Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies for absence.

There were no declarations of interest intimated.

The Chair welcomed all those present to the meeting and introductions were made.

The Chair advised that no person present would be entitled to speak other than the Local Review Body Panel and Mr I Jackson, who would provide procedural advice if required.

The Chair advised that his first task would be to establish if the Panel felt that they had sufficient information to come to a decision on the review.

Councillor Taylor advised that he felt that the information detailed by planners on this occasion was sufficient to allow him to come to a decision on the review, and that he agreed with the recommendations for refusal.

Discussion then followed on the location and historical characteristics of the building and its impact on the town centre and the surrounding premises.

Councillor Currie highlighted the restrictive costs involved in maintaining and preserving a historic building and suggested that a lead covering may be more cost effective.

Councillor Traill commented that it would have been of interest to have seen a picture of the Columba Hotel in the 1950s before the tower roofs had changed from lead to clay tiles.  He recognised that the Hotel had been given listed building status in 1995 which meant the inclusion of the Rosemary tiles.

Decision

The Argyll and Bute Local Review Body unanimously agreed to refuse the application and to uphold the reasons for refusal by the Planning Department.