Agenda and minutes

An apology for absence was intimated on behalf of Councillor Yvonne Mcneilly.

There were no declarations of interest intimated.

The minutes of the Bute and Cowal Area Committee held on Tuesday 31 August 2021 were approved as a correct record.

The minutes of the Bute and Cowal Area Community Planning Group meeting held on Tuesday 2 November were noted.

The minutes of the Cowal Transport Forum meeting held on Tuesday 16 November 2021 were noted.

Questions from Kenny Matheson, Convenor Dunoon Community Council

 

1.    Could the Area Committee get an update regarding the merger of the two Surgeries to Cowal Community Hospital?

 

Response from Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP)

 

The Committee Manger read out the below response on behalf of HSCP:

 

The Scottish Government has approved the business case for relocation of GP practice services into Cowal Community Hospital. In addition to achieving closer working with services located in the hospital, this will provide an opportunity to review the way in which medical services are provided within the hospital. Work is underway to finalise plans and it is expected that relocation will take place in 2022. The relocation plan involves Cowal Medical Practice and Church Street Practice. There is an expectation that the two Practices will merge into a single larger Practice and the Practices are working towards this.

 

2.    Could the Area committee get an update on why the White Lines have not been updated in Dunoon? According to the Roads and Infrastructure services update Additional Appendix Dunoon is not on the update.

 

Response from Roads and Infrastructure Services (RIS)

 

The Committee Manger read out the below response on behalf of RIS:

 

The programme of lining works for Bute and Cowal is ongoing. If there is a specific location which you believe has been missed from the programme, please advise us of this.

 

3.    Could the Area Committee get an update on the new Parking Officer and why there is some confusion regarding parking on double yellow lines which is causing havoc?

 

The Committee Manger read out the below response on behalf of RIS:

 

A new Amenity Warden has recently been recruited for the Bute and Cowal area. Parking on double yellow lines will be enforced where appropriate. More detail is required regarding the specific location which has been causing confusion to enable a full reply.

 

The Chair confirmed that details of the location had been passed back to RIS to enable the service to reply fully to Mr Matheson.

 

4.    Could the Area Committee get an update regarding a Zebra Crossing on Alexander Parade and Sandbank Road following on from a consultation with RIS Officers?

 

The Committee Manger read out the below response on behalf of RIS:

 

A request has been received from Dunoon Community Council to review the existing crossing point on Alexandra Parade in the vicinity of Port Riddell, Dunoon to ascertain if it could be upgraded to a Zebra Crossing. The team are in the process of considering this request, giving consideration to the number of recorded incidents at this location and actual usage of the crossing in liaison with Police Scotland.

Questions from Willie Lynch, Dunoon Community Council

 

Mr Matheson read out the following questions on behalf of Mr Lynch:

 

5.    What is the Area Committee’s position on Community Councils leading on the Education Collective Leadership Model (CLM)?;

 

6.    Does the Area Committee agree that Community Councils do not have the knowledge regarding this large piece of work to answer any questions about CLM?; and

 

7.    Will the Collective Leadership Model for Education be only rolled out in Argyll and Bute or will it be that all Councils in Scotland follow the CLM?

 

Response from Committee

 

The Chair stated that he understood that the Education Department had emailed community councils encouraging them to hold discussions between themselves and feedback to the council, but he felt there was a need for clarity around this.

 

The Committee Manger confirmed that it was his understanding that community councils were to be consulted on the CLM along with other partners, but were not to lead on this.

 

Discussion focused on the correspondence issued to community councils and that there was a need to seek clarity from the Education Service on what was required from community councils and what support would be offered to them during the consultation process.

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Customer Support Services

The Committee considered the Area Scorecard report for Financial Quarter 2 of 2021-2022 (July-September 2021) which illustrated the agreed performance measures.

 

Robust discussion was held on the deterioration of road markings and lack of working car parking machines, specifically in the Dunoon area, and how the traffic warden cannot pursue any parking issues if the signage is not adequately visible. Lighting issues were also discussed and the Committee expressed frustration at the lack of Officer attendance at the Area Committee to address issues raised.

 

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 Report the Area Committee Members could contact either the Performance Improvement Officer or the responsible named officer with any queries;

 

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; and

 

4.    noted their dissatisfaction regarding the performance of Roads and Infrastructure Services (RIS) and that there was an expectation that the Head of Service of RIS would attend future meetings of the Area Committee.

 

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Customer Support Services dated 7 December 2021, submitted)

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 by the Roads and Infrastructure Service.  This included information on how the £10m Roads Capital Programme is progressing and 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 November 2021, submitted)

 

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure Services

The Committee gave consideration to a report which provided an update on the planning timeline for development of infrastructure and reintroduced the Terms of Reference for the Harbour Reference Group. The Committee were also asked to consider nominating a Member to represent Ward 7 on the Reference Group.

 

Motion

 

Councillor Bobby Good nominated himself for the position of the representative on the Harbour Reference Group, seconded by Councillor Alan Reid

 

Amendment

 

Councillor Jean Moffat nominated Councillor Audrey Forrest for the positon of representative on the Harbour Reference Group, seconded by Councillor Jim Findlay.

 

The Members voted by calling the roll and voted as follows:

 

Motion	Amendment
Councillor Good	Councillor Anderson
Councillor Reid	Councillor Blair
Councillor McCabe	Councillor Findlay
	Councillor Forrest
	Councillor Moffat

 

With the Motion receiving 3 votes and Amendment receiving 5 votes, the Committee resolved accordingly.

 

Decision

 

The Bute and Cowal Area Committee;

 

1.    noted and considered the report including the updated Terms of Reference; and

 

2.    agreed to and thereafter appointed a second Member from Ward 7, Councillor Forrest, to sit on the Reference Group, in addition to the Member already appointed from Ward 6 representing users from the Bute and Cowal area.

 

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

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

The Committee gave consideration to the Argyll and Bute Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) Annual Performance Report for 2020/21.

 

Decision

 

The Bute and Cowal Area Committee noted and considered the Annual Performance Report for the Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) for the year 2020/21.

 

(Reference: Report by Executive Director Head of Strategic Planning and Performance, HSCP dated 7 December 2021, submitted)

Report by Head Teacher, Dunoon Grammar

The Head Teacher of Dunoon Grammar School took the committee through a progress update report on the school’s achievements for the 2021 session.

 

Decision

 

The Bute and Cowal Area Committee;

 

1.         noted and considered the contents of the report; and

 

2.         commended the work of the school and its pupils during the pandemic.

 

 (Reference: Report by Head Teacher, Dunoon Grammar School, dated 7 December 2021, submitted)

Report by Head Teacher, Rothesay Joint Campus

The Head Teacher of Rothesay Academy took the committee through a progress update report on the schools achievements for the 2021 session.

 

Decision

 

The Bute and Cowal Area Committee;

 

1.         noted and considered the contents of the report; and

 

2.         commended the work of the school and its pupils during the pandemic.

 

(Reference: Report by Head Teacher, Rothesay Academy, dated 7 December 2021, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibilities for Legal and Regulatory Support

The Committee gave consideration to a report which asked them to nominate a Member to sit on the Dunoon Community Development Trust.

 

Motion

 

Councillor Reid nominated Councillor Good for the position of the representative on the Dunoon Community Development Trust, seconded by Councillor McCabe.

 

Amendment

 

Councillor Findlay nominated Councillor Anderson for the positon of representative on the Dunoon Community Development Trust, seconded by Councillor Forrest.

 

The Members voted by calling the roll and voted as follows:

 

Motion	Amendment
Councillor Good	Councillor Anderson
Councillor Reid	Councillor Blair
Councillor McCabe	Councillor Findlay
	Councillor Forrest
	Councillor Moffat

 

Decision

 

With the Motion receiving 3 votes and Amendment receiving 5 votes, the Committee resolved accordingly.

 

(Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Legal and Regulatory Support dated November 2021, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibilities for Legal and Regulatory Support

The Committee gave consideration to a report which provided details on a number of the Trusts and Bequests that remain active in the Bute and Cowal Area which sought agreement regarding their ongoing management.

 

Decision

 

The Bute and Cowal Area Committee;

 

1.    noted the financial position of all the Charitable Trusts, Bequests and Trust Funds as of July 2021; and

 

2.    agreed that a moratorium be placed on all charities and trust funds that have historically been awarded to Council Departments and Allied Partners that have less than £50 available for distribution.

 

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

The Draft Bute and Cowal Workplan, as of December 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 7 December 2021, submitted).

 

The Committee gave consideration to a report which gave information regarding three applications that had been received requesting support from the Provost’s Fund.

 

Decision

 

The Bute and Cowal Area Committee agreed to award £100 to each applicant.

 

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Legal and Regulatory Support dated 1 November 2021, submitted)