Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were intimated on behalf of the following:

 

Councillor Maurice Corry.

There were no Declarations of Interest.

The Minute of the previous meeting held on 14 October 2014 was approved as a true record

The Chair invited questions from the public.

 

No questions were submitted by the public in attendance.

Reports by Executive Director – Customer Services.

The Committee considered a report which presented the Area Scorecard, with exceptional performance for Financial Quarter 2  2014-15 (July - September 2014.

 

Discussion followed on the figures for the percentage of Older People receiving care in the community and the method used for reporting the category 1 road defects.  The Programme Manager agreed to provide an update to a future meeting on care in the community in terms of the Scorecard and to look at whether a rolling target for road defects would be more appropriate.

 

Decision

 

Members agreed to note the report.

 

(Reference: Report by the Executive Director, Customer Services, dated 9 December 2014, submitted)

 

 

 

 

 

The Committee considered a report which presented a proposal to improve the H&L

Area scorecard as outlined in the report. 

 

Decision

 

Members agreed to adopt the  improvements to their current Area scorecard.

 

(Reference: Report by the Executive Director, Customer Services, dated 9 December 2014, submitted)

 

 

Report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure

The Committee considered a report which advised Members of the roads revenue budget position for the 2^nd Quarter of financial year 2014/15. 

 

Discussion followed and Members raised issues including, confirmation that permanent signage would be erected on the back road to Arden, the possibility of leaves being cleared from drains in the October/November period to avoid a build-up, reinstatement of the cat’s eyes on the B833 after the recent resurfacing work and confirmation of work between Rosneath and Kilcreggan.

 

The Roads Performance Manager affirmed that he would look into these issues and provide Members with an update.

 

Decision

 

Members agreed to note the report.

 

(Reference: Report by the Executive Director of Development and Infrastructure, dated 12 November 2014, submitted).

 

The Chair introduced Alan Macdonald and Gerard Doherty from Scotia Gas Networks (SGN).  He thanked them for attending the Area Committee meeting and requested that they provide an update in regards to projects in the Helensburgh and Lomond area, detailing commencement and completion dates.

 

Gerard Doherty outlined the project in East King Street and advised that this project had been segmented into 2 halves.  He continued that the bottom end of East King Street would not be completed until 2015.  A further project would be instigated on Main Street, Cardross and this would involve replacing pipe work. The Chair requested further detail in regards the Cardross project and Mr Doherty confirmed that SGN’s intention was to segment the work into 3 / 4 sections to minimise disruption to the local community. However, he continued that traffic lights would be in place. Members noted their concerns and enquired if the background to the proposed work was financial or technical.  Mr Doherty replied that SGN had hoped to re-schedule the work to 2015, but following an assessment which had looked at risk factors involved,  the work had been classified as technically necessary. 

Members requested the detail of the work involved and Mr Doherty clarified that the work would be staged in short sections and the road would be resurfaced when the work was completed.  Members highlighted that Argyll and Bute council had recently instigated a new road on this stretch and the planned SGN works would necessitate remedial work.  They emphasised the requirement and importance of a good quality replacement road. Furthermore, Members asked for confirmation from SGN if the area in Cardross would require further works undertaken and, if so, SGN should provide the detail.  Mr Doherty confirmed that he would review this issue and inform Members accordingly.

The Chair stressed the need for SGN to clarify the exact number of proposed excavations in Cardross and provide this information to local Members.  In addition, SGN would need to advise local residents of the timescale and impact of the works.

 

Discussion followed in regards the project in East King St, Helensburgh and the Chair requested that SGN provide the planning detail to Members.  Mr Macdonald affirmed that SGN had produced a flyer which provided the detail of these works. He advised that Mr Doherty ran a surgery to provide information to local residents.

 

 

 

 The Chair thanked both Mr Doherty and Mr Macdonald for attending the meeting and highlighted the need for SGN to provide written verification of planned works, commencement dates and also to liaise with Argyll and Bute Roads Department officers to make them aware of planned works.  This would enable Roads Department officers to defer or postpone any works which would be impacted upon or affected by these.

 

Decision

 

It was agreed that Council Officers would liaise with SGN in respect of the issues highlighted.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure

 

The Committee considered a report which updated Members following concerns raised at the Business Day meeting held on 11 November 2014 in relation to flooding on West Clyde Street adjacent to the Wee Kelpie

 

Discussion followed with it being noted that Scottish Water had agreed to arrange a meeting with Officers of the Council in January to enable a solution to be found to address the flooding issues.

 

The Committee noted that following on from these discussions, a report would be submitted to the February Area Committee outlining the outcome of the discussions and providing further information on whether the provision of flood gates was still appropriate.

 

Motion 

 

That Members agree the recommendations as outlined in the report.

 

Moved by Councillor Gary Mulvaney, seconded by Councillor Ellen Morton

 

Amendment

 

To delegate to the Executive Director of Development and Infrastructure the ability to make a contribution of up to £500 for the provision of flood gates to businesses which are affected by flooding.

 

Moved by Councillor James Robb, seconded by Councillor Vivien Dance

 

On a show of hands vote 3 Members voted for the Amendment and 6 for the Motion which was declared carried.

 

Decision

 

The Committee agreed:-

 

1.         To note the contents of the report; and

2.         That a detailed site review of infrastructure and local connections is

undertaken jointly by Scottish Water and the Council and that as part of this

review both short term and long term resolutions should be identified and

their delivery within an agreed timescale. 

 

(Reference: Report by the Executive Director of Development and Infrastructure, dated 25 November 2014, submitted)

 

 

Report by Executive Director – Community Services

 

The Committee considered a report which updated Members on the most

important issues related to the Adult Care Social Work Teams within the

Helensburgh and Lomond area.

 

Discussion followed  and included the difficulties surrounding hospital

discharges, the impact of Health and Social Care Integration, the Tele Care bid,

Enablement and the lack of responders for the Tele Care Service and the

disparity in budgets between the areas.

 

The Area Manager agreed to provide detailed information on the issues raised in

her next report to the Area Committee.

 

Decision

 

Members agreed:

 

1.         That the Area Committee note the contents of the report; and

2.         That to request that the Head of Service provides Members with an urgent

update in terms of the Tele Care bid.

 

 (Reference: Report by the Executive Director of Community Services, dated 9 December 2014, submitted)

 

 

 

Report by Executive Director – Customer Services

The Committee considered a report which provided a copy of the annual accounts of the charities relating to their area.

 

 

Decision

 

Members agreed to note the audited annual accounts for each of the Helensburgh and Lomond Area charities for the year ended 31 March 2014 and their filing with OSCR.

 

(Reference: Report by Head of Strategic Finance, dated 31 October 2014, submitted)

 

 

 

Report by Head of Strategic Finance

The Committee considered a report which advised Members of the estimated funding available and proposals on the distribution of that funding for the charities and trust funds in the Helensburgh and Lomond area for 2014-15.

 

Discussion took place on the mechanisms in place for the distribution of funds.

 

Decision

 

Members agreed:

 

1.            To note the report and distribution of funds for the Helensburgh and Lomond area; and

2.            That in terms of the Miss Annie Dickson Bequest that it be delegated to the Director of Community Services to distribute the £24 to an appropriate local organisation, subject to it being agreed by OSCR.

 

 

(Reference: Report by the Head of Strategic Finance, dated 28 November 2014, submitted).

 

Report by Executive Director – Customer Services

The Committee considered a report which outlined the proposed cycle of meetings within the Helensburgh and Lomond Area from April 2015 to April 2016.

 

 

Decision

 

Members agreed to note the report.

 

(Reference: Report by the Executive Director of Customer Services, dated 28 November 2014, submitted).

 

 

Councillor Robb, seconded by Councillor Trail had given notice of the following motion:-

 

Motion

 

1.                  All Council owned public are parks in Helensburgh will allow one period of

free parking of up to three hours for each vehicle per day with the

exception of retaining the existing arrangement for unlimited free parking on part of the Pier Head.  It is further agreed that this policy be implemented as soon as possible.

 

2.                  To instruct officers to bring forward the next meeting of the Area

Committee a review of on-street parking restrictions within Helensburgh to establish whether current parking restrictions support the outcomes of Local Economic Development Plan, meet the needs of residents and enhance the visitor experience.

 

(a)   This review will detail current and proposed future arrangements and

offer suggestions to a sustainable and stable on-street parking regime to meet the criteria as set out above.

(b)   This review will consider the demand for residents parking permits

and in council owned car parks to meet the identified needs of

residents.

                 (c)  It will be a fundamental principle of any proposal that on-street

parking shall remain free but may be time limited where deemed

beneficial.

(d)That these proposals form the basis of a public consultation before

Implementation.  

                                     

 

Councillor Robb, second by Councillor Trail had given notice of the following Motion:-

 

1.            All Council owned public car parks in Helensburgh will allow one period of

free parking of up to three hours for each vehicle per day with the

exception of retaining the existing arrangement for unlimited free parking on part of the Pier Head.  It is further agreed that this policy be implemented as soon as possible.

 

2.            To instruct officers to bring forward the next meeting of the Area

Committee a review of on-street parking restrictions within Helensburgh to establish whether current parking restrictions support the outcomes of Local Economic Development Plan, meet the needs of residents and enhance the visitor experience.

 

(a)  This review will detail current and proposed future arrangements and

offer suggestions to a sustainable and stable on-street parking regime to meet the criteria as set out above.

(b)  This review will consider the demand for residents parking permits

and in council owned car parks to meet the identified needs of

residents.

                 (c)  It will be a fundamental principle of any proposal that on-street

parking shall remain free but may be time limited where deemed

beneficial.

(d)That these proposals form the basis of a public consultation before

Implementation.  

 

The Chair ruled that the Motion was not competent by reason of the matters contained within having been considered by the Helensburgh and Lomond Area Committee and by the Policy and Resources Committee within the last 6 months. In terms of the Council Constitution there would have to be a change in material circumstance to allow for it to be considered and he considered that there had been no such change in circumstance.  He also advised that part of the Motion contained a recommendation which was outwith the delegation of the Area Committee.

 

 

 

Report by Executive Director -  Development and Infrastructure

The Committee considered a report which outlined the progress to date in the delivery of the Artwork elements of Helensburgh CHORD town centre public realm improvement works funded through the main CHORD budget allocation and the S75 Artworks fund.

 

Decision

 

Members agreed to note the report.

 

(Reference: Report by the Executive Director of Development and Infrastructure, dated 9 December 2014, submitted)

 

 

Report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure

The Committee considered a report which outlined the progress to date in the delivery of the Helensburgh CHORD town centre Public Realm Improvement works

 

Decision

 

Members agreed to note the report.

 

(Reference: Report by the Executive Director of Development and Infrastructure, dated 9 December 2014, submitted)

 

 

The Committee resolved in terms of Section 50(A)(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 Executive Director -  Development and Infrastructure.

 

The Committee considered a report which provided the detail of the Helensburgh CHORD Risk Register for November 2014.

 

Decision

 

Members agreed to note the report.

 

(Reference: Report by the Executive Director of Development and Infrastructure, dated 9 December 2014, submitted)

 

 

Report by Executive Director -  Development and Infrastructure.

The Committee considered a report which provided an update on progress for the  Helensburgh CHORD project for the period 22 September – 12 November 2014.

 

Discussion followed and Members raised the issue of parking bay widths in Sinclair Street and clarification was sought in regards the ability to maintain enforcement charges.  The CHORD Programme Manager affirmed that the parking bay width met National Design Standards and enforcement charges could be effectively implemented.   

 

Decision

 

Members agreed to note the report.

 

(Reference: Report by the Executive Director of Development and Infrastructure, dated 9 December 2014, submitted)

 

Report by Executive Director – Customer Services

The Committee considered a report which provided an update in relation to land acquisition for the provision of a cycleway alongside the A814 between Colgrain and Cardross.

 

 

Decision

 

Members agreed to the recommendations as outlined within the report,  subject to the additional wording which was agreed at the meeting.

 

(Reference: Report by the Executive Director, Customer Services, dated 21 November 2014, submitted)

 

 

 

 

                       

Report by the Executive Director – Customer Services.

The Committee considered a report which sought the consent of the Area

Committee to the disposal of the shop premises at 52A Sinclair Street and the now vacant Council office at 52 Sinclair Street, all Helensburgh, to Gordons Chemist which currently leases the shop at 52A Sinclair Street from the Council.

 

Decision

 

Members agreed to the recommendations as outlined within the report .

 

(Reference: Report by the Executive Director, Customer Services, dated 7 November 2014, submitted)