Agenda and minutes

There were apologies for absence intimated on behalf of Councillor Audrey Forrest and Councillor Yvonne McNeilly.

Councillor Bobby Good declared a non-financial interest at item 7 - Supporting Communities Fund 2020/21 (application reference number 8 - Cowal Police Charitable Trust) as he was related one of the applicants.

 

Councillor Jim Findlay declared a non-financial interest at item 13 – Future Options for Torlochan Travellers Site as he is a member of the Argyll Community Housing Association Area Committee. As the report was for noting only he remained in the room for the entirety of the item.

The minutes of the Bute and Cowal Area Committee held on Tuesday 3 December 2019 were approved as a correct record.

 

Matters Arising

 

Councillor Jim Anderson highlighted to the Committee that actions raised under the Public Question time relating to the Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) were being addressed in conjunction with the HSCP and a local working group - Cowal Futures Group.

 

Councillor Alan Reid sought clarification as to why certain reports had been removed from the draft Bute and Cowal Workplan as noted in the minutes.  The Chair agreed to look into the reasons further with the relevant Officers and report back to Members.

The minutes of the Bute and Cowal Community Planning Group meeting held on Tuesday 4 February 2020 were noted.

Question from Robert MacIntyre, Transportation Spokesperson for Bute Community Council

 

Mr MacIntyre asked why there had been a reduction on spending on roads and pavements in the last year despite their deterioration in Rothesay and on Bute as a whole.  He stated that additional funding was now available from the Scottish Government and asked how much of this was going to be allocated to roads.

 

Response from Head of Roads and Infrastructure Services

 

Mr Smith responded that the roads network had seen significant investment over several years, some of which had been match funded through timber transport monies.  He also stated a reasonable capital programme would continue over the next couple of years.

 

Mr Smith explained that roads are subjected to routine inspection with additional inspections carried out in response to issues reported by members of public and that the Committee and members of the public could expect to see an annual status report published later in the year. He also encouraged people to report dangerous defects via the online system.

 

Question from Isobel Strong, Resident on Bute

 

Ms Strong reported that utility companies were not reinstating the roads and pavements on Bute to an acceptable standard after digging up the surfaces. Ms Strong highlighted Ministers Brae as a particular example of bad practise.

 

Response from Head of Roads and Infrastructure Services

 

Mr Smith responded that utility companies were obliged to submit a notice to the council who would then check that the affected surface was left in an acceptable condition after the works were completed. If it is found the surface was not reinstated to a satisfactory condition and, if appropriate, the council can impose a financial penalty.  He agreed to look into this case further and provide an update to the Committee.

 

Question from Hamish Kirk, Resident in Rothesay

 

Mr Kirk raised the issue about cars parking on pavements which was causing deterioration in pavements in several locations as well as posing potential dangers to pedestrians. He asked if this was a criminal offence and what was being done to prevent people from parking illegally.

 

Response from Head of Roads and Infrastructure Services

 

Mr Smith explained that currently it was a criminal offence under Road Traffic Act which meant it was for the Police to enforce.  However, the Scottish Transport Bill, which is currently going through Scottish Parliament, will de-criminalise parking on pavements which may allow council officers to issue penalty charges at some point in the future. Mr Smith also confirmed that there is still a traffic warden employed with responsibility for the island.

 

Discussion focussed on what the definition of an obstruction was; parking on double yellow lines and what the Police are doing to tackle illegal parking.  Councillor Reid agreed to raise the issue with the Police at the next meeting of the Cowal Transport Forum and the Chair agreed to invite the Police to the next Bute and Cowal Area Business Day.

 

Question from Robert MacIntyre, Transportation Spokesperson for Bute Community Council

 

Mr MacIntyre asked when work on the Rothesay Pavilion would be completed.

 

Response from Head of Roads and Infrastructure Services

 

Mr Smith confirmed that the hand-over date to the Rothesay Pavilion Trust was planned to be March/April 2020 with the anticipated opening date of late Summer/early Autumn.

 

Question from Robert MacIntyre, Transportation Spokesperson for Bute Community Council

 

Mr MacIntyre asked if the ward 8 members were happy with the amount of time the Rothesay Pavilion project had taken.

 

Response from Ward 8 Members

 

Councillor Findlay responded that he was not happy with the length of time it had taken but that there were well documented reasons as to why it had taken so long.

 

Councillor Moffat stated that it would have been preferable if the time taken had been less but there were complicated structural issues that had to be resolved.

 

Councillor Scoullar said that he was increasingly optimistic as the main contractor was almost complete.

Report by Interim Executive Director with responsibility for Customer Support Services

The Committee considered the Area Scorecard report for Financial Quarter 3 of 2019-2020 (October - December 2019) which illustrated the agreed performance measures.

 

Decision

 

The Bute and Cowal Area Committee;

 

1.    noted the performance presented on the Scorecard and supporting commentary;

 

2.    welcomed the detailed Car Parking information as presented in the report for future Area Committee Performance Reports;

 

3.    agreed to the removal of the Positive Destinations success measure and the inclusion of the Participation in a Positive Destination measure;

 

4.    noted that upon receipt of the quarterly performance report the Area Committee Members could contact either the Performance Improvement Officer or the responsible named officer with any queries; and

 

5.    noted that work was ongoing and to respond to the Performance Improvement Officer with requests or comments regarding the layout and format of the report and scorecard.

 

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Customer Support Services dated 3 March 2020, submitted)

Report by Head of Strategic Planning and Performance, Health and Social Care Partnership

Members gave consideration to a report which presented annual performance data of the Integrated Joint Board (IJB).

 

Members noted that the data was produced in accordance with statutory guidance, with contributions from a wide range of Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) staff and the wider partnership.

 

Decision

 

The Bute and Cowal Area Committee noted and reflected upon the Health and Social Care Partnership Annual Performance Report for 2018/19.

 

(Reference: Report by Head of Strategic Planning and Performance dated 3 March 2020, submitted)

Report by Head of Strategic Planning and Performance, Health and Social Care Partnership

Consideration was given by Members to a report which had been presented to the IJB detailing performance data against National Health and Well Being Outcome Indicators and the Ministerial Steering Group measures of integration for the HSCP.

 

Discussion focussed on the increase in unplanned mental health bed days and the reporting procedures to the Clinical Care Governance Committee.

 

Decision

 

The Bute and Cowal Area Committee;

 

1.    noted and considered the report; and

 

2.    agreed that the Head of Strategic Planning and Performance would report back to Members on actions being taken and how targets are determined.

 

(Reference: Report by Head of Strategic Planning and Performance dated 3 March 2020, submitted)

The Chair ruled, and the Committee agreed, to appoint Councillor Jim Anderson to Chair the meeting in relation to the below item only.

 

Councillor Good having declared a non-financial interest in relation to the Cowal Police Charitable Trust application left the meeting and took no part in the discussion of this item.

Report by Chief Executive

The Committee gave consideration to a report recommending the distribution of the

Supporting Communities Fund (SCF) Grants for 2020/2021 for the Bute and Cowal area.

 

Decision

 

The Bute and Cowal Area Committee agreed to award funding from the Supporting Communities Fund as follows:

 

Ref No	Organisation	Grant 2019/20	Total Project Cost	Amount Requested	Award 2020 / 21
1	1st Rothesay Boys Brigade	£1757.00	£1,192.00	£1,192.00	£1,192.00
2	26th Argyll (Sandbank) Scout Group	n/a	£2,716.90	£2,200.00	£1,874.00
3	Achievement Bute	n/a	£5160.00	£2,400.00	£2,400.00
4	Bute Advice Centre	n/a	£3,500.00	£2,500.00	£2,130.00
5	Bute Community Forest	£1,000.00	£2,000.00	£2,000.00	No Award
6	Bute Shinty Club and Amateur Athletic Club SCIO	£1,830.00	£2,500.00	£1,750.00	No Award
7	ButeFest 2020*	£2,000.00	£7,500.00	£2,480.00	No Award
8	Cowal Police Charitable Trust	n/a	£1,413.00	£1,263.00	£1,263.00
9	Dunoon Argyll Pipe Band	n/a	£2,030.00	£2,030.00	No Award
10	Dunoon Burgh Hall	n/a	£2,500.00	£2,500.00	£2,500.00
11	Dunoon Jazz Festival Community Trust*	n/a	£12,800.00	£2,500.00	£2,500.00
12	Dunoon Presents	£2000.00	£1,390.00	£1,390.00	No Award
13	Friends of Glenan Wood	n/a	£3,3640.99	£2,390.99	£2,391.00
14	Historic Kilmun	n/a	£33,380.00	£2,500.00	No Award
15	Kilmun Community Council / Shore Sweepers	n/a	£1,326.00	£1,126.00	£662.00
16	Kingarth & Kilchattan Bay Improvements	n/a	£1,689.00	£1,439.00	£1,439.00
17	Lochgoil Community Trust	n/a	£2,700.00	£1,731.00	£1,531.00
18	Rothesay Primary School Parent Council	n/a	£1,080.00	£1,080.00	£920.00
19	St Andrews Primary Parent Council	n/a	£1,096.68	£946.68	£947.00
20	Starter Pack Plus	£500.00	£1,102.91	£500.00	No Award
21	The Meeting Place	n/a	£13,080.00	£2,280.00	£2,280.00
22	Toward Sailing Club	n/a	£55,669.00	£2,400.00	£2,400.00
		Total Available			£26,429.00
	* Events & Festivals	Total Recommended			£26,429.00

 

 

(Reference: Report by Chief Executive, dated 19 February 2020, submitted)

Report by Interim Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure Services

The Committee gave consideration to an annual report which sought views and comments that could be put forward for consideration as potential changes to the 2020/21 Winter Policy via the Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee.

 

Discussion focused on how roads were classified by priority in terms of gritting; maintenance arrangement of fleet vehicles and community engagement plans.

 

Decision

 

The Bute and Cowal Area Committee;

 

1.    considered the report; and

 

2.    agreed that Head of Roads and Amenity Service would take comments back to be considered as part of the 2020/21 Winter Policy which is intended to be presented to the Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee in September 2020.

 

(Reference: Report by Interim Executive Director with Responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure dated February 2020, submitted)

Verbal Update by Interim Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure Services

The Committee gave consideration to a verbal update from the Head of Roads and Infrastructure Services who advised that the Roads Capital Reconstruction Programme for 2020/21 would be considered at the Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee on 5 March 2020.

 

Mr Smith advised that following the Council Budget on 27 February 2020 an additional  £700k was available and that an update to the list of schemes was being prepared and that once approved these schemes will go public on the council website.

 

Members’ were advised that a series of briefing notes have been designed to be shared with constituents or community groups on the work that will be undertaken. Mr Smith further added that an asset management based document which sets out road conditions and the rational for treatments is expected to be available in the coming months.

 

Decision

 

The Bute and Cowal Area Committee noted the Verbal Update.

 

(Reference: Verbal Update by Interim Executive Director with Responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure)

Report by Interim Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Infrastructure

Members considered a report which provided some background detail relating to the Dunoon to Gourock ferry service along with plans for the future.

 

Decision

 

The Bute and Cowal Area Committee;

 

1.    agreed with the constituency MSP, Michael Russell, that the timetable for the procurement of new vessels for the Dunoon-Gourock service is “completely unacceptable”; and

 

2.    agreed to send the following letters;

 

a)    to Mr Russell welcoming his comments and asking him to let the Council know what efforts he is making to speed up the procurement process and the Scottish Government’s responses to his efforts; and

 

b)    to Paul Wheelhouse MSP, the Minister responsible for this service, drawing his attention to the damage this long delay will cause to the Cowal economy and calling on him to speed up the procurement process.

(Reference: Report by Interim Director with responsibility for Development and Infrastructure dated February 2020, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibilities for Legal and Regulatory Support

The Committee gave consideration to a report which highlighted that the Council had received a request from Transport Scotland for one representative from Argyll and

Bute Council to sit on the Gourock - Dunoon Infrastructure and Vessels Project -

Reference Group.

 

Decision

 

The Bute and Cowal Area Committee;

 

1.    agreed to appoint Councillor  Alan Reid as the Council representative on the Gourock – Dunoon Infrastructure and Vessels Project - Reference Group;

 

2.    noted that Transport Scotland had decided that participation in the Gourock – Dunoon Infrastructure and Vessels Project - Reference Group was conditional on accepting that  meetings are confidential. The Committee believes that proper consultation can only take place on a transparent basis; and

 

3.    agreed to write to Transport Scotland calling on them, in the interests of transparency, to remove the confidentiality condition on meetings of the Gourock – Dunoon Infrastructure and Vessels Project - Reference Group except for information which is restricted due to provisions contained within the Local Government Act (Scotland) 1973.

 

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Legal and Regulatory Support dated 10 February 2020,submitted)

Report by Interim Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth

The Committee gave consideration to a report which asked Members to approve grant offers towards the repair of two shopfronts in Dunoon Town Centre.

 

Decision

 

The Bute and Cowal Area Committee approved;

 

1.    grant offers up to £10,741 to the property owners of Girard’s, 116 Argyll Street, Dunoon; and

 

2.    grant offers up to £11,921 to the owners of Right Medicine Pharmacy, 65-67 Argyll Street, Dunoon.

 

(Reference: Report by Interim Executive Director with responsibility for Development

and Economic Growth dated 3 March 202, submitted)

Report by Interim Executive Director with responsibility for Housing

A report exploring the future options of the Torlochan Travellers Site was before the Committee for noting.

 

Decision

 

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

 

(Reference: Report by Interim Executive Director with Responsibility for Housing dated 5 February 2020)

The Draft Bute and Cowal Workplan, as of March 2020, was before the Committee for noting.

 

Decision

 

The Bute and Cowal Area Committee noted the Bute and Cowal Workplan.

 

(Reference: Bute and Cowal Workplan dated 3 September 2020, submitted).

 

The Council resolved in terms of Section 50(A)(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 to exclude the press and public for the following 1 item of business on the grounds that it was likely to involve the disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 8 and 9 respectively of Part 1 of Schedule 7A to the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973.

Report by Interim Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth

The Committee gave consideration to a report pertaining to a grant towards the Rothesay Townscape Heritage project.

 

Decision

 

The Bute and Cowal Area Committee approved the grant offer up to the amount contained within the report to the owners of 39-43 Victoria Street, Rothesay.

 

(Reference: Report by Interim Executive Director with responsibility for Development

and Economic Growth dated 3 March 2020, submitted)