Full Council met at Woodhill House for the first time since the summer recess today.

The 2016/17 Annual Accounts for the Council’s Charitable Trusts and the external auditors report were endorsed, with an additional action that the Procedures Committee are now tased with considering whether and how to achieve any savings.
Interestingly, the accounts show that Aberdeenshire are the 11th highest borrowing council in Scotland, narrowly above the scottish average, and the level of the council’s uncommitted reserves has fallen below the agreed minimum balance.
These figures will make the budget process a lot more challenging in future years – but this is also evidence that the Council have indeed been spending the money it generates.

We also noted the revenue budget monitoring to 30th June 2017.
Much discussion was had around a bill from Highland Council for £660,774 for backdated healthcare of a patient.  Assurance was sought from the Council leader that issues like this would not arise again.

The Council Plan 2013-2017 and Annual Performance Report 2016/17 was approved.  This involved the Policy Committee Chairs all making an address to the chamber.
If you have time, page 11 of this report makes interesting reading – it’s entitled “A Day in the Life” and runs through various things that the Council does every day.

The Boundary Changes of Community Council were approved, these include a line change between Foveran and Udny (all houses in Chestnut Walk, Udny Station now in Udny) – and two between Tarves and Meldrum, Bourtie & Daviot (land west of Rosillah moving to Meldrum, and an area of land north of Meldrum back to Tarves.  The Community Councils were, according to the report, in agreement.

The next item was the much awaited approval of the Scheme for the Establishment of Community Councils.
Community Councils will have the benefit of a transition period of one year until September 2018 to implement any required actions to accord with the scheme.
The Community Council’s revised minimum & maximum numbers are as follows:
Belhelvie (5->13)
Foveran (5->10)
Meldrum, Bourtie & Daviot (5->13)
Tarves (5->9)
Udny (5->9)
These numbers can be altered with the approval of the Area Manager, and an appeals process to the Area Committee.
Community Councils should provide a minimum of two places for 14 and 15 year old junior members, I do hope this catches on in Mid Formartine where there is currently a poor uptake.
Elections will be held where necessary, administered by Aberdeenshire Council.
Cllr Blackett requested training for Community Council Office Bearers be considered.

We appointed a chair and vice-chair to the Local Review Body – with Cllr Hood and Cllr Johnston filling the positions, in addition Cllr Sutherland has joined as a member.
The Provost and Deputy Provost were confirmed as the Chair and Vice Chair of any Vacation Committees held going forward.

The timetable of meetings for 2018/19 was agreed.
The dates of my committees are as follows:
15th May 2018 – Formartine Area Committee
31st May 2018 – Communities Committee
5th June 2018 – Formartine Area Committee
26th June 2018 – Formartine Area Committee
28th June 2018 – Full Council
24th July 2018 – Formartine Area Committee (Vacation, if required)
26th July 2018 – Vacation Committee (if required)
6th September 2018 – Communities Committee
25th September 2018 – Formartine Area Committee
27th September 2018 – Full Council
30th October 2018 – Formartine Area Committee
8th November 2018 – Communities Committee
20th November 2018 – Formartine Area Committee
22nd November 2018 – Full Council
11th December 2018 – Formartine Area Committee
20th December 2018 – Communities Committee
17th January 2019 – Full Council
22nd January 2019 – Formartine Area Committee
12th February 2019 – Formartine Area Committee
9th February 2019 – Revenue Budget Full Council
5th March 2019 – Formartine Area Committee
7th March 2019 – Full Council
26th March 2019 – Formartine Area Committee
28th March 2019 – Communities Committee
25th April 2019 – Full Council
30th April 2019 – Formartine Area Committee

The final item on the agenda was the discussion on the Aberdeenshire Health and Social Care Partnership Annual Report.