Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Audrey Forrest and Daniel Hampsey.

There were no declarations of interest.

a)    The Minute of the meeting of the Bute and Cowal Area Committee held on 7 June 2022 was approved as a correct record.

 

b)    The Minute of the meeting of the Bute and Cowal Area Community Planning Group held on 16 August 2022 was noted.

Question from Robert Macintyre

 

Robert Macintyre referred to the Ardencraig Gardens and sought an update on when the spring planting for next year would go ahead.  He indicated that planting would need to take place now to ensure flower beds were on display next year on Rothesay front.

 

Response from Project Manager

 

The Project Manager referred to this issue being raised at the Area Committee in June 2022.  He referred to advising then that the quality of this year’s plants would be reviewed by the Council’s professional horticulturists at the end of the summer season and a report would be prepared for consideration by the Policy and Resources Committee in due course.  The Project Manager advised that Council Officials were meeting with representatives from the Friends of Ardencraig Group on 7 September 2022.

 

Councillor McNeilly commented on how beautiful the wild flower beds at West Bay were and the huge movement in general towards wild gardening or wild planting to have a diverse and biocultural garden.  The Project Manager advised that he would pass these comments on to the local team.

 

Question from Finlay Martin

 

Finlay Martin referred to the ongoing campaign to reduce the speed limit between Kilchattan  Bay and Kingarth and sought an update on progress.

 

Response from Project Manager

 

The Project Manager advised that when this was discussed at the previous Area Committee meeting, the Committee were advised that a traffic survey would have to be carried out first and that this location was in 9^th place on the outstanding list for the Bute and Cowal area.  He confirmed that this location was now in 5^th place on the outstanding list.  The Project Manager agreed to provide Mr Finlay with regular updates on progress on this subject.

 

Question from Neil Hammatt

 

Neil Hammatt asked what progress the Council was making in eliminating the extensive Japanese knotweed and Himalayan balsam at the land next door to the local nature reserve at Broxwood.  He referred to the Council’s policy of spraying twice per year in the spring and autumn and suggested that this was not working

.

Response from Project Manager

 

The Project Manager confirmed that the Council did have a policy and procedures in place for dealing with these invasive species.  He advised that he would contact the local team to establish what was happening at this locality and advise Mr Hammatt in due course.

 

Question from Neil Hammatt

 

Neil Hammatt asked if the Council were satisfied with how secure the back entrance to the Broxwood Depot was.  He indicated that there was a gate to stop traffic but a gap in the fence which allowed children to gain access to play.  He commented that this was an accident waiting to happen.

 

Response from Committee/Project Manager

 

Councillor Yvonne McNeilly commented that the onus was on parents to ensure the safety of their children when playing, and that parents should discourage children from entering the roads depot.

 

The Project Manager advised that he was not aware of any issues at the depot and agreed to contact the local team about this.  He added that the Council were in the process of undertaking a programme of depot rationalisations and that as part of this process a review would be carried out of all sites to identify any issues.

 

Question from Liz Wren

 

Liz Wren referred to the speed volume survey that would be carried out at Kilchattan Bay and Kingarth and asked that Officers take into account a number of near misses which have happened but have not been report.  She referred to children walking out onto the road between parked cars.

 

Response from Committee/Project Manager

 

Councillor Yvonne McNeilly commented that a child’s safety was the responsibility of their parents.

 

The Project Manager confirmed that the Council had a responsibility to manage the road network.  He indicated that the speed volume survey would be carried out by professionally qualified engineers and that all things that would require to be considered would be, including the safety of children and other road users.

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Customer Support Services

A paper presenting the Area Performance Report for Financial Quarter 1 2022/23 (April to June 2022) and illustrating the agreed performance measures was considered.

 

Decision

 

The Bute and Cowal Area Committee:–

 

1.    noted the performance and supporting commentary as presented;

 

2.    noted that upon receipt of the Quarterly Performance Report the Area 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 that questions submitted in advance of today’s meeting by Councillor Reeni Kennedy-Boyle and Councillor Peter Wallace would be circulated to the Committee along with the responses to these from Officers.

 

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Customer Support Services dated 25 July 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. 

 

Decision

 

The Bute and Cowal Area Committee:-

 

1.    noted the content of the report; and

 

2.    agreed that the Roads and Infrastructure Services Update report presented to the Area Committee in December 2022 should include an update on progress with the 5 outstanding traffic surveys proposed to be carried out across the Bute and Cowal area.

 

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with Responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure dated August 2022, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure Services

A report providing details on the council’s recycling and landfill diversion performance along with national policy, targets and regulations which are likely to impact on future performance was considered.

 

Decision

 

The Bute and Cowal Area Committee noted the details as outlined in the submitted report and the national policy drivers that would likely impact over the coming years.

 

(Reference:  Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure Services dated 6 September 2022, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Legal and Regulatory Support

A report inviting the appointment of an elected member to be the substitute Council representative on the Glasgow Airport Consultative Committee was considered.

 

Decision

 

The Bute and Cowal Area Committee agreed to appoint Councillor Liz McCabe to be the substitute Council representative on the Glasgow Airport Consultative Committee.

 

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Legal and Regulatory Support dated 16 August 2022, submitted)

Extract of Minute of Audit and Scrutiny Committee held on 23 June 2022 and report by Chair of the Community Asset Transfer Scrutiny Panel

A recommendation from the Audit and Scrutiny Committee held on 23 June 2022 in respect of the facilitation of the promotion of the Community Asset Scrutiny Review Report to community groups was considered.

 

Decision

 

The Bute and Cowal Area Committee noted the recommendation from the Audit and Scrutiny Committee.

 

(Reference: Recommendation by Audit and Scrutiny Committee held on 23 June 2022, submitted)

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

 

Decision

 

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

 

(Reference: Bute and Cowal Area Committee Workplan dated 6 September 2022, submitted)