Agenda and minutes

The Chairman ruled and the Committee agreed, in terms of Standing Order 3.2.2 that a report regarding the Lorn Arc Business Case, dealt with at Item (10) of this minute, be taken as a matter of urgency due to a decision being needed before the next scheduled Area Committee meeting.

None

Councillor E Robertson declared a non financial interest in point 2.3 of item 7(a) and item 12(b) by reason of her husband being a member of one of the groups involved in these matters.

Councillor R McCuish declared a non financial interest in point 3.3 of item 7(a) by reason of being a member of the group.

Councillor I MacDonald declared a non financial interest in point 3.3 of item 7(a) by reason of being a member of the group.

Councillor L Glen-Lee declared a non financial interest in point 3.6 of item 7(a) by reason of being a member of the group.

The Minute of the Meeting held on 8^th August 2012 was approved as a true and correct record.

The Minute of the Meeting held on 12^th September 2012 was approved as a true and correct record.

The Minute of the Oban Common Good Fund held on 31^st August 2012 was noted.

This item was continued to the December Area Committee.

Mr Larry Nugent asked the Area Committee to recognise problems associated with food production and the impact this was having on families on lower salaries/welfare and it was agreed Councillor Hall would write to Allan Reid MP and bring the reply back to the Area Committee.

Mr Nugent also asked if there was scope for local pensioners groups to receive support from local public bodies, it was agreed this would be an agenda item at the December Community Planning meeting.

Councillor MacDougall asked that a report detailing all available grant and trust funds in the Oban, Lorn and the Isles area be provided to a future Area Committee meeting.

Members heard from the Area Governance Manager on the Council’s policy on town twinning regarding an approach which has been made to form a new twinning for the Oban, Lorn and the Isles Area.

Decision

The Committee:-

i.                     Noted the current policy position of the Council.

ii.                   Asked for a paper informing Members of what preparations are in hand to support an association with Kells and on the celebrations for the anniversary of St Columba due to be held on Iona in 2013 to be submitted to the November Business Day by Kevin Baker.

(Reference: Report by the Area Governance Manager dated 1^st October 2012 – submitted)

Members heard from the Area Governance Manager on the proposed cycle of meeting for the Oban, Lorn and the Isles Area Committee from October 2012 until March 2013.

Decision

The Committee agreed to the outlined cycle of Area Committee, Area Community Planning Groups and Business Day meetings.

(Reference: Report by the Area Governance Manager dated 29^th August 2012 – submitted)

Members heard from the Area Governance Manager on the process for agreement on how many, and which, Members should attend future Oban, Lorn and the Isles Community Planning Group meetings.

Decision

The Committee agreed:-

i.                     To note the discussion held at the Community Planning Group meeting in September 2012.

ii.                   To elect Councillors MacDougall and MacDonald along with Councillor Glen-Lee as Lead Councillor to attend the next two Community Planning Group meetings, with a review of attendance to be considered at the April 2013 Area Committee.

(Reference:  Report by the Area Governance Manager dated 1^st October 2012 – submitted)

Councillor E Robertson, having declared a non financial interest in part 2.3, left the meeting and took no part in the discussion of that item.

Councillor R McCuish, having declared a non financial interest in part 3.3, took no part in the discussion of that item.

Councillor I MacDonald, having declared a non financial interest in part 3.3, took no part in the discussion of that item.

Councillor L Glen-Lee, having declared a non financial interest in part 3.6, took no part in the discussion of that item.

Members considered a report which detailed the recommendations for the award of Third Sector Grants (including Events and Festivals) to Third Sector organisations of Oban, Lorn, and the Isles.

Decision

The Committee agreed to the following:-

i.                     The Committee further agreed organisations that have received funding for two years or more take a reduction from the amount they received in 2011/12.

ii.                   That MacDougall of Dunollie be asked to resubmit a new application for the purpose detailed in the report.

iii.                  Agreed an additional round is offered in Oban, Lorn and the Isles to encourage applications from groups who may have missed the previous rounds to access the balance of funding, with recommendations to be made to the December Area Committee.

iv.                 Asked that a report on how recipients have used grant monies be made to the Area Committee in February or April 2013.

(Reference: Report by the Community Development Manager – submitted and tabled)

Members heard from the Area Governance Manager on the School Holidays and In Service Days for 2013/2014 and 2014/2015.

Decision

The Committee agreed:-

i.                     To endorse 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 4.

ii.                   The details of school holidays and inservice days for 2013/2014 and 2014/2015 should be circulated to schools and all relevant organisations.

(Reference: Report by the Executive Director of Community Services dated August 2012 – submitted)

Members heard from the Area Streetscene Manager on the maintenance programme for the upkeep of burial grounds throughout the Oban Lorn and the Isles area. 

Decision

The Committee noted the contents of the report.

(Reference: Report by the Executive Director of Development and Infrastructure Services dated 30^th September 2012 – submitted)

Members heard from the Area Streetscene Manager on the regime for the display of flags in Argyll Square and at the Corran Halls.

Motion

That the recommendations of the report by the Executive Director of Development and Infrastructure Services be approved.

Moved by Councillor Louise Glen-Lee, Seconded by Councillor Iain MacDonald

Amendment

The Committee agrees:-

i.                     That the Oban Flag is not flown in Argyll Square.

ii.                   That the flag pole at the Corran Halls does not come within the Council’s official protocol, and continues to be managed by Streetscene, and that the Oban Bicentenary Flag continues to be flown from that flag pole.

Moved by Councillor Duncan MacIntyre, Seconded by Councillor Alistair MacDougall.

On being put to the vote 6 voted for the Motion and 2 voted for the Amendment.

Decision

The Committee agreed that the recommendations of the report by the Executive Director of Development and Infrastructure Services be approved.

(Reference: Report by the Executive Director of Development and Infrastructure Services dated 30^th September 2012 – submitted)

Members heard from the Area Streetscene Manager on the maintenance issues in relation to the trees at the Clock Tower, Oban.

Decision

The Committee agreed to the arboriculture works to be carried out to the trees around the Clock Tower and asked that they take the Christmas Lights into consideration when timing the works.

(Reference: Report by the Executive Director of Development and Infrastructure Services dated 30^th September 2012 – submitted)

Members heard a verbal update from the Head of Facility Services on the current process being followed for the provision of a new High School in Oban.

Decision

The Committee noted the update from the Head of Facility Services and agreed that updates on the New High School be submitted to each Area Committee meeting.

Members gave detailed updates to the Committee on the work they had carried out in recent weeks.

Members heard an update from the Head of Economic Development on the Business Case for the Lorn Arc Tax Incremental Financing project being progressed at present which is due to be reported to Argyll & Bute Council in December 2012 and if approved, submitted to Scottish Futures Trust for review.  They also received a detailed presentation from David Torrance, AECOM, on the scope of the project.

Decision

The Committee noted the contents of the report by the Executive Director of Development and Infrastructure Services and the presentation by David Torrance.

(Reference: Report by the Executive Director of Development and Infrastructure Services dated 26^th September 2012 – tabled)

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 Paragraphs 6, 9 and 13 of Part 1 of Schedule 7A to the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973.

Members heard from the Senior Estates Surveyor on the recent campaign in respect of the portacabin at the Middle Pier, Arinagour, Isle of Coll.

Decision

The Committee agreed to the contents of the report by the Executive Director of Customer Services.

(Reference: Report by the Executive Director of Customer Services dated 10^th October 2012 – submitted)

Councillor E Robertson, having declared a non financial interest, left the meeting and took no part in the discussion of this item.

Members heard from the Senior Estates Surveyor on the access license previously granted to the Cardingmill Bay Mooring Owners Association to Oban Bay Community Berthing Ltd.

Decision

The Committee agreed:-

i.                             To point 2.1 and 2.2 of the report by the Executive Director of Customer Services.

ii.                            At point 2.3 to remove the work “ad-hoc” and insert “only by consultation, in emergency circumstance or in the event of adverse weather”.

(Reference: Report by the Executive Director of Customer Services dated 10^th October 2012 – submitted)

Members heard from the Contract Manager on the current position regarding the Pennyghael Bridge and a summary on the works carried out as part of  the roads reconstruction programme.

Decision

The Committee:-

i.                     Noted the contents of the report by the Executive Director of Development and Infrastructure Services.

ii.                   Agreed that as requested by Mull Community Council the Head of Roads and Amenity Services would attend a public meeting on Mull to discuss the bridge.

iii.                  Agreed an update on the progress of the Business Case be brought to the November Business Day.

iv.                 Agreed that a report on the process by which the Pennyghael Bridge project was removed from the Council’s Capital Programme be brought to the November Business Day.

(Reference: Report by the Executive Director of Development and Infrastructure Services dated September 2012 – submitted)

Members heard from the Area Manager, Adult Care on the Mull and Iona Community Hospital/Bowman Court.

Decision

The Committee noted the contents of the report by the Area Manager, Adult Care

(Reference: Report by the Area Manager, Adult Care – submitted)

Members heard from the Head of Facility Services on the historic marketing of the former Rockfield Primary School, the current process being followed to dispose of the property and the framework under which the Council and Historic Scotland are statutorily obligated to operate with regard to any application to demolish a Listed building.

Decision

The Committee:-

i.                                Noted the report by the Executive Director of Customer Services.

ii.                               Asked for Rockfield Primary School to be progressed as a matter of urgency.

(Reference: Report by the Executive Director of Customer Services dated 20^th September 2012 – submitted)

Members heard from the Head of Facility Services on the issues surrounding the private water supply serving the community at Bridge of Orchy.

Decision

The Committee agreed with the recommendations in the report by the Executive Directors of Customer Services and Development and Infrastructure Services.

(Reference:  Report by the Executive Directors of Customer Services and Development and Infrastructure Services dated 6^th September 2012 – submitted)

Members heard an informative presentation from the Mull and Iona Bids Group.

Decision

The Committee agreed to recommend that the Council positively support the Mull and Iona Bid initiative when it is considered at the Council.