Scottish Borders Council

Agenda item

A Proposal for a Single Public Authority in the Scottish Borders

Consider report by Chief Executive.  (Copy attached.)

Minutes:

There had been circulated copies of a report by the Chief Executive seeking approval for the ‘Proposal for a Single Public Authority in the Scottish Borders’, as detailed in the appendix to the report, and its submission to the Local Governance Review jointly announced by Scottish Government and the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) in December 2017.  The report explained that with the aim of driving a step change in outcomes for the citizens and communities of the Scottish Borders, the proposal advanced a vision for a single service delivery vehicle, encompassing the Council and NHS Borders in the first instance.  The proposal also examined intermediate practical steps which might be taken to progress this model, and considered how citizens and communities could have ‘more say about how public services in their area were run.’  In response to concerns that there had been no discussion with Members in advance of this report being presented to Council, the Chief Executive advised that there had been numerous conversations over months with senior Councillors and partners, and the draft response had been taken to a Members Sounding Board meeting on 29 August 2018, with Members asked to discuss it confidentially within their Groups.  The Chief Executive then clarified that this was only a proposal to be explored, not a decision to create a single public authority, but a response to a Government consultation, which may or may not lead to this being considered further.  Members discussed the proposal at length with a number of views both for and against the proposal being expressed, along with further options for consideration.

 

VOTE

 

Councillor Haslam, seconded by Councillor Aitchison, moved that the Council:-

(a)     Agrees that the document ‘A Proposal for a Single Public Authority in the Scottish Borders’ (Appendix A) should be submitted to the Local Governance Review.

 

(b)     Further agrees that:-   

          (i)     The Members Political Sounding Board shall continue to work with Officers in developing the Proposal for Single Public Authority in the Scottish Borders, including how best to engage and consult with the public of the Scottish Borders and other stakeholders and in considering other proposals which emerge during engagement and consultation on the Proposal; and

 

          (ii)      The Members Political Sounding Board shall provide regular feedback to Elected Members.

 

Councillor H. Anderson, seconded by Councillor Moffat, moved as an amendment that the wording of the synopsis of the submission be replaced with “this paper considers the potential formation of a single public authority as one possible means of delivering a step change in outcomes for citizens and communities of the Scottish Borders.  This paper seeks permission to commence initial consultation with elected members and stakeholders and to ensure these consultations also explore and evaluate alternative approaches, such as a lead agency model or enhanced IJB option, to enable the robustness of the single public authority option to be fully tested.”

 

Councillor Robson, seconded by Councillor Chapman, moved as a further amendment “that this Council notes the draft submission to the Scottish Government Consultation, finds the draft defective in conclusion, content and style and therefore not appropriate to submit to the Scottish Government, recognises that an extended deadline has already been granted by the Scottish Government to allow Scottish Borders Council to submit its response and therefore calls for a representative of all party groups to meet at 10.00 a.m. on Wednesday, 26th October 2018 to change and redraft the submission with delegated authority to approve the final version thereof to be sent timeously to the Scottish Government.”

 

Councillor Chapman, seconded by Councillor A. Anderson, moved that the votes be taken by roll call and this was unanimously approved.

 

The Clerk to the Council advised that in terms of Standing Order 42 a vote would firstly be taken between Councillor Haslam’s Motion and Councillor Robson’s amendment, being the direct negative.  If Councillor Robson’s amendment succeeded there would be no further vote.  However, if Councillor Haslam’s Motion was successful then a vote between that Motion and Councillor H. Anderson’s amendment would then be taken.

 

Roll Call Vote 1

         

Cllr Haslam’s Motion

Councillor Robson’s Amendment

Abstention

Councillor Aitchison

Councillor A. Anderson

Councillor H. Scott

Councillor Edgar

Councillor H. Anderson

 

Councillor Fullarton

Councillor Chapman

 

Councillor Greenwell

Councillor Laing

 

Councillor C. Hamilton

Councillor McAteer

 

Councillor S. Hamilton

Councillor Moffat

 

Councillor Haslam

Councillor Penman

 

Councillor Jardine

Councillor Ramage

 

Councillor Miers

Councillor Robson

 

Councillor Mountford

Councillor Thornton-Nicol

 

Councillor Parker

 

 

Councillor Richards

 

 

Councillor Rowley

 

 

Councillor S. Scott

 

 

Councillor Small

 

 

Councillor Tatler

 

 

Councillor Turnbull

 

 

Councillor Weatherston

 

 

         

The Motion was accordingly carried by 18 votes to 10 so a second vote was held as follows:-

 

Roll Call Vote 2

         

Cllr Haslam’s Motion

Councillor H. Anderson’s Amendment

Councillor Aitchison

Councillor A. Anderson

Councillor Edgar

Councillor H. Anderson

Councillor Fullarton

Councillor Chapman

Councillor Greenwell

Councillor Laing

Councillor C. Hamilton

Councillor McAteer

Councillor S. Hamilton

Councillor Moffat

Councillor Haslam

Councillor Penman

Councillor Jardine

Councillor Ramage

Councillor Miers

Councillor Robson

Councillor Mountford

Councillor H. Scott

Councillor Parker

Councillor Thornton-Nicol

Councillor Richards

 

Councillor Rowley

 

Councillor S. Scott

 

Councillor Small

 

Councillor Tatler

 

Councillor Turnbull

 

Councillor Weatherston

 

 

The Motion was accordingly carried by 18 votes to 11.

 

DECISION

DECIDED that:-

(a)     the document ‘A Proposal for a Single Public Authority in the Scottish Borders’ (Appendix A to the report) should be submitted to the Local Governance Review;

 

(b)     the Members Political Sounding Board would continue to work with Officers in developing the Proposal for Single Public Authority in the Scottish Borders, including how best to engage and consult with the public of the Scottish Borders and other stakeholders and in considering other proposals which emerged during engagement and consultation on the Proposal; and

 

(c)     the Members Political Sounding Board would provide regular feedback to Elected Members.

Supporting documents:

 

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