Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were intimated on behalf of Councillors McQueen and Simon.

Councillor B Marshall declared a non-financial interest in item 8c Proposed Footpath and Bird Hide, Broxwood by reason of being a member of the group involved in the proposal.

The Minute of the Area Committee of 23^rd June 2009 was approved as a correct record with the substitution of “the” for “consider” at point 1 of the decision at point 9c of the minute.

The Committee considered and determined Leisure Development Grants as follows:-

It was further agreed that Martin Turnbull would bring a report to the August Business Day on process of involving and determining applications to this fund.

(Reference:  Report by Area Community Learning and Regeneration Manager dated August 2009 – submitted)

The Committee heard a verbal update from the Area Corporate Services Manager on the Gourock/Dunoon Ferry Service.

Decision

The Committee noted a tri-partite meeting will be held later this month.

Members heard from the Area Corporate Services Manager on  the clarification of unspent Capital Receipts.

Decision

The Committee:-

i.                     Noted the contents of the report.

ii.                   Asked for a report to come to the August Business Day on further clarification and progress of the pedestrian crossings and ramps programme.

iii.                  Requested that a further report be brought to the Area Committee once the information at ii. is available.

(Reference:  Report by the Area Corporate Services Manager dated 14^th July 2009 – submitted)

Members heard an update from the Area Corporate Services Manager on the potential provision of a site for use by the Dunoon and District Allotment Association.

Decision

The Committee agreed that the land at Innellan Primary School was not suitable for the development of Allotments for the reasons stated at point 3.6 of the report, and recorded their enthusiasm to continue to work with the Allotments Association to facilitate provision of a suitable site.

(Reference:  Report by the Area Corporate Services Manager dated 3^rd July 2009 – submitted)

The Committee heard from the Area Corporate Services Manager regarding the request from the Dunoon and Cowal Business Association to enter into a partnership agreement with the Council.

Decision

The committee agreed to form a Partnership with Dunoon and Cowal Business Association, with the Members from the Area Committee to be Councillor B Marshall, Councillor A MacAlister and Councillor R Simon.

(Reference:  Report by the Corporate Services Manager dated 16^th July 2009 – submitted)

Craig Boreland from the Buteman asked Members about Delegated Planning and Building Control Decisions and was advised that they would no longer appear on the Area Committee because Members were receiving them direct. 

Craig Boreland also asked what was happening with the Bute Beyond 2000 meetings and was informed that there was one being organised for the near future.

Inspector Macdonald Stephens advised that the concerns over staffing levels on Bute had been largely resolved. 

Inspector Stephens also advised that he had been told that the Mental Health Place of Safety had been deferred until the new hospital was built and Members advised they would look into this. 

Inspector Stephens expressed his concerns over dementia patients being in Ferfadd Court and explained the situations that had been arising.  Councillor Scoullar advised Members that he had written to the Care Commission, Director of Community Services and ACHA regarding this situation and agreed that he would forward this letter to Members as well as any reply received.  Members then discussed the lack of warden care in Sheltered Accommodation and Councillor Walsh advised Members that he had been in discussions recently with ACHA regarding the redesign of the elderly service and it was agreed to wait until the results of the review before any action was taken. 

Inspector Stephens also expressed his concerns over the Road Markings in Bute advising that the areas he had identified had not been dealt with.  Members agreed that this would be an item on the August Business Day agenda.

Inspector Stephens asked about the funding for the Campus Officers and Members agreed to look into this.

Inspector Stephens said that the new Byelaws on drinking in public places would go a long way to solving anti-social behaviour. 

Inspector Stephens explained that he was retiring in October and wished to bring these concerns to the Committee to try and get them resolved before his successor takes over.

Inspector Stephens advised that the Inspectors job in Dunoon has been advertised and that the Chief Inspector wished to comment on the letter that had appeared in the Dunoon Observer regarding the behaviour of drivers in the town saying that there was a clear understanding that something would be done.

Councillor Walsh asked what was happening regarding the lease of the Pierhead Building to Caledonian MacBrayne and the Senior Estates Surveyor advised that a lease had been given to Cal Mac and he was waiting on a reply.  The Senior Estates Surveyor also advised that Cal Mac were wanting to do some alterations to the building before they move in.

David Eaglesham updated the Committee and members of the public on the new planning system explaining that applications will be classed into three categories, National, Major and Local.  The local decisions will be delegated to Officers to make the decisions unless there are a large number of objections in which case the decision will be made by the Planning, Protective Services and Licensing Committee.  David Eaglesham explained that if  an applicant now wishes to appeal it will no longer be heard by the Reporter it will be the decision of an appeals panel consisting of at least 3 Members.  Councillor Marshall also advised that Members can now express an opinion and talk about planning applications as long as they are not members of the PPSL.

The Committee noted Delegated Development Control and Building Control Decisions made since the last meeting.

The Committee resolved in terms of Section 50(A)(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, to exclude the public for the following items of business on the grounds that it was likely to involve the disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 9 of Part 1 of Schedule 7A to the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973.

Members heard from the Senior Estates Surveyor on a request from Toward Sailing Club to incorporate Toward Quay into the Club’s Lease of the sailing club site.

Decision

The Committee agreed to the recommendation contained in the report by the Director of Corporate Services.

(Reference:  Report by the Director of Corporate Services dated 10^th July 2009 – submitted)

Members heard from the Senior Estate Surveyor on the offer received in respect of the former Holy Loch Community Centre, Sandbank which was recently advertised for sale.

Members asked questions on whether the offer was reasonable and the Senior Estates Surveyor advised that it was.

Decision

Members agreed to point 2.1 of the report by the Director of Corporate Services.

(Reference:  Report by the Director of Corporate Services dated 24^th July 2009 – submitted)

Councillor B Marshall, having declared a non financial interest in this item, left the meeting and took no part in the discussion.

Members heard from the Senior Estates Surveyor on the request received from the Sandbank Community Development Trust to construct a footpath and bird hide at Broxwood, Sandbank, Dunoon.

Decision

The Committee agreed to the recommendation contained in the report by the Director of Corporate Services, subject to conditions on insurance and maintenance.

(Reference:  Report by the Director of Corporate Services dated 20^th July 2009 – submitted)

Members heard from the Senior Estates Surveyor on the offer received in respect of the former Boy’s Brigade Hall, Victoria Road, Dunoon, which was recently advertised for lease.

Decision

The Committee agreed to point 2.1.1 of the report by the Director of Corporate Services.

(Reference: Report by the Director of Corporate Services dated 20^th July 2009 - tabled)