Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were intimated on behalf of the following:-

 

Councillor I Strong

Euan MacDonald PA23 BID.

None

 

Note of Chair’s congratulations to Kyles Athletic Shinty Club on their recent success in winning the Camanachd Cup, and the intention of the Provost to host a Civic Reception in their honour.

The Minute of the Meeting of 7^th August 2012 was approved as a correct record.

Chairman Mr Raymond Madill

Members heard from Mr Raymond Madill on Fairtrade and the aspiration of Scotland being a Fairtrade Nation.  He explained that 55% of Councils in Scotland need to sign up to Fairtrade for this to happen and at the moment Argyll & Bute is not one of these. 

 

Members asked questions regarding Fairtrade and Councillor Marshall expressed his concern over Fairtrade being the preferred bidder over Scottish/British goods.

 

Decision

 

The Committee noted the information provided.

Members heard an informative presentation from Mr Iain McNee and Mr Sunil Varu on the progress of the PA23 BID.

 

Decision

 

The Committee agreed to recommend that the Council positively support the PA23BID initiative when it is considered at the Council meeting on 25^th October 2012.

Members heard from the Area Governance Manager on the proposed cycle of meetings for the Bute & Cowal Area Committee from October 2012 to March 2013.

 

Decision

 

The Committee agreed the outlined cycle of Area Committee, Community Planning Group and Business Day meetings.

 

(Reference: Report by the Area Governance Manager dated 29^th August 2012 – submitted)

Members heard an update from the Team Leader for Older People on the Council’s support to the tenants of Abbeyfield Home when it closed.  She further spoke on Adult Care and their support arrangements including the new technology through telicare.

 

Councillor McNaughton expressed his concern that there will be no care home facilities in the Tighnabruich area.

 

Decision

 

The Committee :-       

           

i.                     Noted the information provided.

ii.                   Agreed a written report would come to the December Area Committee.

 

Members heard from the Area Governance Manager on the School Holidays and In Service Days for 2013/2014 and 2014/2015.

 

Decision

 

The Committee agreed:-

 

i.                     To endorse the final patterns of school holidays and inservice days for all schools in Bute & Cowal as outlined in Appendices 1 to 4.

ii.                   The details of school holidays and inservice days for 2013/2014 and 2014/2015 should be circulated to schools and all relevant organisations.

 

(Reference: Report by the Executive Director of Community Services dated August 2012 – submitted)

 

The Committee heard from the Head Teacher of Dunoon Grammar School on the major achievements of the school and the SQA results for pupils who sat examinations in May/June 2012. The Committee further heard a presentation from Pupils who attended the Columba 1400 initiative.

 

Decision

 

The Committee noted the contents of the report, and concerns were expressed about attainment levels.  The Committee thereafter formally congratulated the Head Teacher, Staff and Pupils on their achievements to date.

 

(Reference: Report by the Head Teacher of Dunoon Grammar– submitted)

 

Members heard from the Area Streetscene Manager on the operations which have been carried out to tackle the presence of Japanese Knotweed as part of an initial 3 year programme.

 

Decision

 

The Committee noted the information provided.

 

(Reference: Report by the Head of Roads and Amenity Services dated September 2012 – submitted)

Members heard from the Area Streetscene Manager on the position regarding headstone safety in Bute & Cowal.

 

Decision

 

The Committee noted the information provided and the remedial actions proposed.

 

(Reference: Report by the Head of Roads and Amenity Services dated September 2012 – submitted and tabled)

 

Members heard from the Roads Performance Manager on the introduction of Lockable Bollards to limit vehicular access to authorised users on Victoria Parade, Dunoon.

 

Decision

 

The Committee approved the installation of removable bollards on Victoria Parade, Dunoon as indicated in appendix 1 of the report by the Executive Director of Development and Infrastructure Services.

 

(Reference: report by the Executive Director of Development and Infrastructure Services dated September 2012 – submitted)

Inspector Paul Robertson spoke on the concerns the Police have regarding the lighting at the playpark in Sandbank.  He further advised that there has been a 25% reduction of crime in the area from this time last year.  Police are focusing on speeding at the moment with 2 different areas being targeted every day.  He said that there have been successful drug seizures recently and he will be working on a joint venture with Trading Standards and VOSA on Bogus Callers and the “White Van Man”.  He further spoke on metal crime and offender management.

Moved by Councillor L Scoullar, seconded by Councillor J R Walsh

 

Following the news recently released that the Scottish Government intends to permit the lives of two ageing nuclear power station to be prolonged until 2033, Bute and Cowal Area Committee recommends to Argyll and Bute Council that it.

 

1. Notes the grave concerns that:

 

(a)   An expert report published very recently by the ten strong group of Nuclear Free Scottish Councils (N.F.S.C), says that Ministers are wrong to allow Torness and Hunterston to continue running for two more decades.

(b)   Hunterston B station is already older than most of the reactors which were closed by the German Government, following the Fukushima disaster last year.

(c)   The German Government intends that usage economies will cut demand there for electricity by ten percent to meet these closures, while in Scotland we are expecting a rise in usage of ten percent.

(d)   The author of the report Pete Roche, who is an expert policy advisor to the (N.F.S.C), warns that “Milking Scottish reactors dry is another way of maximising the chances of an accident as these reactors get older and more decrepit”.

 

2. Recommends that the Council,

 

(a)   Acknowledges the potential future danger from an ageing Hunterston B, as indicated in the expert report, to the people of Argyll and Bute, especially Bute and Cowal which are only six and ten miles distant, respectively.

(b)   Expresses its deep concerns on the potential future adverse health implications for the people of Bute and Cowal in particular and Argyll and Bute also Scotland generally.

(c)   Agrees to object in the strongest possible terms to the Scottish Government and to represent those terms to the First Minister Alex Salmond.

 

In terms of Standing Order 14 the following Notice of Motion was before the Council for consideration -

 

Following the news recently released that the Scottish Government intends to permit the lives of two ageing nuclear power station to be prolonged until 2033, Bute and Cowal Area Committee recommends to Argyll and Bute Council that it.

 

1. Notes with grave concerns that:

 

(a)   An expert report published very recently by the ten strong group of Nuclear Free Scottish Councils (N.F.S.C), says that Ministers are wrong to allow Torness and Hunterston to continue running for two more decades.

(b)   Hunterston B station is already older than most of the reactors which were closed by the German Government, following the Fukushima disaster last year.

(c)   The German Government intends that usage economies will cut demand there for electricity by ten percent to meet these closures, while in Scotland we are expecting a rise in usage of ten percent.

(d)   The author of the report Pete Roche, who is an expert policy advisor to the (N.F.S.C), warns that “Milking Scottish reactors dry is another way of maximising the chances of an accident as these reactors get older and more decrepit”.

 

2. Recommends that the Council,

 

(a)   Acknowledges the potential future danger from an ageing Hunterston B, as indicated in the expert report, to the people of Argyll and Bute, especially Bute and Cowal which are only six and ten miles distant, respectively.

(b)   Expresses its deep concerns on the potential future adverse health implications for the people of Bute and Cowal in particular and Argyll and Bute also Scotland generally.

(c)   Agrees to object in the strongest possible terms to the Scottish Government and to represent those terms to the First Minister Alex Salmond.

 

Proposed by Councillor L Scoullar

Seconded by Councillor J R Walsh

 

Amendment

 

Following the decision of E.D France to apply to the U.K. regulatory authorities for an extension of the life of the Hunterston and Torness nuclear power stations, Bute & Cowal Area Committee:-

 

i.                     Notes the expert report published by the Scottish Branch of Nuclear Free Local Authorities.

ii.                   Notes the closeness of Hunterston to Argyll and Bute and in particular to parts of Bute & Cowal.

iii.                  Recommends that the Council take up the concerns of the Area Committee on this matter and seeks dialogue and discussion of those concerns with the Scottish Government, which is opposed to the continuation of nuclear power in any part of Scotland and the presence of nuclear weapons on Scottish soil.

 

Proposed by Councillor Robert Macintyre

Seconded by Councillor Michael Breslin

 

On being put to the vote 3 voted for the amendment and 5 voted for the motion.

 

Decision

 

Following the news recently released that the Scottish Government intends to permit the lives of two ageing nuclear power station to be prolonged until 2033, Bute and Cowal Area Committee recommends to Argyll and Bute Council that it.

 

1. Notes with grave concerns that:

 

(a)   An expert report published very recently by the ten strong group of Nuclear Free Scottish Councils (N.F.S.C), says that Ministers are wrong to allow Torness and Hunterston to continue running for two more decades.

(b)   Hunterston B station is already older than most of the reactors which were closed by the German Government, following the Fukushima disaster last year.

(c)   The German Government intends that usage economies will cut demand there for electricity by ten percent to meet these closures, while in Scotland we are expecting a rise in usage of ten percent.

(d)   The author of the report Pete Roche, who is an expert policy advisor to the (N.F.S.C), warns that “Milking Scottish reactors dry is another way of maximising the chances of an accident as these reactors get older and more decrepit”.

 

2. Recommends that the Council,

 

(a)   Acknowledges the potential future danger from an ageing Hunterston B, as indicated in the expert report, to the people of Argyll and Bute, especially Bute and Cowal which are only six and ten miles distant, respectively.

(b)   Expresses its deep concerns on the potential future adverse health implications for the people of Bute and Cowal in particular and Argyll and Bute also Scotland generally.

(c)   Agrees to object in the strongest possible terms to the Scottish Government and to represent those terms to the First Minister Alex Salmond.

The Committee resolved in terms of Section 50(A)(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, to exclude the public for the following items of business on the grounds that it was likely to involve the disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 6 and 9 of Part 1 of Schedule 7A to the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973.

 

Members heard from the Estate Surveyor on the recent discussions with the Dunoon Youth Football League in respect of the issue of the Dunoon Youth Football League continuing to sub-let parts of the site of the Pit Stop Diner at Dunoon Stadium.

 

Decision

 

The Committee agreed to the recommendations in the report by the Executive Director of Customer Services.

 

(Reference:  Report by the Executive Director of Customer Services dated 7^th September 2012 – submitted)

Members heard from the Estate Surveyor on the offers received in respect of the flat at Woodside, 60b Edward Street, Dunoon.

 

Decision

 

The Committee agreed to the recommendations in the report by the Executive Director of Customer Services.

 

(Reference:  Report by the Executive Director of Customer Services dated 13^th September 2012 – submitted)

 

Members heard from the Roads Performance Manager on the request from Sandbank Community Council and Elected Members for the Council to provide and maintain Flood Lighting at the recently redeveloped Sandbank Play Area.

 

Decision

 

The Committee agreed:-

 

i.                     To ask Officers to consider low energy flood lighting, with dawn to dusk timers.

ii.                   To ask the Development Trust to take on the running costs.

iii.                  To delegate the decision to the Roads Performance Manager in consultation with the Dunoon & Cowal Members with a budget to be identified to facilitate how it is provided.

 

(Reference:  Report by the Executive Director of Development & Infrastructure service dated September 2012 – submitted)