The Communities Committee in Aberdeenshire Council convened to discuss a range of topics, including financial performance, community planning, tackling poverty, housing, and museum services.

Financial Performance and Strategy

The committee was scheduled to review the financial performance for the first quarter of 2025/26, covering revenue and capital budgets, budget risks, savings, and reserves. The report pack included a recommendation to approve budget virements¹ detailed in Appendix 5 - Virements. The committee was also expected to discuss proposed actions for regular performance reports and updates.

Community Planning

The committee was expected to review and comment on the draft Local Outcome Improvement Plan (LOIP) Annual Report 2024/25, detailed in the Community Planning Partnership Draft LOIP Annual Report 202425. The report highlights progress against priorities such as reducing poverty, and health and wellbeing, and the Peterhead Locality Plan².

Tackling Poverty and Inequalities

The committee was set to consider the annual report on tackling poverty and inequalities, named Towards a Fairer Aberdeenshire, which incorporates the Aberdeenshire Child Poverty Action Report. The report pack included a recommendation to consider comments from area committees, identify areas for improvement, and acknowledge progress in tackling poverty. Also on the agenda was a review of Aberdeenshire Council's participation in the Tackling Poverty and Inequalities Strategic Partnership, with a recommendation to endorse the partnership review and agree to continued participation for another three years. The committee was also scheduled to discuss a draft Information and Advice Strategy, with a recommendation to endorse the strategy, its implementation plan, and an aligned investment framework.

Museum Services

The committee was expected to consider and endorse updated policies for the Aberdeenshire Council Museums Service, including those relating to collections development, entry, exit, loss, loans in, and loans out. The Aberdeenshire Council Museums Service Policies affect operations at The Discovery Centre, the Aberdeenshire Farming Museum, the Arbuthnot Museum and Banchory Museum.

Housing

The committee was scheduled to receive a report on housing finance and performance for the third and fourth quarters of 2024/25. The report included key performance indicators and financial information for tenancy services, options and homelessness, voids, and asset management. Also on the agenda was the Local Housing Strategy Annual Update for 2024/25, with a recommendation to monitor the annual report and action plans. Finally, the committee was expected to discuss the formation of a working group to consider a future rent strategy for the Housing Revenue Account. The report pack included a recommendation to approve the creation of the working group and provide nominations for membership.

Other Business

The committee was also scheduled to discuss a statement of outstanding business and consider exempt information related to Live Life Aberdeenshire's annual estate plan, the Communities Committee Transformation & Efficiencies Programme, a housing and building standards supplementary procurement report, and the Housing Improvement Programme.

Councillor Anne Stirling, Council Co-Leader was scheduled to chair the meeting.