Agenda and minutes

An Apology for absence was received from Councillor Andrew Vennard.

There were no declarations of interest intimated.

The Minute of the meeting of the Oban, Lorn and the Isles  Area Committee, held on 11 December 2024 was approved as a correct record.

The Minute of the meeting of the Oban, Lorn and the Isles Area Community Planning Group, held on 12 February 2025 was noted.

Question 1 and 2 - Phil Hammerton

1. How, and by whom, are decisions made regarding ornamental gardening on Council land such as roundabouts and other public areas?

The Chair responded there is a delegation to the Director of Development and Infrastructure within the Council’s Scheme of Administration and Delegations “To manage the parks, gardens, playing fields, open spaces and other recreational facilities, swimming pools and public halls provided or operated by the Council and to take such action as may be necessary.  That might typically include planting, and providing it is contained within allocated budgets, this would be an operational matter for the service to determine. 

There was also policy decision taken at a previous budget 2015/16 to cease the maintenance of shrub and rose beds resulting in most of these areas becoming grassland maintenance. There are a few locations where third sector partners came on board with the service to a number of rose and shrub beds to retain them. The Amenity Services Team are always open to working with third sector partners to retain and where possible improve local services.

2. What are the plans for the reinstatement of the shrubbery removed from the E side of the Corran Halls (between the Car Park and the front entrance) to allow the erection of the marquee for the 2024 Mod?

The Clerk read out a response received indicating that the Operations manager and Network and Standards manager will be assessing the area during the coming months and will engage with all necessary parties to plan any future works required and establish a longer term maintenance plan.

Mr Hammerton asked if any proposals for the reinstatement of the shrubbery be shared with this Committee, or members of the Community such as the  Community Council or Keeping Oban Beautiful when assessing the area or will the public have no locus or involvement in this decision?

The Chair stated that the public are always welcome to feed into any proposals but as it is an operational matter it would be directly with the department.

Question 3 – Alison Rennie

Could I ask for an update on progress with the schedule of clearance and repair works in connection with flood prevention in the Black Lynn since the last meeting?

The Clerk advised that she understood that the service may have provided an update already to Ms Rennie but to include in the minutes the response was read out:

“The department have undertaken clearance works from the burn such as removing trolleys and other similar items, which people have irresponsibly thrown in.

The Japanese Knotweed removal will begin via our specialist contractor in May which is the best time of year to do these works because in the winter months the knotweed can lie dormant.

We are looking at options for dredging the burn and are currently doing a hydrological modelling exercise to see what affect various proposals might have

Plans to cut back shrubs/scrub/trees along the burn when we can – you can only do works in watercourses at certain times of year depending on approval from SEPA due to waterborne species, spawning etc”.

Mrs Rennie stated that she had received correspondence from Mark Calder but these were the proposals, and she was looking for information on which proposals had commenced. The Clerk agreed to take this question back to Mark Calder and that she would respond to Ms Rennie after the meeting.

Question 4 – Ross Wilson

You will recall at your September 2024 meeting I asked if Councillors were content with the Council's Policy which requires the public to have the Council's approval to take photographs in Argyll & Bute Harbour Authority areas.  Locally this currently applies to part of Oban Bay.  I did not receive an answer.  At your December meeting I again asked the question as an answer was not provided under matters arising from the September meeting.  Your response recorded in the minutes is: "she would require more clarity on the Policy in question before she could give an answer".

The Chair advised that she would get the Clerk to read out the response from the department and then ask the Local Members present their view on the policy.  The Clerk stated “the position is that this is a general rule which the Council need to have within their port management rules. The reason being the need to have the power to prevent people taking photographs if there is, for example, an accident at one of the council owned sites where someone has been injured or killed etc., or where something else sensitive is happening that we would not want people taking photos of.  It is therefore an exercisable power that we use in circumstances which are ultimately dictated by common sense. The Council do however need to have it written into the rules such that if anyone was to challenge the Council in a situation like the above we have something to point to. It is not a general rule and would not ever be used to prevent someone from, to quote the example used, taking pictures of their family at a harbour”.

The Chair stated that she was content with the policy, however, if a member of the public came up with an amendment to the policy, she would be happy to look at it, but as it stands, it is a fairly robust policy and she is content as to why the policy exists.

Councillor Hampsey agreed with the Chair and understood the need for the policy being enforced in certain circumstances, to not allow someone to take a photograph on a family day out would be over the top. However, as the Chair mentioned, she would also be happy to look at any amended proposals.

Councillors Kain, Green and Hume all confirmed that they were content with the Policy.

Mr Wilson was not content with the response, commenting that general photography is allowed but the policy says no photography.  I’m asking how  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Education

The Committee gave consideration to a report and a presentation which provided a range of key information about primary school provision in the Oban, Lorn and the Isles area during the school session June 2024 to January 2025 and reported the national collection of attainment and achievement data from June 2024. Also highlighted were a number of awards received by Lismore, St Columbas, Easdale and Taynuilt primary schools who were involved in initiatives and interventions; and Rockfield Primary School Shinty Team who won the Ferguson Transport and Shipping National Shinty Tournament in Fort William recently.

Decision

The Oban, Lorn and the Isles Area Committee noted the information provided within the report and presentation.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Education, dated March 2025, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Customer Support Services

The Committee gave consideration to the Area Performance Report for financial quarter 3 of 2024/25 (October to December 2024) which illustrated the agreed performance measures for this period.

Decision

The Oban, Lorn and the Isles Area Committee noted the performance and supporting commentary as presented.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Customer Support Services, dated 12 March 2025, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure Services

The Committee gave consideration to a report which provided links to the recent activities of Roads and Infrastructure Services.

Decision

The Oban, Lorn and the Isles Area Committee noted the contents of the report.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure Services, dated 12 March 2025, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth

Consideration was given to a report which provided an update on Housing Services activity and the delivery of the Local Housing Strategy within the Oban, Lorn and the Isles area. 

Decision

The Oban, Lorn and the Isles Area Committee noted the contents of the report.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth, dated January 2025, submitted) 

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth

The Committee gave consideration to a report which provided an update on the progress made in 2024/25 in relation to active travel projects in the Oban, Lorn and the Isles  area, and sought continued support for the projects from Members.

Decision

The Oban, Lorn and the Isles Area Committee:

1.    welcomed the progress made to date across a significant number of active travel projects by the small Active Travel Team.

2.    supported the continuation of the projects and the submission of future funding applications to external challenge funds to continue to develop design and construction stages in order to deliver these projects.

3.    supported the allocation of the Tier 1 active travel funding element in the Council’s 25/26 block grant to the development and delivery of appropriate active travel projects, including those already underway in OLI, and

4.    instructed Officers to continue to identify and develop new active travel projects to benefit local residents, businesses and communities.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth, dated 3 February 2025, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure Services

The Committee considered a report on the distribution of funds in respect of the Miss Agnes Angus Bequest which had originally been established for “purposes of public utility and for the benefit and advantage of the community of Oban”.

Decision

The Oban, Lorn and the Isles Area Committee:-

1.    agreed to allocate the funding available from the Miss Agnes Angus Bequest for use at Mossfield Stadium; and

2.    requested that officers bring forward proposals for improvements at Mossfield Stadium, to a future meeting of the Oban, Lorn and the Isles Area Committee, before the end of 2025. 

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure Services, dated February 2025, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Legal and Regulatory Support

The Committee gave consideration to a report providing information on the number of applications that have been received for support from the John of Lorn Bequest.

Decision

The Oban, Lorn and the Isles Area Committee noted the number of awards made from the John of Lorn Bequest since the last meeting of the Area Committee in September 2024.

(Reference:  Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Legal and Regulatory Support dated February 2025, submitted)

The Committee gave consideration to the Area Committee workplan for future meetings. 

Decision

The Oban, Lorn and the Isles Area Committee noted the contents of the workplan.

(Reference:  Area Committee Workplan, dated 12 March 2025, submitted)

E1       Paragraph 6  Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (other than the authority).