Mr Norman M Macleod

Mr Archie K Campbell

Mr Roddie Mackay

Mrs Morag Munro

Mr Charlie Nicolson

Mrs Annie MacDonald

Mrs Agnes Rennie

APOLOGIES

Mr Alexander A MacDonald

FINANCE

Budget and Council Tax Setting 2009/10

Recommendations from Service Committees

The Chief Executive submitted a Report detailing the recommendations of the Service Committees in terms of Standing Order 62.

The Chief Executive submitted a Report seeking approval of the draft budget for 2009/10 and Council Tax for 2009/10.  The Report indicated that 2009/10 was the second year of a three year settlement announced by the Scottish Government on December 2007.  The Report further indicated that the Comhairle's draft business plans and budget had been prepared in accordance with the strategy agreed by the Comhairle in June 2008.  It was stated that an important part of the settlement was the Concordat between COSLA and the Scottish Government which included:

(1)           a three-year funding package;

(2)           a Single Outcome Agreement for each Council;

(3)           an annual target of 2% efficiencies, with Councils being allowed to retain savings;

(4)           a reduction in ring fenced funding; and

(5)           the freezing of Council Tax at 2007/08 rates.

It was recommended in the Report that the Comhairle:

(1)           agree the budget strategy for 2009/10 as detailed in Appendix A to the Report

(2)         approve the draft business plans as set out in Section 4 of the budget folder;

(3)           approve the draft budgets as set out in Section 5 of the budget folder as amended in recommendation 1(b) above;

(4)           approve the recommendations set out in the reports in sections 6 to 8 of the budget folder in relation to Piers and Harbours, Community Care Service and Care Units;

(5)           agree to freeze the 2009/10 Council Tax at the 2007/08 level of £1,024 for Band D properties;

(6)           retain the level of uncommitted balances at £3.0m for 2009/10;

(7)           agree that a Report on the allocation of all former ring fenced grants be presented to the April 2009 series of meetings;

(8)           require the Chief Executive and Director of Finance and Corporate Resources to establish procedures for the measurement of efficiency as part of the Comhairle’s performance monitoring framework; and

(9)           require the Director of Finance and Corporate Resources, in consultation with Finance and Strategy Working Party and Corporate Management Team, to report back to the April meeting of Policy and Resources Committee on the Comhairle’s forward budget strategy.

Mr Angus Campbell seconded by Mr Norman A MacDonald moved the recommendations in the Report together with the following additional recommendations:

(1)           agree the reinstatement of £50k in the Education and Children’s Services budget to allow consultation to take place with pupils and parents on a proposal to introduce a “two mile rule” on school transport for secondary pupils;

(2)           agree the reinstatement of £12k to the community care budget for access roads; and

(3)           agree that £30k be allocated to address the outcomes of the business meetings on 14 and 15 January 2009 and delegate the detailed allocation of such funding to the Director of Development, in consultation with Finance and Strategy Working Group.

and that the costs of these additional recommendations be met from balances.

Mr Donald Manford seconded by Mrs Annie Macdonald moved as an amendment that the Comhairle undertake a review of the allocation of former ring fenced grant funding of £5.8m included within budgets and report back to the April 2009 series of meetings on how savings of £377K could be achieved to be allocated as follows:

(1)           £10k to increase the £6k savings threshold (currently for both singles and couples) to £10k (single) and £16k (couples);

(2)           £56k to retain the charge for Home Care at £10 per hour;

(3)           £61k to reinstate domestic care provision

(4)           £200k for enable the Comhairle to start the process of introducing an overnight support service in the areas not covered by the current MOSS; and

(5)           £50k to enable the Comhairle to retain the “one mile rule” for secondary schools;

As paragraphs (1) and (2) of the amendment would have financial consequences prior to the next meeting of the Comhairle it was proposed that the costs of approximately £5K would be met from balances.

The Committee adjourned and re-convened at 4.40pm when the same Members were found to be present.

The Chairman ruled that the amendment was not competent. 

There being no further amendments the motion became the finding of the meeting.

Arising out of consideration of this matter it was agreed to recommend that the Director of Social and Community Services submit a Report in relation to the provision of overnight support services throughout the Western Isles.