Agenda and minutes

At the commencement of the meeting the Chair of the Bute and Cowal Area Committee commended Argyll and Bute Council’s staff on their level of work in order to keep the roads clear during the recent inclement weather conditions.

No apologies for absence were intimated.

Councillor Reid declared a non-financial interest in relation to Supporting Communities Fund which was dealt with at item 5, Section 6 (Kirn Gala and Blairmore Village Trust) of this minute, citing he was a member of these groups.

Councillor Anderson declared a non-financial interest in relation to Supporting Communities Fund which was dealt with at item 5, Section 6 (Kirn Gala) of this minute, citing he was a member of this group.

Councillor Blair declared a non-financial interest in relation to Supporting Communities Fund which was dealt with at item 5, Section 6 (Cowal Community Orchestra and Cowal Fiddle Workshop) of this minute, citing he was a member of these groups.

Councillor Findlay declared a non-financial interest in relation to Supporting Communities Fund which was dealt with at item 5, Section 6 (Bute Scouts) of this minute, citing he was a member of this group.

Councillor Scoullar declared a non-financial interest in relation to Tilhill Forestry – Extraction of Timber at Auchenlochan – KCFC – Fyne Homes – Use of Council Access Road which was dealt with at item 10 of this minute, citing he was appointed by Argyll and Bute Council to sit on the board for Fyne Homes.

The minute of the Bute and Cowal Area Committee held on the 5^th December 2017 was approved as a correct record.

The minute of the  Cowal Transport Forum meeting held on 6th December 2017 was noted.

The minute of the Bute and Cowal Community Planning Group held on 6^th February 2018 was noted.

The Chair ruled and the Committee agreed to take items 7, 8 and 10 of the agenda together to facilitate an officer attending by Lync.

Inspector Duncan MacLean, Police Scotland introduced himself to the Committee and intimated that he looked forward to working with the Members of the Bute and Cowal Area Committee in the future.

Having declared a non-financial interest Councillors Anderson, Blair, Findlay and Reid left the room and took no part in the discussion of the  following  item.

Report by Community Development Officer

The Committee gave consideration to a report recommending the projects that are to be put forward for a public vote for the award of the Supporting Communities Fund in Bute and Cowal for 2018/2019.

Decision:

The Committee:

1.    Noted the contents of the report and;

2.    agreed the recommendation at 2.1 and 2.2 of the submitted report.

(Ref: Report by Community Planning Manager, dated 6 March 2018, submitted.)

Councillors Anderson, Blair, Findlay and Reid returned to the meeting.

Report by Performance Management and Improvement Officer.

The Committee considered the Area Scorecard for financial quarters 3 of 2017-2018.

Decision

The Committee:-

1.    Noted the performance presented on the scorecard.

2.    considered and decided on option 1 Scorecard to be presented at Area Committee meetings.

3.    considered and decided on Option 2 when accessing Pyramid and;

4.    noted that work is ongoing and to respond to the Performance Management and Improvement Officer with requests or comments regarding the layout and format of the Report and Scorecard.

 (Ref: Report by Performance and Improvement Officer dated 6th March 2018, submitted).

Briefing note by Marine Operations Manager

Members considered a briefing note that provided information on the passenger lifts at Rothesay Pier.

Decision

The Committee:

1.    Noted the contents of the briefing paper and;

2.    Agreed a press release highlighting the works being carried out by the Council  to ensure continuity of service should be released by the Area Committee.

(Ref: Briefing note by Marine Operations Manager dated 6^th March 2018, submitted)

Briefing note by Head of Roads and Amenity Services (to follow)

A report was not submitted and a verbal update was not provided. The Head of Roads and Amenity services had intimated prior to the meeting that individual points or questions that Members have should be raised through the Councillor’s case book system.

Decision

The Committee:

1.    Noted their unanimous disappointment at the lack of report and officer representation and;

2.    Requested that an officer be available via Lync for each meeting of the Bute and Cowal Area Committee where matters relating to the service are included on the agenda.

Report by Special Projects and Quality Improvement Manager

The Committee Considered a report that provided an update on the on-going discussions between the Council, Kilfinan Community Forest Company and Tilhill Forestry in relation to their use of a Council owned road for their forestry  activities. The report also advises on the proposal for housing from Fyne Homes in regard to the Council owned site adjacent to Tighnabruaich Primary School and which is accessed along the Council owned road which feeds onto the A8003.

The Committee, the Networks and Standard Manager and the Special Projects and Quality Improvement Manager held a robust conversation around a number of points raised by Elected Members and contained within the report. The committee agreed that a further discussion on matters relating to this issue which include commercially sensitive information would be held during the private session of the Area Committee meeting.

Report by Area Committee Manager

The Committee considered a report which outlines scheduled meetings in the Bute and Cowal area from August 2018 to July 2019.

Decision

The Committee:

1.    Noted the contents of the report and;

2.    Agreed the recommendation at 2.1 of the submitted report.

(Ref: Report by Area Committee Manager dated 6^th March 2018, submitted)

Report by CHORD Programme Manager

The Committee considered a report and presentation on the commercial

position of the project (programme and cost), setting out: the issues that have

affected the project; their forecast impact upon the project programme and

budget; and what measures are available to address them going forward.

Decision

The Committee:

1.    Noted the contents of the report and;

2.    Noted the recommendations at 2.1 and 2.2 of the submitted report.

(Ref: Report and presentation by CHORD Programme Manager dated 6^th March 2018, 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 Paragraphs 8 & 9 of Part 1 of Schedule 7A to the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973.

The Committee considered an appendix report on the capital cost breakdown of the project.

Decision

The Committee noted the contents of the appendix.

(Appendix by CHORD Programme Manager dated 6^th March 2018, submitted)

Following the earlier discussion in regards Tilhill Forestry- Extraction of timber at Auchenlochan- KCFC-Fyne Homes- Use of Council Access Road, members returned to this item to discuss matters of commercial sensitivity relating to the issue.

Motion

That a special meeting of the Bute and Cowal Area Committee be called as soon as possible to further discuss the totality of issues relating to the matter, and that the fullest possible report be provided to that meeting in respect of the Timber Transport Management Plan and the future use of the Council owned road for forestry operations.

Proposer Councillor Yvonne McNeilly

Seconder Councillor Reid

Decision

The Committee:

1.         Noted the contents of the report

2.         Agreed to call a Special Area Committee Meeting

3.         Requested a map of the area concerned be submitted and;

4.         Requested representation from Roads and Amenity Services at the meeting.

(Ref: Report by Special Projects and Quality Improvement Manager dated 6th March 2018, submitted)

Report by Rothesay Pavilion Project Manager

The Committee considered a progress update report on the Rothesay Pavilion Adaptive Restoration and Extension Works project.

Decision

The Committee:

1.    Noted the contents of the report

2.    Noted the recommendations at 2.1 and 2.2 of the submitted report

3.    Requested a regular update paper and officer representation be brought to Area Committee for the duration of the project and;

4.    Requested a representative of the Rothesay Pavilion Charity be invited to the next Bute and Cowal Business Day.

(Ref: Report by Rothesay Pavilion Project Manager dated 6^th March 2018, submitted)

Report by Senior Development Officer – East

The Committee considered a report on the governance arrangements for Rothesay Townscape Heritage (TH).

Decision

The Committee:

1.    Noted the contents of the report and;

2.    Agreed the recommendation at 2.0 of the submitted report.

(Ref: Report by Senior Development Officer dated 6^th March 2018, submitted)

The Committee considered the Bute and Cowal Workplan for March.

Decision

The Committee noted the Bute and Cowal Workplan.

 (Ref: Bute and Cowal Workplan dated 6th March 2018, submitted).