Agenda and minutes

The Depute Provost asked the Council to join him in a minute’s silence to mark the passing of a respected colleague and long standing member of this Council, the late Councillor Ellen Morton who sadly passed away on Saturday 3 October 2020. He sent the Councils love and sympathy to her family and to Councillor Aileen Morton, her daughter, of whom she was so proud.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors McKenzie and Scoullar.

Councillor McCuish declared a financial interest in item 3 of the agenda (Scottish Government Town Centre Funding to Argyll and Bute) due to being a board member of Bid4Oban. He left the meeting and took no part in the discussion of this item of business.

Councillors Douglas and Robertson each declared a non-financial interest in item 3 of the agenda (Scottish Government Town Centre Funding to Argyll and Bute) due to their involvement in Helensburgh Community Hall and Bid4Oban respectively. They both left the meeting and took no part in the discussion of this item of business.

The Depute Provost vacated the Chair and Standing Order 5.2 states that “if the Provost is absent from a meeting the Depute Provost will preside, if they are both absent, another Councillor chosen by the Members will preside. Members were invited to nominate a Chair and Councillor Mulvaney, seconded by Councillor Green nominated Councillor Robin Currie and this was unanimously agreed by the Council.

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth

The Council gave consideration to a report concerning the utilisation of £444,000 of town centre capital funding distributed by the Scottish Government as part of their 2020-21 economic recovery stimulus package.

Decision

The Council agreed the list of capital projects, attached as Appendix A to the submitted report, that comply with the Scottish Government Guidance.

(Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth dated October 2020, submitted)

Councillor Freeman having moved an amendment which failed to find a seconder, required his dissent recorded for this item of business.

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure

The Council gave consideration to a report providing an analysis of 11 options published by Transport Scotland in order to move beyond the landscape mitigation strategy and provide an alternative solution to the ongoing landslip problems at the Rest and Be Thankful.  The report invited Members to consider the Council’s response to the consultation on the 11 options.

Decision

The Council –

1.    Welcomed the Scottish Government’s commitment to move beyond the landscape mitigation strategy and to look at options which provide an alternative solution to the ongoing problems at the Rest and Be Thankful.

2.    Approved the consultation response as drafted at Appendix 1 of the submitted report, noting in particular that:-

a.    The councils calls for a permanent solution to be delivered within the term of the next Scottish Parliament {2021-2026];

b.    The Council considers the realistic solution to be Option 1, delivered as a permanent solution and not as a continuation of the ongoing mitigation measures. Option 1 should be progressed as a priority.

c.    The Council considers Option 5 may provide merit for longer term consideration to further improve connectivity and resilience into and out of Argyll and Bute.

d.    The Council also calls for other improvements along the A83 to deal with substandard alignment and drainage/flooding issues both of which can impact on availability of the route.

3.    Agreed that the Leader of the Council should write to the Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity and request clarity on the governance and decision making process for a permanent solution, and, in particular, to request that the Council should be represented on any project board or similar group.

(Reference:  Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure Services dated October 2020, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth

The Council gave consideration to a report inviting response to a consultation seeking views on the Islands Communities Impact Assessment Guidance under the Islands (Scotland) Act 2018.

Decision

The Council –

1.     Agreed to the draft response to the Islands Communities Impact Assessment (ICIA) consultation as included in the submitted report.

2.     Agreed the points raised in paragraph 5.10 of the submitted report.

3.     Agreed that a formal request is made to Scottish Government that the financial memorandum is revisited and amended to reflect the significant impact on council resources from the ICIA process.

4.      Agreed to delegate the final formal council response to the Director with Responsibility for Development and Economic Growth in consultation with the Leader of the Council and Leader of the Opposition to allow any further comments to be added in advance of the deadline of 9 November. This will allow consideration to be taken of the discussion at the Islands Sounding Board on 5 November which will be attended by members of the Scottish Government Islands Team.

(Reference:  Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Economic Growth dated 22 October 2020, submitted)

Update by Executive Director with responsibility for Legal and Regulatory Support

The Council considered a report which noted the sad passing of Councillor Ellen Morton which gave rise to a number of vacancies in its political management arrangements. The Council were invited to consider appointments to these vacancies and to also make an appointment to the board of the Nadair Trust.

Decision

The Council:-

a)     notes with sadness the passing of Cllr Ellen Morton who made such a significant contribution to council life and business over her 21 years of service.

b)     notes the following Policy Lead and Depute Policy Lead Councillor appointments:

c)     In light of the vacancies arising from Cllr Ellen Morton’s passing, and to reflect the changes to Policy Lead roles listed at (b) the council agrees the following appointments:

i)                 Area Committee membership and roles:

ii)                Strategic Committee membership and roles

iii)              Appointments to Outside Bodies

iv)              Invites the Leader of the SNP Group, as the largest opposition group, to nominate members for the following appointments:

1.     Cllr Iain Paterson as the council’s Local Member Representative on the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park Authority, with appointment to be confirmed subsequently by Scottish Ministers;

2.     Cllr Jim Findlay to the Argyll Islands Sounding Board, in place of Cllr Aileen Morton;

3.     Cllr Iain Paterson on Argyll and Bute Care and Repair Agency, in place of Cllr Robin Currie.

v)               Appointments to Statutory Bodies

vi)              Notes that all other external appointments and committee positions will remain unchanged.

(Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Legal and Regulatory Support dated 19 October 2020, submitted)