Agenda and draft minutes

Consider Minute of the Meeting held on 21 March 2023 for approval and signature by the Chair.  (Copy attached.)

There had been circulated copies of the Minute of the Meeting held on 21 March 2023.

DECISION

AGREED to approve the Minute for signature by the Chair.

Consider Report by Acting Chief Financial Officer.  (Copy attached.)

There had been circulated copies of a report by Acting Chief Financial Officer that provided the details of the income and expenditure for the Lauder Common Good Fund for the year 2022-23 including balance sheet values as at 31 March 2023, a full year projected out-turn for 2023-24 and projected balance sheet values as at 31 March 2024.  Appendix 1 of the report provided the actual income and expenditure position for 2022-23 which showed a deficit of £18,154 for the year, which was better than the surplus figure reported at the 21 February 2023 meeting, as a result of an increase in income due to the sale of carbon units.  Appendix 2 of the report provided an actual balance sheet value as at 31 March 2023 which showed a decrease in reserves of £121,195.  Appendix 3a of the report provided a breakdown of the property portfolio which showed actual rental income and net return for 2022-23.  Appendix 3b of the report provided a breakdown of the property portfolio which showed actual property expenditure for 2022-23.  Appendix 4 of the report provided a breakdown of the property portfolio which showed actual property valuations at 31 March 2023.  Appendix 5 of the report showed the value of the Aegon Asset Management Investment Fund to 31 March 2023.  The Acting Chief Financial Officer presented the report and answered Members’ questions and clarified that the cash balance sheet for the year was in a deficit.  Previously invested funding may need to be drawn to fulfil expenditure requirement detailed in the report for 2023-24.  A budget of £10,500 had been set for grant awards which may also be reduced.

DECISION

(a)       NOTED

(i)        the actual income and expenditure for 2022-23 in Appendix 1;

(ii)       the final balance sheet value as at 31 March 2023 and projected balance sheet value as at 31 March 2024 in Appendix 2;

(iii)      the summary of the property portfolio in Appendices 3 and 4;

(iv)      the current position of the Aegon Asset Management Investment Fund in Appendix 5;

(b)       AGREED the projected income and expenditure for 2023/24 in Appendix 1 as the revised budget for 2023-24.

Consider application for financial assistance from Lauderdale Youth Football Club.  (Copy attached.)

There had been circulated copies of an application from Lauderdale Youth Football Club for £10,000 to part-fund upgrades to the match pitch and training pitches used by the club, and to extend the club rooms to develop a community hub.  While sympathetic to the aims of the project, Members raised concerns about ability of the funding position of the Common Good Fund to support the project at its current fundraising position.  It was noted that the project had raised £7,000 of a projected £62,000 total cost and that the Common Good may be in a better position to assess an application to fund the project after further fundraising had taken place and other funding options were exhausted.  The Estates Surveyor advised that if any development included an extension of the pavilion may require a community consultation should it extend beyond the designated area.  Members agreed that further information on the project should be submitted along with evidence of further fundraising.  Should further funds be required, the Sub-Committee would welcome a fresh application with detailed information on the project at a later date.  The club were recommended to make contact with the Community Engagement team for support in exploring other funding sources.

DECISION

AGREED:

(a)       Not to approve funding as requested in the application;

(b)       To advise that the Sub-Committee were sympathetic to the application however further fundraising should be sought by the applicant and if outstanding funds were required then the Sub-Committee would welcome a fresh application along with evidence of fundraising and detailed information on the activities of the project; and,

(c)       To recommend that the applicant contact Community Engagement to explore further funding options.

Before proceeding with the private business, the following motion should be approved:-

“That under Section 50A(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in the relevant paragraphs of Part 1 of Schedule 7A to the aforementioned Act.”

DECISION

AGREED under Section 50A(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 to exclude the public from the meeting during consideration of the business detailed in the Appendix to this Minute on the grounds that it involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 9 of Part I of Schedule 7A to the Act.

Consider Private Section of the Minute of the Meeting held on 21 March 2023.  (Copy attached.)

Members considered the Private Section of the Minute of the Meeting held on 31 March 2023.

Consider update by Estates Surveyor.

Members considered an update on Common Good Property by Estates Surveyor.