Issue - meetings

Question from Liz Neilson, Sandbank Resident

 

Liz Neilson highlighted that the Community were concerned with traffic speeding through Sandbank and the general lack of road safety measures along the entirety of the road. She added that within the last 6 months there had been a number of accidents with 2 fatalities being recorded. Mrs Neilson advised that the Community would like the Council to consider a number of suggestions to mitigate against speeding, the principal suggestion being a reduction of the speed limit to 20mph from Sandbank to Sandhaven.

 

Response from Committee/Project Manager

 

Councillor Sinclair highlighted that a speed survey had been requested for the section of road mentioned and advised that he had also spoken to 2 senior officers who are aware of the situation.

 

The Project Manager referred to the general purposes roads and infrastructure update provided in the agenda pack and highlighted the outstanding speed surveys, with the Sandbank to Cothouse survey being first on that list. He advised that local authorities have been allocated funding from the Scottish Government to undertake reviews of the road network which would allow an assessment of whether 30mph roads would remain as such or be reduced to 20mph.

 

Decision

 

The Bute and Cowal Area Committee agreed to invite Police Scotland to a future meeting to discuss road safety measures within the locality.

 

Questions by Jim Osborne, Bute Community Councillor

 

Question 1

 

Jim Osborne enquired about the Traffic Speed Survey’s which are to be carried out on Kilchattan Bay and Crichton Road, Rothesay and asked the Project Manager if these are separate from the previously mentioned 20mph speed reviews and when these would be undertaken.

 

Response from Project Manager

 

The Project Manager advised that the speed surveys are in addition to the 20mph national speed reviews and that there is a section in the general purposes roads and infrastructure update that provides information on the speed surveys which would be worked through in that order.

 

Question 2

Jim Osborne asked about the review of Ardencraig Gardens which was to take place following the summer season, specifically the quality of plants. He asked the Project Manager if it had taken place and if so what the outcome was, he also enquired about who the Council’s horticultural experts were.

Response from Project Manager/Committee

The Project Manager confirmed that the Council employ a team of gardeners across the council area and that there are two based in Rothesay. The Project Manager confirmed that the Department would soon begin exploring options for the supply of bedding plants for 2023.

Question 3

Mr Osbourne asked why the Chair of the Bute and Cowal Area Committee never attends Bute Community Council meetings?

Response from Councillor McCabe

Councillor Mcneilly responded that this was an inappropriate question as there could be a host of private reasons as to why any elected member could not attend certain meetings and that members do face demands on their time.

The Chair advised that there are two other local councillors who routinely attend these meetings and are more than capable of giving council updates.

Question 4

Jim Osborne enquired about the target of 73 in the performance measure for "street cleaning" referenced within the Area Performance Report and asked what the number meant?

Response by Project Manager

The Project Manager advised that the measurement was 73 was out of 100, and that the figure was reached by applying the Local Environment Audit Management System, a process used by all Scottish Local Authorities to compare and benchmark street cleanliness levels and performance.

Question 5

Jim Osborne asked why there is a target of 0 for social housing new builds in Bute & Cowal?

Response by Housing Strategy Team Lead

The Committee Manager advised that he had received a response from the Housing Strategy Team Lead as follows:

 

I can’t see where in the report it says there is a target of 0.

 

In terms of a couple of positive comments there are currently 4 new build houses under construction by ACHA in central Dunoon due for completion next year. We are actively looking for opportunities to build new build affordable houses in the Dunoon area.

 

Also in the overall Strategic Housing Investment Programme we have 40 units in there for Bute – all Fyne Homes. 10 at Ballochgoy – not on site yet but estimated completion in financial year 2023/24 and 30 at the Rothesay Academy site – not on site but preparatory work is ongoing and once the building starts there is an estimated completion date of 2024/25 for phase 1. There is scope for further units to be delivered on this site in the future.

Question 6

Jim Osborne enquired what is being done to address the causes of stress related absence amongst non-teaching staff in schools and what staff does the LGE category include?

Response by HROD Manager

 

The Committee Manager advised that he had received a response from the HROD Manager as follows:

 

LGE grouping of employees includes employees who are covered by the SJC negotiating committee terms and conditions of service. In practical terms that includes all employees who are not covered by teaching or chief officers conditions of service. The figures reported will therefore include Local Government Employees from all services across the council, and not only Education.

 

With regards to the actions around the causes of stress related absence, I will respond in general terms outlining what the council offer by way of identifying and managing stress in the workforce. Since the question was specifically related to non-teaching LGE staff in schools, the Education management team may be best placed to respond with any additional measures relating to this specific group of employees.

 

The causes of stress related absence in this category are varied and would include for example where an employee is signed off by their GP after a life event such as a bereavement. This category also includes other mental health matters such as depression, anxiety etc.

 

The council have a wellbeing strategy which aims to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4