Falkirk Council Agenda - 23 June 2021, 10:00 
A meeting to be held at Remote at 10:00 on 23 June 2021.
| Number | Item |
|---|---|
| Record of Votes View Papers | |
| In accordance with section 43 of the Local Government in Scotland Act 2003 the Provost has directed that this meeting will be conducted in such a manner as to allow remote attendance by elected members. In accordance with section 50A of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 the public are excluded from this meeting as it is likely that, if members of the public were present, there would be a real and substantial risk to public health due to infection or contamination with coronavirus. The meeting will be livestreamed via the Council website at:- https://www.falkirk.gov.uk/live | |
| 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 18 May 2021; View Papers |
| (b) | Volume of Minutes - Volume 5 2020/21, and View Papers |
| (c) | Information Bulletin - Volume 5 2020/21. View Papers |
| 4 | Rolling Action Log View Papers |
| 5 | Scottish Rescue Local Plan Report by the Chief Executive. View Papers |
| 6 | Exclusion of Public If so resolved in terms of section 50A(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, exclude from the meeting the press and public for any part of discussion on the following item of business relating to information contained in appendix 5 on the ground that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 6 and 9 of Part 1 of schedule 7A to that Act. |
| 7 | Council Headquarters & Arts Centre Update: Town Centre Site Search Report by the Acting Director of Development Services. Deputation Request An application has been made by Margaret Foy, Healthy High Street Group representative, to be received as a deputation to be heard in respect of this item of business. In accordance with Standing Order 33.5, the committee shall decide whether to hear the deputation. View Papers |
| 8 | Council Headquarters and Arts Centre Update - Municipal Buildings Decommissioning Report by the Acting Director of Development Services. View Papers |
| 9 | Falkirk Community Trust - Project Plan and Service Structure Report by the Chief Executive. View Papers |
| 10 | Delegation of Powers to Determine Urgent Issues During the Summer Recess Report by the Director of Corporate and Housing Services. View Papers |
| 11 | Execution of Deeds Report by the Director of Corporate and Housing Services. View Papers |
| 12 | Community Wealth Building The following motion was submitted to Council on 18 May 2021. In terms of Standing orders it stood referred to the Executive, However the Provost determined, having consulted with Group Leaders, determined that an exception should be made and that the motion would be retained by Council. Council agreed to continue consideration of the motion, below, to this meeting. Community Wealth Building (CWB) is a people-centred approach to local economic development, which redirects wealth back into the local economy, and places control and benefits into the hands of local people. CWB aims to ensure that the economic system builds wealth and prosperity for everyone. Rooted in the European Social Democratic tradition, in which the state works to protect public values and achieve good outcomes for citizens. CWB is a response to the contemporary challenges of austerity, financialisaton and automation. It seeks to provide resilience where there is risk and local economic security where there is uncertainty. Ultimately, community wealth building is about working in partnership with communities and businesses to build a strong local economy which encourages fair work, encourages local spend and uses the land and property we own for the common good. It relies on the power of anchor institutions such as Councils, the NHS and Universities/colleges to support the local economy. Council will be aware of a number of pilot projects across Scotland exploring the potential for CWB as an approach to delivering inclusive growth. While a number of projects currently underway within Falkirk Council are in themselves Community Wealth Building initiatives the Council has yet to consider how to embed CWB at the strategic level, for example within its Economic Strategy. Council therefore requests that a report is presented to a future meeting detailing the potential benefits of CWB, setting out how this approach can be embedded within the Council's key economic development initiatives and the scope for establishing a Community Wealth Building Commission for Falkirk. Proposed by Councillor Bissett View Papers |
| 13 | 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 stand referred unless otherwise determined by the Provost, having consulted with the Leader of the Council and the Leaders of the main Opposition groups. |
| (a) | Falkirk Pension Fund Council:- (1) recognises that the Falkirk Pension Fund supports low carbon initiatives through its direct investment portfolio, but is concerned that the Fund retains large holdings in fossil fuel industries that are driving the climate and ecological emergencies and perpetuating global inequalities; (2) notes the Council's fiduciary duty as administering authority for the Falkirk Pension Fund must be paramount in all decision making around the pension fund; (3) notes the calls made over many years from campaigners on the issue of fossil fuel divestment and notes that many other major public and private institutions have already made and acted on commitments to fossil fuel divestment, demonstrating leadership on the climate emergency at the same time as protecting the long-term interests of their individual investors; (4) believes that in the year of the COP26 climate summit, when the eyes of the world will be on Glasgow we, Falkirk Council, must show climate leadership; (5) therefore resolves to ask the Pension Committee to make a formal commitment to fossil fuel divestment prior to COP26, with the intention of divesting completely as quickly as possible, and no later than 2030; and that it further considers how it can reinvest the Pension Fund Members' hard-earned money to drive a green recovery for the Falkirk council area; (6) notes that the newly created post of Climate change co-ordinator which will play a key role in identifying opportunities for investment, from potential investors including the pension fund, in to the transformational projects required to deliver a green transition and recover from the pandemic, and (7) notes that the oil and gas industry supports up to 135,000 jobs in Scotland and that these jobs are particularly important in and around Grangemouth. Council believes in a managed transition away from fossil fuels and a just transition for those employed by the oil and gas industry. This Council further notes that many of those companies that would be classified as 'fossil fuel' companies are also those which are making significant investments into the Research and Development of new clean technologies. Proposed by Councillor Garner View Papers |
| (b) | Communal Areas Communal areas around flats, especially larger blocks, in some areas are looking untidy, with moss, weeds and other issues in evidence. Tenants agreements state that tenants are responsible for keeping communal areas clean and tidy. New tenants sometimes move into blocks where there is already a lot of mess in and around the block. Tenants can see the issues but may not have the tools, ability, skills, knowledge or capacity to tidy up the area. Council asks that a paper be brought forward looking at a the various options that may be available to enable communal areas to look tidier and improve the tenants wellbeing. This will include looking at how any solutions would be funded. Proposed by Councillor Nimmo View Papers |
| 14 | Exclusion of Public If so resolved in terms of section 50A(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, exclude from the meeting the press and public for the following item of business on the ground that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 11 & 12 of Part 1 of schedule 7A to that Act. |
| 15 | Equal Pay Update Report by the Director of Corporate and Housing Services. |