Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies for absence

Councillor Chalmers declared a Non-Financial interest in the Tobermory High School Annual Report, dealt with at item 4c in this Minute.

As this was the first area committee meeting since the untimely death of Councillor Donald McIntosh the Chairman invited those present to stand and hold a minutes silence in respect and appreciation of the work Councillor McIntosh underoook.

The Chairman welcomed Councillor Louise Glen-Lee to her first area committee meeting as a members of Ward 5 – Oban North and Lorn.

The minutes of Oban Lorn & the Isles Area Committee meeting held on 13 October 2011 were approved as a correct record.

The Committee were invited to consider filling vacancies arising as a result of the deaths of the late Councillors Macdonald and McIntosh

Decision:

The Committee made appointments to each of the bodies as set out below:

(Ref: Report by Area Governance Officer, Customer Services, dated 21 November 2011, submitted) 

A formal approach had been received from NHS Highland setting out their agreement to expand the number of Councillors on the Hospital Redesign Task Group and requesting the Council to arrange appropriate nominations.

Members felt that Oban Lorn and the Isles Area Committee would be best represented on the Task Group by appointment of 2 members, 1 from each of Ward 4 and Ward 5.

Decision:

It was agreed that Councillor Gordon Chalmers would represent Ward 4 and Councillor Louise Glen-Lee woud represent Ward 5 on the Task Group.

(Ref: Report by Executive Director of Customer Services dated 14 November, submitted)

Bill Brackenridge, Independent Chair of the Argyll and Bute APC, and Ronnie McIlquham, Area Manager – Adult Protection, provided a power point presentation on Adult support and protection and followed by answering questions put by Members.

The Chairman thanked  the speakers for their informative presentation and it was agreed that a follow-up presentation be brought to the December 2012 area committee meeting.

It was agreed that this presentation would be taken at the next meeting in February.

Richard Gawthrope and Janice Mitchell were unable to attend due to inclement weather and it was agreed that this presentation would be taken at the next meeting in February.

The Executive Committee at its meeting on 29 September 2011 agreed the framework of main holiday dates for schools in 2012/2013.  These dates were then circulated to schools to consider the remaining in-service days and occasional days.  The final patterns of in-service days and school holidays have now been identified for all schools in Oban, Lorn and the Isles as outlined in Appendices 1 to 3 attached to the report by Executive Director, Community Services

Decision:

Members (a) endorsed the final patterns of school holidays and in-service days for all schools in Oban, Lorn and the Isles as outlined in Appendices 1 to 3 of the report by Executive Director, Customer Services, noting that the Executive committee are investigating the possibility of introducing a holiday to coincide with the Argyllshire Gathering in August; and (b) agreed that the details of schools holidays and in-service days for 2012/2013 should now be circulated to schools and all relevant organisations

(Ref: Report by Executive Director Community Services dated November 2011, submitted)

The Committee were advised that the application by Oban War and Peace Museum had been withdrawn.

Due to one application being withdrawn and another securing other funding, £2,045 remains unallocated.

Decision:

The Community Development Officer was requested to:

(a)   bring a further report to the next meeting in February detailing possibilities for allocating the remaining funds in the Third Sector Grants Scheme prior to the end of the financial year; and

(b)   to discuss with the Executive Director whether these remaining funds could be vired to another budget.

Robert Pollock introduced Neil Halket who updated the Committee on progress on the CHORD project since the last meeting with a powerpoint presentation.  They then answered questions put by Members and advised that a report will go to the next Project Board meeting in January.

Continued to the next meeting

Councillors Chalmers, Devon and McCuish outlined the background to this issue and the Members unanimously expressed concern over the matter.

Members considered and noted a report detailing the process undertaken to identify the Roads Reconstruction Capital Programme for Oban, Lorn and the Islands (OLI) for the financial year 1^st April 2012 to 31^st March 2013 and were presented with a draft programme for consideration and subsequently for budget allocation by Council in February 2012. 

(Ref: Report by Head of Roads and Amenity dated November 2011, 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 Paragraph 9 of Part 1 of Schedule 7A to the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973.

A member of the public requested that the Committee do not exclude these items, in particular the report on The White Building.

The Chairman ruled that, due to financial information contained within the reports and the resulting discussion therof, the items must be dealt with as excluded items.

Members considered a report by the Executive Director of Customer Services in regard to mobile snack bar sites.

Decision:

The Committee agreed the recommendation contained within the report by the Executive Director of Customer Services dated 18^th November 2011.

(Ref: Report by Executive Director of Customer Services dated 18^th November 2011, submitted)

Members considered a report by the Executive Director of Customer Services in regard to Rockfield School.

Decision:

The Committee agreed the recommendation contained within the report by the Executive Director of Customer Services dated 21^st November 2011.

(Ref: Report by Executive Director of Customer Services dated 21^st November 2011, submitted)

Members considered a report advising on the outcome of the Council’s initial TIF (Tax Incremental Funding) bid and to recommend the retention of the White Building pending the final outcome of the Council’s TIF bid.

Decision:

The Committee agreed the recommendation contained within the report by Executive Director of Customer Services dated 15^th November 2011 in respect of the White Building

(Ref: Report by Executive Director, Customer Services, dated 15^th November 2011, submitted)

Members considered a report by the Executive Director of Customer Services regarding Crannog Lane.

Decision

The Committee agreed the recommendation contained within the report by Executive Director of Customer Services dated 30^th November 2011.

(Ref: Report by Executive Director dated 30^th November 2011, submitted)

E1 - Paragraph 9  Any terms proposed or to be proposed by or to the authority in the course of negotiations for a contract for the acquisition or disposal of property or the supply of goods or services.