Agenda, decisions and draft minutes

In terms of Section 1.3 of the Committee Remit and in accordance with Section 50B(4)(b) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, the Committee was informed that it had to determine (1) that the item on the agenda was of an urgent nature; and (2) that the Committee required to consider the item and take a decision thereon.

The Committee resolved:-

to agree that the report was of an urgent nature and required to be considered this day to enable the Committee to consider the matter at the earliest available opportunity and take decisions thereon.

The Committee was requested to determine that the item of business, which had been identified as containing exempt information as described in Schedule 7A to the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, be taken in private.

The Committee resolved:-

in terms of Section 50A(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, to exclude the press and public from the meeting during consideration of the item so as to avoid disclosure of exempt information of the classes described in paragraphs 4 and 6 of Schedule 7A to the Act.

In accordance with the decision recorded under Article 2 of this minute, the following item was considered with the press and public excluded.

The Committee had before it a report by the Director of Resources which presented a request from an organisation for financial aid in the form of additional funding to assist them in meeting their financial obligations.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee -

(a)          consider the report and the request for finance;

(b)          approve the request for funding of up to £50,000 as requested, this being up to £25,000 by way of a loan and up to £25,000 from the Common Good Fund as a grant, the payment of such funding to be subject to recommendations (c) and (d) below;

(c)          instruct the Head of Commercial and Procurement Services to prepare and facilitate signature by the Council of:-

(1)      the necessary documentation to protect the Council’s interests, including providing that the loan and grant is to be paid to the organisation in tranches, only as and when necessary;

(2)      a detailed action plan agreeing certain actions in order to protect the Council’s interests and in accordance with the principles of best value; and

(d)          instruct the Director of Commissioning to notify the organisation of the committee decision.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)           to approve recommendations (b), (c)(1) and (d); and

(ii)          to instruct the Head of Commercial and Procurement Services to prepare and facilitate signature by the Council of a detailed action plan to be agreed with the organisation setting out certain actions in order to protect the Council.

- JENNIFER LAING, Convener.