Agenda and minutes

In the absence of the Chair, Councillor Liz McCabe, the Vice Chair, Councillor Yvonne McNeilly, chaired the meeting.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Audrey Forrest and Liz McCabe.

There were no declarations of interest.

a)    The Minute of the Bute and Cowal Area Committee held on 1 March 2022 was approved as a correct record.

 

b)    The Minute of the Bute and Cowal Area Planning Group held on 19 April 2022 was noted.

Question from Liz Wren

 

Liz Wren referred to Kilchattan Bay experiencing a lot of traffic in recent months with cars parked nose to tail in the summer and children running across the road to the beach.  She asked if the Area Committee would support the introduction of a 20 mph speed limit in Kilchattan Bay and a 30 mph speed limit on the road from Kingarth to Kilchattan Bay before there was a serious accident.

 

Response from Committee

 

The Committee Manager said that he had been advised by Roads colleagues that before a change to speed limits could be implemented a speed volume survey would be required.  It was confirmed that this area has been earmarked for a survey.  In February this year it was 11^th on the list of priorities and that it was now in 9^th place on the outstanding list.  Colleagues in Roads were waiting on a replacement battery for the survey equipment and once this was received the programme of surveys would recommence.  The Committee Manager confirmed that as soon as he received any further update he would pass this on to Liz and the Committee Members.

 

Liz asked if there could be anyway of pushing that survey on a bit.  She commented that when the 30 mph speed limit was introduced there was not the same volume of traffic as there was nowadays.

 

Councillor McNeilly advised that she was sure the Chair would be supportive of this and gave an assurance that this survey would be undertaken as soon as possible and that the community would be kept informed.

 

Question from Finlay Martin

 

Finlay Martin asked what the process would be for changing the speed limit from 30 mph to 20 mph.

 

Response from Committee Manager

 

The Committee Manager advised that it would involve a Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) which could be a lengthy process.  He agreed to arrange for the procedure undertaken to be forwarded to Finlay for his information.

 

Finlay advised that it was his understanding that the Scottish Government had plans to bring all 30 mph roads down to 20 mph and that this was a policy hoped to be put in place by 2025.  He said it was the long term intention to have all 30 mph roads with street lights brought down to 20 mph.  He suggested that the Council should try to get ahead of the game and push this policy forward.

 

The Chair advised that any issues brought to the Committee’s attention were taken very seriously.  She confirmed that the Committee Manager would come back separately with information on the whole TRO process.

 

Liz Wren commented that Angus Council had already implemented this 20 mph policy in villages and built up areas. 

 

The Chair invited the Project Manager for Roads and Infrastructure Services to speak.

 

The Project Manager referred to comments made about the introduction of 20 mph limits across the area and advised that under the new Transport Act there were regulations and provisions for blanket 20 mph zones but these were not in place yet.  He advised that Scottish Borders Council were currently piloting a trial on this and would be reporting back to the Society of Chief Officers for Transport in Scotland (SCOTS).  This feedback would then be shared with all Heads of Roads in Scotland and would  inform any plans taken forward.

 

The Project Manager confirmed that contact would be made with colleagues in Angus Council to find out about any pilot they may be undertaking.

 

Councillor Kennedy-Boyle asked about the possibility of introducing a temporary TRO for the Kilchattan Bay area.  The Project Manager confirmed that this may be possible but before this could be introduced a traffic survey would have to be undertaken.  The Chair confirmed that the Committee had already been advised that this area was 9^th on the list of traffic surveys still to be undertaken.

 

Councillor Blair referred to Roads waiting on replacement batteries for the survey equipment.  He asked if the Service could ensure a supply of batteries were kept in stock.

 

Question from Isobel Strong

 

Isobel Strong advised that she was Chair of the Ardencraig Gardens Friends Group and that they were very disappointed that there had been no spring planting this year.  She sought confirmation of the procurement process that had been undertaken in this respect.

 

She then pointed out that 3,000 summer plants had just arrived in a single shipment and due to the small number of staff they were not sure how they would be planted out.  She advised that the plants that had arrived were smaller than what would have been grown at Ardencraig.  She asked if the decision taken to not grow plants in Ardencraig and to buy them in instead could be re-examined.

 

Isobel commented that in front of Rothesay there were no flower beds and walking along the promenade from Albert Pier to Glenburn Road the weeds were 3 foot high.  She also advised that from the minutes of the last meeting it had been noted that the Victorian toilets would be open, but visitors to the island last week found them closed.  She asked for an update on this and also asked when the pontoons would be operational.

 

The Chair referred to the decision taken about Ardencraig and advised that this was a Council decision taken at the budget meeting.

 

The Project Manager advised that an update on the pontoons and the Victorian toilets was contained within the report that would be considered at item 6 on the Agenda for this meeting.  He confirmed that he would take any issues or concerns raised back to the local team.

 

In terms of the spring and summer planting, the Project Manager confirmed that the Council had tendered for spring and summer bedding plants and the market fed back that they would be unable to deliver spring bedding plants.  He advised that at the time the savings were proposed there was no indication that this would be the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Customer Support Services

A paper presenting the Area Scorecard for Financial Quarter 4 2021/22 (January to March 2022) which illustrated the agreed performance measures was considered.

 

Decision

 

The Committee:-

 

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

 

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

 

3.    noted that work was ongoing and that Members should respond to the Performance Improvement Officer with requests or comments regarding the layout and format of the Performance Report; and

 

4.    noted the proposal to include the additional Corporate Outcome Indicators within the quarterly Area Committee report.

 

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Customer Support Services dated 9 May 2022, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure Services

A report providing a general update on key activities of the Service over recent months and highlighting works being undertaken which were of relevance to the Bute and Cowal area was considered.

 

For the benefit of the new Members of the Committee, the Project Manager also gave an overview of the extensive remit, scope and responsibilities of the Service and the wide range of work and strategic projects currently being undertaken across the whole Council area.

 

Decision

 

The Committee noted and considered the contents of the report.

 

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

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Education

A report providing a range of key information about school provision in the Bute and Cowal area during the school session August 2021 to June 2022 along with the National collection of attainment and achievement data from June 2021 was considered.

 

Decision

 

The Committee considered and noted the contents of the report.

 

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Education, dated 7 June 2022, submitted)

The Chair ruled, and the Committee agreed, to vary the order of business and take item 9 on the Agenda next.

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Legal and Regulatory Support

A report asking the Committee to consider making appointments to a number of local bodies/organisations within the Bute and Cowal area was considered.

 

Decision

 

The Committee agreed to make the following appointments:

 

Organisation	Elected Member
Bute and Cowal Area Community Planning Group	Councillor Liz McCabe Councillor Yvonne McNeilly Councillor Gordon Blair
Bute and Cowal Locality Planning Group	Councillor Audrey Forrest – subject to her acceptance.
Cruach Mor Windfarm Trust	Councillor Gordon Blair
Clachan Flats Windfarm Trust	Councillor William Sinclair
Cowal Transport Forum	Councillor Daniel Hampsey (Chair) Councillor William Sinclair to support as required.
Historic Kilmun/Argyll Mausoleum	Councillor Ross Moreland
Benmore and Kilmun Community Development Trust	Councillor William Sinclair
Rothesay Pavilion Charity	Councillor Liz McCabe – subject to her acceptance.
Gourock-Dunoon Infrastructure and Vessels Project – Reference Group	Councillor Ross Moreland
Dunoon Community Development Trust	Councillor Audrey Forrest – subject to her acceptance.  If not, Councillor Ross Moreland.

 

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Legal and Regulatory Support dated 24 May 2022, submitted)

Councillor Yvonne McNeilly advised that she would have to leave the meeting now to attend another appointment.

 

Councillor Gordon Blair chaired the meeting from this point.

Report by Head of Strategic Planning, Performance and Technology, Argyll and Bute HSCP

A report providing the Committee with an update on the impact on service performance and the progress made with regard to remobilising health and social care services in Argyll and Bute up to 31 March 2022 was considered.

 

Decision

 

The Committee:-

 

1.    considered the Health and Social Care Partnership performance progress presented to the Integration Joint Board on 25 May 2022 meeting regarding remobilisation of activity in line with NHS Highland performance target for 2021/22 agreed with Scottish Government to 70%-80% of 2019/20 activity as at November 2021;

 

2.    considered Waiting Times Performance and a further reduction in Consultant and Nurse Led Outpatient breaches >12 weeks;

 

3.    noted performance with regards to both Argyll and Bute and Greater Glasgow and Clyde current Treatment Time Guarantee for Inpatient/Day Case Waiting List and activity; and

 

4.    noted Scottish Government’s advice on timescales for the publication of 2021/22 Annual Performance Report.

 

(Reference: Report by Head of Strategic Planning, Performance and Technology, Argyll and Bute HSCP dated 7 June 2022, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility 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.

 

The Committee Manager advised of an error in Appendix 1 of the report and that an updated Appendix would be published with the Minute.

 

Decision

 

The Committee noted the contents of the report.

 

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Legal and Regulatory Support dated May 2022, submitted)

The draft Bute and Cowal Area Committee Workplan was before Members for information.

 

Decision

 

The Committee noted the contents of the Workplan.

 

(Reference: Draft Bute and Cowal Area Committee Workplan dated 7 June 2022, submitted)

A report providing information regarding two applications that had been received for support from the Lamont Bequest was considered.

 

Decision

 

The Committee agreed to award £100 to the two family applicants who met the criteria for support from the Lamont Bequest.

 

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Legal and Regulatory Support dated May 2022, submitted)