Agenda and minutes

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting.

 

Apologies for absence were intimated on behalf of Councillor Yvonne McNeilly and Audrey Forrest.

Councillor Reeni Kennedy-Boyle declared a non-financial interest in relation to item 5 (Fyne Homes Update) due to her occupation as General Manager of Fyne Futures which is a subsidiary of Fyne Homes. Having reviewed the content of the presentation, she did not feel that there was any substantive decision being taken and therefore advised that she would remain in the meeting during the consideration of this item of business.

 

Councillor Reeni Kennedy-Boyle declared a financial interest in relation to item 9 (Rothesay Pavilion to Albert Pier Active Travel Project Progress Report) due to her occupation as General Manager of Fyne Futures which is a subsidiary of Fyne Homes. Councillor Kennedy-Boyle added that Fyne Futures has been engaged in delivering projects associated with active travel on the Isle of Bute and that even though Fyne Futures have not been in receipt of any funding through Argyll and Bute Council recently, they may consider applying for funding in the future and as such she would leave the meeting and take no part in the consideration of this item.

 

Councillor Peter Wallace declared a non-financial interest in relation to item 5 (Fyne Homes Update) due to being the Council’s appointee on the Fyne Homes Board. Having reviewed the content of the presentation, he did not feel that there was any substantive decision being taken and therefore advised that he would remain in the meeting during the consideration of this item of business.

 

The Minute of the meeting of the Bute and Cowal Area Committee, held on 3 September 2024 was approved as a correct record.

The Minute of the meeting of the Bute and Cowal Area Community Planning Group, held on 5 November 2024 was noted.

The Minute of the meeting of the Cowal Transport Forum, held on 7 October 2024 was noted.

Jean Moffat

 

My question relates to the Cyclepath for Bute which is an item on the agenda. The report has raised concerns in the community, particularly the way that the information is displayed and the document which is full of misinformation and missing information. I cannot see anywhere that Calmac or West Coast Motors have been consulted about the effects of the Cyclepath to them. It also states that Bute BID have been consulted and approve of this Cyclepath when they haven’t, and they do not have a decision to make on this subject as they have not yet asked levy payers for their opinions. The document also states that ‘Rothesay Community Council’ approve of the proposal when there is no such Community Council. As Convenor of Bute Community Council it is not in our remit to decide whether we approve of this or not, it is in our remit to give the communities views forward and as you can see, 10% of the Community support this proposal with 90% being against, therefore Bute Community Council cannot approve of this Cyclepath.

 

We were led to believe that the views of Bute would be taken into account and that if the majority were against the Cyclepath then it wouldn’t happen and today you are being asked to vote approval of this Cyclepath. What does democracy have to do with this? Why are Councillors being asked to approve this when there is a clear Community view against it?

 

Councillor Moreland advised that the Committee is considering whether to move forward to the concept and design stage and are not being asked to approve the Cyclepath, this will be done at a future meeting of the Area Committee following further consultation and development of the initial proposal. Councillor Moreland added that the process being undertaken is very similar to what happened in Dunoon and that proposals can be adapted to suit the community views, as was the case in Dunoon.

 

The Strategic Transportation Delivery Officer advised that the design work which has been done so far is stage 1 of a 4 stage design process. Mr Young also confirmed that the Area Committee is being asked to agree that Officers move onto the development and technical stages and that at the conclusion of these development stages a report will be presented to the Area Committee for approval prior to any construction work being undertaken.

 

Erin Murphy, Bute Business Improvement District (BID)

 

I am a member of the Bute BID Board and it has come to our attention that at section 9.9 of the Cyclepath report it lists a number of points claiming to be made by Bute BID, I can confirm this has not been submitted by Bute BID and we are not in a position to comment on this without consulting our levy payers. It states we have hosted workshops which we have not nor have we undertaken any consultation on this topic or made any statement in relation to this. This level of inaccuracy, suggests this report is significantly flawed. Can you confirm that the company who produced this report will not be involved in the next stage of consultation?

 

Councillor Blair responded that he would be very surprised if miss-information had been included within the report deliberately.

 

The Strategic Transportation Delivery Officer advised that Officers had worked very hard to prepare the report in advance of this meeting due to the high level of interest in the project. Mr Young added that in terms of the section in relation to Bute BID, it was his understanding that it was describing the public events held and that should the Area Committee support the continued development of the project Officers would seek to submit applications to the Scottish Government to secure the required funds.

 

Councillor Sinclair added that this is the first stage of a long process and that the design referenced within the report is likely to change following further community consultation

 

Councillor Hampsey agreed with Councillor Sinclair and that the development of the cycle path in Dunoon faced similar criticism until the designs were updated to meet the needs and wishes of the community.

 

Catriona Renfrew

 

The consultation ran by the Argyll Rally organisers finished in September, it attracted a lot of objections including from Glendaruel and Colintraive Community Council and from residents in the Otter Ferry area. The Rally organisers have now applied for a Motorsport permit that they need in order to ask permission from the Council to run the rally. The organisers changed 1 of the 16 stages as a result of the consultation and concerns have been raised around closing single track roads, some for around 12 hours and the impact on local businesses, with the only economic analysis being done by Dunoon Presents, who sponsor the rally.

 

Question 1

 

What process does the Council follow to consider a motorsport order application, to consider economic impact and whether community views have been taken into account and who will make the decision?

 

Question 2

 

Is the test of taking community views into account met by the rally organisers consulting on "initial proposals" for the rally route, receiving multiple objections and subsequently revising only one of sixteen stages?

 

Question 3

 

Does the Area Committee consider that the closure of single track roads without alternative access, in one case for 12 hours, meets the test of adequate traffic management arrangements?

 

Question 4

 

The council has never made any assessment of the economic impact of the rally, will this be done before a decision is made for 2025?

 

Question 5

 

Our community are concerned that the noise of the night stage, which runs past our houses at 2am, may breach noise regulations. We have asked for advice from Environmental Health but have been referred back to the roads department. Should Council residents not be able to get advice directly?

 

The Project Manager highlighted that the Council’s requirements in terms of this application are set out in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

Presentation by Chief Executive, Fyne Homes

Consideration was given to a presentation by the Chief Executive of Fyne Homes, which provided an update on a number of areas including property upgrades; welfare advice provided to tenants; the Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library which Fyne Homes is a partner of; current and future projects within Argyll and Bute; Auchadaduie Wind Farm and the gift aid recipients supported through profits of the wind turbines; the Tenants Information Service National Achievements Awards which they have made the final in two categories and the Scottish Housing Awards which they have been shortlisted in.

 

Decision

 

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

(Reference: Presentation by Chief Executive, Fyne Homes, submitted)

 

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Customer Support Services

The Committee gave consideration to the Area Performance Report for financial quarter 2 of 2024/25 (July to September 2024) which illustrated the agreed performance measures for this period.

 

Decision

 

The Bute and Cowal Area Committee noted the performance and supporting commentary as presented.

 

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Customer Support Services, dated 7 November 2024, submitted)

 

Report by Senior Performance and Improvement Manager, Argyll and Bute Health and Social Care Partnership

Consideration was given to the Argyll and Bute Health and Social Care Partnership Performance Report for financial quarter 1 of 2024/25 (April to June 2024).

 

Decision

 

The Bute and Cowal Area Committee:

 

1.    acknowledged the performance for FQ1 2024/25 (April - June);

 

2. acknowledged the performance update on the National Health and Wellbeing Outcomes and Ministerial Steering Group Integration Indicators, as at Appendix 1; and

 

3. noted Delayed Discharge Sitrep as of 01 July 2024, as at Appendix 2.

 

(Reference: Report by Senior Performance and Improvement Manager, Argyll and Bute Health and Social Care Partnership, dated 21 November 2024, submitted)

 

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure Services

The Committee gave consideration to a report which provided links to the recent activities of Roads and Infrastructure Services.

 

Decision

 

The Bute and Cowal Area Committee noted the contents of the report.

 

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure Services, dated November 2024, submitted)

 

Councillor Reeni Kennedy-Boyle, having declared an interest in relation to the following item of business, left the meeting and took no part in the consideration of this item.

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth

Consideration was given to a report updating members on the progress made in relation to initial feasibility and concept design of improved active opportunities and wider public realm infrastructure between the Rothesay Pavilion and the Albert Pier/ Glenburn Hotel.

 

Decision

 

The Bute and Cowal Area Committee:

 

1.    welcomed the design progress made to date in relation to identifying opportunities to improve the active opportunities and wider public realm infrastructure;

 

2.    instructed Officers to undertake Developed Design and Technical Design stages to complete the design process, subject to securing external funding; and

 

3.    instructed Officers to provide a future paper to members on completion of the design process prior to any construction.

 

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth, dated 21 October 2024, submitted)

 

Councillor Reeni Kennedy-Boyle re-joined the meeting at this point.

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Legal and Regulatory Support

The Committee gave consideration to a report which provided details relating to the ongoing management of Charitable Trusts, Bequests and Trust Funds for which the Bute and Cowal Area Committee are Trustees.

 

Decision

 

The Bute and Cowal Area Committee noted the financial position of all the Charitable Trusts, Bequests and Trust Funds as of August 2024.

 

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Legal and Regulatory Support, dated November 2024, submitted)

 

The Bute and Cowal Area Committee workplan was before members for information.

 

Decision

 

The Bute and Cowal Committee noted the contents of the workplan.

 

(Reference: Bute and Cowal Area Committee workplan, dated 3 December 2024)