Agendas, reports and minutes

Corporate Resources Committee

Date: Thursday, 5 December 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 Thursday 5 December 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
Chief Officer - Legal and Corporate 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 Angela MacLean - £202.05 for mileage in May 2024;
• Mr John Grafton - £278.95 for mileage in May and June 2024; and
• Mr John Bruce - £932.40 for mileage in April, May and June 2024 and for Broadband in April, June and July 2024.
 
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 revised membership to the Sub-Committees and Working Groups which will be tabled at the meeting.
 
6. Corporate Revenue and Capital Monitoring Report to 30 September 2024
Aithisg Teachd-a-steach Corporra agus Sgrùdadh 30 an t-Sultainn 2024
 
a. Corporate Revenue Monitoring to 30 September 2024
Sgrùdadh Teachd-a-steach Corporra gu 30 an t-Sultainn 2024
 
There is circulated Report No RES/33/24 by the Chief Officer - Corporate Finance.  
 
The Committee is asked to note the:
 
i. financial position of the General Fund and HRA revenue budgets as at 30 September 2024 and note the estimated year end forecast; and
ii. status of delivery of budget savings in the year.
 
b. Corporate Capital Monitoring to 30 September 2024
Sgrùdadh Calpa Corporra gu 30 an t-Sultainn 2024
 
There is circulated Report No RES/34/24 by the Chief Officer - Corporate Finance.
 
The Committee is invited to note the:
 
i. net spend to the end of Q2 2024/25, the forecast year end outturn and the funding profile; and
ii. update provided regarding main project spend variances.
 
7. Corporate Service – Revenue Budget and Performance Q2 Monitoring 2024/25 
Seirbheis Chorporra – Sgrùdadh Buidseat Teachd-a-steach agus Coileanaidh R2 2024/25       
 
There is circulated Report No RES/35/24 by the Assistant Chief Executive - Corporate.
 
The Committee is asked to scrutinise and note the performance of the Corporate Cluster.
 
8. Treasury Management
Rianachd Ionmhais 
 
a. Treasury Management – Mid Year Report 2024/25
Stiùireadh Roinn an Ionmhais – Aithisg Meadhan Bliadhna 2024/25
 
There is circulated Report No RES/36/24 by the Chief Officer - Corporate Finance.
 
The Committee is invited to consider and note the Treasury Management Mid-Year Review 2024/25.
 
b. Treasury Management – Summary of Transactions
Rianachd Ionmhais - Geàrr-chunntas Ghnothaichean
 
There is circulated Report No RES/37/24 by the Chief Officer - Corporate Finance.
 
The Committee is invited to consider and note the Treasury Management Summary of Transactions report for the period from 1 July 2024 to 30 September 2024.
 
9. Corporate Systems Update – Finance, HR/Payroll and Pensions Programme            
Cunntas às Ùr mu Shiostaman Corporra – Ionmhas, Goireasan Daonna/Rola-pàighidh agus Prògram Pheinnseanan
 
There is circulated Report No RES/38/24 by the Assistant Chief Executive – Corporate.
 
The Committee is invited to note the:
 
i. updates regarding the Finance, HR/Payroll and Pensions Programme; and
ii. update regarding the Human Resources and Payroll project including the delivery of an external strategic review and Outline Business Case to support future strategy and programme roadmap.
 
10. Delivery Plan Budget Monitoring & Progress Update           
Sgrùdadh Buidseat a’ Phlana Lìbhrigidh & Cunntas air Adhartas
 
a. Delivery Plan Budget Monitoring & Progress Update – Corporate Solutions
Sgrùdadh Buidseat a’ Phlana Lìbhrigidh & Cunntas air Adhartas – Fuasglaidhean Corporra
 
There is circulated Report No RES/39/24 by the Assistant Chief Executive – Corporate.
 
The Committee is invited to scrutinise and note the progress on the projects covered in the report.
 
b. Delivery Plan Budget Monitoring & Progress Update – Income Generation
Sgrùdadh Buidseat a’ Phlana Lìbhrigidh & Cunntas air Adhartas – Togail Teachd-a-steach
 
There is circulated Report No RES/40/24 by the Assistant Chief Executive – Corporate.
 
The Committee is invited to consider and note the progress of each of the Income Generation projects.
 
11. Corporate Charging Policy           
Poileasaidh Teàirrdsidh Corporra
 
There is circulated Report No RES/41/24 by the Assistant Chief Executive – Corporate.
 
The Committee is invited to:
 
i. consider and note the contents of the report; and
ii. approve the Council’s Charging Policy.
 
12. Corporate Workforce Planning Strategy 2025-2027         
Ro-innleachd Planadh Feachd-obrach Corporra 2025-2027
 
There is circulated Report No RES/42/24 by the Assistant Chief Executive – Corporate.
 
The Committee is invited to approve the Corporate Workforce Planning Strategy 2025-2027 and priorities outlined in the corporate workforce action plan over the next three years, aligned to the Council’s medium term budget plan.
 
13. Audit Scotland Report: Transformation in Councils        
Aithisg Sgrùdadh Alba: Cruth-atharrachadh Chomhairlean
 
There is circulated Report No RES/43/24 by the Strategic Lead (Corporate Audit).
 
The Committee is invited to consider and note:
 
i. the Audit Scotland report and in particular the key messages on pages 3 and 4 of the report and the Commission expectations set out on page 5 of the report;
ii. the information set out in section 5 of the report including the assessment against Audit Scotland’s the transformation principles which they expect all Councils to follow; and
iii. that Transformation is the third Best Value thematic topic and Audit Scotland will commence this review shortly with the findings reported next year.
 
14. Banking and Related Financial Transactions – Authorised Signatories List         
Tar-ghnìomhan Bancaireachd is Ionmhasail Co-cheangailte – Ath-sgrùdadh gu Soidhnichean Ùghdarraichte
 
There is circulated Report No RES/44/24 by the Chief Officer - Corporate Finance.
 
The Committee is invited to approve the:
 
i. deletion of Allan Gunn, Assistant Chief Executive - Corporate and Sheila Armstrong, Chief Officer – Revenues and Commercialisation from the list of authorised signatories for banking and related financial transactions with immediate effect; and
ii. addition of Jennifer McGonagle, Strategic Lead – People, Carolyn Pieraccini, Strategic Lead - Place and Catriona Stachan, Pensions Manager to the authorised signatories list with immediate effect.
 
15. Minutes of Meetings
Geàrr-chunntasan Choinneamhan
 
The following Minutes of Meetings are circulated for:
 
i. approval - Central Safety Committee held on 25 September 2024;
ii. approval - Staff Partnership Forum held on 7 November 2024; and
iii. noting – Non-Domestic Rates Appeals Committee held on 22 November 2024.
 
16. 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 Paragraphs 6 of Part 1 of Schedule 7A of the Act.
 
17. Debt Management
Stiùireadh Fhiachan
 
There is circulated to Members only Report No RES/45/24 by the Assistant Chief Executive – Corporate.
 
The Committee is invited to agree the recommendations as set out in the report.