Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies for absence.

Councillors Freeman and Robb each declared a non financial interest in relation to the report on the Site of Public Conveniences, Old Toll House Car Park, Luss which is dealt with at Item 11 of this Minute, due to them being members of the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority.  They advised that they would leave the room and take no part in the discussion or decision on this item.

Helensburgh and Lomond Area Committee meeting held on 9 December 2014.

The Minute of the meeting held on 9 December 2014 was approved as a true record.

Matters Arising

Discussion took place on the affirmation received from SGN at the December meeting, in regards to regular communication and a newsletter updating local Members on planned works.

The Area Committee Manager advised that she would make contact with SGN requesting that Members in Helensburgh and Lomond receive regular updates and newsletters in regards their programme of works in the local area.

The Chair invited questions from the public in attendance.

Mr Tony Davey, Cardross Community Council, confirmed that SGN were in regular contact with the Community Council and would be attending the meeting scheduled for March.  He envisaged that the proposed works would commence in April 2015.

The Chair reiterated the need for SGN to replicate close dialogue with local Members throughout the Helensburgh and Lomond area.  

Report by Head Teacher,

Councillor Corry joined the meeting at 9.35a.m.

The Committee considered a report and a presentation from Mr Geoff Urie, Headteacher, which provided an update on the progress and achievements of pupils and staff at Hermitage Academy.

The Chair invited questions from Members and .Mr Urie was asked to explain the correlation between the uptake of clothing/footwear grants and free school meals with figures showing that the clothing grant  uptake had shown a 60% increase; however the free school meals increase equated to only a 7.5% rise.  Mr Urie advised that this could perhaps be that the advertising of the clothing grant by Argyll and Bute Council had been improved, resulting in more applications.

Members requested more information in regards to the prediction of the school roll during the course of the next 5 years, with it being noted that it was anticipated that the roll would remain fairly constant, but that factors such as new housing in the area could have an impact.  Mr Urie also noted that there were a number of children at the school from naval families. 

Discussion took place on the numbers of pupils who were not in a positive destination 6 months after leaving school with Mr Urie advising that he hoped to employ a dedicated staff member who would be responsible for providing support to pupils in 6th year and also in the year after leaving school.   Members also asked about the destinations for those children with Additional Support Needs, with it being noted that the majority of these children sustained their positive destination.

Councillor James Robb joined the meeting at 10.00 a.m.

Discussion continued in regards the progress and success of Curriculum for Excellence (CfE) at the school. Mr Urie noted that CfE had been successfully implemented in the school and there was an effective system in place to address any issues. 

Members noted that the section entitled ‘Recognising Wider Achievement’ in the report required to be updated, this was particularly relevant to show the other types of education which was taking place in the school away from the traditional exam assessments.  Mr Urie agreed to provide the detail requested to Members.

The Chair thanked Mr Urie and his colleagues for attending the meeting and providing an excellent report in the new format.

Decision

Members agreed to note the report.

(Reference: Report by Head Teacher dated 10 February 2015, submitted)

Report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure

The Committee considered a report and a presentation by Jon Simmons, Gillespies Landscape Consultants which provided an update on the current development phase of Hermitage Park.  It also focused on three options for the park for public consultation in March 2015.

Decision

Members agreed to note the report.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director -  Development and Infrastructure dated 22 January 2015, submitted).

Report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure Services.

The Committee considered a report which advised Members of the roads revenue budget position for the 3^rd Quarter of financial year 2014/15. 

Discussion followed and Members raised concerns on a number of issues.  These included the slow process of remedial patching and pot-hole repairs and the amount of time the jet-patcher is in the Helensburgh and Lomond area, gully clearing and the comparison in cost between using sub-contractors and the in-house machine,  the detail of how the local Roads budget is calculated and apportioned, white lining still to be completed in Rosneath, and whether contractors are used in other areas to carry out work. 

Members also queried whether white lining and replacement studding should be carried out as part of capital works when resurfacing takes place, with the Roads Performance Manager confirming that the capital budget should cover this.

Decision

Members agreed:

1.    To note the report, and

2.    That the Roads Performance Manager would provide an update report to the Business Day and Area Committee meetings which would outline information on the concerns raised.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director -  Development and Infrastructure dated 14 January 2015, submitted).

Report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure Services.

The Committee considered a report which updated on the works carried out to date on this year’s capital roads reconstruction programme.

Discussion followed and Members detailed their concerns on the following issues – footpaths in Colgrain and Cardross, handrails at Feorlin Way, Garelochhead and footway/cycleway works at Pier Road, Rhu and concerns that work on local footpaths may be delayed due to the installation of new LED street lighting.

Decision

Members agreed :

1.    To note the report;

2.    That the  Roads Performance Manager would provide an updated report for the March Business Day and the April Area Committee providing the detail of next year’s Capital Works programme, and

3.    That the Roads Performance Manager would review the issues highlighted by Members and provide an update.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director -  Development and Infrastructure dated 28 January 2015, submitted).

Report by the Executive Director – Customer Services

The Committee considered a report which outlined the revised terms of reference in relation to membership and asked that  the Area Committee appoint members to the Helensburgh and Lomond Community Planning Group

Decision

Members agreed to confirm the appointment of the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Helensburgh and Lomond Area Committee and Councillor Richard Trail representing Ward 11, to the membership of the Helensburgh and Lomond Area Community Planning Group.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director - Customer Services dated 30 January 2015, submitted).

Verbal update by CHORD Programme Manager.

The Committee gave consideration to an update from Andrew Collins, Regeneration Project Manager informing Members of the outcome of the meeting held between Scottish Water, Roads Department and the CHORD Design Team on 30 January 2015.

He outlined the procedure which would be implemented to address the flooding issues on West Clyde Street, John Street and William Street. This would entail a comprehensive cleaning and maintenance programme of the existing gullies in the vicinity as well as the introduction of an additional two manholes on West Clyde Street.. Upon completion, a monitoring process would be instigated.  He pointed out that this work would mitigate the flooding issue, but not completely solve the problem. 

The CHORD Project Manager reiterated that this maintenance programme would be necessary to ascertain that the current infrastructure was working to optimum level.   

Historically, the area had been subject to flooding and it would be necessary to remediate the problem in a measured and rational way.

She confirmed that Scottish Water was in agreement with the proposed strategy, but open to review this after the maintenance and monitoring operation had been completed and that a joint press release would be issued by Argyll and Bute Council and Scottish Water

Members raised concerns in regards the uncertainty that the maintenance programme would not categorically solve the flooding issue. They requested that the Regeneration Project Manager make immediate contact with the local businesses affected by the flooding and advise them of the proposed maintenance programme prior to the press release.

 Decision

Members agreed:

1.    To note the update;

2.    That a further update would come to both the March Business Day meeting and the April Area Committee;

3.    That the Regeneration Project Manager would liaise with local businesses affected by the flooding and advise them of the proposed maintenance programme agreed between Scottish Water and Argyll and Bute Council, and

4.    That the proposed maintenance schedule would be disseminated in both a press release and newsletter to the local businesses and residents affected by flooding issues.

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 and 9 respectively 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 outlined progress to date in the delivery of the Helensburgh CHORD town centre Public Realm Improvement Works and the option to extend the CHORD works

Decision

Members agreed:

1.    To note the content and the options outlined in the report;

2.    To proceed with Option 5 as outlined in the report; and

3.    That n updated report would come to the March Business Day meeting and the April Area Committee meeting.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director -  Development and Infrastructure dated 30 January 2015, submitted).

Report by Executive Director -  Customer Services

Having previously declared an interest, Councillors Freeman and Robb left the room and took no part in the decision of this item.

 The Committee considered a report which advised of a request by Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park (LLTNP) to acquire the site on which the public convenience is located at the Old Toll House Car Park, Luss.

Decision

Members agreed to the recommendation contained with the report.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director - Customer Services dated 14 January 2015, submitted).