Agenda item

Consider report by the Chief Executive launching the new Fit for 2024 programme which will support the delivery of the Revenue and Capital Financial Plan over the life of the 5 year revenue plan.  (Copy attached)

There had been circulated copies of a report by the Chief Executive proposing a new 5 year programme of transformation across the Council - called ‘Fit for 2024’ - with the aim of delivering a Council that was adaptable, efficient and effective, and one ultimately capable of not only meeting the challenges ahead, but of fully optimising outcomes for the citizens and communities for which it is responsible.  The report noted the scale and breadth of the challenges the Council faced and the opportunities provided by the coalescence of a number of initiatives, including the South of Scotland Enterprise Agency and the Local Governance Review.  It recognised changing citizen and customer expectations, both in terms of operational contacts with the Council, and in a desire for increased involvement in its decision-making processes.  A template for Fit for 2024 was set out which built on the primary purposes for which the Council existed and guiding principles drawn from international, national and local commitments.  This held that, through delivery of excellent leadership, and top class services, the Council would drive improvements in wellbeing guided by the Christie principles, by principles of Sustainable Development and the necessity of everyone playing ‘our part’ pursuant to the Corporate Plan.  The Fit for 2024 Forward plan contained a range of projects and initiatives necessary to the delivery of Fit for 2024, highlighting the importance of a ‘whole’ Council approach, the cross-cutting nature of what was required, and the need for all elements of the programme to be driven corporately.  As the first of a series of practical issues, which would emerge as a result of Fit for 2024, it was proposed that a range of Council community funds and grants to external bodies were consolidated in a single fund, and devolved across the Council’s five Area Partnerships.  The background to and rationale for this proposal and related proposals were set out in Annex A to the report.  Members discussed the proposals in details and amendments were put forward.  The Chief Executive and Service Director Customer and Communities answered Members’ questions and highlighted that this was not about the Council stopping providing services but providing them in a different and more efficient way.

VOTE

Councillor Aitchison, seconded by Councillor Mountford, moved the recommendations in the report subject to amending recommendation 2.2 to read as follows:-

2.2     With reference to Annex A of this report, I recommend that Scottish Borders Council agrees to:-

(a)     establish a Community Fund for devolvement to the five Area Partnerships from 1 April 2019 by consolidating the Council’s existing Localities Bid Fund, Quality of Life Fund, Community Grant Scheme, Local Festival Grant, Federation of Village Halls Grant, Community Council Grant and the current contribution to the Third Sector for accommodation costs;

(b)     continue to fund Community Councils at the same level for 2019/20 to allow a review of these grants to take place at the same time as the forthcoming review of the Scheme for Community Councils;

(c)     receive a further report on options for the allocation of the Community Fund to each Area Partnership, including any required changes to governance, following further engagement with Elected Members;   

(d)     offer in kind accommodation, in place of the current financial contribution, to the Third Sector; and

(e)     consider the allocation of a further £445,000 as part of the 2019/20 budget process to the Community Fund (referred to in paragraph 2.2(a) above) across the five Localities based upon head of population, to support communities in taking forward locally agreed community priorities and solutions.

Councillor H. Anderson, seconded by Councillor Bell, moved as an amendment:-

“Whilst agreeing with the principle of consolidating a number of community focussed budgets into one overarching Community Fund and distributing these funds through the 5 Area Partnerships, we consider that we have insufficient information in this report to make an informed decision about the future allocation of these funds.

We therefore propose that Recommendation 2.2 is amended as follows:

(1)        Delete the words “With reference to Annex A of this report,”

(2)        Replace recommendation 2.2 (c ) with the following:

          “ asks officers to bring back to the Council a report which clarifies current locality specific spend from these funds and identifies options for the future management and distribution of these funds between and within the 5 localities.”

(3)     Delete recommendation 2.2 (d)

On a show of hands Members voted as follows:-

Motion             -           17 Votes

Amendment     -           16 Votes

The Motion was accordingly carried.

DECISION

(a)     AGREED to:-

          (i)      approve the transformation programme Fit for 2024;

     (ii)     approve the proposed vision for Fit for 2024 and guiding principles to facilitate that transformation journey, namely:

(1)    A Council which through the delivery of excellent leadership and top class services drives improvements in wellbeing across and throughout the Scottish Borders;

(2)    A Fit for 2024 Transformation Programme that is guided by the Christie principles, by principles of Sustainable Development and the necessity of us all playing ‘our part’.

(iii)    note the significant strategic implications of Fit for 2024 for the Council, and the proposed elements of the programme as described in paragraph 4.3 of the report;

          (iv)    approve the preparation of internal and external communications plans to support Fit for 2024; and

          (v)     approve investment in resources to deliver Fit for 2024

(b)     DECIDED with reference to Annex A of the report:-

(i)        establish a Community Fund for devolvement to the five Area Partnerships from 1 April 2019 by consolidating the Council’s existing Localities Bid Fund, Quality of Life Fund, Community Grant Scheme, Local Festival Grant, Federation of Village Halls Grant, Community Council Grant and the current contribution to the Third Sector for accommodation costs;

(ii)          continue to fund Community Councils at the same level for 2019/20 to allow a review of these grants to take place at the same time as the forthcoming review of the Scheme for Community Councils;

(iii)      receive a further report on options for the allocation of the Community Fund to each Area Partnership, including any required changes to governance, following further engagement with Elected Members;

(iv)      offer in kind accommodation, in place of the current financial contribution, to the Third Sector; and

(v)     consider the allocation of a further £445,000 as part of the 2019/20 budget process to the Community Fund (referred to in paragraph 2.2(a) above) across the five Localities based upon head of population, to support communities in taking forward locally agreed community priorities and solutions.