Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were intimated on behalf of the following:-

Councillor A MacAlister

Councillor A McNaughton

Councillor R Simon

Councillor J R Walsh

Councillor J McQueen declared a non financial interest in item 10 (b) on the basis that he is a member of the club and took no part in the discussion of that item.

The Minutes of the Meeting of 4^th October 2011 were approved as a correct record.

Members heard an informative presentation from Bill Brackenbridge, Independent Chair of Argyll & Bute Adult Protection Committee and Ronnie McIlquham, Area Manager, Adult Protection on Supporting and Protecting adults “at risk of harm” in Argyll and Bute.

Decision

The Committee noted the information provided and thanked Mr Brackenbridge and McIlquham for their presentation.

The Committee heard from Councillor Scoullar on the budget challenges that the public sector are facing.  He advised the purpose of the meeting was to seek views and encourage the public to get involved on which services are important and how the services should be delivered.  He continued by outlining what the Council provides to the public and how the Council savings will impact on the community.

The Head of Roads and Amenity Services gave a presentation which detailed the measures proposed by the Council to address the required £74 m savings by 2014/15 and Councillor Marshall spoke on the saving required within NHS Highland and cuts to the Third Sector.

The Public asked questions on the roads expenditure, how this is spent and how much is paid out in damages due to road defects, Argyll & Bute Hospital and the security of mental health needs, the amount of money spent on the Bute roads, highlighting the road resurfacing programme and other roads issues on the Council website and the Buteman, the sate of roads due to the Scottish Water works.  These questions were responded to by the partners as appropriate

Decision

The Committee noted the information provided and agree the public questions will be fed into the Budget Process.

Councillor R Macintyre intimated his apologies and left the meeting at this stage.

Members heard an informative presentation from Wendy Brownlie, Principal of Rothesay Joint Campus on the major achievements of the school in 2010/2011 including the SQA examination results for pupils who sat examinations in May/June 2011.

Decision

The Committee noted the performance of pupils and the commitment of staff in their examination successes and in many other aspects of achievement across the school and expressed their thanks and congratulations to both staff and pupils of the campus.

(Reference: Report by the Principal, Rothesay Joint Campus – submitted)

Members heard from the Governance Officer on the School Holidays and In Service Days for 2012/13.

Decision

The Committee agreed:-

i.                              Endorsed the final patterns of school holidays and inservice days for all schools in Bute and Cowal as outlined in Appendices 1 and 2.

ii.                             That the details of school holidays and inservice days for 2012/2013 should now be circulated to schools and all relevant organisations.

(Reference: Report by the Executive Director, Community Services dated November 2011 – submitted)

Members heard from the Community Development Officer on the end of year reports which have been submitted from community organisations who received funding through the Third Sector Grant scheme in 2010/11.

Decision

The Committee:-

i.                     Noted the contents of the report.

ii.                   Agreed organisations that do not submit an end of year report are assess by Members and may not be eligible for funding in future years.

iii.                  Agreed that the end of year report form is revised to ensure information related to the total costs of a project as detailed in the application form is received.

(Reference: Report by the Community Development Manager – submitted)

Members heard a verbal update from the Head of Roads & Amenity Services on the Milton Burn Flood Prevention Scheme.

Decision

The Committee noted the detail provided.

Members heard from the Programme Manager on the Roads Reconstruction Capital Programme for the Bute & Cowal Area for the financial year 2012 to 2013.

Decision

Members noted the information provided.

(Reference: Report by the Head of Roads and Amenity Services dated November 2011 – submitted)

Members heard an update on Ministers decision to closed the Clyde Coastguard station.

Decision

Members noted the information provided.

A members of the public asked when Councillor’s Expenses and asked that they are put in the library for people who do not have computers.  The Governance Officer said he would look into this.

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

Members heard from the Estates Surveyor on the request from the Toward Sailing Club for two variations to be incorporated into the terms of the exiting lease from the Council to the Toward Sailing Club.

Decision

The Committee agreed the recommendations contained in the report by the Executive Director of Customer Services.

(Reference: Report by the Executive Director of Customer Serviced dated 6^th September 2011 – submitted)

Councillor J McQueen, having declared a non financial interest in this item, left the meeting and took no part in the discussion

Members heard from the Estates Surveyor on the interest received from Dunoon Boxing Club in relation to a long-term lease of a site at Dunoon Stadium.

Decision

The Committee agreed the recommendations contained in the report by the Executive Director of Customer Services.

(Reference: Report by the Executive Director of Customer Serviced dated 1^st November 2011 – submitted)

Members heard from the Governance & Risk Manager on the applications to the Provost’s Fund.

Decision

The Committee agreed to grant £10 from the Provost’s Fund to each applicant.

(Reference:  Report by the Area Manager, Customer Services dated 25^th November 2011 – submitted)

E1 - Paragraph 9  Any terms proposed or to be proposed by or to the authority in the course of negotiations for a contract for the acquisition or disposal of property or the supply of goods or services.

E2 - Paragraph 4  Information relating to any particular applicant for, or recipient or former recipient of, any financial assistance provided by the authority.