Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies intimated.

Councillor McKenzie declared a non-financial interest in regard to any public questions (item 4 of these minutes) which could arise during the meeting from Mr Strathern due to a personal connection.  She remained in the meeting but took no part in the discussion or response to Mr Strathern’s questions.

The Minute of the meeting of the Oban, Lorn and the Isles Area Committee, held on 11 March 2026, was approved as a correct record.

The Minute of the meeting of the Oban, Lorn and the Isles Area Community Planning Group, held on 13 May 2026, was noted.

The Minute of the meeting of the Oban Common Good Fund, held on 11 May 2026, was noted.

Mairi Malloy – Oban Community Council

A sauna has been installed at the North end of Ganavan Carpark, the Community Council has never been made aware of any planning permission application.  How did this installation come about and by who?

As no officer from the planning department was in attendance, the question would be taken away, by the Democratic Services Manager and a response would be sent on to Mrs Malloy directly.

Lachie Strathern

Mr Strathern sought an update on the progress made in relation to the ongoing flooding issues caused by the collapsed and blocked drainage system leading from Crannog Lane to the main sewer. It was highlighted that this issue had been identified in a report completed approximately two years prior. Councillor Vennard and Councillor Lynch have also been following up on outstanding queries on my behalf.

In response, Councillor Vennard advised that the matter had been discussed at previous meetings, including the most recent meeting. Reference was made to an offer by the Council to undertake remedial works on the basis of a shared cost arrangement, whereby the relevant party would contribute half of the costs. Councillor Vennard advised that costs would only be established should Mr Strathern agree to accept the Council’s offer.

Councillor Lynch advised that discussions had taken place regarding the potential costings, similar to those raised by Councillor Vennard. It was requested that an indicative estimate of the costs be provided, noting that it was reasonable for Mr Strathern to be informed of the likely costs prior to any agreement.

Councillor Lynch added that that Environmental Health had been contacted regarding the matter. A response had not yet been received; however, it was confirmed that an update would be provided directly once available.

Mr Strathern clarified that there were two separate issues which had previously been discussed. One issue related to an incorrect connection within Mr Strathern’s site, which he acknowledged responsibility for and confirmed his intention to resolve independently.

The second, and primary, issue was identified as the blockage and collapse of the main drainage system. It was noted that the previously mentioned offer of a 50% contribution had been in relation to remedial works within Mr Strathern’s site. However, it was emphasised that this did not address the main concern, which remained the condition of the principal drain.

As no information could be provided by attendees at the meeting, the question would be taken away with a response being made available to Mr Strathern.

Roddy McCuish

Mr McCuish stated that his question was in relation to Item 11 on today’s agenda, he made reference to the committee report, which noted an allocation of £40,000 towards the project. It was observed that the wording suggested the total cost of the bridge may vary and what anticipated costs were. He further asked for the name of the engineering firm engaged to carry out the works, asking whether they were Council approved as concerns had been raised by residents at the lower end of Glencruitten Drive as installation of a box culvert could alter the flow characteristics of the burn, potentially affecting water speed and behaviour.

Mr McCuish also sought clarification on whether an environmental assessment had been undertaken, given that the proposed development is situated within a floodplain. It was emphasised that any alteration within such an area could have significant impacts.

The Chair advised his understanding was that where a bridge involves alterations to or spans a watercourse, approval would typically be required from SEPA. It was agreed that officers would be asked to confirm what consents, if any, had been granted, as these would determine the nature and extent of the works to be undertaken.

It was indicated that responsibility for progressing the matter would lie with the relevant department. The Chair invited officers present to respond, if able, to the queries raised.

In response to Mr McCuish the Infrastructure Design Manager advised that the engineering consultants used were HGA Group who were based in Inverness. She also reported that the Infrastructure Design team would request an Approval in Principle (AIP), within which all technical matters would require to be set out in detail. These included hydraulic, geotechnical, and topographical surveys, as well as the identification of relevant constraints and stakeholders involved in the process.

It was noted that a further update would be provided in due course.

Terry Hegarty

Mr Hegarty advised that he had raised a question at a previous meeting regarding the Mull Campus. While a response had been received promptly, he indicated that he had not been satisfied with the content and had therefore sought further clarification.

He reported that the subsequent clarification, received the previous day, did not address the original query. Mr Hegarty sought guidance on how to proceed in circumstances where he was not satisfied with the response provided, advising that Councillors Hampsey and McKenzie had been sent the response, he received, as they had intimated that they were interested in seeing the response to his question.

Councillor McKenzie indicated that she had been off for a few days and had returned to a backlog of emails to go through and unfortunately had not had the opportunity to see the email sent by Mr Hegarty but was happy to come back to him with her comments when she had read it.

The Chair advised that Councillor Hampsey had not yet joined the meeting but would maybe be able to respond later, confirming that he would not respond to the email as he disputed some of the points raised.

Mr Hegarty expressed concern that the Council’s perceived lack of engagement with community interests on these matters could lead to a view within the community that the Council was acting unlawfully, particularly if it did not respond to or address the concerns raised.

The Chair sought advice from the Clerk on what routes would be appropriate to Mr Hegarty given that he is dissatisfied with the response he received from council officers.  The Clerk advised  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Customer Support Services

The Committee gave consideration to the Area Performance Report for financial quarter 4 of 2025/26 (January to March 2026) 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 11 May 2026, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Education

The Committee gave consideration to a report relating to Oban High School, which provided information on S3 Achievement of Curriculum for Excellence Levels, attainment in literacy and numeracy and Gaelic, National Qualifications and Insight data. Information in relation to wider achievement qualifications; equity and attainment and Pupil Equity Funding was also provided.

Decision

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

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Education dated 10 June 2026, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Education

Consideration was given to a report relating to Tiree High School  which provided information on S3 ACEL attainment in literacy and numeracy; the pass rates of national qualifications; data from Insight Scotland; wider achievement qualifications; equity and attainment and Pupil Equity Funding. 

Decision

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

(Reference:  Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Education, dated 10 June 2026, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Education

The Committee gave consideration to a report relating to Tobermory High School  which provided information on S3 ACEL attainment in literacy and numeracy; the pass rates of national qualifications; data from Insight Scotland; wider achievement qualifications; equity and attainment and Pupil Equity Funding. 

Decision

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

(Reference:  Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Education, 10 June 2026, submitted)

Report by Head of Strategic Planning, Performance & Technology, HSCP

Consideration was given to the Health and Social Care Partnership Performance (HSCP) Report for financial quarter 3 of 2025/26 (October – December 2025).

Decision

The Oban, Lorn and the Isles Area Committee -

1.    acknowledged performance for FQ3 2025/26 (October – December) against latest Key Performance Indicators within the Integrated Performance Management Framework for 2025/26;

2.    noted latest Delayed Discharge Sitrep as of 16 February 2026, as at Appendix 1 of the report; 

3.    acknowledged latest performance against the National Health & Wellbeing Outcomes and Ministerial Steering Group Integration Indicators, as at Appendix 2 of the report; and

4.    acknowledged the inclusion of additional Argyll and Bute HSCP performance metrics aligned to national reporting across Centre for Sustainable Delivery Unscheduled Care, and the Planned Care performance focus within the Operational Improvement Plan, as at Appendix 3 of the report.

(Reference: Report by Head of Strategic Planning, Performance and Technology, Argyll and Bute Health and Social Care Partnership dated 10 June 2026, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure Services

The Committee gave consideration to a report providing links to recent activities of Roads and Infrastructure Services. A verbal update was given to other service ongoing projects, summer grass cutting and street cleaning programme; ferry users group survey; trialling of messaging boards on buses; Black Lynn Burn treatment of invasive species; the progress at Barran Landfill reduction with 95% being diverted; proposed Soroba Road works in summer months; street parking permits in Oban; and drainage at Crannog Lane.  An update was also provided on the Clachan Bridge which indicated that that there are safety issues that require detailed traffic analysis and topographical survey work to be undertaken over the Summer.  During that time there would also be continued engagement with communities and that a report would be brought back to the area committee in due course by way of an update. In the meantime, it was reported that no traffic lights would be installed.

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 20 April 2026, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure Services

The Committee gave consideration to a report which provided an update on Flood Risk Management within the Oban Potentially Vulnerable Area and the progress on proposed short-medium term and medium-long term Actions.

Decision

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

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure, dated June 2026, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure Services

Consideration was given to a report noting the repairs that have been completed, future work and associated costs.

Decision

The Oban, Lorn and the Isles Area Committee:-

1.    noted the works which have been completed to date at the North Pier Pontoons

2.    noted the works which are required in due course and the estimated timescales for completion of the works

3.    noted the confirmed and estimated costs associated with completed and anticipated works.

(Reference:  Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure, dated May 2026, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure Services

Consideration was given to an update report on the progression of the bridge works at Mossfield, the governance arrangements and design development.

Decision

The Oban, Lorn and the Isles Area Committee:-

1.    noted the progress made in relation to the development of the Mossfield bridge replacement project;

2.    noted that design development and investigatory works are being progressed by the Rugby Club at their own cost; and

3.    noted that the allocated Bequest funding will be utilised solely for construction of the bridge, subject to final design approval and tender. 

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure, dated June 2026, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth

The Committee gave consideration to a report providing an update on progress made in 2025/26 in relation to active travel projects in the Oban, Lorn and the Isles.

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 very 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 to deliver these projects;

3.    supported the allocation of the Tier 1 active travel funding element in the Council’s 26/27 block grant to the development and delivery of appropriate active travel projects, including those already underway in Oban, Lorn and the Isles; 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 10 May 2026, submitted)

Report by Chief Executive

The Committee gave consideration to a report which highlighted the positive outcomes for communities in Oban, Lorn and the Isles from the projects and activities funded by the Council’s Supporting Communities Fund in 2024/25.

Decision

The Oban, Lorn and the Isles Area Committee:-

1.    noted and considered the positive contribution of the Supporting Communities Fund highlighted in section 4 of this report and detailed in the attached table; and

2.    noted that no funds have been returned.

(Reference: A report by Chief Executive, dated 10 June 2026, submitted)

Neil MacIntyre

Mr MacIntyre expressed concern that the allocated sum of £40,000 would be insufficient to cover the full scope of the project at Mossfield Bridge, asking how this could be put out to tender if there was no additional budget identified?

Mr McCuish raised concerns similar to those previously expressed, noting that the £40,000 allocation for the bridge project was likely to be insufficient. He further noted that, when the initial funding had been awarded for improvements at Mossfield, it had been stated that the bridge lay within the Mossfield boundary. On that basis, he suggested that the bridge should appropriately form part of the forthcoming lease application for Mossfield.

The Head of Roads and Infrastructure responded that actual costs could not be clear until it went to the market and the tenders had been returned showing the true cost of the works. He also noted that the £40,000 figure had been an estimate based on the best available information and experience from previous exercises. It was acknowledged that the final cost would not be confirmed until the tender process had been completed.

Mairi Malloy

Mrs Malloy asked that following the collapse of Carers Direct and their reported underspend, could the underspent money be used to get more care provision on the ground?

Councillor Green advised that the Health and Social Care Partnership had received formal notification that Carers Direct would cease trading and enter liquidation at the close of business on 1 June. Members were reassured that appropriate information sharing, risk assessment, and continuity planning measures had been implemented. It was confirmed that, at this stage, there was no expectation of any interruption to essential care provision.

In relation to the underspend, it was reported that this matter had previously been considered by the Integration Joint Board (IJB). Members were advised that the level of underspend represented less than 1% of the IJB’s annual budget, amounting to approximately 0.7%. It was highlighted that such an underspend is routinely carried forward and utilised in the subsequent financial year to support ongoing investment and service delivery.

During consideration of the following item the Chair suggested an adjournment to check competency of potential amendments, which was agreed.  On reconvening the meeting, Councillor Hume was not present.

Clachan Bridge

The Oban Lorn and Isles Area Committee:

1.    Acknowledges the need for road safety improvements at the Clachan Bridge, noting that signage alone has not proven sufficient to reduce risk to acceptable levels.

2.    Recognises that this matter has polarised the views of residents of Seil and surrounding communities, with a lack of consensus that traffic lights will adequately address safety issues at this location.

3.    Seeks assurance, through annual update reports and a review after 3 years on the efficacy of the measures taken, to be presented to an appropriate public committee of the Council for member endorsement.

Proposed by Councillor Kieron Green

Seconded by Councillor Andrew Vennard

Having heard from the Head of Roads and Infrastructure earlier in meeting, Councillor Green, with agreement of his seconder, moved an amended motion to reflect the updated position regarding the Clachan Bridge.

Motion

The Oban Lorn and Isles Area Committee welcomes the Clachan Bridge update provided to members earlier in the meeting, which confirms that an options appraisal, traffic survey, and further community engagement will be conducted prior to a report being presented to the Area Committee in due course, and that any decision to progress with works at the location will only happen after this.

Moved by Councillor Kieron Green, Seconded by Councillor Andrew Vennard

Amendment

That the Area Committee reject the motion.

Moved by Councillor Julie McKenzie, seconded by Councillor Amanda Hampsey

As the meeting was being held on a hybrid basis, the vote required to be taken by calling the roll and members voted as follows –

Motion                                        Amendment

Councillor Green                          Councillor Hampsey

Councillor Kain                             Councillor McKenzie

Councillor Lynch

Councillor Martin

Councillor Vennard

Decision

The motion was carried by 5 votes to 2 and the Committee resolved accordingly.

The Oban, Lorn and the Isles Area Committee workplan was before members for information.

Decision

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

(Reference: Oban, Lorn and the Isles Area Committee workplan, dated 10 June 2026)