Agenda and minutes

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting.

 

There were no apologies for absence intimated.

 

Councillor Audrey Forrest declared a non-financial interest in relation to item 12 of the agenda (Supporting Communities Fund 2023/24) with specific reference to the application from Addictions Recovery Café, advising that she is currently in the process of joining the board. She advised that she would leave the meeting during the consideration of this item of Business.

 

Councillor Reeni Kennedy-Boyle declared a financial interest in relation to item 12 of the agenda (Supporting Communities Fund 2023/24) with specific reference to the application from Fyne Futures, advising that she is employed by this organisation. She advised that she would leave the meeting during the consideration of this item of Business.

 

Councillor Ross Moreland declared a non-financial interest in relation to item 12 of the agenda (Supporting Communities Fund 2023/24) with specific reference to the application from Duthchas, advising that he is a member of the group. He advised that he would leave the meeting during the consideration of this item of Business.

 

Councillor Peter Wallace declared a non-financial interest in relation to item 12 of the agenda (Supporting Communities Fund 2023/24) with specific reference to the application from Crossroads Caring For Carers Cowal & Bute, advising that a family member is involved with the group. He advised that he would leave the meeting during the consideration of this item of Business.

 

The Minutes of the meeting of the Bute and Cowal Area Committee, held on 7 March 2023 were approved as a correct record.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Bute and Cowal Area Community Planning Group, held on 2 May 2023 were noted.

 

The Minutes of the meeting of the Cowal Transport Forum, held on 16 May 2023 were noted.

 

Question on Dunoon’s Active Travel Route

 

Several members of the public raised concerns on the plans to link Dunoon and Hunters Quay with a new active travel route and asked if further detail on the justification for this route could be shared with residents.

 

Councillor Moreland advised that the active travel route was instigated by the Charette that had been drafted in 2016 and that at the moment a stage 1 consultation is being undertaken, with a further 6 stages of development to follow. Councillor Moreland highlighted that members of the public need to make their feelings known during the consultation process and that he expects the final route to look very different once resident’s comments had been taken into consideration.

 

The Committee were asked what their feelings were on the proposals. Members of the Area Committee recognised that the initial plans do not have widespread support and encouraged people to engage with the consultation to ensure the final route reflects the wishes of residents, offers value for money and encourages active travel.

 

A resident commented that the consultation did not offer an opportunity to suggest alternative proposals and that residents were forced to choose from 3 options.

 

Councillor Moreland confirmed that should responders to the consultation wish they can submit alternative plans to Stantec via e-mail.

 

Question from Valerie Edmonson

 

Valerie Edmonson raised concerns regarding the demise of the Dial-a-Bus and replacement Pingo Service in the Cowal Peninsula which has negatively impacted on elderly and disabled users. Ms Edmonson advised that she had been told that the Pingo service was to be booked via an app or call centres which was not user friendly for service users, specifically elderly customers.

 

Councillor Hampsey advised that as Chair of the Cowal Transport Forum he was happy to take this issue forward and provide an update at the next meeting of the Forum which is scheduled to be held on 13 September 2023.

 

Question from John Brint, Ardentinny Community Council

 

Mr Brint raised concerns on road safety in Ardentinny and advised that Ardentinny Community Council had sent a letter of improvement requests to the Roads Department and asked the Committee for support on this matter.

 

The Project Manager advised that the department had received the letter on the 29^th May and that they were currently in the process of looking through it. Mr Calder further advised that the department would respond to Mr Brint on all his points and would organise a meeting onsite to discuss further.

 

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Education

The Committee gave consideration to a report and presentation which provided a range of key information about primary school provision in the Bute and Cowal area during the school session August 2022 to June 2023 and reported the National collection of attainment and achievement data from June 2022.

 

Decision

 

The Bute and Cowal Area Committee considered and noted the contents of the report.

 

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Education dated June 2023, submitted)

 

Report by Head Teacher, Dunoon Grammar School

The Committee heard from Mr Mitchell, Head Teacher of Dunoon Grammar School, who picked out some highlights from the school report which had been provided to Members. The report included information in relation to S3 attainment of Curriculum for Excellence levels in literacy and numeracy and Gaelic; the pass rates of National qualifications and the Insight dashboard. Information in relation to wider achievement qualifications; equity and attainment and Pupil Equity Funding was also provided.

 

The Committee wished Mr Mitchell the best of luck at the Education Awards in which he is nominated as Head Teacher of the Year.

 

Decision

 

The Bute and Cowal Area Committee noted the contents of the report and information provided.

 

(Reference: Report by Head Teacher, Dunoon Grammar School, dated June 2023, submitted)

 

Report by Head Teacher, Rothesay Joint Campus

The Committee heard from Ms Nicoll, Head Teacher of Rothesay Joint Campus, who picked out some highlights from the school report which had been provided to Members.  The report included information in relation to S3 attainment of Curriculum for Excellence levels in literacy and numeracy and Gaelic; the pass rates of National qualifications and the Insight dashboard. Information in relation to wider achievement qualifications; equity and attainment and Pupil Equity Funding was also provided.

 

Decision

 

The Bute and Cowal Area Committee noted the contents of the report and information provided.

 

(Reference: Report by Head Teacher, Rothesay Joint Campus, dated June 2023, submitted)

 

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Customer Support Services

Consideration was given to the Area Performance Report for financial quarter 4 of 2022/23 (January to March 2023) which illustrated the agreed performance measures for this period.

 

Decision

 

The Bute and Cowal Area Committee:

 

1.    noted and considered the performance and supporting commentary as presented;

 

2.    noted that upon receipt of the Quarterly Performance Report the Area Committee should contact either the Responsible Named Officer or Sonya Thomas with any queries; and

 

3.    noted that work is ongoing and to respond to Sonya Thomas with requests or comments regarding the layout and format of the Performance Report and Scorecard.

 

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Customer Support Services, dated 4 May 2023, submitted)

 

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure Services

The Committee gave consideration to a report which provided links to the recent activities of Roads and Infrastructure Services.

 

Decision

 

The Bute and Cowal Area Committee considered and noted the contents of the report.

 

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure Services, dated May 2023, submitted)

 

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure Services

 

The Committee gave consideration to a report that provided options on how to spend £75,000 that had been allocated from the Crown Estates funding to a Cemetery Maintenance and Roads Access Fund.

 

Decision

 

The Bute and Cowal Area Committee:

 

1.    agreed the package of proposals up to the value of £75,000; and

 

2.    noted that regular updates would be provided via the Roads and Infrastructure weekly briefings.

 

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure Services, dated May 2023, submitted)

 

Report by Chief Officer, Argyll and Bute HSCP

 

 

Consideration was given to the HSCP Annual Performance Report for 2022-23.  The report detailed how the HSCP had performed and also provided progress updates on how they have improved and adapted services which are fit for the future. 

 

Decision

 

The Bute and Cowal Area Committee considered and noted the contents of the report.

 

(Reference: Report by Chief Officer, Health and Social Care Partnership, dated June 2023, submitted)

 

Verbal Update by Bute and Cowal Development Officer

The Committee gave consideration to a verbal update on the outcome of the Dunoon BID Ballot held on Thursday 2 March 2023.

 

Decision

 

The Bute and Cowal Area Committee considered and noted the information provided.

 

(Reference: Verbal Presentation by Bute and Cowal Development Officer)

 

Councillor Reeni Kennedy-Boyle, Councillor Audrey Forrest, Councillor Ross Moreland and Councillor Peter Wallace, having declared an interest in relation to the following item of business, left the meeting and took no part in the consideration of this item.

Report by Chief Executive

Consideration was given to a report which detailed recommendations for the award of the Council’s Supporting Communities Fund (SCF) for the 2023/24 round of funding that had been made available in the Bute and Cowal area.

 

Decision

 

The Bute and Cowal Area Committee agreed that the 17 applications, marked as ‘Award’ within Appendix 1 of the report, are awarded funding from the Supporting Communities Fund Budget totalling £38,228.09, as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ref	Applicant	Recommendation	Amount Requested	Award 2023/24
1	ARC Addictions Recovery Cafe	Award	£2,500.00	£2,500.00
2	POP Shop Enterprises CIC	Award	£2,450.00	£2,450.00
3	*Waterbaby Arts SCIO	Award	£2,500.00	£2,500.00
4	Comann nam Parant Comhghall	Award	£1,300.00	£1,300.00
5	Cowal Open Studios	Award	£2,488.00	£2,488.00
6	**Friends of Glenan Wood	Award	£2,500.00	£2,500.00
7	Dunoon Burgh Hall Trust	Award	£2,500.00	£2,500.00
8	**Sandbank Community Development Trust	Award	£1,975.00	£1,975.00
9	**Fyne Futures Ltd.	Award	£2,500.00	£2,500.00
10	Scenic Sandbank	Award	£2,500.00	£2,500.00
11	Dunoon and Cowal Heritage Trust	Award	£2,500.00	£2,500.00
12	Bullwood Nature Trail	Award	£2,500.00	£2,500.00
13	*Dunoon Foodbank	Award	£2,500.00	£2,500.00
14	Bute Community Land Company	Award	£2,500.00	£2,500.00
15	Bute Community Band	Award (partial)	£2,250.00	£2,157.04
16	**Hunter's Quay Com Council	Award	£701.00	£701.00
17	Toward Seasports Club(SCIO)	Award (partial)	£2,490.50	£2,157.05
18	South Cowal Community Enterprises Ltd.	No award	£2,500.00	£0.00
19	Voices of Argyll CIC	No award	£2,500.00	£0.00
20	Positive Pedals	No award	£470.00	£0.00
21	Duthchas	No award	£2,490.00	£0.00
22	Loch Goil Community Council	No award	£500.00	£0.00
23	Isle of Bute BID	No award	£1,880.00	£0.00
24	Crossroads Caring For Carers Cowal & Bute	No award	£2,500.00	£0.00
25	Bute Shinty Club	No award	£2,400.00	£0.00
26	Cowal Choral Club	No award	£2,500.00	£0.00
27	Dunoon Senior Citizens Club	No award	£2,335.00	£0.00
28	Carr Gomm	No award	£625.00	£0.00
29	Starter Pack Plus	No award	£1,500.00	£0.00

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Reference: Report by Chief Executive, dated 12 May 2023, submitted)

 

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Education

A report providing details of a planned change to the current Early Learning & Childcare (ELC) delivery model within Rothesay Joint Campus was before members for information.

 

Decision

 

The Bute and Cowal Area Committee noted:

 

1.    the work of the early years’ team in identifying a solution to the childcare issue on Bute; and

 

2.    the plan to deliver non statuary childcare from within existing revenue.

 

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Education, dated 24 April 2023, submitted)

 

 

Report by Executive Director with responsibilities for Legal and Regulatory Support

A report providing an update on the work undertaken by the wind farm trusts set up at both Cruach Mhor (Glendaruel) and Clachan Flats (Cairndow) in accordance with consented developments was before the Committee for information.

 

Decision

 

The Bute and Cowal Area Committee noted the contents of the report.

 

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Legal and Regulatory Support, dated May 2023, submitted)

The Bute and Cowal Area Committee work plan was before members for information.

 

Decision

 

The Bute and Cowal Committee noted the contents of the work plan.

 

(Reference: Bute and Cowal Area Committee work plan, dated 6 June 2023)

 

The Committee gave consideration to a report providing information regarding an application that had been received for support from the Lamont Bequest.

 

Decision

 

The Bute and Cowal Area Committee agreed to award £50 to the individual applicant who met the criteria for support from the Lamont Bequest.

 

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Legal and Regulatory Support dated May 2023, submitted)

 

The Committee resolved in terms of Section 50(A)(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 to exclude the press and public for the following item of business on the grounds that it was likely to involve the disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 8 of Part 1 of Schedule 7A to the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973.

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth

The Committee gave consideration to a report which asked Members to approve a grant award in relation to a shopfront within the town centre of Rothesay as part of the Rothesay Townscape Heritage Project.

 

Decision

 

The Bute and Cowal Area Committee approved the grant as detailed in the report.

 

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth dated 25 April 2023, submitted)