Issue - meetings

Questions from Duncan Martin – Oban Community Council (OCC)

1.    When will Roads and Infrastructure Services (RIS) confirm when the OCC will be consulted regarding the Oban Traffic Regulation Order (TRO)?

Response from Head of Roads and Amenity Services

RIS are currently working on the TRO, the second part of which will be subject to a workshop group in conjunction with OCC in due course.

2.    Over a year ago Audit Scotland told the Council to put in place robust option appraisal processes.  But when officials were instructed to carry out an appraisal on the future of Oban harbour they ignored key elements of any such process, resulting in a totally inadequate report to the Harbour board,  putting the members in an impossible position. As a consequence the reputation of the council is again damaged.

At the same time the 'appraisal ' highlights various omissions from the OCHDA proposals. Most if not all of these omissions concern information which should have been supplied by council officials to OCHDA, since these officials had been instructed by the Harbour Board to enter constructive negotiations with OCHDA.

Why are Council officials able to regularly ignore instructions from Council committees?

3.    Reports to committees always end with the financial implications of the official's recommendations, but the report last week makes no mention of this. Unlike OCHDA,  which has much marine and legal expertise within its membership,  the council manifestly does not, and will have to buy in all the professional services needed to set up a municipal port. This will  be £100k and then some.

Does the failure of officials to inform the Board of the financial implications of their recommendations invalidate their decision or can it permit a challenge at full council?

Response from Committee

The Chair confirmed that Mr Martin’s questions would be forward onto the appropriate department and a response in writing would be issued to him.

Questions from Marri Malloy – Oban Community Council (OCC)

4.    Could Officers stop sending automatic replies to emails submitted by the OCC, which are raised on behalf of the community and please reply in full?

Response from Committee

The Chair confirmed that Mrs Malloy’s concerns would be forwarded to the relevant departments.