Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were intimated on behalf of Councillor Gary Mulvaney, Councillor Ellen Morton, Councillor Maurice Corry and Councillor James Robb.

Councillor Robert MacIntyre declared a non-financial interest in relation to Item 17 - Unit 2, Ferry Road, Rosneath and in Item 7, specifically relating to the application from Rosneath Peninsula Highland Gathering by virtue of his involvement with the group, he left the room and took no part in the discussion of these items.

Minutes of previous Helensburgh and Lomond Area Committee meeting held on 10 February 2015.

The Minute of the Helensburgh and Lomond Area Committee held on 10 February 2015 was approved as a true record.

Matters Arising

Members noted that information had yet to be received from SGN, but that information was being made available to local people on works ongoing in the area.  The Area Committee Manager agreed to contact SGN to ask that any information which is circulated to the public is also circulated to local Members.

Members agreed that an update on roads issues raised would be submitted to the next Business Day meeting.

The Chair invited questions from the public in attendance at the meeting.

Mr David Adams, Chairman of Helensburgh Community Woodlands Group, presented a petition to the Area Committee and Councillor Kinniburgh which asked the Council to take action under Section 179 of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 to ensure removal of the large piles of debris and logs still remaining on the Open Space Protection Area at Cumberland Avenue, Helensburgh some 4 years after the former woodland there was felled by the owners in May/June 2011.

Councillor Kinniburgh advised that he noted receipt of the petition and it would be passed to relevant Council officers for action.

Nigel Miller, Secretary of Helensburgh Community Council requested clarification on the Public Artwork which had recently been erected at the new Council Building on East Clyde Street. He questioned who the Artwork represented, how it was chosen and the cost of the design.

The Chair stated that he had also emailed Council officers to get clarification on these issues and would furbish Mr Miller with this information when he was in receipt of these answers.

There were no further questions submitted.

Report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure Services

The Committee considered a report and presentation which provided an update on the work ongoing in relation to the development of Hermitage Park.

Members noted that a detailed report would be submitted to the Business Day meeting in May which would provide information on options for the delivery of associated car parking and the management and maintenance resourcing.

Discussion took place on the proposed access routes into the park, the consultation which had been undertaken with local residents, the plans for the café, the access arrangements and the sustainability aspects of the project.

Decision

Members agreed to note the contents of the report.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure Services, dated 14 April 2015, submitted).

Report by Executive Director – Customer Services

The Committee considered the Area Scorecard, with exceptional performance for financial quarter 3 of 2014-15 (October - December 2014).

Members requested clarification on the information relating to the Care at Home indicator and specifically to the mention of the 7 hospitals. It was noted that information in the Scorecard comments should be specifically related to the relevant area and not Argyll and Bute as a whole.

Decision

Members agreed to note the report.

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

Report by Executive Director – Community  Services.

The Committee considered a report outlining recommendations for the award of third sector grants (including events and festivals) to Third Sector organisations in Helensburgh and Lomond.

Members agreed to consider Item 13 – Rosneath Peninsula Highland Gathering first to allow Councillor MacIntyre to leave the room and then consider the remaining Grants.

The Committee heard from the Community Development Officer who provided an overview of the applications and advised that the application listed at Item 16. – Visit Helensburgh Limited had been withdrawn

Decision

Members agreed:-

1.    To approve the Third Sector Grants as set out in the table, with additional recommendations for Item 14, Soulwind that the funding is only released once the funding from the John Lewis Partnership is confirmed and Item 15, The Tower Digital Arts Centre that the funding is only released once confirmation is received that the event will be proceeding;  and

2.    That a report updating Members on the status of Tower Digital Arts Centre project would be submitted to the June Area Committee.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director – Community Services, dated 14 April 2015, submitted).

Report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure Services

The Committee considered a report which provided Members with details of the proposed roads reconstruction programme for 2015/16.   

Discussion took place on the timescales for the work proposed in the programme, with the Roads Performance Manager agreeing that he would circulate the calendar of proposed works to Members.

Decision

Members agreed to not the contents of the report.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure Services, dated 16 March  2015, submitted).

Report and presentation by the Economic Development Manager.

The Committee considered a report on the Helensburgh and Lomond Economic Development Action Plan, and heard a presentation from the Economic Development Manager.

Discussion followed and Members raised concerns on the length of time taken to finalise the shop front development in Helensburgh, the lack of tourist promotion in the Helensburgh and Lomond area and highlighted the need to complete the cycle path between Colgrain and Helensburgh.      

Decision

Members agreed:-

1.    To note the content of the presentation on the delivery of the actions and in-year success measures for 2014/15 ; and

2.    That the Area Committee would undertake a separate workshop session (late April/early May) with officers from the Economic Development Service to input to the content of the area-based EDAP for 2015/16;

3.    That a similar workshop would be taken forward with the Helensburgh and Lomond Area Community Planning Group; and

4.    That the Helensburgh and Lomond Area EDAP will then be submitted to the June Area Committee meeting for approval. 

(Reference: Report by Economic Development Manager, dated 14 April 2015, submitted).

Report by Executive Director – Community Services.

The Committee considered a report Committee on the findings of the continuing quarterly evaluation of the Care at Home provision within the Helensburgh and Lomond area.

The Area Committee Manager advised that there was no officer in attendance at the meeting to speak to the report. Given the lack of officer attendance to speak to the report, no detailed discussion took place on this item.

Decision

Members agreed:-

1.    That the report would be brought to a Special Area Committee which would be convened for 9.00am on Tuesday 12 May 2015 and appropriate officers be requested to attend to speak to the report; and

2.    That a report on local staffing issues in the local area be brought to the May Business Day meeting also to be held on Tuesday 12 May 2015.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director – Community Services, dated 23 March 2015, submitted).

Report by Executive Director – Community Services

The Committee considered a report Committee which provided a review of progress to date in respect of the implementation of The Social Care (Self-directed Support) (Scotland) Act 2013 following its enactment on 1^st April 2014.

The Area Committee Manager advised that there was no officer in attendance at the meeting to speak to the report. Given the lack of officer attendance to speak to the report, no detailed discussion took place on this item.

Decision

Members agreed that this report be deferred for discussion at the Special Area Committee meeting to be held on 12 May 2015.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director – Community Services, dated 16 March 2015, submitted).

Report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure Services

The Committee considered a report which updated on the progress to date in the delivery of the Artwork elements of Helensburgh CHORD town centre public realm improvement works funded through the main CHORD budget allocation and the S75 Artworks fund.

Decision

Members agreed to note the report.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure Services, dated 19 March  2015, submitted).

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.

Decision

1.    To note the report.

2.    That the CHORD Programme Manager would forward the details of the snagging list to local Members. 

(Reference: Report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure Services, dated 16 March  2015, submitted).

Report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure Services

The Committee considered a report which provided the detail of the Helensburgh CHORD Risk Register for March 2015.

Decision

Members agreed to note the report.

(Reference: Report by the Executive Director of Development and Infrastructure, dated 14 April 2015,  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 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 provided an update on progress for the Helensburgh CHORD Project for the period 5 January 2015 to 16 March 2015.

 Decision

Members agreed to note the report.

(Reference: Report by the Executive Director of Development and Infrastructure, dated 16 March 2015,  submitted)

Report by – Executive Director Customer Services.

The Committee considered a report which related to the site of the former Hermitage Academy, Helensburgh.

Decision

Members agreed to the recommendations contained within the report and the additional wording as agreed by Members at the meeting.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director – Customer Services, dated 19 March 2015, submitted).

Report by Executive Director – Customer Services.

The Committee considered a report in respect of Unit 2, Ferry Road, Rosneath.

Decision

Members agreed to the recommendations contained within the report.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director – Customer Services, dated 9 March 2015, submitted).