Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies for absence.

Councillor Aileen Morton declared a non-financial interest in relation to the Friends of Duchess Wood – Management Plan 2016 – 2021 which is dealt with at Item 5 of this Minute by reason of being Chair of the Duchess Wood Local Nature Reserve Committee. She claimed the benefit of the specific exclusion as contained at section 5.18 (2)(i) of the Standard Commission’s Guidance Note dated March 2016 to enable her to speak and vote.

The Minute of the meeting held on 9 August 2016 was approved as a true record.

Matters arising

Councillor Aileen Morton drew attention to Item 8 of the previous Minute – Roads Revenue Budget and pointed out that no update had been received, as yet, in regards the remedial work to the Helensburgh Pier car park.

She also emphasised that the Guidance Note was still not on the Argyll and Bute Council website.

The Area Committee Manager confirmed that she would take these issues to the relevant officers for their review.  

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

The following questions were submitted to Members by Mr Neil Waldron:-

Notice Boards

The lack of information provided in regards Area Committee meeting dates and venues.

The Area Committee Manager confirmed that an advert was placed routinely in the Helensburgh Advertiser providing the detail and venue of Area Committees. She would ensure that a notice providing this information was also placed in local notice boards.

Yellow traffic lines

The time taken to reinstate yellow and white lining on local roads following resurfacing.

The Amenity Manager outlined the difficulty in procuring the services of companies to undertake road lining work. He advised that plans were being progressed to liaise with other local authorities to work in partnership and procure this service.

Action: The Amenity Manager would contact Mr Waldron to provide further information regarding progress of this issue.   

Train Service – Helensburgh to Glasgow

The initial temporary timetable had been made permanent without notification or consultation with the local community. Train times and stopping points were causing problems and some consternation to local travellers.  Mr Waldron enquired if Argyll and Bute Council intended holding discussion with Abelio to address this.

The Chair affirmed that Helensburgh Community Council had been active in addressing this issue and outlined a recent meeting held between the local MSP and the Managing Director of Abellio. In addition, local Members advised of a forthcoming meeting with the Head of Business Development at Abelio and regular meetings with Strathclyde Partnership Transport (SPT). SPT were pursuing an impact statement from Abellio on the current timetable in place.

Norman Muir, Helensburgh Community Council asked a question in regards to the wording contained within the minute relating to Area Scorecards. Members highlighted that the wording could be misconstrued and that the phrasing could perhaps be changed.

Action:  The Programme Manager would be requested to provide a short, introductory sentence to clarify the terminology.

A reporter from the Helensburgh Advertiser asked for clarification in regards if a decision had been made on further evening Area Committee meetings.

The Chair affirmed that discussion had taken place at the September Business Day meeting and Members were agreeable to holding some evening meetings during the course of the year. This would not be routine, but some would be scheduled to take place in the evening.

There were no further questions and the Chair thanked the public in attendance for the questions submitted.

Report by Chair, Friends of Duchess Wood.

The Committee considered a report which sought the noting and approval from Members of a new management plan for the Duchess Wood Local Nature Reserve (LNR).

Decision:

Members agreed to note and approve the new Management Plan. 

The Chair commended the work and effort undertaken by the Local Nature Reserve Committee.   

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

Report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure Services.

The Committee considered a report which provided an update on the current delivery phase of Hermitage Park.

Discussion followed and Members asked for clarification on the possibility of a new crossing point on Sinclair Street. The Senior Development Officer Advised that there was some funding allocated towards a traffic management plan which was a condition of the Planning Permission which had been granted.  It was also noted that a report on Traffic Management in Helensburgh would be submitted to the December meeting of the Area Committee and this would provide further information on any proposed crossing.

Decision:

Members agreed to note the contents of the report.

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

Report by Executive Director – Customer Services.

The Committee considered a report which requested an appointment to the Education MOD Funding Steering Group to take effect immediately and for a period until the next Local Government Elections in May 2017.  During the course of the discussion on this item, Councillor Ellen Morton intimated that she could no longer continue as member of the Group, therefore there were 2 nominations required.

Decision:

Members agreed:-

1.    To appoint Councillors Aileen Morton and James Robb.to the Education MOD Funding Steering Group until the next Local Government Elections in May 2017; and

2.    That officers would ascertain the schedule of future meetings of the Education MOD Steering Group and this would be provided to Members.

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

Report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure Services

The Committee considered a report which sought approval from Members on the proposed Helensburgh and Lomond Economic Development Action Plan (EDAP) 2016/21 aligned to the overarching Strategic Argyll and Bute Economic Development Action Plan.

Decision:

Members agreed to:-

1.     Note the content of the report; 

2.    Endorse the Helensburgh and Lomond EDAP 2016/21 as a working document subject to the inclusion of the comments made by Members at the meeting; and

3.    Note the content of the draft Strategic EDAP (Appendix 2) which will be submitted to the Council’s Environment, Development and Infrastructure (EDI) Committee in November 2016.

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

Report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure Services.

The Committee considered a report which provided information on road maintenance revenue activities being delivered in Q1 2016/17.

Members highlighted various issues which the Amenity Manager agreed to take forward.

Decision:

Members agreed to note the report.

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

Report by Executive Director – Customer Services.

The Committee considered a report which requested that Members decide upon the future of the items identified in this report in line with the protocol outlined at section 4.2.

Decision:

Members agreed:-

(1)  That arrangements are made for the items identified at 4.3.2 and 4.4.2 to be moved to the Helensburgh and Lomond Civic Centre and displayed at appropriate locations within the building;

(2)  To loan the Boer War Memorial to the Heritage Trust and to delegate authority to the Executive Director of Customer Services to draw up such legal agreement as required;

(3)  That the William Yellowlees painting is relocated to the Helensburgh Library to be part of the permanent exhibition on Henry Bell;

(4)  To delegate to the Area Committee Manager in consultation with the Chair and Vice Chair to identify a suitable location within Helensburgh for the display of the ceremonial chairs located in the Municipal Buildings and in the Marriage Rooms, and if no location can be identified that they are subject to formal valuation and arrangements are made for them to be sold; and

(5)  That the furniture identified at 4.3.1 and 4.4.1 is subject to formal valuation and arrangements are thereafter made for the sale of this furniture to be progressed with the proceeds from the sale being used to facilitate the display of the civic items

Councillor Freeman, having moved an amendment which failed to find a seconder, required his dissent from the foregoing decision to be recorded.

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

Report by Executive Director – Development & Infrastructure Services.

The Committee considered a report which outlined the spend Options for the surplus CHORD funds as reported to the Helensburgh and Lomond Area Committee in December 2015.

The Chair thanked Helensburgh Community Council for their input and for the documentation which had been tabled at the meeting.

Motion:

To agree the recommendations as outlined in the report.

Moved by Councillor Mulvaney, seconded by Councillor Ellen Morton

Amendment 1

To continue this issue to the December Area Committee to allow further discussion.

Moved by Councillor Dance, seconded by Councillor Aileen Morton

Amendment 2

The Area Committee agrees to continue consideration of this item to allow further options for this funding to be investigated.    

Moved by Councillor Freeman, seconded by Councillor Trail.

Councillor Mulvaney, with the agreement of his seconder Councillor Ellen Morton, withdrew the Motion and Amendment 1 became the Motion.

Decision:

Following a show of hands vote, the Motion was carried by 8 votes to 1 and the Committee resolved accordingly.

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

The Area Committee resolved in terms of Section 50(A)(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 to exclude the public for the following item of business on the grounds that it was likely to involve the disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 6 of Part 1 of Schedule 7A to the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973.

Report by Executive Director – Development & Infrastructure Services.

The Committee considered a report which provided the progress  with the Helensburgh Shopfront Enhancement Initiative following the successful completion of the Round 1 Grant Awards; to provide an update on progress with the Round 2 grant applications process; and to seek approval to progress applications subject to the applicants

Decision:

Members agreed to:-

1.     Note the contents of the report; and

2.     Delegate authority to the Executive Director of Development and  

 Infrastructure Services to approve the current, 14 Round 2 applications,

 subject to the applicants satisfying the application documentation

 requirements and providing confirmation of their proposals planning status.

(Ref:  Report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure Services dated 15 September 2016,  submitted.)

The appendices were exempt.