Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies for absence intimated.

There were no declarations of interest intimated.

The minute of the Bute and Cowal Area Committee held on the 6 December 2016 was approved as a true record.

The Committee agreed to note the Minute of the Cowal Transport Forum held on the 9 December 2016.

 Brian Chennell queried whether works to the Dunoon 5-a-side pitches could be resolved by April 2017, ahead of the start of the football season.    The Chair, Councillor McNaughton agreed to seek clarity on the procedural issues in the hope that this could be brought to the Council meeting in February. 

Councillor Breslin asked whether there was any intention to put benches on the pier.  The Area Committee Manager agreed to pass the enquiry to the Council’s Head of Roads and Amenity Services. 

Councillor Breslin enquired about Administration plans to deal with derelict buildings.  The Chair requested that Members forward a list of buildings which he could address with relevant officers.  Councillor Breslin suggested that the list could be found in the budget paper put forward in February 2016.

Councillor MacIntyre enquired who receives the bill for pest extermination.  The Area Committee Manager agreed to put this question to the Environmental Services Manager and feedback the response to Councillor MacIntyre by email. 

Councillor Marshall queried the arrangements for hire of the Pier Building.  The Area Committee Manager agreed to raise this matter with the Council’s Marine Operations Manager and feedback the response to Members by email. 

Update by Scottish Water representative

Having noted the absence of the Regional Communities Manager of Scottish Water, the Area Committee Manager provided Members with a short update advising that under Scottish Water’s current investment programme for 2015-2021, there is no first time water supply provision, and that any future prioritisation for this type of investment would need to be determined via the Scottish Government and the Drinking Water Quality Regulator who agree water quality investments across Scotland. 

Decision:

The Committee requested that the Area Committee Manager draft a letter to the appropriate Scottish Minister requesting that consideration be given to the installation of a mains water supply to Clachaig, Glenlean.

Having noted the commitments of officers in attendance, the Chair and Members agreed to vary the order of the remaining agenda items.  The minute reflects the order in which items were discussed.    

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·         Report by Executive Director of Development and Infrastructure Services

·         Powerpoint presentation by Brian MacDonald, Scotland’s Independent Regeneration Network

The Committee gave consideration to a report and power point presentations providing an update on the Scotland’s Urban Regeneration Forum (SURF) work in Rothesay and Dunoon. 

Decision: 

The Committee agreed to note the contents of both the report and the presentations. 

(Ref:  Report by Executive Director of Development and Infrastructure Services, dated 7 February 2017, and Power Point Presentations by SURF & Bute Island Alliance, dated 7 February 2017, submitted)

Report by Acting Executive Director of Community Services

The Committee gave consideration to a report highlighting the progress on the Council’s Schools Redevelopment Project in partnership with hubNorth Scotland Ltd (hubNorth) to build a new primary school in Kirn and the refurbishment/part new build of Dunoon Primary School. 

Decision:

The Committee agreed to note the contents of the report.

(Ref:  Report by Acting Executive Director of Community Services, dated 7 February 2017, submitted.)

Report by Acting Executive Director of Community Services

The Committee gave consideration to a report providing information on the agreed framework of holiday dates for schools in 2017/2018 which was approved by the Community Services Committee at its meeting on 8 December 2016. 

Decision:

The Committee agreed to acknowledge the holidays that have been set and agreed by the Community Services Committee. 

(Ref:  Report by Acting Executive Director of Community Services, dated 7 February 2017, submitted.)

Report by Executive Director of Development and Infrastructure Services

The Committee gave consideration to a report seeking approval of amended grass cutting schedules.

Decision:

The Area Committee agreed to approve the amended grass cutting proposals detailed in the report. 

(Ref:  Report by Executive Director of Development and Infrastructure Services, dated 7 February 2017, submitted.)

Report by Executive Director of Development and Infrastructure Services

The Committee gave consideration to a report providing an update on the progress of the in-year actions/milestones in the Bute and Cowal Economic Development Action Plan (EDAP) 2016-21. 

Decision:

The Committee agreed to:-

1.    note the contents of the report; and

2.    provided comments on the Bute and Cowal Economic Development Action Plan 2016-21update as outlined in Appendix 1. 

(Ref:  Report by Executive Director of Development and Infrastructure Services, dated 7 February 2017, submitted.)

Report by Executive Director of Development and Infrastructure Services

The Committee gave consideration to a report seeking their views on a previously received request from the local branch of Legion Scotland to vary the design and scope of works associated with the public realm works as they affect the towns War Memorial located on the Pier Esplanade. 

Decision:

The Committee agreed to:

1.    note the detail of the two options now referred to as:  Option 1 – the Contracted Works; and Option 2 – the Variation Works; and

2.    confirmed that they wish to project to proceed on the basis of Option 2 – the Variation Works. 

(Ref:  Report by Executive Director of Development and Infrastructure Services, dated 7 February 2017, submitted.)

Motion

That the Committee agree that the Council set in motion the process to take back from Argyll Community Housing Association, the land known as Graham’s Point Community Park into Council ownership as this land was mistakenly handed to ACHA during the stock transfer process in 2006.

Proposed by Councillor Bruce Marshall

Seconded by Councillor Michael Breslin

Councillor Bruce Marshall, seconded by Councillor Michael Breslin had given notice of the following Motion:-

Motion

That the Committee agree that the Council set in motion the process to take back from Argyll Community Housing Association, the land known as Graham’s Point Community Park into Council ownership as this land was mistakenly handed to ACHA during the stock transfer process in 2006.

After taking advice from the Area Committee Manager, the Chair ruled that the motion was incompetent and the motion fell.