Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Councillor Robert Macintyre and Cleland Sneddon, Executive Director of Community Services.

There were no declarations of interest intimated.

The Minutes of the Bute and Cowal Special Area Committee meeting held on 24 September 2013 were approved as a correct record.

The Minutes of the Bute and Cowal Area Committee meeting held on 1 October 2013 were approved as a correct record.

The Minutes of the Meeting of the Dunoon CHORD Project Board held on 4 October 2013 were noted.

The Minutes of the Meeting of the Cowal Games Partnership held on 4 October 2013 were noted.

The Minutes of the Cowal Transport Forum meeting held on the 18 October 2013 were noted.

The Minutes of the Meeting of the Bute Community Safety Forum held on the 25 October 2013 were noted.

The Minutes of the Cowal Community Safety Forum meeting held on the 4 November 2013 were noted.

The Minutes of the Meeting of the Dunoon CHORD Project Board held on the 12 November 2013 were noted.

Report by Head Teacher of Rothesay Joint Campus

John Lawson and Liz Campbell from Rothesay Joint Campus presented to the Members an achievement report on the achievements of the school for the year 2012/13. Daniel and Megan provided additional information for the students perspective and answered questions from Members.

Decision

The Committee noted the contents of the report and formally congratulated the Head Teacher and the school for their achievements.

(Ref: Report by the Head Teacher of Rothesay Joint Campus dated 3 December 2013, submitted).

Report by IOD Programme Manager

The Committee gave consideration to the Area Scorecard detailing exceptional performance for Financial Quarter 2  2013-14 (July-September 2013).

Decision

The Committee agreed to note the report.

(Ref: Report by Improvement and Organisational Development Programme

Manager, dated 4 December 2013, submitted).

Verbal Update by Head of Improvement and HR

The Head of Improvement and HR spoke on the SOA that the Council had endorsed in June 2013.  She advised a 3 year improvement plan had been drawn up, spoke regarding the themes which make up the SOA as well as outlining the process for taking forward area based engagement events.

Decision

Noted the update provided by the Head of Improvement and HR.

Report by Community Development Officer

A report providing members with details of recommendations for the award of Third Sector Grants to third sector organisations for Bute and Cowal was considered in relation to the outstanding balance of £14,570.

Decision

The Committee agreed to award grants as follows:-

(Ref: Report by the Community Development Manager dated 8 November 2013 – submitted)

Report by Streetscene Area Manager

A report providing the Committee with a policy document and an update on works undertaken on memorials in Bute and Cowal, was considered.

Decision

1. Noted the content of the policy document and an update on works planned and completed; and
2. Recommended that the policy be placed before the full Council for approval.

(Ref: Report by Head of Roads and Amenity Services dated 12 November 2013, submitted)

Report by Roads Performance Manager

A report following on from the report presented at the August Area Committee, which provided information on road maintenance revenue activities being delivered in 2013/14, was considered.

The report details the current level of expenditure of the Roads Operations Revenue Budget.

Decision

The Committee noted the report.

(Ref: Report by Head of Roads and Amenity Services dated 8 November 2013, submitted).

Councillor Blair left the meeting at this point.

Report by Roads Performance Manager

A report providing details of a request from frontagers of the High Road North from Whites Brae for a financial contribution for necessary upgrading works to the road was considered.

Decision

The Committee agreed that without prejudice to the generality of the agreed Council policy for bringing unadopted roads up to adoptive standard, to direct  the Head of Roads and Amenity Services to find £1,000 from within the Bute and Cowal Revenue Budget in respect of making a donation towards this project.

(Ref: Report by Head of Roads and Amenity Services dated 19 November 2013, submitted)

Report by Streetscene Area Manager

A report proposing a service delivery model for 2014/15 which was developed following a Member Workshop, was considered.

Decision

The Committee agreed the service delivery model as detailed in the submitted report be taken to the Council for approval with a report coming back to the Area committee thereafter.

(Ref: Report by Head of Roads and Amenity Services dated November 2013,  submitted)

Verbal update by Area Manager (Operations)

The Area Manager (Operations) spoke on the Care Inspectorate report for learning disability day services.

Decision

Noted the update provided by the Area Manager (Operations)

Councillor Scoullar left the meeting at this point.

Report by Head of Adult Care

A report updating the Committee on the findings of the 2^nd quarterly evaluation of the Care at Home provision within the Bute and Cowal area, following the externalisation of services on 21^st January 2013, was considered.

The report has been broken down to show the progress and joint working that has been put into place to ensure that a high quality service is provided, as it is recognised that this service is provided to vulnerable individuals, predominately by lone workers, in the home environment.

Members discussed the detail of the report and highlighted a number of issues in regards issues of recruitment and retention of staff and the capacity of care providers to deliver high quality services at all times. Concerns regarding the adherence of providers to contracted conditions of service for staff were also discussed.

Decision

The Committed noted the contents of the report and asked that an investigation into contract compliance as per the Council’s  procedures be carried out by the service into conditions of service for staff and the recruitment and retention of staff by contracted care providers,  and that the Policy Lead for Adult Services be included in those discussions.

(Ref: Report by the Area Manager. Adult Care dated 3 December 2013, submitted).

Report by Area Governance Manager

A report providing Members with information regarding an application which has been made to the Marquis of Bute’s Silver Wedding Dowry Fund, was considered.

Decision

The Committee agreed to grant £400.

(Ref: Report by the Area Governance Manager dated 15 November 2013, submitted).

Iain MacNaughton, Sandbank Community Council, requested that the Council should consider insurance cover in light of the memorial proposals for lair holders.  He also asked questions in relation to adopted roads to which he was advised by the Head of Roads and Amenity Services that there was no legal onus for the Council to adopt roads and finally he questioned which areas of private land the Council currently maintained.  The Streetscene Area Manager responded to this question advising Mr MacNaughton that a list of leased and private areas was being compiled but would not be available until 2014/15.

The Committee resolved in terms of Section 50A(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 Paragraph 6 & 9 of Part 1 of Schedule 7A to the Local Governments (Scotland) Act 1973.

Report by Principal Accountant

A report by the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator was considered. 

The report gives an Annual Return, Trustees Annual Report, Financial Statements and an Independent Examiners Report for each of the charitable trusts that Argyll and Bute currently administer.  It is a legal requirement that each of these charities files these reports before the statutory deadline of 31 December.

Decision

The Committee reviewed and approved the annual accounts for each of the charities for the year ended 31 March 2013 and their filing with OSCR.

(Ref: Report by the Head of Strategic Finance dated 7 November 2013, submitted).

Report by Area Streetscene Manager

A report providing further details to Members with regards to options for operating the five-a-side all weather pitches at Dunoon Stadium, was considered.

Decision

Members agreed to note the contents of the report, agreed that option 5 as detailed at the options appraisal on the report be progressed, and requested that a further report be brought back to the February Area Committee meeting.

(Ref: Report by Head of Roads and Amenity Services dated 19 November 2013,  submitted)

Report by Estates Surveyor

A report advising the Committee of a request from Sandbank Community Development Trust to vary their existing lease of ground at Broxwood Sandbank to incorporate further Council land, was considered.

Decision

The Committee agreed recommendations 2.1 and 2.2 of the submitted report.

(Ref: Report by Estates Surveyor dated 8 November 2013, submitted).

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.