Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies for absence intimated.

There were no declarations of interest intimated.

The Chair asked, and the Committee agreed, to take an additional item of business relating to a verbal update on the Rothesay CHORD Project as a matter of urgency in terms of Standing Order 3.2.2 due to the recent announcement about the outcome of a funding application. This item is recorded at item 15 of this minute.

The Chair ruled and the Committee agreed to take the agenda items out of sequence in order to let the public ask questions for the Rezoning Request by Strone Primary School at item 4.  Therefore public question time was taken at item 5 of this minute.

The Minutes of the Meeting of the Forward Dunoon and Cowal Group of 2 December 2013 were noted.

The minutes of the meeting of Bute and Cowal Area Committee of 3 December 2013 were approved as a correct record.

The Minutes of the Bute and Cowal Special Area Committee meeting of 7 January 2014 were approved as a correct record.

The Minutes of the Cowal Games Partnership meeting of 7 January 2014 were noted.

The Minutes of the Rothesay CHORD Project Board meeting of 14 January 2014 were noted.

The Minutes of the Bute Community Safety Forum meeting of 24 January 2014 were noted.

Report by Business Improvement Manager

The Committee gave consideration to a report from the Business Improvement Manager with regards to Strone Primary School Parent Council’s request to re-zone the catchment area of the school. 

This item was discussed at the last Business Day meeting where it was decided to refer to the Area Committee with a recommendation that full Council be asked to agree to a full consultation on the proposed change in accordance with the Schools Consultation (Scotland) Act 2010.

Motion

Support the recommendations in the paper, let it go to the Council meeting and to a public consultation.

Moved by Councillor Marshall, seconded by Councillor McNaughton.

Amendment 1

This paper be deferred to a future meeting of the area committee to allow time to include detailed school roll projections for the Cowal schools. The school roll projections will also allow more detailed financial projections to be included.

Moved by Councillor Breslin, seconded by Councillor Strong.

Amendment 2

To take no action and to maintain the status quo.

Moved by Councillor Walsh, seconded by Councillor McQueen.

Decision

A vote was taken on all the proposals with each Member having one vote.  Each of the proposals received 3 votes and there being an equality of votes, the Chair gave his casting vote for the motion which then became the resolution of the Area Committee.

(Ref: Report by the Business Improvement Manager dated 10 January 2014 – submitted).

Iain McNaughton from Sandbank Community Council asked the Committee why at this time of economic stringency should any decision be made on the Cowal schools?

The Chair advised Iain that there are to be no school closures in the Council over the next 3 years.

Iain also asked why the report on the rezoning request by Strone Parent Counci is being looked at in isolation?

The Chair advised that it is a placing request for parents to send their children to school not in their catchment areas.

Iain asked about the prospect of new housing developments in the Strone catchment area and asked if these would be taken up by young families? He also raised the issue around the additional cost of new teachers and transport for children.

The Business Improvement Manager advised if the 12 children are moved into Strone Primary School then they would need another teacher.

Rhona Altin from Sandbank Community Council asked the Committee if the boundaries were changed, what did they hope to gain and would it make a difference as parents can still choose what school they put their child to.

Councillor Marshall advised that the catchment area will protect Strone Primary School by widening the area and protecting it from potentially closing in 3 years.

Report by Economic Development Manager

The Economic Development Manager summarised a report regarding the Economic Development Action Plan (EDAP), the purpose of which was to seek approval for a five year plan to align with the current EDAP and Local Development Plan.

Motion

Bute and Cowal Area Committee does not approve the first iteration of the area EDAP at this time and agrees that officers further consider the points made by members and redraft the area EDAP. That updated draft be presented at the next Bute and Cowal Business Day, the next Area Community Planning Partnership and then to the next Area Committee for finalisation. The redrafted area EDAP to be prepared in a way that recognises the Argyll and Bute EDAP policy approach (the three Cs) and to reflect more the economic development needs for the Bute and Cowal area for the next 5 years.

Moved by Councillor Walsh, seconded by Councillor Marshall.

Amendment

1        Delete recommendation 2.1 and 2.2

2        Replace these with:

1.      Update the action plan with SMART targets directly related to Bute and Cowal for the year 2014/15 and taking into account the other comments made at the February Area Committee meeting.

2.      Circulate the amended draft paper to all members of the ACPG and the area committee for further comments.

3.      Bring the amended paper and comments back to the next Area Committee meeting on Tuesday 1 April 2014 for final approval.

Moved by Councillor Breslin, seconded by Councillor Strong.

Decision

The Committee agreed to carry the motion and hold a workshop seminar on a date to be arranged to update the action plan and bring it forward as agreed in the motion.

(Ref: Report by the Economic Development Manager dated 4 February 2014 – submitted).

Report by Roads Performance Manager

A report was presented to the Members by the Roads Performance Manager which provided information on roads maintenance revenue activities being delivered in 2013/14 and also detailed the current level of expenditure of the Roads Operations Revenue Budget.

This report follows on from the report which was presented at the December 2013 Area Committee.

Decision

The Members noted the contents of the report.

(Ref: Report by the Head of Roads and Amenity Services dated 14 January 2014 – submitted).

Report by Area Governance Manager

The Area Governance Manager presented a report to the Committee seeking approval of the proposed cycle of Bute and Cowal Area Committee, Business Day and Community Planning Group meetings for the period April 2014 to April 2015.

Decision

The Committee:

1. Agreed the proposed meeting cycle;
2. Agreed for all Area Committees and Business Days to commence at 9:30am;
3. Agreed for all Community Planning Group meeting to commence at 2:00pm; and
4. Agreed that the Area Governance Manager explore the use of Struan Lodge and the Community Centre in Edward Street, to host the Dunoon meetings if the wifi issue is not resolved in Castle House.

(Ref: Report by the Executive Director of Customer Services dated 24 January 2014 – submitted).

Report by Executive Director of Community Services

A report was put to the Members requesting an alteration to Bute School Holidays to allow pupils and staff to attend Bute Agricultural Show which is held on the 13 August 2014, a school term day.

The Bute Schools have requested that this day is exchanged for the in-service day on 13 November 2014.

Decision

The Committee agreed to the alteration to the school in-service day calendar for the reason given that the Bute Agricultural Show is a valuable asset to the wider community on Bute.

(Ref: Report by the Executive Director of Community Services dated 24 January 2014 – submitted).

The Committee resolved in terms of Section 50A(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, to exclude the public for the following 5 items of business on the grounds that it was likely to involve the disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 6,9,9,9 & 9 respectively of Part 1 of Schedule 7A to the Local Governments (Scotland) Act 1973.

Report by Amenity Services Manager

The Area Performance Manager spoke to a report on the Dunoon 5 Aside Pitch.

Decision

Members agreed to the recommendations contained within the report at 2.1 and 2.2.

(Ref: Report by the Head of Roads and Amenity Services dated January 2014 – submitted).

Report by Asset Manager

A report advising the Committee of the outcome of a tender exercise was considered.

Decision

Members agreed to the recommendations contained within the report at 2.1 and 2.2

(Ref: Report by the Asset Manager dated 27^th January 2014, submitted).

Report by Estates Surveyor

The Estates Surveyor spoke to a report by the Director of Customer Services with regard to an area of land at Ashton view.

Decision

Members agreed to the recommendations contained within the report at 2.1.

(Ref: Report by the Director of Customer Services dated 7 January 2014 – submitted).

At 12.30pm the Chair ruled, and the Committee agreed, to adjourn the meeting to allow another scheduled meeting to take place, and agreed to reconvene the Area Committee at 2pm.

The reconvened meeting commenced at 2:30pm.

Councillor Len Scoullar left the meeting and did not return.

Report by Head of Legal Services

A report was put to the Committee by the Legal Services Manager seeking instructions in regard to the Sailing Club.

Decision

Members agreed to the recommendations contained within the report at 2.1 in accordance with a motion moved by Cllr Walsh and seconded by Cllr Breslin.

(Ref: Report by the Legal Services Manager dated February 2014 – submitted).

Report by interim Executive Director of Development and Infrastructure (to follow)

A report providing both elected Members and Senior Council Officers with an overview of the issues and challenges currently facing the CHORD Queen’s Hall Project and the associated Wooden Pier Project (funded through successful ERDF and RCGF grant applications), was considered.

Decision

Members agreed the recommendations detailed in the report submitted by the Interim Executive Director of Development and Infrastructure.

(Ref: Report and presentation by the interim Executive Director of Development and Infrastructure dated 31^st January 2014, submitted).

Members received a verbal update from the CHORD Programme Manager in relation to the outcome of recent funding applications relating to Rothesay CHORD projects.

Decision

Members noted the update provided.

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

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.