Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were intimated from:

Councillor Dick Walsh

Councillor Bruce Marshall

Councillor Alex McNaughton

The Chairman ruled, and the Committee agreed, in terms of Standing Order 3.2.2 that the business dealt with at item 13 of this Minute be taken as a matter of urgency by reason of the need for the Area Committee to provide a response to the Scottish Governments Public Petitions Committee by 3^rd November 2014.

There were no declarations of interest intimated.

The minute of the meeting of the Bute and Cowal Area Committee of 5^th August 2014 was approved as a correct record.

The minute of the meeting of the Cowal Community Safety Forum of 11^th August 2014 was noted.

The minute of the meeting of Forward Dunoon and Cowal of 11^th August 2014 was noted.

The minute of the Meeting of the Bute Community Safety Forum of 15^th August 2014 was noted.

The Minute of the meeting of the Cowal Transport Forum of 5^th September 2014 was noted.

Mr Max Barr – Dunoon Community Coucil asked the committee a question regarding Argyll and Bute’s stance on whether they get involved in immigration issues.

This was responded to by the Executive Director of Customer Services who advised Mr Barr and the Committee that a Local Authority can not take any actions or get involved in immigration issues.

The Area Governance Manager submitted a question from a member of the public which related to the councils flag flying policy and clarification surrounding it.

This was responded to by the Executive Director of Customer Services, who addressed the committee with the following points:

• Argyll and Bute Council follow the Flag Flying Policy document that was put in place in 2004, and which has not been changed since that date.
• The Executive Director of Customer Services in consultation with the Provost made the decision to fly the Commonwealth Flag on designated flag poles during the Commonwealth Games, and then revert to the adopted flag flying policy.
• Until such time as the policy may be changed, flags will be flown in accordance with the policy, ie the current default position is that no flags will be flown on designated flag poles except those flags prescribed to be flown on designated days.

Decision

The Area Committee unanimously agreed to recommend to Council that a full and urgent review of the adopted Flag Flying Policy is carried out, and the review should include the provision for Area Committees to identify designated dates for specific flags to be flown within their areas.

Presentation by Head of Economic Development and Strategic Transportation

The Head of Economic Development and Strategic Transport, along with the Chair of SURF gave a presentation on the Strategic Urban Regeneration Forum, The report and presentation had been taken to the committee to outline the current regeneration work that has taken place in other areas of Scotland and how this can be applied to the Bute area.

A discussion took place amongst members with regards to local issues that could benefit from the input of SURF.

Decision

The committee noted the report and acknowledged the useful content. It was decided that a further report would come back to the Area Committee on the 2^nd December, once the feasibility phase of this work is complete and proposals for island regeneration have been developed.

(Reference: Report by the Chair of SURF dated 7^th October 2014 – submitted)

Report by Roads Performance Manager

The Roads Performance Manager presented a report following on from the report he previously presented at the August Area Committee, providing information on road maintenance revenue activities being delivered in 2014/15.

Decision

The Committee noted the report provided.

(Reference: Report by the Roads Performance Manager dated 7^th October – submitted)

Verbal update by Roads Performance Manager

A verbal update on the Hunter Street Parking situation was provided to the committee by the Roads Performance Manager for their information.

It was noted that the manager of the hostel had been spoken to and the roads department would continue to monitor the situation.

Decision

The Committee noted the contents of the verbal update.

Verbal update by Head of Roads and Amenity Services

A verbal update on the Lighting at Sandbank play park was provided to the Committee by the Roads Performance Manager for their information.

Members noted that an on site meeting had taken place and a full report would be provided to members at the December Area Committee.

Decision

The Committee agreed to note the verbal update.

Verbal update by Head of Roads and Amenity Services

A verbal update on the Lighting Columns at Broxwood was provided to the Committee by the Roads Performance Manager for their information.

Members noted that this item along with item 8 would come back to the Area Committee in December with a full report provided.

Decision

The Committee agreed to note the verbal update.

Report by Amenity Services Performance Manager

A report providing an update regarding the West Bay Beach Area, Dunoon was provided by the Amenity Services Performance Manager for the Committees information.

Decision

The Committee noted the update provided and agreed that a programme of works and timescales would be produced and brought back to the February Area Committee in order that a decision on taking this work forward is agreed for implementation prior to Spring 2015.

(Reference – Report by Amenity Service Performance Manager dated 6^th October 2014– submitted)

Report by Area Manager Adult Care

A report that was requested at the September Business day was provided by the Area Manager for Adult Care which provided an update and current position of the Sensory Impairment Team.

The Adult Care Area Manager for Bute and Cowal agreed to provide Members with a rough overall number of people receiving Sensory Impairment support within Argyll and Bute.

Councillor Strong agreed to sit on the working party board as the Elected Member representative.

Decision

The Committee noted the report.

(Reference: Report by Adult Care Area Manager dated 3^rd October 2014– submitted)

Report by Planning and Public Involvement Manager

A report providing an update to the Committee on the issues of the provision of residential care for older people on Bute was submitted.

The Area Manager for Adult Care along with the Planning and Public Involvement Manager from the Community Health Partnership presented the details of the submitted report.

A discussion took place regarding a new care home proposal on Bute and factors that have resulted in the stalling of the process. Also discussed was the current shortage in care home beds and the repercussions of this on Bute residents.

The Area Manager for Adult Care agreed to gain clarity from the Head of Adult Care on the legal status of contractually agreeing to prospective funding of beds.

Decision

The Committee noted the contents of the submitted report.

(Reference: Report by Interim Service Manager, Community Services dated 7^th October 2014– submitted)

The Area Governance Manager took the Committee through a report relating to a Public Petition which had been submitted to the Scottish Government regarding the Gypsy Heart (Tinker’s Heart) on the shores of Loch Fyne, that requested a response from Argyll and Bute Council on points listed in the report.

Decision

The Committee noted the report and agreed that a letter of support for the Public Petition should be submitted to the Scottish Government Petitions Committee by the Area Committee and that the information available from the Roads Department relating to the historic transfer of ownership of the road should be included in that submission.

(Reference: Report by Public Petitions Committee dated 3^rd October 2014 – submitted)

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

Report by Buildings Standards Manager

A report updating the Committee on progress with the Royal Hotel, Rothesay was provided by the Buildings Standards Manager.

Decision

The committee agreed the recommendation detailed at paragraph 3.1 of the submitted report.

(Reference: Report by the Buildings Standards Manager dated 7^th October 2014 – submitted)

Report by Regeneration Project Manager

A report providing an update on the redevelopment of the Queen’s Hall in Dunoon was considered.

Decision

The Committee agreed the recommendation detailed at point 3.1 of the submitted report.

(Reference: Report by the Regeneration Project Manager dated 7^th October 2014 – submitted)

E1       Paragraph 8  The amount of any expenditure proposed to be incurred by the authority under any particular contract for the acquisition of property or the supply of goods or services; and

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.