Agenda and minutes

The Chairman ruled, and the Committee agreed, in terms of Standing Order 3.2.2 that the business dealt with at item 24 of this Minute be taken as a matter of urgency by reason of the need for the Area Committee to make a decision before the next scheduled Area Committee in August.

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

Councillor J McQueen

Councillor I Strong

John Duncan, Children’s Manager

Councillor G Blair declared a non financial interest in Cowal Fiddle Workshop of item 12 by reason of being a member of the group.  He claimed the benefit of the dispensation contained at Section 5.16 of the Standard Commission’s Guidance and Dispensations Note dated December 2010 to allow him to speak and vote on this item.

Councillor B Marshall declared a non financial interest in Crossroads (Bute and Cowal) of item 12 by reason of being a member of the group.  He claimed the benefit of the dispensation contained at Section 5.16 of the Standard Commission’s Guidance and Dispensations Note dated December 2010 to allow him to speak and vote on this item.

The Minutes of the Meeting of the Bute and Cowal Area Committee held on 2^nd April 2013 were approved as a correct record.

The Chair of the Area Committee presented the Argyll and Bute Sustainable Design Award 2012 to Peter Lingard, Chair of Fyne Homes for their development at Tigh Na Cladach, Bullwood Road.  Councillor Breslin congratulated the builder, John Brown of Strone for the excellent building work.

Members heard a presentation from Elizabeth Ferguson, Rennie Kennedy Boyle and Susan McKay from North Bute Primary Parent Council.  They spoke on an opportunity to pilot a new way of working for the long tem future for North Bute Primary.  They spoke on the condition of the school and the investment needed, the quality of education and the uniqueness of the school. The Area Governance Manager advised that Members would take the information forward to the Council when the school estate is scheduled for discussion.

Report by Gillian Neeson, Head Teacher

Members heard from Gillian Neeson, Head Teacher, St Mun’s Primary School and from Anne Paterson, Quality Improvement Manager, on the recent Education Scotland Inspection Report of St Mun’s Primary School.

Decision

The Committee noted the information provided and asked for the Pupil Questionnaire Summary to be distributed to Members.

(Reference: Report by the Executive Director of Community Services dated 9^th May 2013 – submitted)

Report by Quality Improvement Officer

Members heard an informative presentation from the Quality Improvement Officer on the Primary Schools in Bute and Cowal.

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 Executive Director of Community Services – submitted)

Report by the Head of Adult Care

Members heard from the Area Manager, Adult Care on the progress of ASIST LD Day Service, Dunoon since the Care Inspection of May 2012 and the inspection of Phoenix LD Day Service, Rothesay in January 2013.

Decision

The Committee:-

1.                            Noted the contents of the report and the continued progress being made in improvement plans and the more robust management overview being established of Registered Manager and service action plans at area and senior management levels.

2.                            Agreed that an update would be submitted to the October Area Committee and that the Head of Adult Care and the Managers of ASSIST and the Phoenix attend that meeting.

(Reference: Report by the Head of Adult Care – submitted)

Update by Area Manager, Adult Care

Members heard from the Area Manager, Adult Care on the exception and performance reporting for Adult Care for financial quarter 3 of 2012 -13.

Decision

The Committee noted the information provided.

Report by IOD Programme Manager

Members heard from the Project Office on the Area Scorecard with exceptional performance for financial quarter 4 of 2012 – 2013.

Decision

The Committee noted the exceptional performance presented on the Scorecard and agreed to disucss and furhter develop the Scorecard at the September Business Day Meeting.

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

Report by the GIS Manager

Members heard from the GIS Manager on the concerns raised by Strachur residents regarding Emergency Service incidents where the vehicles attended the wrong address.

Decision

The Committee agreed:-

1.      To support Strachur community by requesting that Royal Mail remove “Cairndow” as the post town for properties in PA24, PA25 and PA27 and substitue it with Lochgoilhead for PA24 and Strachur for PA25 and PA27.

2.      The “Street Naming and Numbering Policy” is consulted on as a key document to inform the public of the street naming and numbering services undertaken by the council and increase awareness of the issues.

3.      The Corporate Address Gazetteer team is identified as the main council contact for the emergency services address related cases and will carry out a full investigation into each incident.

(Reference: Report by the Executive Director of Development and Infrastructure Services dated 9^th May 2013 – submitted)

Report by Service Officer, Community Regeneration

Members heard from the Community Development Officer on how the funding from grants to the Third Sector was spent in 2012/13.

Decision

The Committee:-

1.      Noted the contents of the report.

2.      Agreed organisations that do not submit an end of project monitoring report are not eligible for funding from this grant scheme in future years.

3.      Agreed an updated report would be submitted to the August Area Committee.

(Reference: Report by the Community Development Manager dated 28^th May 2013)

Report by Service Officer, Community Regeneration

Members heard from the Community Development Officer on the implications of delegating decision making for the award of some Third Sector Grants to Council officers.

Decision

The Committee agreed that a report be submitted to all four Area Committees to ensure consistent practice.

(Reference: Report by the Community Development Manager dated 4^th June 2013)

Report by Service Officer, Community Regeneration

This item was incorporated within agenda item 12.

Report by Executive Director of Customer Services

The Area Governance Manager asked the Area Committee to consider appointing 2 representatives to serve as members on the Bute, Cowal, Helensburgh and Lomond Joint Locality Management Group.

Decision

The Committee agreed to appoint Councillor L Scoullar from Bute with Councillor I Strong being substitute and Councillor B Marshall from Cowal with Councillor G Blair as substitute to become members of the Joint Locality Management Group.

(Reference:  Report by the Executive Director of Customer Services dated 20^th May 2013 – submitted)

The Minutes of the Meeting of the Cowal Transport Forum held on 19^th April 2013 were noted.

The Minutes of the Meeting of the Forward Dunoon and Cowal group held on 19^th April 2013 were noted.

The Minutes of the Meeting of the Cowal Community Safety Forum held on 24^th April 2013 were noted.

The Minutes of the Meeting of the Bute Community Safety Forum held on 26^th April 2013 were noted.

Report by Head of Roads and Amenity Services

Members heard from the Executive Director of Development and Infrastructure Services on the process required to adopt the proposal to alter the charging regime in Guildford Square, Rothesay.

Decision

The Committee agreed in principle to Option 3 contained in the report by the Head of Roads and Amenity Services and further agreed that the detail of timescales and costs be brought back to a future Area Committee for agreement.

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

There were no Public or Councillor questions intimated.

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

Report by the Executive Director of Customer Services

Members heard from the Estate Surveyor on the sale of 15-19 Montague Street, Rothesay.

Decision

The Committee agreed with the recommendations contained in the report by the Executive Director of Customer Services

(Reference: Executive Director of Customer Services dated 9^th May 2013 – submitted)

Report by the Executive Director of Customer Services

Members heard from the Estate Surveyor on the request from Innellan and Toward Family Centre to lease accommodation within Innellan Primary School.

Decision

The Committee agreed with the recommendations contained in the report by the Executive Director of Customer Services

(Reference: Executive Director of Customer Services dated 9^th May 2013 – submitted)

Report by the Executive Director of Customer Services

Members heard from the Estate Surveyor on the offers received in respect of 109 Alexander Street, Dunoon.

Decision

The Committee agreed the Estate Surveyor will negotiate the offer with the prospective purchaser, failing which a further marketing will be carried out.

(Reference: Executive Director of Customer Services dated 7^th May 2013 – submitted)

Report by Executive Director of Development and Infrastructure Services

Members heard from the Executive Director of Development and Infrastructure Services on the role as Harbour Authority for Rothesay Harbour of the ABP Mer report “Rothesay Harbour – Navigational Risk Assessment” and the report’s conclusions and recommendations.

Decision

The Committee agreed to continue this item to a Special Area Committee on 25^th June 2013.

(Reference: Executive Director Executive Director of Development and Infrastructure Services – submitted)

Report by the Area Streetscene Manager

Members heard from the Area Streetscene Manager on the operation of the five-a-side all weather pitches at Dunoon Stadium.

Decision

The Committee noted the contents of the report by the Executive Director of Development and Infrastructure Services.

(Reference: Report by the Executive Director of Development and Infrastructure Services dated 17^th May 2013 – submitted)

The Members heard from the Estate Surveyor on the various expressions of interest received in respect of vacant shop premises at the Queen’s Hall, Dunoon.

Decision

The Committee agreed to delegate the decision to the Executive Director of Customer Services in consultation with the Chair/Vice Chair and Local Members.

E1 - Paragraph 9     Any terms proposed or to be proposed by or to the authority in the course of negotiations for a contract for the acquisition or disposal of property or the supply of goods or services.

E2 - Paragraph 6     Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (other than the authority).