Decision details

The Council gave consideration to a report which updated them on vacancies which had arisen on the Council’s Committees and on appointments which required to be made to outside bodies/organisations in addition to those made at the Council meeting on 18 May 2017.  The report also sought consideration of appointments in relation to an Armed Forces Champion, World War One Commemoration Steering Group representatives and Children’s Champions.

 

The Council adjourned for 5 minutes to allow Members an opportunity to read a Motion by the Leader of the Council, seconded by the Depute Leader.

 

Decision

 

The Council –

 

1.    Agreed the appointments to committees and outside bodies and nomination for appointment as set out in Table 1, Appendix 1 below.

2.    Noted the Leader’s appointment of Depute Policy Leads as set out in Table 2, Appendix 1 below.

3.    Accepted the recommendation of the Short Life Working Group – Argyll Islands Task Force at its final meeting on 20^th March 2017, that the council should continue the focus of the work commenced by the Task Force, and established the Argyll Islands Strategic Group, to consider strategic issues affecting the inhabited island communities of Argyll and Bute, with the wider remit as set out in Appendix 2 below.

4.    Agreed that the group will operate on the same constitutional basis as a Short Life Working Group and will report to the Policy and Resources Committee.

5.    Agreed that the membership of the group will comprise 10 councillors, to include the Leader and Policy Lead for Islands, and made the following appointments to the group:

·         Councillor Robin Currie (Chair)

·         Councillor Len Scoullar (Vice Chair)

·         Councillor Aileen Morton

·         Councillor Yvonne McNeilly

·         Councillor Elaine Robertson

·         Councillor Jamie McGrigor

·         Councillor Mary Jean Devon

6.    Invited members of the opposition to nominate three of their number to sit on the Argyll Islands Strategic Group [The Leader of the largest opposition group confirmed these nominations to be Councillors Anne Horn, Julie McKenzie and Jean Moffat]

7.    Established the Industry and Regional Development Sounding Board to ensure that Argyll and Bute’s interests would be promoted during the UK negotiations to leave the European Union, with the wider remit as set out in Appendix 2 below;

8.    Noted that the board would have an advisory function, that it would have no executive powers, and that it wouldl report to the Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee;

9.    Appointed the following to the Industry and Regional Development Sounding Board:

·         Councillor Aileen Morton (Chair)

·         Councillor Gary Mulvaney (Vice Chair)

·         Councillor Kieron Green

·         Councillor Alan Reid

10.  Invited members of the opposition to nominate two of their number to sit on the Industry and Regional Development Sounding Board [The Leader of the largest opposition group confirmed these nominations to be Councillors Jim Findlay and Sandy Taylor] 

11.  Agreed that the board could invite contributions from representatives outwith the Council, for example from relevant industry sectors, to assist in its deliberations.

 

 

Appendix 1

 

Table 1

Councillor Name	Committee/Organisation	Notes
Alan Reid	Community Services Committee	To fill vacancy
Mary Jean Devon	Argyll and Bute Area Support Team
Elaine Robertson	Trustee to the Scottish National War Memorial	COSLA nomination
Barbara Morgan	Argyll and Bute Armed Forces Champion
Bobby Good	World War 1 Steering Group	Bute and Cowal
Barbara Morgan	World War 1 Steering Group	Helensburgh and Lomond
Donnie MacMillan	World War 1 Steering Group	Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands
Andrew Vennard	World War 1 Steering Group	Oban, Lorn and the Isles
Audrey Forrest	Children’s Champion	Bute and Cowal
Graham Hardie	Children’s Champion	Helensburgh and Lomond
Anne Horn	Children’s Champion	Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands
Mary Jean Devon	Children’s Champion	Oban, Lorn and the Isles
John Armour	Argyll and Bute Harbour Board	In place of Gordon Blair

 

Table 2

Councillor Name	Depute Policy Lead Remit
Bobby Good	Economic Development
Alan Reid	Strategic Finance and Capital Regeneration Projects
Kieron Green	Education
Andrew Vennard	Corporate Services
Mary Jean Devon	Health and Social Care
Ellen Morton	Roads and Amenity Services
Jamie McGrigor	Communities, Housing, Gaelic and Islands

 

 

Appendix 2

 

Argyll Islands Strategic Group – high level remit detail:

·      To consider strategic issues affecting the inhabited island communities of Argyll and Bute

·      To link into the work of the Scottish Government’s Islands Strategic Group and Islands Transport Forum, contributing to the identification and design of solutions for the unique challenges our island communities face

·      Promote the optimal development of our island communities

·      Make recommendations to Policy and Resources/Council in regard to lobbying national government on key issues which impact on our islands’ sustainable economic growth and community development

·      Consider strategic policy issues and challenges to ensure that proper, fit for purpose solutions are considered to stimulate greater economic growth and community development in our island communities

·      Consider current and potential new powers to enable improved service delivery and outcomes

 

Industry and Regional Development Sounding Board – high level remit detail:

In the context of leaving the European Union and understanding the full implications on the Argyll and Bute economy and related service provision, the group’s remit is:

·         Identifying effective ways of promoting Argyll and Bute’s interests to national government and the European Union, while recognising the importance of a collective voice through existing membership of established groups

·         Focusing on advancing the further development of a Rural Growth Deal and strengthening the position of Argyll and Bute’s sectors such as tourism, agriculture, aquaculture and fisheries

·         Influencing regional policy measures and initiatives, ensuring that Argyll and Bute benefits fully from any EU schemes and accesses specific and appropriate support measures post-Brexit

·         Advising on the nature and scope of the council’s engagement with the EU during and following the process

(Reference:  Report by Executive Director – Customer Services dated 1 June 2017, submitted; Notice of Motion by Councillor Aileen Morton, seconded by Councillor Gary Mulvaney, tabled)