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 March 2024 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. Late Submission of Expenses Claims

A’ Cur A-steach airson Cosgaisean Anmoch

It had previously been agreed by the Corporate Resources Committee that late submissions of Elected Members expenses claims will be presented to the Committee for approval.

The Committee is asked to approve the following claims:

• Mrs Isabelle Campbell  £73.28 for 50% of Broadband expense for September 2023; and

• Mrs Margaret Paterson £66.15 for mileage for the month of October 2023.

5. Appointments to Sub-Committees, Working Groups, etc

Cur an Dreuchd gu Fo-Chomataidhean, Buidhnean-obrach is eile

The Committee is invited to agree the following appointments:

• Mr J Bruce to replace Mr R Stewart on Appeals and Disputes Committee; and

• Mrs T Robertson to replace Mr A MacDonald on Non-Domestic Rates Appeals Committee.

6. Corporate Revenue and Capital Monitoring Report to 31 December 2023

Aithisg Teachd-a-steach Corporra agus Sgrùdadh Calpa gu 31 Dùbhlachd 2023                                                                                                         

a. Corporate Revenue Monitoring to 31 December 2023

Sgrùdadh Teachd-a-steach Corporra gu 31 Dùbhlachd 2023

There is circulated Report No RES/01/24 by the Interim Head of Corporate Finance.

The Committee is asked to:

i. consider the financial position of the General Fund and HRA revenue budgets as at 31 December 2023 and note the estimated year end forecast; and

ii. note the status of budgeted savings in the year.

b. Corporate Capital Monitoring to 31 December 2023

Sgrùdadh Calpa Corporra gu 31 Dùbhlachd 2023

There is circulated Report No RES/02/24 by the Interim Head of Corporate Finance.

The Committee is invited to note the:

i. net spend to the end of Q3 2023/24, the forecast year end outturn and the funding profile; and

ii. updated position of approved major capital projects.

7. Revenue Budget Monitoring and Service Performance Reporting for Quarter 3: 1 October 2023 to 31 December 2023

Sgrùdadh Buidseat Teachd-a-steach agus Aithris Coileanadh Seirbheis airson Ràith 3: 1 Dàmhair 2023 gu 31 Dùbhlachd 2023

a. Depute Chief Executive’s Service

Seirbheis an Iar-Àrd-Oifigeir

There is circulated Report No RES/03/24 by the Interim Depute Chief Executive.

The Committee is invited to:

i consider the Service’s revenue monitoring position; 

ii scrutinise the Service’s performance and risk information; and

iii agree the suggested changes to planned targets in paragraph 6.2 of the report.

b. Performance and Governance Service

Seirbheis a’ Choileanaidh agus an Riaghlachais

There is circulated Report No RES/04/24 by the Interim Executive Chief Officer Performance & Governance.  

The Committee is invited to:

i consider the Service’s revenue monitoring position; and

ii scrutinise the Service’s performance and risk information. 

c. Resources and Finance Service

Seirbheis nan Goireasan agus an Ionmhais

There is circulated Report No RES/05/24 by the Interim Depute Chief Executive.

The Committee is invited to:

i consider the Service’s revenue monitoring position; and

ii scrutinise the Service’s performance and risk information. 

8. Treasury Management – Summary of Transactions

Rianachd Ionmhais – Geàrr-chunntas Ghnothaichean

There is circulated Report No RES/06/24 by the Interim Head of Corporate Finance.

The Committee is invited to note the Treasury Management Summary of Transactions report for the period from 1 October 2023 to 31 December 2023.

9. Resources and Finance Service Workforce Plan 2024-27

Plana Feachd-obrach Seirbheis nan Goireasan agus an Ionmhais

There is circulated Report No RES/07/24 by the Interim Depute Chief Executive.

The Committee is invited to approve the Resources & Finance Service Workforce Action Plan at Appendix 2 to the report.

10. Staff Wellbeing Survey

Suirbhidh Sunnd Luchd-obrach

There is circulated Report No RES/08/24 by the Interim Depute Chief Executive.

The Committee is invited to: 

i. note the survey results and the Executive Summary as contained in Appendix 1 attached to the report;

ii. agree the next steps as outlined in Section 7 of the report. 

11. Highland Council Adopting Ecosia Search Engine

Comhairle na Gàidhealtachd a’ Gabhail ri Einnsean-luirg Ecosia

There is circulated Report No RES/09/24 by the Interim Depute Chief Executive.

The Committee is invited to:

i. note the report; and 

ii. agree not to adopt Ecosia as the Council’s default search engine.

12. Minutes of Meetings

Geàrr-chunntasan Choinneamhan

The following Minutes of Meetings are circulated for:

i. approval - Central Safety Committee held on 1 December 2023;

ii. approval - Staff Partnership Forum held on 8 February 2024; and

iii. noting – Appeals and Disputes Committee held on 14 February 2024.

13. Exclusion of Public

Às-dùnadh a’ Phobaill

The Committee is asked to resolve that, under Section 50A(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, the public should be excluded from the meeting for the following item on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 6&9 of Part 1 of Schedule 7A of the Act.

14. HRA Debts Recommended to be Written Off

Fiachan Cunntas Teachd-a-steach Taigheadais gam Moladh airson Dì-sgrìobhadh

There is circulated to Members only Report No RES/10/24 by the Executive Chief Officer Communities and Place.  

The Committee is invited to agree the recommendations as set out in the report.