Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were intimated on behalf of the following:

Councillor M Breslin

Councillor J R Walsh

Chief Inspector Garry Stitt

Jayne Lawrence-Winch, Area Manager, Adult Care

David Clements, IOD Programme Manager

David Logan, QIO Special Projects Officer

The Chair asked that given travelling arrangements and poor weather conditions resulting in the delay in arrival of some officer the consideration of business be varied from the published agenda, and the Committee so agreed.

None

The Minute of the Meeting of 2^nd October 2012 was approved as a correct record.

The Committee heard from Teachers of Rothesay Joint Campus 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 of the primary and secondary parts of the school.

The Chair thanked them for their very informative presentation.

Decision

The Committee noted the contents of the report, and formally congratulated the Staff and Pupils on their achievements to date.

(Reference: Report by the Principal of Rothesay Joint Campus - submitted)

Members heard from the Area Governance Manager on the proposed cycle of meeting for the Bute and Cowal Area Committee, Community Planning Group and Business Days from April 2013 to March 2014.

Decision

The Committee agreed the outlined cycle of Area Committee, Community Planning Group and Business Day meetings from April 2013 to March 2014.

(Reference: Report by the Area Governance Manager dated 8^th November 2012 - submitted)

Members heard from the Area Governance Manager on the current position in regard capital receipts to allow forward planning on the use and allocation of this funding.

Decision

The Committee agreed to note the detail of the report and the current position regarding capital receipts, monies spent to date and agreed funding commitments, and noted that when free funds become available they must be used in accordance with the conditions.

(Reference: Report by the Area Governance Manager dated 8^th November 2012 - submitted)

Members heard an update from the Area Governance Manager on the continued development of the Area Scorecard.

Decision

The Committee:-

i.                     Agreed to adopt the proposed Area Scorecard.

ii.                   Agreed to review performance presented in the Scorecard.

iii.                  Agreed explanations to the exceptions should be printed along with the Scorecard.

iv.                 Agreed to request that the Executive Director of Community Services and the Head of Education attend the January Business Day to discuss the performance of Dunoon Grammar School.

(Reference: Report by the Head of Improvement and HR – submitted)

Decision

Having received apologies from the Area Manager it was agreed this item would be continued to the January Business Day.

Members heard from the Community Development Officer on the proposed amendments to the process for all Third Sector Grants (including Events and Festivals) for the financial period 2013/14 and beyond.

Decision

The Committee agreed:-

i.                     To note the introduction of a Scoring Matrix for all Third Sector grants (including Events and Festivals).

ii.                   Agreed to an upper limit of £4,000 on the amount of funding made available to any one group or organisation in any one financial period, unless there are exceptional circumstances.

iii.                  Agreed a carry forward of a minimum of £5,000 of the total allocation to the second round of grant allocations at the Area Committee meeting in August each year.

iv.                 To note the earlier closing date of 1^st February for the first round of funding in 2013.

(Reference: Report by the Community Development Manager dated 15^th November 2012 – submitted)

Inspector Anderson gave Members an update on the crime rate in Bute and circulated a newsletter that will be distributed monthly.  Members discussed the decrimalisation of parking and the issuing of tickets to people parking in disabled bays.  It was agreed the Area Governance Manager would look into whose remit it was to book people in disabled bays.

Members heard from the Principal Accountant on the Annual Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator Return, Trustees Annual Report, Annual Accounts and Independent Examiner’s Certificate for Trust Funds currently administered by Argyll and Bute Council.

Decision

The Committee agreed with the contents of the report.

(Reference: Report by the Head of Strategic Finance dated 12^th November 2012 – submitted)

Members heard from the Planning/Development Officer and the Statutory Planning Officer on the main elements of the Proposed Argyll and Bute Local Development Plan with particular reference to land use issues within the area.

Decision

The Committee:-

i.                     Agreed to recommend to the Council that it approves the Proposed Argyll and Bute Local Development Plan, with Appendices A (Written Statement), B (Supplementary Guidance) and C (Bute and Cowal Proposals Maps) subject to any changes they require to be made for a 3 month period of public consultation commencing in mid-January 2013.

ii.                   Agreed to change the status of the land North West of Ardair, Colintraive from Countryside Around Settlement to Settlement Area.

(Reference: Report by the Development Policy Manager – submitted)

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 Paragraph 9 of Part 1 of Schedule 7A to the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973.

Members heard from the Legal Services Manager regarding 9-13 Watergate, Rothesay.

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 – submitted)

Members heard from the Legal Services Manager regarding the current position in relation to the gap site at 15-19 Guildford Square, Rothesay.

Decision

The Committee agreed to the recommendations in the report by the Executive Directors of Customer and Development and Infrastructure Services.

(Reference: Report by the Executive Directors of Customer and Development and Infrastructure Services - submitted)

Members heard a verbal update from the Executive Director of Customer Services and the Procurement and Commissioning Manager on the General Maintenance Termed Contracts.

Decision

The Committee noted the information provided.