Agenda and minutes

The Chair ruled, and the Committee agreed, to a variation in the order of business to allow officer attendance. The minute reflects the order in which items were discussed.

The Chair ruled, and the Committee agreed, that the business dealt with at item 15 of this Minute be dealt with as a matter of urgency by reason of the need to update members on the progress of the Rothesay Pavilion project.

There were apologies for absence intimated on behalf of Councillor Bobby Good, Councillor Yvonne McNeilly and Councillor Alan Reid.

Councillor Jim Findlay declared a non-financial interest at item 15 - Rothesay Pavilion Update as a board member of Rothesay Pavilion Charity Committee. Councillor Findlay advised this was a council appointed position and remained in the room for the entirety of the item.

The minutes of the Bute and Cowal Area Committee held on Tuesday, 3 September 2019 were approved as a correct record.

The Committee Manager updated the Committee to advise that the Japanese Knotweed problem referenced at item 4 of the minutes of 3 September 2019 had been treated but eradication of the problem could take up to 5 years.

The minutes of the Bute and Cowal Area Community Planning Group held on Tuesday, 5 November 2019 were noted.

1. Kenny Mathieson and Willie Lynch, Dunoon Community Council, asked for the Area Committee’s support to re-open the admissions ward in Cowal Community Hospital. Mr Mathieson and Mr Lynch noted that repeated attempts had been made to contact the Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) regarding this but no response had been received which they believed contravened Scottish Government Guidelines. Mr Mathieson and Mr Lynch also noted that community engagement had been minimal and previous correspondence from the HSCP had indicated that they would be unwilling to correspond directly with the Community Council.

Discussion took place around issues constituents in the Bute and Cowal area were experiencing, specifically, accessing the facilities at Cowal Community Hospital and the financial, physical and mental strain placed on those patients and their families being moved to hospitals out with the area.

Councillor Findlay suggested that the Community Council raise their concerns with Health Care Improvement Scotland, an independent body who oversee and scrutinise health boards.

Councillor Moffat expressed concern that the HSCP had advised that they were unwilling to correspond with Community Councils and suggested that if the Chair were so minded, a letter be written to the HSCP highlighting the importance of Community Councils. 

2. Willie Lynch, Dunoon Community Council, requested the PAT test pass certificate(s) for the Christmas lights be provided to Dunoon Community Council due to concerns that some of the lights were not working. Mr Lynch also requested clarity on the funds available for Christmas lights due to a potential shortfall in agreed amounts. Councillor Anderson confirmed that some of the funds available had been used as agreed on repairs for the existing Christmas lights.

3. Kenny Mathieson, Dunoon Community Council, raised concerns that people were often using the disabled parking bays at Milton House, Dunoon, despite not having blue badges. Mr Mathieson requested clarification that these were disabled parking bays for use only by those who hold blue badges.

The Committee Manager agreed to seek clarification as to whether there was a Traffic Regulation Order in place for these parking spaces.

Decision

The Bute and Cowal Area Committee agreed that the Vice-Chair, on behalf of the Committee, would write to the Chief Officer of the Health and Social Care Partnership highlighting the concerns raised by Dunoon Community Council and to request a meeting be organised to discuss the challenges facing Cowal Community Hospital.

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development & Economic Growth

The Committee gave consideration to a report updating members on the current position with regard to the proposed Isle of Bute Business Improvement District (BID) Business Plan and associated timeline.

Decision

The Bute and Cowal Area Committee agreed:

1. to note the update and that a further report would be provided to the Committee in March 2020;

2. to wish the Isle of Bute Business Improvement District Steering Group good luck in their endeavours and to commend the work done thus far; and

3. to thank Marilyn Rieley, Economic Development Officer, for her assistance in this project.

(Reference: Report by the Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth, dated 3 December 2019, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Customer Support Services

The Committee gave consideration to the Area Scorecard report for Financial Quarter 2 of 2019-2020 (July – September 2019) which illustrated the agreed performance measures.

Decision

The Bute and Cowal Area Committee agreed:

1. to note the performance presented on the Scorecard and supporting commentary;

2. that upon receipt of the Quarterly Performance Report the Area Committee contact either the Responsible Named Officer or Sonya Thomas with any queries; and

3. to note that work was ongoing and to respond to Sonya Thomas with requests or comments regarding the layout and format of the Report and Scorecard.

(Reference: Report by the Executive Director with responsibility for Customer Support Services dated 4 December 2019, submitted)

Report by Head Teacher

The Head Teacher of Dunoon Grammar School took the committee through a progress update report on the schools achievements for the 2019 session.

Decision

The Bute and Cowal Area Committee agreed:

1.    to note the contents of the report and commend the work being done by the school;

2.    to congratulate Dunoon Grammar School on their award of UK’s European Entrepreneurial School of the Year;  

3.    to recognise and commend the work of Paul Gallanagh, Principal Teacher of Business and Computing, both in the school and the community; and

4.    to congratulate David Mitchell on his recent award of Employee of the Year at the Argyll and Bute Council Employee Excellence Awards.

(Reference: Report by Head Teacher, Dunoon Grammar School, dated 3 December 2019, submitted)

Report by Head Teacher

The Head Teacher of Rothesay Academy took the committee through a progress update report on the schools achievements for the 2019 session.

Decision

The Bute and Cowal Area Committee agreed:

1.     To note the contents of the report and commend the work being done by the school.

2.     To congratulate Louise Nicol on her recent Special Chief Executive award at the Argyll and Bute Council Employee Excellence Awards.

(Reference: Report by Head Teacher, Rothesay Academy, dated 3 December 2019, submitted)

Report by Head of Strategic Planning and Performance

Decision

The Bute and Cowal Area Committee agreed to note their disappointment that the officer due to speak to the report had been unavoidably detained and to continue the Health and Social Care Partnership Annual Performance Report to the March 2020 meeting of the Committee.

(Reference: Report by the Head of Strategic Planning and Performance, Health and Social Care Partnership, dated 27 November 2019, submitted)

Presentation by Regional Manager, Argyll Community Housing Association

The Committee gave consideration to an annual update presentation for the Bute and Cowal Area by the Regional Manager of Argyll Community Housing Association.

Decision

The Bute and Cowal Area Committee agreed to note the contents of the presentation.

(Reference: Presentation by Regional Manager, ACHA)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth

Approval was sought for a shopfront improvement grant of up to fifty-one thousand, six hundred and eight pounds (351,680) towards the full-scale repair of a traditional shopfront at 19a, 19b and 20b Argyle Street.

Decision

The Bute and Cowal Area Committee agreed:

1. to approve a shopfront grant award up to £51.680 to the owner of 19a-19b, 20b Argyle Street, Rothesay (DC Murray & Co); and

2. to note progress on a shopfront grant award made for up to £78,066 to the owner of 69-71 Montague Street, Rothesay (Electric Bakery), as approved by delegated authority.

(Reference: Report by the Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Infrastructure Growth, dated 3 December 2019, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth

The Committee gave consideration to a report recommending grant awards to repair two tenement properties in Dunoon Town Centre from the Dunoon CARS fund.

Decision

The Bute and Cowal Area Committee agreed to grant offers of up to £396,820 to the 6 property owners of 35 Argyll Street, Dunoon; and up to £314,373 to the 3 owners of 81-87 Argyll Street, Dunoon.

(Reference: Report by the Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Infrastructure Growth, dated 3 December 2019, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Infrastructure

The Committee gave consideration to a report which provided an update on the Housing Services activity within the Bute and Cowal area.

Decision

The Bute and Cowal Area Committee agreed to note the content of the report.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with Responsibility for Development and Economic Growth, dated 3 December 2019, submitted.)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Legal and Regulatory Support Services

The Committee gave consideration to a report requesting the appointment of an Elected Member as Council Representative Argyll Community Housing Association (ACHA) Bute and Cowal Area Committee.

Decision

The Bute and Cowal Area Committee agreed to appoint Councillor Jim Findlay as a Council Representative to the Argyll Community Housing Association (ACHA) Bute and Cowal Area Committee.

(Reference: Report by the Executive Director with responsibility for Legal and Regulatory Support Services, dated 3 December 2019, submitted)

The Committee gave consideration to the Draft Bute and Cowal Area Committee Workplan as of December 2019.

Decision

The Bute and Cowal Area Committee noted the Draft Bute and Cowal Area Committee Workplan.

(Reference: Bute and Cowal Area Committee Workplan dated 3 December 2019, submitted)

In light of a recent request from ACHA to the Chair of Bute & Cowal Area Committee concerning the future options of the Torlochan Travellers Site the Area Committee request Officers engage with ACHA to explore all options available at present for the use of this site and to submit a report to the next meeting of the Area Committee.

Proposed: Councillor Bobby Good

Seconded: Councillor Jim Anderson

The Committee considered the following Notice of Motion submitted under Standing Order 13 which was proposed by Councillor Bobby Good and seconded by Councillor Jim Anderson –

Decision

In light of a recent request from ACHA to the Chair of the Bute & Cowal Area Committee concerning the future options of the Torlochan Travellers Site the Area Committee requests Officers engage with ACHA to explore all options available, including the transfer to a suitable community group and the extension of cemetery provision, and to submit a report to the next meeting of the Area Committee.

(Reference: Notice of Motion by Councillor Bobby Good and seconded by Councillor Jim Anderson, dated 3 December 2019, submitted)

The Committee gave consideration to a report providing an update regarding the progress of the Rothesay Pavilion Adaptive Restoration and Extension Works project, being delivered by CBC Ltd (CBC).

Decision

The Bute and Cowal Area Committee considered and noted the progress update provided in the report.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Infrastructure Services, dated 3 December 2019, tabled)

The Council resolved in terms of Section 50(A)(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 to exclude the press and public for the following 1 item of business on the grounds that it was likely to involve the disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 8 and 9 respectively of Part 1 of Schedule 7A to the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973.

The Committee gave consideration to an exempt financial information appendix pertaining to the Rothesay Pavilion.

Decision

The Bute and Cowal Area Committee considered and noted the financial performance of the project, as set out in appendix 1 of the report; and that a further update be provided at the Bute and Cowal Area Committee Business Day on 4^th February 2020.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Infrastructure Services, dated 4 October 2019, tabled)