Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were intimated on behalf of the following:-

Councillor Kelly

Councillor McAlpine

Councillor Semple

There were no declarations of interest.

Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands Area Committee  4 June 2014

The Minute of the previous meeting held on 4 June 2014 was approved as a true record.

Matters Arising:-

Page 4

Councillor Currie enquired as to the progress of the ferry service issue and the outcome of the discussions between the Head of Economic Development and Strategic Transportation and the Chief Executive of CalMac. 

The Senior Planning Development Officer confirmed that through the Council’s Marine Operations Manager, CalMac had confirmed that at present there are no spare ferries and when necessary an operational decision is required to be taken.  Mr Green confirmed that CalMac make the decision based on the priority of ensuring supplies to the islands. 

The Area Committee Manager confirmed that this issue was on the item tracker to be brought to the Area Committee meeting in October.  

Further discussion took place in regards to the availability of IT Facilities in more remote areas with particular reference to the engagement with island committees.  The Area Governance Manager confirmed that the IT Infrastructure Services Manager had agreed to progress the matter and that an email had been sent to Members during recess.  She advised that she would re-issue the email and await responses from Members before progressing. 

The Chair, having noted that there had been no questions submitted by members of the public and also that there were no members of the public in attendance, invited questions from Members.

Councillor Horn advised that the Community had repaired damage at the War Memorial in Tarbert but asked for a commitment that the grass would be cut and lifted.  She requested that a “No overnight parking” sign be erected and also that the railings surrounding the memorial be scraped and repainted. 

Decision

Councillor Horn agreed to email the Contracts Manager directly regarding her concerns. 

Councillor Philand advised that he was aware that the A83 trunking had now taken place.  He enquired as to the procedure now in place for reporting road issues to BEAR Scotland.

Decision

The Contracts Manager agreed to issue an update to Members in this regard and provide the contact details for BEAR Scotland in respect of reporting roads issues. 

An update and presentation from Dr Sharon Webb,  Director and Curator, Kilmartin Museum

The Committee considered a presentation by Dr Sharon Webb, Director & Curator of Kilmartin Museum.  Dr Webb outlined the progress of an ongoing project which would, if realised, create a new gallery space,purpose built education and research facilities and an open collections store.  She advised that the museum worked closely with the National Galleries of Scotland and would hope that in the future this would lead to visiting exhibitions. 

Discussion took place around the funding of the project, with Dr Webb advising that the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) had refused the stage 1 application in March 2014.  She advised that the feedback she had received was to scale back the project and secure match funding and then re-submit.  She advised that the next steps would be to achieve a level of match funding, provide an explanation as to why the project required to be of such a scale and re-submit in April 2015.

Decision

Members agreed to note the presentation.

(Ref: Presentation by Dr Webb, Director and Curator of Kilmartin Museum.)

Report by IOD Programme Manager

The Committee considered a report which detailed the Area Scorecard performance data for financial quarter 1 of 2014-15.  Discussion took place in relation to the figures provided in respect of dog fouling , with the Contracts Manager agreeing to speak directly to the Streetscene Area Manager and revert back to Members with details of the actions being taken to enforce these issues. 

Decision

Members agreed to note the report.

(Ref: Report by Executive Director, Customer Services dated 6 August 2014, submitted)

Report by Community Development Manager.

The Committee considered a report which detailed the recommendations for the award of Third Sector Grants to Third Sector organisations in the Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands area.

Decision

Members agreed to all recommendations outlined at section 2 of the report. 

(Ref:  Report by Executive Director of Community Services, dated 6 August 2014, submitted.)

Report by Area Private Sector Officer.

The Committee considered a report which updated Members on the actions undertaken by the Area Property Action Group (APAG) in Campbeltown.

Decision

Members agreed to note the report.

(Ref: Report by Executive Director, Community Services dated 6 August  2014, submitted)

Report by Area Manager – MAKI.

The Committee considered a report which updated Members on the findings of the continuing quarterly evaluation of the Care at Home provision within the Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands area for financial quarter 1 of 2014-15.  The Area Manager provided additional information on the problems with recruitment and retention and outlined some of the measures that have been put in place to help mitigate this issue.  Discussion took place on the Care Inspectorate Grades with the processes for improvement and service concerns being explained to Members. 

Decision

Members agreed to note the report.

(Ref: Report by Executive Director, Customer Services dated 6 August 2014, submitted)

Report by Executive Director Development and Infrastructure Services

The Committee considered a report providing information on the roads revenue budget position at the end of the financial year 2013/14. 

Decision

Members agreed to note the report.

(Ref: Report by Executive Director, Development and Infrastructure, dated 6 August 2014, submitted)

Report by Executive Director Development and Infrastructure Services

The Committee considered a report which provided an update on roads-related issues in the Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands area.  Discussion took place on the work which is currently ongoing in relation to the private road at King Street, Portnahaven, with the Contracts Manager confirming that only 10 replies had been received in respect of the 26 survey forms that had been issued.  He advised members that a full report would be brought to the Area Committee meeting in October.  Having established that the A83 had been trunked, the Contracts Manager confirmed that he would invite a representative from BEAR Scotland to attend the Area Committee Meeting in October. 

Decision

1. Members agreed to note the report; and
2. Agreed that a representative from BEAR Scotland be invited to the Area Committee Meeting in October to provide an update to Members in regards to the ongoing maintenance arrangements following the trunking of the A83. 

(Ref: Report by Executive Director, Development and Infrastructure, dated 6 August 2014, submitted)

Report by Executive Director Development and Infrastructure Services

The Committee considered a report outlining the progress to date in delivery of the CHORD Campbeltown Berthing Facility Project. Information was provided on the approach to the procurement of capital works, the ongoing work in relation to the procurement of a satisfactory operator, and on the construction of the facility and the handover of operations to any  new operator.  It was noted that the completion date for the project is expected to have handover in April 2015 to allow the facility to be fully operational and open for business in April/May 2015.

The Senior Planning Development Officer provided Members with information on the issues surrounding the connection of the waste disposal system for the facility to the public sewage system.  He advised of the embargo on the digging up of the road and the difficulty which this caused in terms of the progressing the connection. Members requested that advance notice is provided to local people and community groups with regard to any proposed disruption to the road.   

Decision:

Members agreed to note the report.

(Ref:  Report by Executive Director of Development and Infrastructure, dated 6 August 2014, submitted.)

The Committee considered the Item Tracker.

Decision

Members agreed to note the Item Tracker.

(Reference: Item Tracker, dated 6 August 2014, submitted)

Report by Executive Director of Development and Infrastructure Services

 The Committee considered a report seeking approval to provide match funding of £500,000 for the Campbeltown Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme (CARS) Round 6 application using funding remaining in the Campbeltown CHORD budget.   It was noted that if the application was successful it would lever in a further £500,000 from Historic Scotland and when the building owners contributions and other funding is taken into account it is anticipated that the total project fund will amount to £1.5m. 

Decision:

Members agreed to approve the match funding amount of £500,000 for the Campbeltown CARS Round 6 application using funding remaining in the Campbeltown CHORD budget. 

(Ref:  Report by Executive Director of Development and Infrastructure, dated 6 August 2014, 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 item of business on the grounds that it was likely to involve the disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 8 and 9 of Part 1 of Schedule 7A to the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973.

Report by  Executive Director Development and Infrastructure Services

The Committee considered a report which requested formal approval from the Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands Area Committee to award THI grant funding to a Private Company to assist with the repair and reinstatement of the tenement known as 50-52 Main Street/2 Cross Street, Campbeltown.

Decision:

1.       Members approved the THI grant award being made subject to the conditions outlined in the report; and

2.       Agreed to delegate authority (relative to formal draw down and monitoring of monies) to the Executive Director of Development and Infrastructure in consultation with the Executive Director for Customer Services and the Head of Strategic Finance.

(Ref: Report by Executive Director, Development and Infrastructure, dated 6 August  2014, submitted.)