Agenda and minutes

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

Councillor A MacAlister

Councillor R Simon

Councillor J R Walsh

None

The Minutes of the Meeting of 6^th December 2011 were approved as a correct record.

Members heard from Alan MacRaild on the work carried out by Interloch Transport and the need for funding.

Decision

The Committee:  

i.                     Noted the details of the information provided

ii.                   Agreed that the Head of Facility Services would supply Members with the full figures for all Bute & Cowal Community Transport initiatives in order for them to look into the funding gap Interloch Transport have.

Members heard from the Service Development Manager on the new charging scheme for Community Based Care Services for financial year 2012/13.

Decision

The Committee noted the information in the report by the Service Development Manager.

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

The Committee heard from the Head Teacher, Kirn Primary School on the achievements of the primary schools in Bute and Cowal.

Decision

The Committee:- 

i.                             Noted the excellent work being undertaken in local primary schools and commended the pupils and staff for these outstanding achievements.

ii.                            Asked for an officer from the Directorate to attend the next Area Committee meeting to answer service related questions.

(Reference: Report by the Quality Standards Manager – submitted)

Members heard a verbal update from the Area Governance Manager on the Milton Burn Flood Prevention Scheme.

Decision

The Committee noted the detail provided.

Members heard from the Area Governance Manager on the re-confirmation of the Local Council/Mod Partnership Working Group.

Decision

The Committee agreed to re-establish the Council/Mod Partnership Group, with the Members from the Area Committee to be Councillors Marshall, McQueen and McNaughton with Strathclyde Police also being a core member of the group.

(Reference: Report by the Area Governance Officer dated 24^th November 2011 – submitted)

Members heard from the Performance Manager on the proposals to improve the area performance management arrangements, incorporating the findings of the recent data selection workshop.

Decision

The Committee:-

i.                     Noted the findings of the data selection.

ii.                   Asked for the roads data to be split across Bute & Cowal.

iii.                  Agreed to adopt the Area Scorecard.

(Reference: Report by the Performance Manager – submitted)

Members heard from the Area Governance Manager on the issues identified during the severe weather and prolonged power cuts during early January 2012.

Councillor Marshall commended front line staff and other services for their prompt action.

Decision

The Committee noted the issues identified and considered the role the communities might play in future emergency situations.

(Reference: Report by the Head of Improvement and HR – submitted)

Anne Gabriel expressed her concerns over the amount of water lying in Milton Road after lorries are washed at the bakery.  She also commented on the amount of pot holes in this vicinity.  Members agreed this would be reported and the Police would look at the water situation.

Chief Inspector Mosley advised that there had been a slight increase in the fear of crime in the Cowal area after the Police carried out a public survey.  He advised that they are one of the top divisions performing in Scotland with all targets being met.  Robberies are down and of those that do happen there is a 100% detective rate, the detection of drugs is up and attempted murders/murders are down.  Chief Inspector Mosley said that the Police will be looking at bogus callers and meter bypass crime in the spring and that parking issues will be added to the patrol plans.   Chief Inspector Mosley said he had recently lost 8 staff and 8 new staff have arrived, he has lost a sergeant in Rothesay and is about to lose another one, these posts have been advertised and one has already been filled.  Anti Social Behaviour is being solved and the Police have a good link with the ASBO Groups.

Councillor Marshall congratulated Chief Inspector Mosley on being the top division in Scotland.   Councillor Marshall also asked about the Nursery Crhymes film being rolled out to the rest of Scotland and Chief Inspector Mosley advised there had been a few problems that have been sorted out.

Councillor McNaughton advised that the police presence at the Community Council meetings was making a big difference and Chief Inspector Mosley said that there had been a small problem with Police attending Dunoon Community Council but this has now been sorted.

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 Paragraph 9 of Part 1 of Schedule 7A to the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973.

Members heard from the Estates Surveyor on an offer received to purchase the attic flat at Arthurlie, 20 Mount Pleasant Road, Rothesay.

Decision

The Committee:-

i.                     Noted the contents of the report.

ii.                   Agreed to instruct the Executive Director of Customer Services to conclude a direst sale to Mr Hutchings.

(Reference:  Report by the Executive Director of Customer Services dated 24^th January 2012 – 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.