Agendas, reports and minutes

A hybrid meeting of the Corporate Resources Committee will take place in the Council Chamber, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness/Remotely on Thursday 7 December 2023 at 10.30 am.

Webcast Notice: This meeting will be filmed and broadcast over the Internet on the Highland Council website and will be archived and available for viewing for 12 months thereafter.

You are invited to attend the meeting and a note of the business to be considered is attached.

Yours faithfully

 

Stewart Fraser

Head of Legal and Governance

BUSINESS

1. Calling of the Roll and Apologies for Absence

Gairm a’ Chlàir agus Leisgeulan

2. Declarations of Interest/Transparency Statement

Foillseachaidhean Com-pàirt/ Aithris Fhollaiseachd

Members are asked to consider whether they have an interest to declare in relation to any item on the agenda for this meeting.  Any Member making a declaration of interest should provide some information on the nature of the interest and leave the meeting at the appropriate time.  Advice may be sought from officers prior to the meeting taking place.

3. Good News 

Naidheachdan Matha

The Committee is invited to note the good news as presented.

4. Corporate Revenue and Capital Monitoring Report to 30 September 2023 

Aithisg Teachd-a-steach Corporra agus Sgrùdadh 30 an t-Sultainn 2023 

a. Corporate Revenue Monitoring to 30 September 2023

Sgrùdadh Teachd-a-steach Corporra gu 30 Sultain 2023

There is circulated Report No RES/35/23 by the Head of Corporate Finance.

The Committee is asked to note the:

i. financial position of the General Fund and HRA revenue budgets as at 30 September 2023 and note the estimated year end forecast; and

ii. status of budgeted savings in the year.

b. Corporate Capital Monitoring to 30 September 2023

Sgrùdadh Calpa Corporra gu 30 Sultain 2023

There is circulated Report No RES/36/23 by the Head of Corporate Finance.

The Committee is invited to note the:

i. net spend to the end of Q2 2023/24, the forecast year end outturn and the funding profile; and

ii. updated position of approved major capital projects.

5. Revenue, Capital and Performance Monitoring - 1 April 2023 to 30 September 2023

Sgrùdadh Teachd-a-steach, Calpa agus Coileanaidh: 1 Giblean 2023 gu 30 Sultain 2023

a. Depute Chief Executive’s Service

Seirbheis an Iar-Àrd-Oifigeir

There is circulated Report No RES/37/23 by the Depute Chief Executive.

The Committee is invited to note the Service’s:

i. revenue monitoring position; and

ii. performance and risk information. 

b. Performance and Governance Service

Seirbheis a’ Choileanaidh agus an Riaghlachais

There is circulated Report No RES/38/23 by the Interim Executive Chief Officer Performance & Governance.  

The Committee is invited to note the Service’s:

i. revenue monitoring position; and

ii. performance and risk information. 

c. Resources and Finance Service

Seirbheis nan Goireasan agus an Ionmhais

There is circulated Report No RES/39/23 by the Depute Chief Executive.

The Committee is invited to note the Service’s:

i. revenue monitoring position; and

ii. performance and risk information. 

6. Treasury Management

Rianachd Ionmhais 

a. Summary of Transactions

Geàrr-chunntas Ghnothaichean

There is circulated Report No RES/40/23 by the Head of Corporate Finance.

The Committee is invited to note the Treasury Management Summary of Transactions report for the period from 1 July 2023 to 30 September 2023.

b. Mid-year Treasury Management Report 2022/23

Aithisg Stiùireadh Ionmhais Meadhan-bliadhna 2022/23

There is circulated Report No RES/41/23 by the Head of Corporate Finance.

The Committee is invited to consider and note the Treasury Management Mid-Year Review 2023/24.

7. Workforce Planning – Depute Chief Executive Service

Plana Sgioba-obrach - Seirbheis an Iar-Àrd-Oifigeir

There is circulated Report No RES/42/23 by the Depute Chief Executive.

The Committee is invited to approve the Depute Chief Executive Service’s Workforce Action Plan at Appendix 2 to the report.

8. Service Plans

Phlanaichean Seirbheis

a. Depute Chief Executive’s Service

Seirbheis an Iar-Àrd-Oifigeir

There is circulated Report No RES/43/23 by the Depute Chief Executive.

The Committee is invited to comment on and approve the Depute Chief Executive Service Plan for 2023/24.

b. Resources and Finance Service

Seirbheis nan Goireasan agus an Ionmhais

There is circulated Report No RES/44/23 by the Depute Chief Executive.

The Committee is invited to comment on and approve the Resources and Finance Service Plan for 2023/24.

9. Local Discretionary Housing Benefit Scheme for War Pensioners and War Widows

Sgeama Sochair Taigheadais fo Ùghdarras Ionadail airson Pheinnseanairean Cogaidh agus Bhanntraichean Cogaidh

There is circulated Report No RES/45/23 by the Executive Chief Officer Communities and Place.

The Committee is invited to agree:

i. to continue the policy to operate a discretionary local Housing Benefit Scheme for war pensioners, war widows and war widowers;  

ii. that the policy shall operate on an ongoing basis until such time as there is a change in regulations, subsidy or budgetary related matters which require a review of the Council’s policy; and

iii. that the Chair of the Corporate Resources Committee write to the Department for Work & Pensions seeking the equivalent of 100% funding to be made available by the Department for Work & Pensions when disregarding war pensions in the calculation of Housing Benefit, thus removing the requirement for 25% contributions by implementing local authorities. 

10. Non-Domestic Rates – Empty Property Relief Scheme

Reataichean Gnothachais – Sgeama Faochaidh airson Thogalaichean Falamh

There is circulated Report No RES/46/23 by the Executive Chief Officer Communities and Place.

The Committee is invited to: 

i. note the policy intent of the Council’s Empty Property Relief Scheme from 1 April 2024 is to encourage ratepayers to bring their properties back into use either through self-occupation or by letting to a third-party;

ii. agree the Council’s Empty Property Relief Scheme effective from 1 April 2024, and associated additional income net of costs, as set out in section 6 of the report; 

iii. agree the Scheme will continue on an annual basis, beyond the 4-year period set out in Section 6, and until such time that a review is considered necessary; 

iv. agree the Scheme will apply on a Highland-wide basis and will apply to all empty/unoccupied non-domestic properties with the exception of the classes of properties as set out in paragraph 6.4 of the report; and

v. agree the Scheme effective from 1 April 2024 will replace the Scheme agreed for financial year 2023/24. 

11. ICT User Satisfaction Survey (SOCITM)

Suirbhidh Riarachas Luchd-cleachdaidh ICT

There is circulated Report No RES/47/23 by the Depute Chief Executive.

The Committee is invited to note:

i. and acknowledge the level of service improvement and increase in user satisfaction levels; and

ii. that due to the minimal number of organisations carrying out this benchmarking, no comparison with others can be provided at this point.

12. Equally Safe at Work (ESAW) Employer Accreditation Scheme

Sgeama Barantachaidh Luchd-fastaidh airson Co-ionannachd Sàbhailteachd aig an Obair

There is circulated Report No RES/48/23 by the Head of People.

The Committee is invited to:

i. note the work activity to date and planned activity going forward; and 

ii. approve the Gender Based Violence Policy at Appendix 1 to the report.

13. Grievance Policy and Guidance Review and Update         

Ath-sgrùdadh is Ùrachadh den Phoileasaidh is den Stiùireadh Ghearanan

There is circulated Report No RES/49/23 by the Depute Chief Executive. 

The Committee is invited to:-

i. note the new Grievance and Resolution Policy and Guidance as outlined in Section 5 of the report;

ii. note progress to date; and

iii. agree to extend the pilot and report back to March 2024 Resources Committee.

14. People and Finance Systems Programme

Prògram Daoine agus Siostam Ionmhais

There is circulated Report No RES/50/23 by the Depute Chief Executive. 

The Committee is invited to note the update provided regarding the People and Finance Systems Programme.

15. Minutes of Meetings

Geàrr-chunntasan Choinneamhan

The following Minutes of Meetings are circulated for:

i. approval - Central Safety Committee held on 15 September 2023;

ii. noting - Appeals & Disputes Committee held on 1 September 2023, 11 September 2023, 19 October 2023 and 27 October 2023; and

iii. noting – Non-Domestic Rates Appeals Committee held on 13 November 2023; and

iv. approval - Staff Partnership Forum held on 15 November 2023.