Agenda item 4 is the budget process 2003-04. Paper FI/02/18/3 outlines options for meeting outside Edinburgh at stage 2 of the process. At the committee's previous meeting, we agreed to meet in either Portree or Ullapool on 18 November. Inquiries have been made about availability of venues at those locations, but it appears that only Portree can accommodate the committee on the given date. The council chambers in Portree have therefore been booked. It is suggested that the meeting's format will be similar to that which we adopted in Orkney. Clerks are contacting potential participants from the local area.
Do members have any comments to make on the meeting's format?
It is strange that we must take so many people with us. I acknowledge that an Official Report must be carefully done and that the clerking team must be there, but I question the need to take four security people. When I was a councillor, people on the premises dealt with any unlikely unruly behaviour. Sometimes committees incur much unnecessary expense. If people want to attack us, they can do so in the street any day of the week.
I was conscious of that security issue in Orkney. I think that I was informed then that there was an issue relating to protocol and arrangements. Perhaps we can pursue the matter with the chief executive and find out how security requirements operate and whether an opportunity exists to use local security as opposed to parliamentary security to save money. We could investigate that. Are members agreed?
Is the intention to go to Portree on the Sunday?
Yes. I anticipate our travelling on the Sunday and staying overnight, as we have a 10 o'clock start on the Monday morning. It would be wise for everyone to be there on Sunday, if that is possible.
Have you looked at the train times from Aberdeen to the Kyle of Lochalsh?
We have not reached that stage yet, but we shall look at them shortly.
If it is possible for me to travel on Monday morning, I will probably do so.
We move to agenda item 5, which will be discussed in private.
Meeting continued in private until 11:47.
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