Dumfries and Galloway Council met on 2 October 2025, and agreed to put the revised Health and Social Care Integration Scheme out for consultation, and to delegate decisions on the chair of the Dumfries Town Board to the Nithsdale Area Committee. They also discussed chief officer recruitment, school mothballing, the A75 diversionary routes, and self-directed support.

Health and Social Care Integration Scheme

The council agreed to publish the draft revised and updated Health and Social Care Integration Scheme for a one-month consultation period. The Integration Scheme reflects proposed changes to the delegated responsibilities of the Integration Joint Board (IJB) for planning and delivering health services. It also proposes a change to voting membership, reducing it from five to four members from each party to the scheme. The final draft is due to be submitted to the council for approval on 11 December 2025, before going to the Scottish Government for ministerial approval.

The proposed changes include:

• A focus on health and social care services where there is close working.
• A focus on prevention and out-of-hospital interventions.
• A change to four voting members from each party to support participation.
• No support for 'appropriate persons' to be introduced as voting members of the IJB.
• Support for distinct and separate stand-alone roles of IJB chief officer and chief financial officer.

Dumfries Town Board

The council agreed to delegate the appointment of the Dumfries Town Board chair to the Nithsdale Area Committee. They also agreed to delegate all future reporting on the Plan for Neighbourhoods Programme to the Nithsdale Area Committee. This followed the resignation of the appointed chair on 21 July 2025. The vice chair is currently acting as chair.

The council agreed to an enhanced selection process for the new chair, requiring candidates to demonstrate experience and capabilities in:

• participation in public, private, and community boards
• oversight of revenue and capital funding and in project delivery
• fostering collaboration and partnership with the council and local stakeholders

The existing Town Board will give a perspective on candidates for the area committee to consider. The area committee could ask candidates to attend their meeting before making a decision. A timescale for the selection process will be reported to the next Nithsdale Area Committee but will complete before the end of March 2026.

Chief Officer Recruitment

The council reviewed and agreed to arrangements for an independent review of past processes of chief officer recruitment. Audit Scotland will not undertake the review, as it relates to personnel and employment matters. Instead, an expert legal firm will be commissioned to undertake the work, procured using existing national procurement frameworks.

The proposed scope of the review includes:

• Past processes for the recruitment of chief officers
• Contractual arrangements between chief officers and the council
• Key council human resource policies, procedures, and schemes of delegations
• Onboarding and induction provided to new chief officers
• Management oversight provided to new chief officers
• Processes, oversight, decisions, and communication in relation to departures of chief officers

The aim is to identify learning and make recommendations to full council which support transparency and build trust.

School Mothballing

The council noted that no agreement by consensus has been reached on draft procedures endorsed by the Member and Officer Working Group. The Scottish Government are currently reviewing their Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010 statutory guidance on mothballing and that no indication of timescale for national advice is yet available. The council considered what the next steps should be for the development of the procedures and the work of the Member Officer Working Group.

A75 Diversionary Routes

The council discussed a notice of motion to recognise and take action on A75 diversionary routes.

Self-Directed Support

The council discussed a notice of motion on the provision, monitoring, and reviewing of self-directed support by Dumfries and Galloway Council.

Bank of Scotland Closures

The council also discussed a notice of motion on the recent Bank of Scotland closures.