Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies for absence.

Councillor Roddy McCuish declared a non financial interest in relation to the Third Sector Grant Application on OASIS which was dealt with at item 13 of this Minute, because he is a Member of the Board.

The Minutes of the Meeting of 13^th February were approved as a correct record.  In response to a query on page 2 at item 4(b), the Area Governance Manager advised she had previously written to Neil MacIntyre regarding the £400K advising that this was not a grant but was a Service Level Agreement.

The Minutes of the Meeting of 12^th March were approved as a correct record.

The Minutes of the meeting held on 13^th February were noted.

The Minutes of the meeting held on 1^st March were noted.

The Minutes of the meeting held on 11^th February were noted.

Neil MacIntyre asked the Committee when work would commence on Soroba Road? The Committee agreed to contact Neil MacIntyre with an answer before the next Area Committee.

Neil MacIntyre also congratulated the Council on the amount of  Service Level Agreement given to Atlantis.

Councillor Devon asked if the Committee could write to the Fire Chief on Mull for all the hard work the staff have done over the last couple of days in dealing with hill fires.

Report by Contracts Manager

A report advising Members of the progress being made with regard to the delivery of the overall Roads Reconstruction Programme 2012-15 was considered.  The report reviews the works carried out in year 1, 2012-13 and the proposed programme for year 2, 2013-14.

In 2011, the Council decided to increase investment in upgrading its road network following successive poor winters, and subsequently delivered a £7M programme of works which made an immediate and positive impact on the Council’s roads network.  In February 2012, the Council approved a further £21M investment in roads reconstruction for 2012-15.

Decision

The Committee:-

                                   i.          Noted the progress of the Roads Reconstruction Programme for 2012-13 and the proposals for 2013-14 within the £21M works; and

                                  ii.          Agreed that the proposals for use of the additional capital funding which will be available to OLI following the Council decision of 21^st March would come to the Business Day on 8^th May.

(Ref:  Report by Head of Roads and Amenity Services dated 28^th March 2013, submitted).

Report by Head of Economic Development and Strategic Transportation

A report updating the Committee on the delivery timescales for the CHORD projects, in particular Oban CHORD, and on the new three year CHORD Consultancy Framework, was considered.

Decision

The Committee:-

                                        i.     Noted the contents of the report;

                                      ii.     Agreed to invite the new CHORD Project Officer to the next Area Committee when they are in post; and

                                     iii.     Agreed to bring a report to the Area Committee after every CHORD Project Board, so that all Members not on the CHORD project Board can be updated.

(Ref:  Report by CHORD Project Manager dated 2^nd April 2013, submitted).

Report by Head of Facility Services

A report setting out the proposed approach and methodology for identifying the preferred site for the location of the new Oban High School (OHS) was considered.  The report identifies the approach to long listing of sites and the criteria for short listing and identifying the preferred site(s) to be taken forward for the Council’s approval and public consultation.  The report also sets out a proposed process for engaging with the public in respect of the preferred site(s).

Decision

The Committee agreed:-

                                             i.          The option appraisal methodology set out in paragraphs 3.2 to 3.6 of the report, and the attached appendix 1, should be applied, by Council staff, to determine which of the long listed sites, identified in Appendix 1, should be taken forward for public consultation as the preferred sites;

                                           ii.          That the Council should  undertake a public consultation in respect of the preferred sites identified in (i), in accordance with the methodology set out in paragraphs 3.7 to 3.14 of the report; the detailed arrangements for the consultation to be delegated to the Executive Director of Community Services in consultation with the Lead Councillor for Education and Lifelong Learning; and

                                          iii.          The processes identified above should be undertaken in accordance with the timescale set out in Appendix 2 of the report.

(Ref:  Report by Executive Director of Customer Services dated 10^th April 2013, submitted).

Report by Marine Operations Manager

A report updating the Committee on the current issues in the Oban, Lorn and the Isles area was considered.

Decision

The Committee:-

                                        i.     Noted the contents of the report;

                                      ii.     Agreed that the Operations Manager would give all Members a copy of the checking criteria for their information; and

                                     iii.     Agreed that the Estates department would bring a further report to the next Area Committee in regards the slipway at Oban Sailing Club.

(Ref:  Report by Operations Manager dated 10^th April 2013, submitted).

Report by Marine Operations Manager

A report providing an update on the issues relating to the future replacement of the current Passenger Access System (PAS) at Craignure in line with the report to Council on 21^st March 2013, was considered.

Decision

The Committee noted the report.

(Ref:  Report by Operations Manager dated 26^th March 2013, submitted).

Report by Strategic Transportation Officer

A report advising the Committee in the reopening of Glenforsa airfield for Easter 2013 was considered.

Decision

The Committee noted the progress detailed within the report in relation to the new operation of Glenforsa airfield.

(Ref:  Report by Strategic Transportation Manager dated 10^th April 2013, submitted).

Councillor Louise Glen-Lee left the meeting at this point.

Report by Area Manager – Adult Protection

The Committee heard a presentation by the Chair of the Adult Protection Committee on the latest biennial report on Adult Protection.

Decision

The Committee agreed to note the presentation and contents of the report.

(Ref: Argyll and Bute Adult Protection Biennial report 2010-2012, submitted).

Verbal update by Councillor Louise Glen-Lee

Councillor Robertson updated the Committee on Fairtrade Fortnight.  She advised it was a great success and that schools and churches were now involved.

Decision

Noted.

Report by IOD Programme Manager

A report presenting the Area Scorecard exceptional performance for financial quarter 3 2012-13 (October to December 2012), was considered.

The Chair welcomed Janice Ritchie, the new Area Children’s Manager for Oban, Lorn and the Isles to the meeting to discuss Children and Families Performance.  Janice advised that up until the 9^th May, there are still ongoing inspections and that all 16 reviews were carried out but not in timescale so therefore that is the reason for it showing red.  They also had staffing difficulties but were optimistic that next time these performance indicators will show green.

Decision

The Committee noted the exceptional performance presented on the scorecard.

(Ref:  Report by Improvement and Organisational Development Programme Manager dated 10^th April, submitted).

Councillor Iain Angus MacDonald left the meeting at this point.

Report by Community Development Officer

Councillor Roddy McCuish, having declared a non financial interest in OASIS, left the meeting and took no part in the discussion of that item.

The Community Development Officer spoke on the recommendations for the award of Third Sector Grants.

Decision

The Committee determined the Third Sector Grants as follows:-

* Events and Festivals

(Ref: Report by the Community Development Manager dated 2^nd April 2013, submitted).

Report by Area Governance Manager

A report updating the Committee on recent changes which have been made to the attendance of elected Members at Oban, Lorn and the Isles Community Planning meetings was considered.

Decision

The Committee:-

                                        i.     Noted the update on recent changes to Member’s attendance at Community Planning Group meetings  and agreed  to continue with the present arrangements of Councillors MacDougall and MacDonald attending the meetings along with Councillor McCuish as Area Leader; and

                                      ii.     Agreed to continue to bring the Community Planning Group agenda to the Business Day so Members can decide if their attendance is required at the meeting. .

(Ref:  Report by Area Governance Manager dated 20^th March 2013, submitted).