Agenda, decisions and minutes

The agenda and reports associated with this minute can be found here.

Please note that if any changes are made to this minute at the point of approval, these will be outlined in the subsequent minute and this document will not be retrospectively altered.

There were no declarations of interest intimated.

With reference to article 15 of the minute of meeting of 25 April 2019, the Committee had before it a report by the Chief Officer – City Growth which sought approval for officers to accompany a work of art on loan to and from the More Museum in the Netherlands.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee –

(a)       approve the international travel by an officer (to be identified by the Chief Officer - City Growth) to accompany the painting ‘Two Schoolgirls ’to and from the More Museum in the Netherlands; and

(b)       delegate authority to the Chief Officer - City Growth, following consultation with the Chief Officer - Customer, to authorise international travel of officers to accompany works of art to and from overseas venues – where such works of art are being loaned to such venues and where all costs are covered by the borrower.

The Committee resolved:-

to approve the recommendations.

With reference to article 6 of the minute of meeting of 25 April 2019, the Committee had before it a report by the Director of Resources which provided information on the financial position of the Council as at Quarter 1 (30 June 2019) and the full year forecast position for the financial year 2019/20, including (1) General Fund and Housing Revenue Account (HRA) revenue and capital accounts and associated Balance Sheet; and (2) Common Good Revenue Account and Balance Sheet.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee –

(a)       note the positive cash position that has been achieved for the General Fund and HRA to the end of Quarter 1 as detailed in Appendix 1;

(b)       note the Common Good financial performance to the end of Quarter 1 as detailed in Appendix 3;

(c)       note that the revenue budgets for the General Fund, HRA and Common Good are on target to achieve a balanced position for 2019/20 as detailed in Appendix 2;

(d)       note that the capital expenditure for the General Fund will result in a lower level of borrowing at the end of financial year 2019/20 than had been budgeted; and for the Housing Capital programme the initial estimate is that the budgeted funding requirements will be achieved, as detailed in Appendix 2;

(e)       approve the incentive scheme for new foster carers as detailed in sections 3.11 and 3.12 of this report;

(f)        approve the release of the Earmarked Reserves to support the uncommitted General Fund balance and Common Good cash balance respectively, as detailed in section 3.13 of this report; and

(g)       approve the virements for Housing Capital budgets as detailed in Appendix 2.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)        to approve the recommendations;

(ii)       to instruct the Chief Officer – Finance to submit a report to the 26 November 2019 meeting of the City Growth and Resources Committee containing indicative budget options for the financial year 2020/21;

(iii)      that the Chief Officer – Finance circulate to members of the Committee (by way of email), details in relation to the number of adult social care out of authority area placements;

(iv)      that the Chief Officer – Finance circulate to members of the Committee (by way of email), further details in relation to the level of other funds raised to reduce the allocation of £1million for the redevelopment of Aberdeen Science Centre;

(v)       that the Director of Resources circulate to members of the Committee (by way of email), confirmation that the proposed external cleaning works to the Music Hall would be undertaken to a satisfactory standard; and

(vi)      to thank all officers concerned in relation to the preparation of the report.

-          COUNCILLOR ROSS GRANT, Vice Convener