Agenda and minutes

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

Councillor Gary Mulvaney.

In the absence of Councillor Gary Mulvaney, Chair, Councillor George Freeman assumed the Chair for the Area Committee meeting.  

There were no Declarations of Interest.

The Minute of the previous meeting held on 11 August 2015 was approved as a true record.  

The Minute of the special Area Committee meeting held on 8 September 2015 was approved as a true record.  

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

Two members of the public raised their concerns in regards the proposed cuts in the ASN provision and requested local Members views on this issue.

Members outlined the amount of savings that Argyll and Bute Council would need to make and highlighted that the forthcoming Public Consultation would provide the local community the ability to feed into this process to help ensure that the right decisions are made. It was highlighted that an all party group had determined the proposals and the resulting paper would hopefully enable the public to make an informed decision.

The issue of the legal duty of Argyll and Bute Council was raised in regards to Additional Support Needs (ASN) and Members requested that the Area Committee Manager liaise with the Education Service on this issue and provide this information accordingly.

Report by Executive Director – Customer Services.

The Committee considered a report which provided the submission of possible names for the council’s new offices at East Clyde Street, Helensburgh, from the local community.

Motion

The Helensburgh and Lomond Area Committee notes the contents of the report and the responses that were received by the Council as a result of the invitation to the public to propose names for the new Council building on East Clyde Street, Helensburgh.

The Area Committee notes that 43% of those submitting suggestions proposed that the building be called The Helensburgh and Lomond Civic Centre with the maximum support for any of the other 28 proposed names being only 3.9%.

The Area Committee therefore agrees to recommend to the Provost that the new building be named “The Helensburgh and Lomond Civic Centre”.

Moved by Councillor George Freeman, seconded by Councillor Ellen Morton.

Amendment

That the building be called “The Civic Centre”.

Moved by Councillor Richard Trail, seconded by Councillor James Robb.

On a show of hand Vote, the Motion was carried by 6 Votes to 3 and the Committee resolved accordingly.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director – Customer Services dated 18

September 2015, submitted).

Report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure Services

The Committee considered a report which advised on the roads revenue budget position at the end of the 1^st Quarter of the financial year 2015/16.

Discussion followed and Members enquired if the previous budget overspend on the Roads Revenue Maintenance Budget 2014-2015 was carried forward. The Roads Performance Manager advised that the procedure was to review the overall Argyll and Bute Roads Revenue budget and encompass any shortfalls and overspends accordingly.

Members highlighted that the increase in maintenance of drainage to culverts and ditches had mitigated the amount of potholes on local roads. The Roads Performance Manager affirmed that the jet patcher was now being centrally co-ordinated and it was scheduled for both the Helensburgh and Lomond and Bute and Cowal areas in the near future.

Members questioned the status of the new street cleaning machine and the Roads Performance Manager confirmed that he would review this issue and would update local Members. 

Members offered their congratulations to the Roads Performance Manager on his new appointment as the Marine Operations Manager.

Decision

Members agreed:

1.    To note the report and;

2.    That the Roads Performance Manager would review the issues raised and report back to Members.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure

Services dated 28 August 2015, submitted).

Report by Executive Director – Customer Services.

The Committee considered a report which provided information on Holocaust Memorial Day which is held on 27 January each year and asked that Members of the Area Committee provide support to any events which are taking place in the local area

Decision

Members agreed:

(1)          to note that Holocaust Memorial Day will take place on 27 January 2016; and

(2)          that Members offer their support for events which are taking place in the local area where appropriate, and promote the opportunity for communities to participate in the commemoration.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director – Customer Services dated 16

 September 2015, submitted)