Agenda and minutes

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting.

 

Apologies for absence were intimated on behalf of Councillors Graham Archibald Hardie and Gary Mulvaney.

 

Having noted the commitment of those in attendance, the Chair agreed to vary the order of business to facilitate attendees. This minute reflects the order in which items were discussed.

Councillor Maurice Corry advised in relation to item 5 of the agenda (Helensburgh Pier Company Ltd) that he was a friend of the group and had worked collaboratively with them in the past.  Having taken note of the updated Standards Commission Guidance in relation to declarations (issued on 7 December 2021) with specific reference to section 5.4(c) he did not consider that he had a relevant connection and as such confirmed that he would remain in the meeting during the consideration of this item of Business.

The Minute of the meeting of the Helensburgh and Lomond Area Committee, held on 10 March 2026, was approved as a correct record.

Councillor Paul Donald Kennedy joined the meeting during discussion of the foregoing item.

The Chair, having noted that questions had been submitted by a member of the public in advance of the meeting and having noted that this member of the public was in attendance, invited them to ask their questions.

 

Katherine Wright, Helensburgh Sports Trust

 

My questions are on behalf of the Helensburgh Sports Trust and concern the former primary school annex at Hermitage Primary school.

 

We wish to thank the Area Committee for the motion that was agreed at the previous meeting of the Area Committee regarding the Hermitage Primary School annex. We would like to ask:

 

1.    What response has been received to the Chair's letter to the Chief Executive requesting that the land is not considered for sale or development as set out in point 3 of the motion?; and

 

2.    When the Trust can expect to hear from the officers charged with investigating ways in which the land could be used for sports or outdoor play as set out in point 4 of the motion?

 

In response to question 1, the Chair provided the following response:

 

As outlined at the 10^th March 2026 Helensburgh & Lomond Area Committee (School Estate Update – Helensburgh), the agreed position is that officers from Commercial Services, Education, and Development and Economic Growth have agreed that it would be premature to dispose of or repurpose Helensburgh school assets at the present time. This position has been reached in light of the wider strategic context, including the Council’s declared housing emergency and the ongoing review of surplus education estate, but also recognising that two significant strands of strategic work remain to be completed before any longer-term decisions on future use can properly be considered.

 

In particular, the report makes clear that future consideration of such assets requires to be informed by both the forthcoming Helensburgh Strategic Development Framework (SDDF) and the Council’s Education Learning Estate Strategy. These exercises are intended to consider, among other matters, the implications of future housing growth, potential changes in school roll projections, and any resulting changes in educational infrastructure requirements across the Helensburgh area. Pending the outcome of that wider work, the current officer view is that the land should not be progressed for sale or alternative development at this stage.

 

Whilst I acknowledge the Committees concerns, the substantive position now publicly reported to committee is that no immediate disposal or repurposing of the land is being taken forward at this stage. That position is consistent with the terms of the motion insofar as it confirms that further decisions will be deferred until the relevant strategic reviews have concluded and a more robust evidence base is available.

 

In response to question 2, the Committee Manager advised that he had passed this question to the Head of Commercial Services in advance of the meeting, and had been provided with the following response:

 

Officers are aware of the Trust’s interest in the land, including the Expression of Interest submitted by Parents for Active Learning on 17^th March 2025. There has been prior engagement with the group, including meetings and email correspondence, and officers remain aware of the issues raised in relation to potential community use of the site.

 

At present, however, neither Education nor Hermitage Primary School has identified a specific operational requirement for additional outdoor sports or outdoor play provision on the land, nor is there currently any allocated funding in place to deliver such use. It is also relevant to note that the existing school has benefited from recent investment in its playground provision, which has addressed current school requirements in this regard.

 

In addition, the site would require material investment before it could be made suitable for outdoor sports or play purposes, and no such investment is currently budgeted. In these circumstances, it would not be possible to identify a definitive timetable at this stage for further officer reporting on this matter.

 

Accordingly, the most appropriate position to set out is that the Trust will receive a further update once the wider strategic work relating to the future of the school estate in Helensburgh has progressed sufficiently to enable officers to undertake and present a more informed assessment of feasible options for the site.

 

The Committee Manager agreed to provide full details of these responses to Ms Wright following the meeting.

 

Dr Peter Brown, Helensburgh Community Council

 

The Committee Manager advised that there had been a number of public questions submitted in advance of the meeting by Dr John Brown, and in his absence read them out on his behalf.

 

1. Given that the Council’s own updates show repeated slippage in the roof replacement programme can Councillors say when a firm, final completion date will be published, and what conditions are preventing that date from being confirmed?

 

2. Residents need clarity on when the leisure centre will reopen. Based on the current programme, will Councillors say what is the earliest realistic date for full public access, including recommissioning, testing and staffing?

 

3. Can the Council identify which specific elements of the roof works - Kalzip installation or internal works - are currently off‑programme, and what the revised critical path now looks like?

 

4. Has the Council commissioned independent technical assurance to confirm that the revised roof solution is robust, buildable and free from the defects that caused the original failure?

 

5. Will Councillors commit to publishing fortnightly progress updates including percentage completion, milestones achieved and upcoming tasks, rather than narrative summaries that lack measurable detail?

 

6. Do Councillors accept that the project is now significantly off‑track, and what accountability will be taken for the failure to deliver a functioning leisure centre for over a year?

 

The Committee Manager confirmed that on receipt of these questions he had passed them to colleagues within Commercial Services who had provided the following response:

 

Fortnightly updates continue to be published on the dedicated website, including regular photographic progress. The most recent update was issued on 1 June. As highlighted, the roof repair is progressing well and remains in line with expectations, with  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

Verbal update by Director of The Helensburgh Pier Company Limited

The Committee gave consideration to a verbal update by the Directors of Helensburgh Pier Company Limited. The update included information regarding the background of the company; the aim of the company which is to reopen Helensburgh Pier as soon as possible; potential funding opportunities to complete the required repairs and negotiations with representatives of the Waverley to secure its return to Helensburgh and the associated benefits of this, such as income to assist with the maintenance and development of the Pier and the wider economic benefits.

 

The Directors of Helensburgh Pier Company Limited also provided an update in relation to the negotiations with the Council for a 25-year lease for the pier and associated reports and surveys required to progress this.

 

Decision

 

The Helensburgh and Lomond Area Committee agreed:

 

1.    to note and welcome the update provided by Helensburgh Pier Company Limited;

 

2.    to note that the Committee welcomes and support the endeavours of Helensburgh Pier Company Limited to reopen the Pier as soon as possible; and

 

3.    that the Chair and Vice-Chair would seek clarification from the Heads of Legal and Regulatory Support and Roads of Infrastructure Service regarding the status of the project before the upcoming recess and would thereafter circulate details of this to Members of the Area Committee.

 

(Reference: Verbal update by Directors, Helensburgh Pier Company Limited)

 

Update from Inspector Bart Simonis, Police Scotland

Consideration was given to an update which provided information on the ongoing work of the Service and information on local priorities; acquisitive crime; road safety; anti-social behaviour and violent crime; public protection; and local news.

 

Decision

 

The Helensburgh and Lomond Area Committee noted the contents of the report.

 

(Reference: Report by Inspector Bart Simonis, Police Scotland, dated June 2026, submitted)

 

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Education

 

The Committee gave consideration to a report relating to Hermitage Academy, which provided information on S3 Achievement of Curriculum for Excellence Levels; attainment in literacy and numeracy; the pass rates of national qualifications; data from Insight Scotland; wider achievement qualifications; equity and attainment; and Pupil Equity Funding.

 

Decision

 

The Helensburgh and Lomond Area Committee noted the information provided within the report.

 

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Education, dated 9 June 2026, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Customer Support Services

The Committee gave consideration to the Area Performance report for financial quarter four of 2025/26 (January to March 2026) which illustrated the agreed performance measures for this period.

 

Decision

 

The Helensburgh and Lomond Area Committee noted the performance and supporting commentary as presented.

 

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Customer Support Services, dated 11 May 2026, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure Services

The Committee gave consideration to a report which provided links to the recent activities of Roads and Infrastructure Services.

 

Decision

 

The Helensburgh and Lomond Area Committee noted the contents of the report.

 

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure Services, dated 17 April 2026, submitted)

Report by Performance and Information Team Manager, Argyll and Bute Health and Social Care Partnership

The Committee gave consideration to the Health and Social Care Partnership Performance Report for financial quarter 3 of 2025/26 (October to December 2025).

 

Decision

 

The Helensburgh and Lomond Area Committee:

 

1.    acknowledged the performance for FQ3 2025/26 (October – December) against latest Key Performance Indicators within the Integrated Performance Management Framework for 2025/26;

 

2.    noted the latest Delayed Discharge Sitrep as of 16 February 2026, as at Appendix 1 of the report;

 

3.    acknowledged the latest performance against the National Health and Wellbeing Outcomes and Ministerial Steering Group Integration Indicators, as at Appendix 2 of the report; and

 

4.    acknowledged the inclusion of additional Argyll and Bute Health and Social Care performance metrics aligned to national reporting across Centre for Sustainable Delivery Unscheduled Care, and the Planned Care performance focus within the Operational Improvement Plan, as at Appendix 3 of the report.

 

(Reference: Report by Performance and Information Team Manager, Argyll and Bute Health and Social Care Partnership, dated June 2026, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth

 

Consideration was given to a report updating Members on the progress made since the Helensburgh and Lomond Area Committee meeting on 9 December 2025, in relation to the delivery of a high quality walking and cycle route linking Helensburgh, Cardross and Dumbarton.

 

Decision

 

The Helensburgh and Lomond Area Committee:

 

1.    welcomed the continued positive engagement of landowners;

 

2.    approved the update of the preferred alignment for Phase 1 of the route to one primarily following the south (seaward) side of the A814;

 

3.    supported Officer’s efforts, subject to receiving suitable tender returns, to seek to appoint a design team to complete development of Phase 3 designs through Developed Design and Technical Design stages; and

 

4.    instructed the Council’s Estates Team to prepare to rapidly progress necessary land acquisition on completion of the designs.

 

(Reference: Executive Director with the responsibility for Development and Economic Growth, dated 10 May 2026, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth

 

The Committee gave consideration to a report which provided an update on the progress made in 2025/26 in relation to active travel projects in the Helensburgh and Lomond area, and sought continued support for the projects from Members.

 

Decision

 

The Helensburgh and Lomond Area Committee:

 

1.    welcomed the progress made to date across a significant number of active travel projects by the very small Active Travel Team;

 

2.    supported the continuation of the projects and the submission of future funding applications to external challenge funds to continue to develop design and construction stages to deliver these projects;

 

3.    supported the allocation of the Tier 1 active travel funding element in the Council’s 26/27 block grant to the development and delivery of appropriate active travel projects, including those already underway in Helensburgh and Lomond; and

 

4.    instructed Officers to continue to identify and develop new active travel projects to benefit local residents, businesses and communities.

 

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with the responsibility for Development and Economic Growth, dated 10 May 2026, submitted)

Report by Chief Executive Unit

 

The Committee gave consideration to a report which highlighted the positive outcomes for communities in Helensburgh and Lomond from the projects and activities funded by the Council’s Supporting Communities Fund in 2024/25.

 

Decision

 

The Helensburgh and Lomond Area Committee:

 

1.    noted the positive contribution of the Supporting Communities Fund (SCF) 2024/25, highlighted in section 4 of the report and detailed in the table;

 

2.    noted that no funds had been returned; and

 

3.    noted that Plastic Free Helensburgh had applied for an extension to complete their funded activities by July 2026.

 

(Reference: Report by Chief Executives Unit, dated 9 June 2026, submitted)

The Helensburgh and Lomond Area Committee workplan was before members for information.

 

Decision

 

The Helensburgh and Lomond Area Committee noted the contents of the workplan.

 

(Reference: Helensburgh and Lomond Area Committee workplan, dated June 2026, submitted)

Councillor Ian MacQuire highlighted the recent success and achievements of Helensburgh Rugby Club over the past season. The Chair commended these achievements and agreed to write to the Club on behalf of the Area Committee to congratulate them.