Agenda and minutes

The Chair, on behalf of the Committee, welcomed Councillor Liz McCabe to her first meeting of the Area Committee.  He congratulated Councillor McCabe on her election to represent Ward 8 - Isle of Bute and stated he looked forward to working with her.

An apology for absence was intimated on behalf of Councillor Jim Anderson

Councillor Audrey Forest declared a non-financial interest at item 9 – Dunoon Queen’s Hall – Project Close Out Report, as a board member of Live Argyll. She claimed the benefit of the Standards Commission dispensation as this is a Council appointment and advised that she would remain in the meeting.

Councillor Jim Findlay declared a non-financial interest at item 10 – Supporting Communities Fund 2021/22 (application number 13 – Fyne Futures Ltd.) as his wife is a board member. He advised that he would remain in the meeting.

The minutes of the Bute and Cowal Area Committee held on Tuesday 2 March 2021 were approved as a correct record.

The minutes of the Bute and Cowal Area Community Planning Group meeting held on Tuesday 4 May 2021 were noted.

Councillor Jean Moffat joined the meeting during the forgoing item.

Question from Willie Lynch, Dunoon Community Council

Mr Lynch read out his submitted question as follows;

The Glenmorag car park has been a dumping ground for a number of years for old, unwanted caravans. We have been told that a Traffic Regulation Orders (TRO) needs to be in place before action. I suggest that these items are un-roadworthy, dilapidated and have obviously been abandoned there. In addition, there are no markings to identify ownership. In other words, they have been dumped by persons unknown.

Why can action not be taken quickly to remove them in order to destroy them?

Response from Committee / Head of Roads and Infrastructure Services

The Chair advised Mr Lynch that item 8 - Traffic Regulation Orders (TRO) Update on the agenda should address TRO processes and the Head of Roads and Infrastructure Services confirmed this and that the TRO process is designed to give additional powers over and above what currently exists.

Councillor Yvonne McNeilly suggested options could be explored around upcycling caravans, regardless of road worthiness.

Questions from Kenny Matheson, Dunoon Community Council

Mr Matheson read out his submitted questions as follows;

1.    Dunoon Community Council (DCC) previously asked the Area Committee to ask the Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) about the number of deaths from Covid-19 in Ashgrove Care Home and they failed to answer. The Care Commission revealed the true number of deaths to be 36 residents who died between March 2020 - March 2021. Can the Area Committee ask once again why they hid the number and denied that Ashgrove was the epicentre of Covid-19 in Dunoon?;

2.    DCC want an independent enquiry into what happened at Ashgrove and how many residents came from hospitals in Greater Glasgow and Clyde without being tested and did any patients come to Ashgrove knowing they had Covid-19; and

3.    DCC have been denied access to the New Chief Officer, can the Area Committee ask why we have been denied access?

Response from Committee

The Chair stated that the figures were released when the Area Committee met with the HSPC but that consideration should be taken that each figure is a person and the situation remains ongoing and needs to be handled sensitively. The Chair added that initiating an independent enquiry is out with the remit of the Area Committee and that this would be undertaken at a national level.

Councillor McNeilly agreed with the Chair and advised that the issue is a national matter and will be addressed at the highest level when the First Minister conducts a national enquiry at the appropriate time.

In the absence of a relevant officer the Committee Manager confirmed that he would request that the Chief Officer of the HSCP arrange to contact Mr Matheson as appropriate.

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Customer Support Services

The Committee considered the Area Scorecard report for Financial Quarter 4 of 2020-2021 (January-March 2021) which illustrated the agreed performance measures.

Decision

The Bute and Cowal Area Committee;

1.    noted and considered the performance presented on the Scorecards and supporting commentary;

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

3.    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 1 June 2021, submitted)

Verbal Update by Chair

The Chair advised on current transport activities including that Roads and Infrastructure Services (RIS) had recently launched a Twitter handle @ABC_roads_infra which provides information on services such as roadworks and bin collections and capital schemes that were progressing, also advising that there is a dedicated page on the council website for updates: Roads Capital Programme (argyll-bute.gov.uk).

He highlighted that local reports had been received around traffic issues at the amenities site at Bogleha and that these had been addressed by RIS by encouraging the waste-to-product management company to minimise the number of customers queuing outside the facility, however current restrictions around physical distancing make this difficult. RIS are also exploring options around progressing parking restrictions on Bogleha Terrace.  Councillor Alan Reid sought and received confirmation from the Head of Roads and Infrastructure that Members would be briefed before any action is taken.

The Committee noted that the date to find a solution to the Blairmore bin lorry issues was extended to 31 May 2021 and RIS were not aware that the residents had made a commitment to upgrade the road yet so the service was likely explore a road end uplift solution.  The Chair also advised that special uplifts would restart from 1 June 2021.

In relation to Ardencraig Gardens the Chair advised that Council Officers had a positive meeting last week with the Bute Island Alliance who are keen to progress a community led scheme involving the areas of the site intended to be repurposed.

The Chair advised that Members can expect to receive regular weekly briefings on staycation related issues and that the contractor has until later this week to provide a solution at Rothesay pontoons, with an update to Members to be expected soon thereafter.

Discussion focussed on the need to replace street furniture such as bins, TROs at Rothesay High School and who had responsibility for ensuring CCTV cameras are operational with Members encouraged to raise issues on casebook as appropriate.

Councillor Bobby Good declared a financial interest during the forgoing item on the basis he is a part-time employee of West Coast Motors.  He remained in the meeting taking no part in the short discussion.

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure Services

The Committee gave consideration to a report which provided an update on the recent activities carried out but the Roads and Infrastructure Service.  This included information on how the Service continues to respond to covid-19 whilst focusing on delivering frontline 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 2021, submitted)

Councillor Jim Findlay left the meeting during the foregoing item.

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Infrastructure Services

The Committee gave consideration to a report which provided an update on the progress of the Traffic Regulation Orders (TRO) process, background on the current backlog of TROs and impact of the statutory Temporary Traffic Regulation Orders (TTRO) and Traffic Notices on progression of permanent TROs.

Decision

The Bute and Cowal Area Committee considered and noted the update on Traffic Regulation Order progress.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Infrastructure Services dated May 2021, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Commercial Services

The Committee gave consideration to a report which presented Members with the Project Close Out Report for the Dunoon Queen’s Hall Refurbishment and Public Realm Improvements Project.

Decision

The Bute and Cowal Area Committee;

1.    noted and commented upon the Project Close Out Report; and

2.    agreed to recommend to the Policy and Resources Committee that it approve the recommendation at section 1.3 of the appended report -  Project Close Out Report, that the Queens Hall Refurbishment and Public Realm Improvements Project be formally closed out.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Commercial Services dated 18 May 2021, submitted)

Report by Chief Executive

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

Supporting Communities Fund (SCF) Grants for 2021/2022 for the Bute and Cowal area.

Decision

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

(Reference: Report by Chief Executive dated 12 May 2021, submitted)

Councillor Jim Findlay re-joined the meeting during the foregoing item

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

The Committee gave consideration to a report which provided an update on the impact

on service performance with regards to the Covid-19 pandemic and the progress made with regard to remobilising health and social care services in Argyll and Bute.

Decision

The Bute and Cowal Area Committee;

1.    noted and considered the HSCP performance progress regarding remobilisation of activity in line with NHS Highland performance targets for 2020/21 agreed with Scottish Government to 70%-80% of 2019/20 activity; and

2.    noted and considered the extension to the reporting timescales for the Annual Performance Report and review guidance with regards to the Strategic Commissioning Plan and Integration Scheme.

(Reference: Report by Stephen Whiston - Head of Strategic Planning & Performance dated March 2021, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Education Services

The Committee gave consideration to a progress and statistical update report on the

Primary Schools in Bute and Cowal for the 2020/2021 session.

Decision

The Bute and Cowal Area Committee considered the content of the report.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Education Services dated 7 May 2021, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Legal and Regulatory Support

A report which updated Members 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 noting.

Decision

The Bute and Cowal Area Committee noted the updates, which were the most recent of the annual updates required by the Committee on the work of the Trusts.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Legal and Regulatory Support dated 10 May 2021, submitted)

The Draft Bute and Cowal Workplan, as of June 2021, 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 1 June 2021, 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 item of business on the grounds that it was likely to involve the disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 8 and respectively 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 them to approve a grant offer in respect of the Rothesay Townscape Heritage.

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 May 2021, submitted)