Agenda and Minutes

No apologies were intimated.

There were no Declarations of Interest.

The Minute of Meeting 6 October 2009 was approved as a correct record.

The Helensburgh and Lomond Area Committee congratulated the organisers and participants on the success of the recent Christmas Lights Switch On event, recorded their thanks to everyone involved and their hopes that the event would be sustainable in the future.

The Minute of the Public Question Time 6 October 2009 was approved as a correct record.

The Minute of a Special Area Committee Meeting 17 November 2009 was approved as a correct record.

A report by the Area Corporate Services Manager outlined the details received regarding the current ‘condition’ of community halls within the Helensburgh and Lomond area for halls within the ownership of Council and those owned by community organisations.

Decision

In line with the Council’s Corporate Plan objectives of supporting vibrant communities and partnership working, the Helensburgh and Lomond Area Committee agreed to utilise the £74,000 currently available in the Area Capital Receipts budget to support  community and Council-owned halls:

1. £50,000 to the Victoria Halls, Helensburgh to be spent on the balcony area, the seating, lighting, sound systems and carpeting as identified in the Area Corporate Services Manager’s report on the understanding that the Director of Operational Services will be able to provide the balance of £16,200 needed to complete the work.

2. £7500 to the Geilston Hall, Cardross to go towards the cost of repairing the stone wall in front of the building as detailed in the accompanying report.

3. £7500 to Cove Burgh Hall for the resurfacing of the carpark as identified in the accompanying report.

4. £7000 to Luss Hall House towards the cost of installing central heating as detailed in the accompanying report,  with the additional benefit of supporting affordable housing.

5. £2000 to Rhu Community Centre on the understanding that the Director of Community Services will match-fund this, as will the Rhu Hall Committee, so that a total of £6000 will be available to be spent on the provision of toilet/disabled facilities in the Hall, the details to be delegated to the appropriate Council officer in consultation with the Chair, the Vice Chair, the ward Members and Rhu Hall Committee to ensure that the spend falls within the guidelines for Capital Receipts.

6. An update report on the progress of the work to be submitted to the April 2010 Helensburgh and Lomond Area Committee meeting.

(Ref: Report by Area Corporate Services Manager, dated 6 November 2009, submitted)

Members considered a report by the Area Corporate Services Manager informing them of a recent request made to the Council to mark the bi-centenary of the birth of Louis Braille.

Decision

1. Agreed to  the request made by the Royal National Institute of Blind People, that the bi-centerary of the birth of Louis Braille be marked appropriately by the Council in the Helensburgh and Lomond area.

2. Agreed to request the Corporate Data Standards Custodian Officer to allocate a street name within any future housing development, using the name of Louis Braille.

(Ref: Report by Area Corporate Services Manager, dated 10 November 2009, submitted)

Members considered a report by the Area Corporate Services Manager regarding an invitation from BT to consider adopting red telephone kiosks within the local area.

Decision

Agreed to take no action to adopt the identified telephone boxes in the Helensburgh and Lomond area.

(Ref: Report by Area Corporate Services Manager, dated 12 November 2009, submitted)

Members noted an Extract of Minute by the Director of Corporate Services agreeing to recommend to the Community Safety Partnership that an allocation of £12121 for high visibility policing purposes, be distributed equally between the four decentralised Area Committee areas.

Decision

Agreed to note the contents of the Extract of Minute by the Director of Corporate Services.

(Ref:  Extract of Minute by the Director of Corporate Services, dated 6 October 2009, submitted)

Five Education Development Grants were presented for consideration.

Decision

1. Noted the balance of 6520.50 for the financial year 2009/2010.

2. The Education Development Grants were determined as follows:-

(Ref: Report by Area Community Education, Learning and Regeneration Manager, dated 1 December 2009, submitted)

Two Leisure Development Grants were presented for consideration.

Decision

1. Noted the balance of £7863.00 for the financial year 2009/2010

2. The Leisure Development Grants were determined as follows:-

(Ref: Report by Area Community Education, Learning & Regeneration Manager, dated 1 December 2009, submitted)

The Helensburgh and Lomond Area Committee then congratulated Lorna Campbell on her new position within West Dunbartonshire Council wishing her all the best for the future and adding that she will be very much missed by all the community service users who have benefited from her expertise.

The Area Committee meeting adjourned at 10.45am in terms of the Scheme of Public Participation and reconvened at 11.20am.

Members were briefed on a report by the Head of Facility Services, and Gareth Hoskins, Gareth Hoskins Architects,  on the outcome of the Helensburgh Swimming Pool and Leisure Facility Outline Business Case (OBC) November 2009.

Decision

1. Noted that the report, due to its content, had been split into two parts, (pages 1-4) being public and (pages 5-9) to be considered as an exempt item within the terms of paragraph 9 of Schedule 7A of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973.

2. Noted that the OBC has been completed in accordance with the project brief and timetable, and within the budget

3. Agreed to the Preferred Option 3b as outlined within the report.

4. Noted the requirement to resource the development of a Revised OBC to identify the Preferred Procurement Route & funding options will be included within the Capital Budget Process for 2010/2011.

5. Noted that the Revised OBC will be completed by November 2010 and the Preferred Procurement & Funding Option and timetable for construction, will be considered within the Capital Budget Process for 2011/2012.

6. Noted the Project Board’s  appointment of the Head of Facility Services to take this process forward to the completion of the Revised OBC.

7. Agreed to request the Head of Legal Services to submit a report to a future Area Committee meeting on the process and timescale of the legal position regarding the Pierhead site.

8. Agreed to request the QIO Special Projects to submit a report to a future Area Committee meeting regarding access to Hermitage Academy facilities including the all-weather pitch.

The Committee resolved in terms of Section 50(A)(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 to exclude the public for pages 5 – 9 of the paper 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.

  9.  To agree the officer’s recommendations subject to relevant changes as       discussed and noted by the Head of Facility Services.

(Ref: Report by Head of Facility Services, dated 1 December 2009, submitted)