Agendas, reports and minutes

Corporate Resources Committee

Date: Wednesday, 11 September 2024

Agenda: Read the Agenda

A hybrid meeting of the Corporate Resources Committee will take place in the Council Chamber, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness/Remotely on Wednesday 11 September 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. Recess Powers
Cumhachdan Fosaidh
 
The Committee is invited to note that the recess powers granted by the Council at its meeting on 27 June 2024 have not been exercised in relation to the business of the Corporate Resources Committee.
 
4. Good News 
Naidheachdan Matha
 
The Committee is invited to note the good news as presented.
 
5. 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:
 
• Mr John Grafton - £702.15 for mileage in October, November and December 2023;
• Mr Karl Rosie - £1,575.90 for mileage in April, October, November and December 2023;
• Mrs Margaret Paterson - £164.52 for broadband expenses from April to December 2023; and
• Mrs Barbara Jarvie - £132.30 for mileage in January and February 2024.
 
6. Corporate Revenue Budget Update – Financial Year 2024/25             
Cunntas às Ùr mun Bhuidseat Teachd-a-steach Chorporra – Bliadhna Ionmhasail 2024/25        
 
There is circulated Report No RES/19/24 by the Assistant Chief Executive - Corporate.
 
The Committee is invited to note the:
 
i. budget update as set out in this report;
ii. forecast provide regarding budget savings; and
iii. update provided regarding the Income Generation portfolio;
 
7. Corporate Services Cluster: Revenue Monitoring Near Final Outturns 2023/24
Bagaid Sheirbheisean Corporra: Toraidhean Faisg air Deireannach Sgrùdadh Teachd-a-steach 2023/24
 
a. Depute Chief Executive Service Revenue Monitoring Near Final Out-turn 2023/24
Toradh Faisg air Deireannach Sgrùdadh Teachd-a-steach Seirbheis an Iar-Cheannaird 2023/24
 
There is circulated Report No RES/20/24 by the Assistant Chief Executive - Corporate.
 
The Committee is invited to consider and note the revenue monitoring position for the Service.
 
b. Performance & Governance Service Revenue Monitoring Near Final Out-turn 2023/24
Toradh Faisg air Deireannach Sgrùdadh Teachd-a-steach Seirbheis Coileanaidh & Riaghlachais 2023/24
 
There is circulated Report No RES/21/24 by the Assistant Chief Executive - Corporate.
 
The Committee is invited to consider and note the revenue monitoring position for the Service.
 
c. Resources & Finance Service Revenue Monitoring Near Final Out-turn 
2023/24
Toradh Faisg air Deireannach Sgrùdadh Teachd-a-steach Seirbheis Ghoireasan & Ionmhais 2023/24
 
There is circulated Report No RES/22/24 by the Assistant Chief Executive - Corporate.
 
The Committee is invited to consider and note the revenue monitoring position for the Service.
 
8. Corporate Services Cluster – Performance Monitoring Q1 2024/25 
Bagaid Sheirbheisean Corporra – Sgrùdadh Coileanaidh R1 2024/25
 
There is circulated Report No RES/23/24 by the Assistant Chief Executive - Corporate.
 
The Committee is invited to scrutinise and note the performance of the Services.
 
9. Treasury Management
 Rianachd Ionmhais 
 
a. Annual Treasury Management Report – 2023/24 
Aithisg Stiùiridh Bhliadhnail an Ionmhais – 2023/24
 
There is circulated (pp.55-74) Report No RES/24/24 by the Head of Corporate Finance.
 
The Committee is invited to consider and note the Annual Treasury Management report for 2023/24.
 
b. Summary of Transactions 
Geàrr-chunntas Ghnothaichean
 
There is circulated Report No RES/25/24 by the Head of Corporate Finance.
 
The Committee is invited to consider and note the Treasury Management  Summary of Transactions report for the period from 1 April 2024 to 30 June 2024.
 
10. Corporate Systems Update – Finance, HR/Payroll and Pensions Programme
Cunntas às Ùr mu Shiostaman Corporra – Ionmhas, Goireasan Daonna/Rola-ràighidh agus Prògram Pheinnseanan
 
There is circulated Report No RES/26/24 by the Assistant Chief Executive - Corporate.
 
The Committee is invited to note the:-
 
i. updates regarding the Finance, HR/Payroll and Pensions Programme;
ii. review of governance arrangements and revisions to the Programme Board and respective Project Boards;
iii. update regarding the Human Resources and Payroll project, including the commissioning of an external strategic review to support future strategy and decision making.
 
11. Annual Procurement Report 1 April 2023 – 31 March 2024           
Aithisg Bhliadhnail Solair 1 Giblean 2023 – 31 Màrt 2024 
 
There is circulated Report No RES/27/24 by the Head of Corporate Finance.
 
The Committee is invited to note the content and publication of the
Highland Council Annual Procurement Report 2023-2024 (Appendix 1).
 
12.  Annual Report on Citizens Advice Bureau Contract         
Aithisg Bhliadhnail mu Chùmhnant Biùro Comhairleachadh a’ Phobaill
 
There is circulated Report No RES/28/24 by the Assistant Chief Executive – Corporate.
 
The Committee is invited to consider and note the undernoted performance: 
 
i. nearly 26,500 residents were supported by the Council’s Welfare Support Team and Citizens Advice during 2023/24 with welfare, debt and housing advice services, resulting in more than 111,300 contacts (on average, 4 contacts per client). Assessing the number of contacts provides workload and throughput data and provides important context when reflecting upon the overall effectiveness and quality of welfare services being provided;
ii. financial gains for clients exceeded £26.8 million. This represents a £17.32 return for every £1 allocated to these welfare services;
iii. a total of £9.562m of debt (including £1.132m relating to mortgage/other secured loans) was presented by households seeking support to prioritise their bills, reduce and manage their debts, and wherever possible to lower the interest charges they were due to pay; and
iv. support was provided for 3,132 clients (including social rented, private rented and homeowners) seeking housing-related advice, thus highlighting the demand for consistent accessible support on these critical issues.
 
13. Publication of Decisions at COSLA Leaders’ Meetings         
Foillseachadh Cho-dhùnaidhean aig Coinneamhan Ceannardan COSLA
 
There is circulated Report No RES/29/24 by the Assistant Chief Executive – Corporate.
 
The Committee is invited to note the report. 
 
14. Employee Engagement Strategy        
Ro-innleachd Com-pàirteachadh Luchd-obrach
 
There is circulated Report No RES/30/24 by the Assistant Chief Executive – Corporate.
 
The Committee is invited to:-
 
i. approve the Employee Engagement Strategy; and
ii. note consultation will take place with TU colleagues on implementation of the strategy      
                                                  
15. Trading Standards Performance 2023/24 and Operational Plan 2024/25    
Coileanadh Inbhean Malairt 2023/24 agus Plana Obrachail 2024/25  
 
There is circulated Report No RES/31/24 by the Assistant Chief Executive – Corporate.
 
The Committee is invited to:
 
i. note the performance of the Trading Standards team during the year 2023/24 as laid out in its Annual Report; and
ii. consider and approve the Trading Standards Operational Plan for 2024/25.
 
16. Minutes of Meetings
Geàrr-chunntasan Choinneamhan
 
The following Minutes of Meetings are circulated for:
 
i. noting - Appeals & Disputes Committee held on 31 May 2024 (pp.180-181);
ii. approval - Central Safety Committee held on 12 June 2024 (pp.182-187);
iii. approval - Staff Partnership Forum held on 19 June and 21 August 2024 (pp.188-194); 
iv. noting – Non -Domestic Rates Appeals Committee held on 23 August 2024 (pp.195-196); and
v. noting – Employment Release Sub Committee held on 27 August 2024 (pp.197-198).
 
17. Exclusion of the 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 Paragraph 6 of Part 1 of Schedule 7A of the Act.
 
18. Debt Management
Stiùireadh Fhiachan
 
There is circulated to Members only Report No RES/32/24 by the Assistant Chief Executive – Corporate.
 
The Committee is invited to agree the recommendations as set out in the report.