Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from:-

Councillor Len Scoullar

Councillor Gordon Blair

Councillor Dick Walsh

Douglas Hendry, Executive Director of Customer Services

The Chair ruled and the Committee agreed to take the agenda items out of sequence in order to let the public ask questions for the Rothesay Pavilion Project at item 11.  Therefore public question time was taken at item 12 of this minute.

Councillor Robert MacIntyre declared a non financial interest in relation to the Third Sector Grant application for Bute Agricultural Society which was dealt with at item 6 (3) of this Minute, because he is a member. He left the room and took no part in the discussion of this item.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Cowal Community Safety Forum held on 27 January 2014 were noted.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Forward Dunoon and Cowal Group held on 3 February 2014 were noted.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Bute and Cowal Area Committee held on 4 February 2014 were approved as a correct record.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Cowal Transport Forum held on 28 February 2014 were noted.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Rothesay Common Good Fund held on 4 March 2014 were noted.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Bute and Cowal Special Area Committee held on 4 March 2014 were approved as a correct record.

Verbal update by Area Manager (Operations)

The Operations Area Manager gave a verbal update to the Committee on Care Inspectorate in the Bute and Cowal area and introduced Morag Gillies, Unit Manager to the Committee.

Morag spoke about the recent inspections of both ASSIST and the Phoenix project, noting that the verbal feedback on the inspection of Phoenix carried out in March had been very positive, but the outcome of the ASSIST inspection in January had been less so.  Another inspection of ASSIST is likely to be carried out within 6 months.

Decision

1. The Committee noted the information provided; and
2. The Committee asked that Morag Gillies come back to a future Area Committee to keep Members up to date.

(Ref: Verbal update by Area Manager – Operations and Morag Gillies – ASSIST dated 1^st April 2014, submitted).

Report by Area Manager (Operations)

A report updating the Committee on the findings of the 3^rd quarterly evaluation of the Care at Home provision within the Bute and Cowal area was considered.

The report has been broken down to show the progress and joint working that has been put into place to ensure that a high quality service is provided, as it is recognised that this service is provided to vulnerable individuals, predominately by lone workers, in the home environment.

Decision

1. The Committee noted the contents of the report; and
2. The Committee noted that the next update on Older Peoples Care at Home Service on FQ4 would be at the June Area Committee and an update on Learning Disabilities Day Services would be at the August Area Committee.

(Ref: Report by Area Manager, Adult Care dated 1 April 2014, submitted).

Councillor Robert MacIntyre, having declared a non financial interest in (3) Bute Agricultural Society, left the meeting and took no part in the discussion of that item.

Councillor Bruce Marshall took the Chair.

Report by Community Development Officer

A report detailing recommendations for the award of Third Sector Grants (including events and festivals) to Third Sector organisations for Bute and Cowal was considered.

Decision

The Committee agreed to award the grant recommendations as follows:

(Ref:  Report by Community Development Officer dated 27^th March 2014, submitted).

Councillor Robert MacIntyre returned to the room at (4) Bute Community Band, and took the Chair.

Report by IOD Programme Manager

The Committee gave consideration to a report which presented the Area Scorecard, with exceptional performance for the Financial Quarter 3 of 2013-14 (October to December 2013).

Decision

1. The Committee noted the exceptional performance presented on the scorecard; and
2. The Committee asked that an update report on the operation of street lighting in Bute to come to the May Business Day.

(Ref: Report by Improvement and Organisational Development Programme Manager dated 1 April 2014, submitted).

Report by Economic Development Manager

The Committee gave consideration to a report by the Economic Development Manager, the purpose of which was to seek approval on taking forward the Bute and Cowal Economic Development Action Plan (EDAP) as a working document.

Decision

1. The Committee approved the area EDAP as a working document for the financial year 2014/15 and for the next three financial years up to 2017/18; and
2. The Economic Development Manager agreed to bring progress reports to the Area Committee.

(Ref: Report by Head of Economic Development and Strategic Transportation dated 1 April 2014, submitted).

Report by Head of Education

The Committee gave consideration to a report on the final patterns of in-service days and school holidays which have now been identified for all schools in Bute and Cowal.

Decision

1. Members endorsed the final patterns of school holidays and in-service days for all schools in Bute and Cowal as outlined in Appendices 1 and 2; and
2. Members agreed that the details of school holidays and in-service days for 2015/2016 should now be circulated to schools and all relevant organisations.

(Ref:  Report by Head of Education dated February 2014, submitted).

Report by Area Governance Manager

A report updating Members on the work of both the Cruach Mhor and Clachan Flats Wind Farm Trusts was considered.

Decision

Members noted the updates provided, which are the most recent of the annual updates required by the Area Committee on the work of the Trusts. 

(Ref: Report by the Area Governance Manager dated 24 February 2014, submitted).

Presentation and Verbal Update by Nicholas Merriman

Nick Merriman and Jane Robertson gave a presentation to the Committee on the Rothesay Pavilion Project.

 Mr.  Merriman spoke about the future visions for the Pavilion, the business plan and the project development and delivery timeline.

He advised the Committee that the Pavilion is having an open day on Saturday 5^th April for the public.

Decision

The Committee thanked Mr Merriman for his presentation and noted the information he provided.

(Ref: Presentation by Nick Merriman and Jane Robertson dated 1^st April 2014, submitted).

Craig Boreland from the Buteman asked a question in relation to the project development and delivery timeline for the Pavilion project.  He asked why the Pavilion closure is September 2015 but construction works are not starting until January 2016 and was advised that the timescales have been put in place to allow for clearance of the building and to allow any contingencies to be dealt with prior to construction commencing, but that if at all possible construction could start earlier than the envisaged January date.

The Committee resolved in terms of Section 50A(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 6 & 9 of Part 1 of Schedule 7A to the Local Governments (Scotland) Act 1973.

Report by Project Officer

A report detailing grant recommendation awards for the repair works to buildings in use and restoring architectural features or details in Rothesay, was considered.

Decision

The Committee agreed the recommendations at 2.1 of the report.

(Ref: Report by THI Project Officer dated 7 March 2014, submitted).

Report by Asset Manager

Members heard from the Estate Surveyor on Ardencraig Tearoom, Rothesay.

Decision

The Committee agreed the recommendations at 2.1 and 2.2 of the report.

(Ref:  Report by Estates Surveyor dated 12^th March 2014, submitted).

Report by Asset Manager

Members heard from the Estate Surveyor on the offer received in respect of 109 Alexander Street, Dunoon.

Decision

The Committee agreed the recommendations at 2.1 of the report.

(Ref:  Report by Estates Surveyor dated 12^th March 2014, submitted).

E1       Paragraph 6  Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (other than the authority).

E2       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.