STIRLING COUNCIL
MINUTES of SPECIAL MEETING of the STIRLING COUNCIL held in the COUNCIL
CHAMBERS, OLD VIEWFORTH, STIRLING on THURSDAY 21 FEBRURAY 2019 at
10.00am
Present
Provost Christine SIMPSON (in the Chair)
Councillor Maureen BENNISON
Councillor Neil BENNY
Councillor Alistair BERRILL
Councillor Margaret BRISLEY
Councillor Robert DAVIES
Councillor Douglas DODDS
Councillor Martin EARL
Councillor Scott FARMER
Councillor Bryan FLANNAGAN
Councillor Danny GIBSON
Councillor Graham HOUSTON
Councillor Chris KANE
Councillor Graham LAMBIE
Councillor Alison LAURIE
Councillor Alasdair MACPHERSON
Councillor Alastair MAJURY
Councillor Jeremy MCDONALD
Councillor Susan MCGILL
Councillor Ross OXBURGH
Councillor Jim THOMSON
Councillor Alasdair TOLLEMACHE
Councillor Evelyn TWEED
In Attendance
Carol Beattie, Chief Executive (Interim)
Jim Boyle, Chief Officer – Finance
Lorna Cameron, Chief Officer – Housing
Martin Dalziel, Team Leader External Communications (Strategic, Commissioning & Customer Development)
Pamela Forsyth, HR Advice & Policy Manager (HR)
Lesley Gallagher, Regeneration and Inclusive Growth Service Manager (Economic Development, Culture & Tourism)
Kristine Johnson, Chief Officer – HR
Gillian MacKenzie, Accountant (Finance)
Stephen McAleer, Senior Manager – Delivery of City Region Deal
Ruth McColgan, Chief Officer – Governance (Interim)
Isabel McKnight, Chief Officer – Strategic, Commissioning & Customer Development
Islay Moore, Support Officer (Governance)
Aileen More, Schools Team Leader (Schools & Learning)
George Murphy, Accounting Operations Service Manager (Finance)
Stuart Oliver, Senior Manager - Economic Development, Culture & Tourism
Brian Roberts, Senior Manager - Infrastructure
Karen Swan, Committee Officer (Governance)
Marie Valente, Senior Manager – Children & Families (CSWO)
Gregor Wightman, Housing Team Leader (Housing)
Iain Wynne, Accountant (Finance)
Joyce Allen, (Governance) (Clerk)
Also in Attendance
Blyth Deans, Audit Scotland
Andrew Wallace, Audit Scotland
SC173 APOLOGIES
There were no apologies submitted.
SC174 DECLARTIONS OF INTEREST
There were no declarations of interest.
Information/advice from officers on the Budget Proposals and Amendments had been tabled prior to the meeting in accordance with Standing Order 23, and this is attached as Appendix C to these Minutes.
SC175 REVENUE BUDGET AND DETERMINATION OF COUNCIL TAX 2019/20
The purpose of the report was to provide the Council with details of the 2019/20 General Fund Revenue Budget along with indicative financial plans for the following four financial years 2020/21 to 2023/24.
The report also provided a full suite of documents that brought together the
budget, the five-year Business Plan and the strategic Workforce Plan and
provided Members with an integrated view of the Council’s position for the
coming five years.
The Members commended and thanked the Chief Officer – Finance and his team for the good financial management and work entailed in the process of the budget.
Budget Proposal
“That Council approves the Administration Revenue Budget Proposal published
in accordance with Standing Orders 20 – 25.”
Moved by Councillor Margaret Brisley, seconded by Councillor Alison Laurie
Amendment
“That Council approves the Opposition Revenue Budget Proposal published in
accordance with Standing Orders 20- 25.”
Moved by Councillor Neil Benny, seconded by Councillor Martin Earl
On the roll being called the Members present voted as follows:-
For the Amendment (8)
Councillor Neil Benny
Councillor Alistair Berrill
Councillor Douglas Dodds
Councillor Martin Earl
Councillor Bryan Flannagan
Councillor Alastair Majury
Councillor Jeremy McDonald
Councillor Ross Oxburgh
Against the Amendment (15)
Councillor Maureen Bennison
Councillor Margaret Brisley
Councillor Robert Davies
Councillor Scott Farmer
Councillor Danny Gibson
Depute Convener Graham Houston
Councillor Chris Kane
Councillor Graham Lambie
Councillor Alison Laurie
Councillor Alasdair MacPherson
Councillor Susan McGill
Provost Christine Simpson
Councillor Alasdair Tollemache
Councillor Jim Thomson
Councillor Evelyn Tweed
The Amendment fell by 15 votes to 8.
For the Budget Proposal (15)
Councillor Maureen Bennison
Councillor Margaret Brisley
Councillor Robert Davies
Councillor Scott Farmer
Councillor Danny Gibson
Depute Convener Graham Houston
Councillor Chris Kane
Councillor Graham Lambie
Councillor Alison Laurie
Councillor Alasdair MacPherson
Councillor Susan McGill
Provost Christine Simpson
Councillor Alasdair Tollemache
Councillor Jim Thomson
Councillor Evelyn Tweed
Against the Budget Proposal (8)
Councillor Neil Benny
Councillor Alistair Berrill
Councillor Douglas Dodds
Councillor Martin Earl
Councillor Bryan Flannagan
Councillor Alastair Majury
Councillor Jeremy McDonald
Councillor Ross Oxburgh
Decision
The Motion was carried by 15 votes to 8, and accordingly the Council agreed to approve the Administration Revenue Budget 2019/20 & Determination of Council tax as set out as Appendix A to these minutes.
(Reference: Report by Chief Officer – Finance, dated 9 February 2019,
submitted)
SC176 PROPOSED GENERAL SERVICES CAPITAL PROGRAMME 2019/20 TO
2022/23
The purpose of the report was to provide Council with details of the proposed
2019/20 General Services Capital Programme, along with an indicative
programme for the following 3 years.
The report set out the resource availability for the financial year 2019/20, along with assumptions for future years. The report also took account of the provisional capital budgets as approved by the Council on 22 February 2018, as varied by any decisions made by the Council since that point.
Following approval of the Administration Revenue Budget Proposal, Councillor
Benny and Councillor Earl agreed to withdraw their Amendment Capital Budget Proposal.
During discussion, Members raised concerns and sought clarification that voting on the Capital Budget Proposal and Amendment would not impact Members of the Planning & Regulation Panel in respect of the Viewforth Link Road, which was at present, a live planning application.
At 11.55am the Council agreed to adjourn for a break to allow Members and Officers to seek clarity on above said query.
The Meeting reconvened at 12.20pm with all Elected Members (previously noted) present.
Following clarification, both the Capital Budget Proposal and Amendment were
amended by Councillor Brisley, Councillor Laurie, Councillor Tollemache and
Councillor Dodds respectively to make it clear that they were ”subject to Planning consent/permission being granted”.
Copies of both the Capital Budget Proposal and Amendment with the above
minor amendments were tabled.
Capital Proposal
“That Council approves the Administration Capital Budget Proposal published in accordance with Standing Orders 20 – 25, with minor amendment ”noting that Item 49 is subject to Planning Consent being granted.”
Moved by Councillor Margaret Brisley, seconded by Councillor Alison Laurie
Amendment
“That Council approves Councillor Tollemache and Councillor Dodds amendment to the Administration’s Capital Budget Proposal published in accordance with Standing Orders 20 - 25, with minor amendment “subject to planning permission being granted.”
Moved by Councillor Alasdair Tollemache, seconded by Councillor Douglas
Dodds
Procedural Motion
”That the question is now put to the vote.”
Moved by Councillor Scott Farmer, seconded by Councillor Danny Gibson.
This was put without discussion and voted on by a show of hands, in accordance with Standing Orders.
The Procedural Motion was carried by 14 votes to 9.
On the roll being called the Members present voted as follows:-
For the Amendment (9)
Councillor Neil Benny
Councillor Alastair Berrill
Councillor Douglas Dodds
Councillor Martin Earl
Councillor Bryan Flannagan
Councillor Alastair Majury
Councillor Jeremy McDonald
Councillor Ross Oxburgh
Councillor Alasdair Tollemache
Against the Amendment (14)
Councillor Maureen Bennison
Councillor Margaret Brisley
Councillor Robert Davies
Councillor Scott Farmer
Councillor Danny Gibson
Depute Convener Graham Houston
Councillor Chris Kane
Councillor Graham Lambie
Councillor Alison Laurie
Councillor Alasdair MacPherson
Councillor Susan McGill
Provost Christine Simpson
Councillor Jim Thomson
Councillor Evelyn Tweed
The Amendment fell by 14 votes to 9.
For the Capital Proposal (15)
Councillor Maureen Bennison
Councillor Margaret Brisley
Councillor Robert Davies
Councillor Scott Farmer
Councillor Danny Gibson
Depute Convener Graham Houston
Councillor Chris Kane
Councillor Graham Lambie
Councillor Alison Laurie
Councillor Alasdair MacPherson
Councillor Susan McGill
Provost Christine Simpson
Councillor Alasdair Tollemache
Councillor Jim Thomson
Councillor Evelyn Tweed
Against the Capital Proposal (8)
Councillor Neil Benny
Councillor Alastair Berrill
Councillor Douglas Dodds
Councillor Martin Earl
Councillor Bryan Flannagan
Councillor Alastair Majury
Councillor Jeremy McDonald
Councillor Ross Oxburgh
Decision
The Motion was carried 15 votes to 8, and accordingly the Council agreed to
approve the Administration Capital Budget proposal with the following included at 4) in the Motion: “noting that Item 49 is subject to Planning Consent being granted.” as set out in Appendix B to these minutes.
(Reference: Report by Chief Executive (Interim), dated 14 February 2019,
submitted)
SC177 HOUSING RENTAL STRATEGY 2019/20
The report sought approval for a rent increase for Council house rent, garages
and pitch sites for 2019/20.
As part of the 2014/15 rent setting process, the Council agreed to move away
from ‘inflation plus’ and instead use a ‘cost of service’ approach. This required the service to present Elected Members and tenants with a breakdown of known cost pressures and required investment for the future.
This year’s consultation with tenants proposed three options of a 3.3%, 4.0% or 5.0% rent increase.
A full consultation process for rent setting was agreed in consultation with the
Housing Advisory Group (HAG) and included the use of Social media, Facebook
and Twitter. Consultation began in November 2018 and continued through
December 2018. Detailed results of the consultation were shown in Appendix 1 to the submitted report.
Council was now asked to set the rents for 2019/20 based on the assumptions of the Housing Revenue Account budget as set out in the recommendations within the submitted report.
The Members thanked the Chief Officer – Housing and her staff for the work
entailed in the process of the budget.
Decision
Council agreed to: -
-
approve an increase of 4.0% for Council house rents in 2019/20;
-
approve an increase of 4.0 for garages and pitches in 2019/20; and
-
approve the Housing Revenue Account budget for 2019/20 as detailed in Appendix 2 to the submitted report.
(Reference: Report by Chief Officer - Housing, dated 12 February 2019,
submitted)
SC178 HOUSING – CAPITAL INVESTMENT PROGRAMME 2019/20
The Housing Revenue Account Capital Investment Programme for 2019/20 was based on the Council’s agreed 30-year business plan. It ensured the housing service improved and developed its housing stock to meet the Scottish Housing Quality Standard beyond 2015 and achieve the Energy Efficiency Standard for Social Housing (EESSH1) by December 2020.
The total planned expenditure for the year was £17.275 million.
Funding from revenue was expected to be £6.284 million with prudential
borrowing for the year estimated at approximately £6.228 million and income
from the strategic housing account projected to be £200,000.
Grant funding from the Scottish Government of up to £3,694,000 would be
available to support the construction of new Council housing in 2019/20.
Additional funding of £869,000 would also be available from the Scottish
Government to Stirling Council to continue the delivery of the energy efficiency programme to the private housing sector.
Decision
The Council agreed to approve the 2019/20 Capital Investment Programme as
detailed in the submitted report.
(Reference: Report by Chief Officer – Housing, dated 12 February 2019,
submitted)
The Provost closed the Meeting at 12.45pm.