Agenda and minutes

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting.

 

An apology for absence was intimated on behalf of Councillor Audrey Forrest.  

Councillor Jim Anderson noted in relation to item 7 (Supporting Communities Fund 2022/23) that his wife was a teacher at Kirn Primary School.  Having taken note of the updated Standards Commission Guidance in relation to declarations (issued 7 December 2021) with specific reference to section 5 he considered that he had a relevant connection and as such would leave the meeting during consideration of this item.

 

Councillor Gordon Blair noted in relation to item 7 (Supporting Communities Fund 2022/23) that he was a member of Cowal Community Orchestra.  Having taken note of the updated Standards Commission Guidance in relation to declarations (issued 7 December 2021) with specific reference to section 5 he considered that he had a relevant connection and as such would leave the meeting during consideration of this item.

 

Councillor Bobby Good noted in relation to item 10 (Roads and Infrastructure Services Update), that he was a part-time employee of West Coast Motors, who were mentioned within the report. Having taken note of the updated Standards Commission Guidance in relation to declarations (issued 7 December 2021) with specific reference to section 5.4(c) he did not consider that he had a relevant connection and as such would remain in the meeting and speak and vote on the report.

The Minutes of the Bute and Cowal Area Committee held on 7^th December 2021 were approved as a correct record.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Bute and Cowal Area Community Planning Group held on 1^st February 2022 were noted.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Cowal Transport Forum held on 9^th February 2022 were noted.

Question from Grant Stewart

 

Questions were raised with the Committee by Grant Stewart in relation to new parking restrictions at Hunters Quay. He outlined concerns around the views of residents not having been taken into account; the removal of parking spaces for those residents who did not have off-street parking; the cause of accidents being people rushing for the ferry; and the removal of parking spaces resulting in a clearer road which encouraged speeding. He noted that he would have expected consultation to take place prior to restrictions being put in place, however he understood that this would not happen for up to 18 months.

 

He advised that many of the traffic issues seemed to be linked with Western Ferries, with many commuters also parking in the vicinity for extended periods of time. He highlighted that there appeared to be limited enforcement action from traffic wardens, and many commuters seemed to ignore the restrictions and park on the double yellow lines.

 

Response from Committee

 

The Chair confirmed that it was his understanding that the traffic restrictions in place were part of a Temporary Traffic Regulation Order (TTRO) in response to safety concerns, which did not require prior consultation and could be in place for a period of up to 18 months. He noted that it was his understanding that the Police had also been involved in discussions around the TTRO due to their concerns.

 

It was agreed that the Committee Manager would pass these queries to the Roads and Infrastructure Services department, and that a response would be provided to Mr Stewart and Committee Members following the meeting.

 

Question from Tom McIver

 

Further questions were raised with the Committee around the new parking restrictions at Hunters Quay by Tom McIver. He advised that he had witnessed a number of recent accidents, all of which were as a result of excessive speed. He also noted that he disagreed with the way in which the results of speed surveys in the areas were being used to inform the restrictions, and his displeasure at the lack of appropriate lining and signage.

 

He reiterated Mr Stewart’s concerns around the inconvenience that the parking restrictions had caused residents without driveways and the lack of traffic warden enforcement action.

 

Response from Committee

 

The Chair noted that he was aware of a number of parking and speeding concerns in Dunoon at present, and he would ask the Committee Manager to raise Mr Stewart and Mr McIver’s concerns with the relevant officers.

 

It was agreed that the Committee Manager would raise both Mr Stewart and Mr MacIver’s concerns with Roads and Infrastructure Services and would thereafter respond to the concerns raised.

 

Councillor Blair noted that he would arrange to discuss wider infrastructure issues and possible solutions with Roads Engineers alongside Councillors Reid and McNeilly.

 

Councillor McNeilly noted that these were serious and complex issues, and she was happy to work alongside her fellow ward Councillors and other relevant parties to investigate the concerns.

 

Councillor Reid provided background information around the concerns initially raised by a number of local residents, and noted his awareness of the number of crashes in the area and potential risks to public safety. He advised that there appeared to be a difference of opinion between different groups of local residents, namely those with and without off-street parking. He confirmed that the TTRO in place reflected professional advice from Roads and Infrastructure Services officers, and noted that consultation would be undertaken prior to a permanent Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) being put in place. He expressed his displeasure at the lack of preparedness for the TTRO by Roads and Infrastructure Services, and noted that he had written to the Head of Roads and Infrastructure Services to ask when the TTRO would be enforceable and when a traffic warden would be attending the location.

 

Councillor Reid advised that he had held discussions with the Head of Development Economic Growth about the possibility of creating parking spaces to reduce the issues, however he was informed that it would not be possible for the Council to progress this due to the expected usage of these spaces by Western Ferries users. He highlighted that the most important things to be progressed imminently were the implementation of lining and signage, alongside enforcement action.

 

Comment from Grant Stewart

 

Grant Stewart advised that he did not feel that the issues at Hunters Quay were entirely due to speed, with many issues also being caused by traffic queueing for Western Ferries. He noted that the service provided by Western Ferries was very good, however he would expect them to have more parking and public toilet facilities given the size of the business.

 

Response from Committee

 

The Chair sought confirmation that the double yellow lines being put in place would prevent Western Ferries from queuing traffic on the road. Councillor Reid confirmed that this would be the case, and discussions were ongoing with Western Ferries in relation to the situation, however Western Ferries were of the view that they were only responsible for their own land and were not responsible for what happened on the public road beyond this. 

 

The Committee expressed their displeasure that an officer from Roads and Infrastructure Services had not been available to answer questions during the Public Question Time item. The Committee Manager noted that it was difficult to ask relevant officers to attend the Public Question Time item where notification of the questions being raised had not been submitted in advance of the meeting.

Discussion facilitated by the Chair of the Bute and Cowal Area Committee

The Chair facilitated a discussion around local strategic transport issues with particular regard to the availability of, and future plans for, public transport.

 

Discussion took place around the current transport timetable no longer being fit for purpose; the need for flexibility, collaboration and effective communication regarding public transport services; an anticipated future increase in the use of electric vehicles and the resulting need for increased electric vehicle charging points; the need to build an attractive bus service for use by people across the area; the success of the Pingo service and its potential future use in more urban areas; the requirement for the reinstatement of public transport services in rural areas; the requirement for increased funding for public transport services; and issues with the capacity of local school buses.

 

The Committee requested that their displeasure at the significant amendments made to the public transport timetables at the beginning of the pandemic by West Coast Motors and Council officers, without prior consultation with local Elected Members, be formally recorded.

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Customer Support Services

The Committee considered the Area Scorecard report for Financial Quarter 3 of 2021-2022 (October to December 2021), which illustrated the agreed performance measures.

 

The Committee congratulated the local planning team on their success in processing pre-application queries within the target time of 20 working days.

 

Decision

 

The Bute and Cowal Area Committee:

 

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

 

2. noted that upon receipt of the Quarterly Performance Report they should contact either the Responsible Named Officer or the Performance Improvement 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 Performance Report and Scorecard;

 

4. noted the requirement to amend the current report template and Scorecard;

 

5. agreed that an amended report template and Scorecard would be electronically circulated to Members for information and approval to meet the FQ4 2021/22 reporting deadline; and

 

6. agreed to end the production and circulation of the supplementary images of the Scorecard by Corporate Outcome images.

 

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Customer Support Services dated 1^st March 2022, submitted)

Having declared an interest in item 7 (Supporting Communities Fund 2022/23), Councillors Jim Anderson and Gordon Blair left the meeting and took no part in discussion of this item. 

Report by Chief Executive

The Committee gave consideration to a report recommending the distribution of awards for the Council’s Supporting Communities Fund (SCF) 2022/23 for the Bute and Cowal area, the budget for which included the remaining funds from the Covid-19 Micro Grants Fund.

 

Decision

 

The Bute and Cowal Area Committee:

 

1.    agreed to award funding from the Supporting Communities Fund budget to 12 applicants, totalling £22,890.29, as follows; and

 

Ref No	Applicant	Recommendation		Amount Requested	Award 2022/23
1	Dunoon Community Development Trust	Award		£2,500.00	£2,500.00
2	Argyll and Bute Befrienders	Award		£680.00	£680.00
3	Cairndow Community Childcare Ltd	Award		£2,250.00	£2,250.00
4	Cormonachan Community Woodlands Ltd	Award		£2,000.00	£2,000.00
5	Achievement Bute	Award		£2,500.00	£2,500.00
6	Waterbaby Arts SCIO	Award		£2,499.00	£2,499.00
7	Tighnabruaich District Development Trust	Award		£948.88	£948.88
8	Bute Community Land Company	Award		£2,464.70	£2,464.70
9	Cowal Choral Club	Award		£2,500.00	£2,500.00
10	Dunoon Junior Shinty Club	Award		£2,500.00	£2,500.00
11	Cowal Community Orchestra	Award		£1,500.00	£1,500.00
12	Argyll Mausoleum Limited t/a Historic Kilmun	Partial Award		£2,500.00	£637.71
13	Crossroads Caring for Carers Argyll & Bute SCIO	No Award		£1,735.40	No Award
14	Argyll Arts Collective	No Award		£2,500.00	No Award
15	Friends of Glenan Woods	No Award		£2,230.00	No Award
16	Sandbank Village Hall	No Award		£2,500.00	No Award
17	Benmore and Kilmun Community Development Trust	No Award		£600.00	No Award
Total Available		£22,980.29
Total Awarded		£22,980.29

 

2.    agreed that the Community Development Team would work with those groups who were unsuccessful in their applications to assist them in seeking alternative sources of funding.

 

(Reference: Report by Chief Executive, dated 2^nd February 2022, submitted)

Councillors Jim Anderson and Gordon Blair re-joined the meeting at this point.

Presentation by Chief Executive, Argyll Community Housing Association

The Committee gave consideration to an annual update presentation for the Bute and Cowal area by the Chief Executive, Argyll Community Housing Association (ACHA), which provided information relating to their recent, ongoing and future activities.

 

The Committee thanked the Chief Executive, ACHA, for his hard work for the Argyll and Bute area during his time in post and conveyed their best wishes for the future.

 

Decision

 

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

 

(Reference:  Report by Chief Executive, Argyll Community Housing Association, dated 1^st March 2022, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth

The Committee gave consideration to a report providing an update on Housing Services activity in the Bute and Cowal area.

 

Decision

 

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

 

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth, dated January 2022, 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 of Roads and Infrastructure Services and highlighted works being undertaken which were of relevance to the Bute and Cowal area. A verbal update was also provided in relation to local Traffic Regulation Orders and scheduled speed surveys.

 

It was agreed that Roads and Infrastructure Services would liaise with Police Scotland following the meeting in relation to concerns about cars parking on the pavement at the Queen’s Hall, Dunoon.

 

Decision

 

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

 

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure Services, dated February 2022, submitted)

The draft Bute and Cowal Area Committee Workplan was before the Committee for noting.

 

Decision

 

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

 

(Reference: Draft Bute and Cowal Area Committee Workplan, dated 1^st March 2022, submitted)

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

 

Decision

 

The Bute and Cowal Area Committee agreed to award £100 to the four family applicants and £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 February 2022, 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 6 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 sought agreement to award grants in relation to two buildings.

 

Decision

 

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

 

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth dated 19 January 2022, submitted)

The Chair, Councillor Good, thanked everyone for their support during his term as Chair of the Area Committee.  He wished those who were standing for re-election good luck and thanked Committee Services for their efforts and hard work behind the scenes.  Councillor Good’s sentiments were echoed by the other Councillors, who also thanked Councillor Good for his commitment and leadership.