Falkirk Council Agenda - 25 September 2019, 09:30 
A meeting to be held at Council Chambers, Municipal Buildings, Falkirk at 09:30 on 25 September 2019.
| Number | Item |
|---|---|
| Record of Votes View Papers | |
| 1 | Sederunt |
| 2 | Declarations of Interest Members should declare any financial and non-financial interests they have in any item of business at the meeting, identifying the relevant agenda item and the nature of the interest. |
| 3 | Minutes and Information Bulletin |
| (a) | Minute of Meeting of Falkirk Council held on 26 June 2019; View Papers |
| (b) | Volume of Minutes - Volume 1 2019/20, and View Papers |
| (c) | Information Bulletin - Volume 1 2019/20. View Papers |
| 4 | Questions Questions submitted in accordance with Standing Orders will be published in advance of the meeting. |
| 5 | Rolling Action Log View Papers |
| 6 | Referral from Audit Committee - 16 September 2019 Annual Accounts and Annual Audit Report 2018/19 Report by the Director of Corporate and Housing Services. View Papers |
| 7 | Review of Polling Districts and Polling Places 2018/20 Report by the Chief Executive. View Papers |
| 8 | Falkirk Council/Falkirk Community Trust Joint Working Report by the Chief Executive. View Papers |
| 9 | Fees & Charges - Concessions Report by the Director of Corporate and Housing Services. View Papers |
| 10 | Falkirk Health & Social Care Partnership Update Report by the Chief Officer, Health & Social Care Partnership. View Papers |
| 11 | Annual Report of the Chief Social Work Officer 2018/19 Report by the Chief Social Work Officer. View Papers |
| 12 | Review of Standing Orders Report by the Director of Corporate and Housing Services. View Papers |
| 13 | Programme of Meetings 2020 Report by the Director of Corporate and Housing Services. View Papers |
| 14 | Execution of Deeds Report by the Director of Corporate and Housing Services. View Papers |
| 15 | Motions Motions submitted in accordance with Standing Order 29 are set out below. Motions that refer to matters within the remit of the Executive, or Education, Children and Young People Executive, will stand referred to the appropriate body, without discussion, unless:- (1) special circumstances exist which, in opinion of the Provost (having consulted with the Council Leader and the Leader of the main Opposition groups) requires an exception to be made; (2) two thirds of the members present vote in favour of the matter being discussed; or (3) the motion raises an issue with significant impact on the Council area which the Provost, having consulted with the Leader of the Council and the Leaders of the main Opposition groups, considers suitable for debate at Council. The following motions are reserved to Council:- |
| (a) | At the beginning of August due to unforeseen circumstances our Scottish Welfare Fund team found itself with one person holding the fort rather than a team of 6. Our staff worked very hard to try and alleviate the situation but they were working against the odds and this meant that some of our most vulnerable citizens saw significant delays in receiving their community care grant. Council recognises that in order to process and deliver crisis grants and community care grants from the Scottish Welfare Fund, it is vital to have a team of well trained staff, with back up from other resources where necessary. Council acknowledges that that planned reduction in staffing from 7 to 4.5 was not realistic to provide required resilience. Council recognises that improved, tailored, signposting could also help alleviate this issue, showing claimants where else they could get help, whilst awaiting their decision, will both help the individual and relieve pressure on the Scottish Welfare Fund. Council asks that the sum of £67,352 per annum, be taken from reserves for the next 2 years to pay for another 2 FTE advisors. This will give some stability to the team and will ensure that the situation at the beginning of August 2019 does not happen again. Proposed by Councillor Black View Papers |
| (b) | Council recognises and values the progress made in delivering an accessible online resource for paying bills etc. Council asks that further work be done to enable those on low incomes to pay their bills in whatever way they find easiest. Council will ensure that all 3 hubs are open at lunchtime and that members of the public are able to pay their bills at a time convenient to then and in particular during lunchtime. Council asks that the Director of Corporate and Housing Services report back to the next meeting to confirm that this has been done and that if there are any budgetary implications to advise what those are. Council request that the Scrutiny Committee considers the impact and effectiveness of the hubs as a subject for scrutiny. Proposed by Councillor McLuckie View Papers |
| (c) | The following motion stands referred to the Executive unless otherwise determined by the Provost, having consulted with the Leader of the Council and the Leaders of the main Opposition groups. Council notes the success of many recent cultural events celebrating Falkirk's links with both our past; in big Roman week, and our international Friendships; such as through the summer Twinning excursions to Odenwald, involving many of our talented young people. While we are proud in Falkirk to celebrate many aspects of our cultural heritage, including our Roman sites, such as the Antonine Wall; Council believes that such structures belong in the past and modern societies should be striving to break down physical and cultural barriers that hinder peace. The Antonine Friendship Link, so named to mirror this principle, has been working since 2004 to highlight the suffering of the Palestinian people around the community of Jayyous, whose basic human rights are put under daily pressure through blockade and illegal occupation of land. Council reaffirms the link between Falkirk District and Jayyous in Palestine and commends the work of the Antonine Friendship Link for their peaceful and inclusive approach to assisting the people of Jayyous and raising awareness of their circumstances. Council notes the intention of the Antonine Friendship Link to renew their scroll, previously signed by many local politicians past and present and displayed at a number of prominent venues including the Scottish Parliament and Falkirk Municipal Buildings. Council resolves to offer what practical assistance it can to the Antonine Friendship Link in helping them renew their scroll and invites current councillors to sign the finished work, should any individual councillor desire to do so. Council commits to displaying the finished scroll within the Municipal Buildings at a mutually agreed point in the future and extends our warmest friendship to the people of Jayyous. In doing so, Council vehemently rejects all forms of religious bigotry and s Council notes the success of many recent cultural events celebrating Falkirk's links with both our past; in big Roman week, and our international Friendships; such as through the summer Twinning excursions to Odenwald, involving many of our talented young people. While we are proud in Falkirk to celebrate many aspects of our cultural heritage, including our Roman sites, such as the Antonine Wall; Council believes that such structures belong in the past and modern societies should be striving to break down physical and cultural barriers that hinder peace. The Antonine Friendship Link, so named to mirror this principle, has been working since 2004 to highlight the suffering of the Palestinian people around the community of Jayyous, whose basic human rights are put under daily pressure through blockade and illegal occupation of land. Council reaffirms the link between Falkirk District and Jayyous in Palestine and commends the work of the Antonine Friendship Link for their peaceful and inclusive approach to assisting the people of Jayyous and raising awareness of their circumstances. Council notes the intention of the Antonine Friendship Link to renew their scroll, previously signed by many local politicians past and present and displayed at a number of prominent venues including the Scottish Parliament and Falkirk Municipal Buildings. Council resolves to offer what practical assistance it can to the Antonine Friendship Link in helping them renew their scroll and invites current councillors to sign the finished work, should any individual councillor desire to do so. Council commits to displaying the finished scroll within the Municipal Buildings at a mutually agreed point in the future and extends our warmest friendship to the people of Jayyous. In doing so, Council vehemently rejects all forms of religious bigotry and sectarianism, including anti-Semitism and Islamophobia and mutually with the Antonine Friendship Link, believes in the rights of all people to express themselves and practice their chosen religion, or none, in complete freedom and without fear or persecution. Proposed by Councillor Murtagh An application has been made, from the Secretary, Antonine Friendship Link, to be received as a deputation to be heard in respect of this item of business. In accordance with Standing Order 33.5, Council shall decide whether to hear the deputation. View Papers |