Agenda and minutes

Prior to the start of the meeting the Provost announced that he was delighted to

welcome Councillor Sir Jamie McGrigor back after his recent illness and wished him

well.

The Provost received a petition from Councillor Jim Findlay by the organisers, Bute

Community Council and Isobel Strong; Standing up for Bute. The petition had been

signed by 1790 people and is a representation against, inter alia, the removal of the

Bute name of the official Council Strapline, the non inclusion of Bute in the Live Argyll

Leisure Trust.

The Provost congratulated Councillor Donnie MacMillan who had been awarded the

British Empire Medal in this year’s New Year’s Honours List for services to local

government. Donnie has served Argyll and Bute as a local Councillor for nearly 35

years through challenging times for local government.

The Provost also congratulated Council employee Alick Livingstone who had been

awarded the British Empire Medal in this year’s New Year’s Honours List for services

and dedication to HM Coastguard. Alick has served with the coastguard for 42 years

and is due to retire from the Councils street cleansing department this year.

An apology for absence was intimated from Councillor Julie McKenzie.

Councillor Mulvaney declared a non-financial interest in Item 5 (Standards Commission Hearing) as he was named in the Commission report. He left the room prior to the discussion of this item and took no part in the decision.

Councillor A Morton also advised of an indirect interest in Item 3 (Review of Polling Districts/Places) which she regarded as insignificant in respect of the item.

Report by Executive Director of Customer Services

The Electoral Registration and Administration Act 2013 required Argyll and Bute Council to undertake a review, between the dates of 1 October 2018 and 31 January 2020, of polling districts and polling places within the Argyll and Bute UK Parliamentary Constituency for the purposes of UK Parliamentary, Scottish Parliamentary and Local Government elections. The Council considered the revised scheme of polling districts and polling places as outlined in the Appendices to the report.

Decision

(Ref: Report by Executive Director of Customer Services dated 14 January 2019, submitted)

Recommendation by the Planning, Protective Services and Licensing Committee of 21 November 2018

The Council considered a recommendation by the Planning, Protective Services and Licensing Committee with regard to reviewing the current Scheme with no changes to that which currently operates. Consent has been approved by the Scottish Ministers to the Council adopting the scheme as recommended by the PPSL Committee.

Decision

The Council agreed to renew the current Scheme with no changes to that which currently operates which will come into force from 23 April 2019.

(Ref: Recommendation by the PPSL Committee of 21 February 2019 and report to that Committee, submitted)

Report by Executive Director of Customer Services

The Council considered a report from the Standards Commission for Scotland in regard to a decision of the Hearing Panel of the Commission following a hearing on 18^th January 2019, which found a contravention of the Councillors Code of Conduct by, and imposed a censure on, Councillor Gary Mulvaney. 

Decision

The Council noted the detail of the Commission’s report, further noted that Councillor Mulvaney had not sought to appeal the Panel’s decision or the sanction imposed, and agreed that no further action be taken by the Council. 

(Ref: Report by Executive Director of Customer Services dated 31 January 2019, submitted)

Report by Executive Director of Customer Services

This item was withdrawn.

E1   Paragraph 1  Information relating to a particular employee, former employee or applicant to become an employee of, or a particular office-holder, former office-holder or applicant to become an office-holder under the authority.