Agenda and minutes

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

Councillor George Freeman

Councillor David Kinniburgh

Councillor  Ellen Morton

None declared.

The Minute of the previous meeting held on 8 December 2015 was approved as a true record.

Matters Arising

Page 4, Item 9 Roads Revenue Budget

The Chair highlighted that the Amenities Service Manager would provide more detail in regards the new Street Cleaning Machine. Mr McCracken advised that the Street Cleaning machine was operational, and, to date had provided 230 hours of early morning cleaning in Helensburgh Town Centre. In addition, a new electric machine had been purchased which was primarily being utilised to remove stains in the Town Centre area. Being an electric machine, it could only be used during dry weather and had provided 15 hours of usage to date.

Members questioned if a definitive rota would be put in place for the new machine in the Helensburgh and Lomond area. Mr McCracken pointed out that usage for the machine was in the early stages and, as yet, no firm rota had been developed.

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

Gail Maddick enquired that following the recent review at Hermitage Academy, could the Committee please confirm what is the new default curricular model for students going into 4th year? What evidence has been presented and agreed that would support this model as being appropriate for the Hermitage demographic?

Mrs Knowles, Head of Education advised  that it was proposed to identify appropriate pathways and thereafter the staff at Hermitage Academy would implement these choices into the school curriculum. She reiterated that any parents who were unsure or who required  further information should make direct contact with the school.

Discussion continued and Members gave further discussion to issues which included  communication, the right pathway for pupils and affirmed that the staff at Hermitage Academy were committed to providing a broad range of subjects to pupils. Mrs Knowles highlighted that individual meetings had been offered to parents to give further discussion to concerns.   

Mr Charles Carver enquired if Argyll and Bute Council no longer collected bins from  private roads for Health and Safety issues. He highlighted a recent meeting held with Stuart McCracken, Amenities Manager which he felt had not answered his queries. Mr McCracken replied that this was not a cost saving procedure and pointed out recent spring damage which had been sustained to refuse vehicles. He defined the current policy in place which was implemented when a private road was not suitable for refuse vehicles and which then necessitated residents to deposit their household rubbish in refuse containers at the bottom of their road.

Further discussion continued and Members reiterated that this was not a policy issue, but one which pertained to operational matters.

The Chair enquired if there were any others questions, which there were not.

Report by Executive Director – Community Services.

The Committee considered a report which provided the detail of performance for pupils during the course of the period 2015/2016.

Discussion followed and included the work being undertaken with local colleges, the perceived dissatisfaction with parents and the opportunity for work experience.

Mr Urie pointed out that following the current school session, examination results would provide the barometer of success. Members questioned Hermitage Academy’s overall progress and requested that they be kept up to date on any progress which is achieved on work experience and that the new model be forwarded for Members review.   

The Chair thanked Mr Urie for his report and acknowledged the challenges he was facing.

Decision

Members agreed to note the report.

(Reference: Report by the Executive Director – Community Services, dated 9 February 2016, submitted).

Report by Executive Director of Community Services

Members gave consideration to a report which provided an update of the progress in  taking forward the agreed action plan arising from the internal review of the senior phase curriculum at Hermitage Academy.

Discussion followed and included questions on the number of subjects undertaken by pupils, the methods of communication used, the need for plain English in reports and communication, pupil engagement and supported study.    

Decision

Members agreed:-

1.     To note the report;and

2.     That a further progress report come to a future Area Committee meeting.

(Reference: Report by the Executive Director – Community Services, dated 9 February 2016, submitted).

Councillor Dance left the meeting following conclusion of this item.

Report by Head of Strategic Finance.

Members gave consideration to a report which set out the estimated funding available for distribution of funds for the charities and trust funds in the four of the Helensburgh & Lomond area for 2015-16.

Decision

Members agreed:-

1.    To note the information provided on the value of charities and trust funds and the annual income.

2.    To agree the proposed distribution of the funds available shown in Appendix 1.

3.    To note the reserve policy: Utilise 1/20^th of the unrestricted (revenue) reserve fund each year.

(Reference: Report by Head of Strategic Finance, dated 9 February 2016, submitted).

Councillor Dance returned to the meeting.

Report by Executive Director – Community Services.

Members gave consideration to a report which provided an update on the quarterly evaluation of the Care at Home provision within the Helensburgh and Lomond area and to report on the performance of the operational Adult Care Social Work Team.

Members gave further discussion to various issues contained within the report which included disparity to the figures relating to residential care, delayed discharges and the need to continue with local scrutiny.  

Decision

Members agreed to note the report.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director – Community Services, dated 9 February 2016, submitted).

Report by Executive Director – Customer Services.

Members gave consideration to a report which outlined the proposed cycle of meetings within the Helensburgh and Lomond Area from May 2016 to April 2017.

Decision

Members agreed to the cycle of Area Committee and Business Day meetings as detailed in the appendix to the report.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director – Customer Services, dated 9 February 2016, submitted).

Report by Executive Director of Development and Infrastructure.

Members gave consideration to a report which provided an update on the progress with the Helensburgh Shopfront Enhancement Initiative.

Decision

Members agreed to:

1.    Note the contents of the paper and;

2.    To the re-opening of the Shopfront Grant initiative from 1 March to 30 June 2016 in advance of an evaluation of the approved 2015 Grant awards and;

3.    That officers review how the current process can be further streamlined.

 (Reference: Report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure  Services, dated 9 February 2016, submitted).