Agenda and minutes

The Provost welcomed Councillor Julie McKenzie to the meeting following a period of absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Mary Jean Devon, Graham Hardie, Donald Kelly, Sir Jamie McGrigor and Iain Shonny Paterson.

Councillors Jim Anderson and Jim Lynch declared a non-financial interest in item 13 of the agenda (Live Argyll - Leisure and Libraries Trust – Monitoring and Reporting) due to their membership on the Live Argyll Board.

The Minutes of the special meeting of Argyll and Bute Council held on 21 February 2019 were approved as a correct record.

The Minutes of the meeting of Argyll and Bute Council held on 21 February 2019 were approved as a correct record.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee held on 7 March 2019 were noted.

Arising from item 10 (Draft Argyll and Bute Economic Strategy and Associated Action Plan) the Council approved the draft Argyll and Bute Economic Strategy and Associated Action Plan.

Arising from item 11 (Business Gateway Local Growth Accelerator Programme Phase Two) the Council agreed that the £75k West of Scotland Loan Fund surplus allocated for additional small and medium enterprises support is used in advance of an agreed Rural Growth Deal in order to be able to draw down European Structural Funds to maximise business growth opportunities within Argyll and Bute.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Community Services Committee held on 14 March 2019 were noted.

Councillors Anne Horn, Elaine Robertson and Andrew Vennard declared a non-financial interest in the following matter arising due to their membership on the West Highland Housing Association Board.

Arising from item, 10 (Strategic Housing Fund – RSL Additional Funding Requests) the Council agreed –

1.    to contribute an additional £30,492 SHF to be awarded to the ACHA new build development in Tarbert; and

2.    to contribute an additional £16,000 SHF to be awarded to the West Highland Housing Association new build development in Imeraval, Islay.

Report by Leader of the Council

The Council gave consideration to a report that updated them on the activities of the Leader of the Council from 15 November 2018 to 5 April 2019.  The report included an update from the Leader in relation to her role as Policy Lead for Economic Development and gave a progress update on the Priorities for the Life of the Council.

Decision

The Council –

1.    Noted the content of the report.

2.    Noted that the full leader’s Pack was available in the Leader’s Office which included COSLA and other papers and briefings as referenced in the report; and noted that any items discussed in public could be provided electronically with the papers being taken in private session being made available for review in the Leader’s office.

(Reference:  Report by Leader of the Council dated 5 April 2019, submitted)

Report by Policy Leads

The Council gave consideration to a report that provided an update on key areas of activity for each Policy Lead Councillor with a view to keeping all members informed, up to date and able to engage with all issues.  The report covered the period 29 November 2018 to 31 March 2019.

Decision

The Council noted the content of the report.

(Reference:  Report by Policy Lead Councillors dated 2 April 2019, submitted)

Report by Chief Executive

Consideration was given to a report which invited the Council to establish an Appointments Panel to appoint to vacant Head of Service Posts following the implementation of the saving in corporate management agreed by the Council at its budget meeting in February 2019.

Decision

The Council –

1.    Noted the update on the implementation of the corporate management review.

2.    Agreed to establish an Appointments Panel for the recruitment to vacant Head of Service posts following the implementation of the corporate management budget decision.

3.    Agreed to appoint Councillors Aileen Morton, Gary Mulvaney, Rory Colville, Yvonne McNeilly, and Roddy McCuish from the administration; and Councillors Sandy Taylor and Lorna Douglas from the opposition groups to the Appointments Panel as substantive members; with Councillors Ellen Morton, Bobby Good, Elaine Robertson, Robin Currie, Jim Lynch and Richard Trail as substitutes.

4.    Delegated the arrangements for the appointments process to the Chief Executive.

(Reference: Report by Chief Executive dated 30 March 2019, submitted)

Report by Chief Executive

Consideration was given to a report inviting the Council to appoint Charles Reppke, Head of Governance and Law as Local Returning Officer for Argyll and Bute for the European Parliamentary Election to be held on 23 May 2019.

Decision

The Council agreed to appoint Charles Reppke, Head of Governance and Law as the Local Returning Officer for Argyll and Bute for the conduct of the European Parliamentary Election to be held on 23 May 2019.

(Reference:  Report by Chief Executive dated 5 April 2019, submitted)

Report by Executive Director of Customer Services

The Council, Education Authority and Licensing Board are required to produce an equality mainstreaming report at least every two years.  Consideration was given to a report that presented the Council with the draft Equality Mainstreaming Report for 2019 and which outlined the context for its production.

Decision

The Council approved the Equality Mainstreaming Report 2019 and approved its publication on the website.

(Reference:  Report by Executive Director – Customer Services dated April 2019, submitted)

Report by Executive Director of Development and Infrastructure Services

The Council gave consideration to a report concerning the utilisation of £1.242m of town centre capital funding distributed by the Scottish Government as part of the 2019/20 budget settlement to Argyll and Bute Council.

Decision

The Council –

1.    Noted the update on the Scottish Government Town Centre Capital Fund.

2.    Agreed that a report with an appropriate costed list of capital projects that comply with the Scottish Government guidance will be brought to Council in June.

(Reference:  Report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure Services dated March 2019, submitted)

Report by Executive Director of Customer Services

A report which gave an update on the implementation of the ‘One Council’ property approach was before the Council for noting.

Decision

The Council noted the progress in delivering the One Council property approach.

(Reference:  Report by Executive Director – Customer Services dated 28 February 2019, submitted)

Report by Executive Director of Customer Services

A report which advised on the operation of the processes in regard to Asset Transfer Requests and Participation Requests in terms of the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015 was before the Council for noting.

Decision

The Council noted the content of the report.

(Reference:  Report by Executive Director – Customer Services dated April 2019, submitted)

Report by Executive Director of Customer Services

A report providing an update on the operating arrangements between Live Argyll and the Council as set out in the various agreements between the Council and the Trust was before the Council for noting.

Decision

The Council noted the content of the report.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director – Customer Services dated April 2019, submitted)

Report by Executive Director of Customer Services

A report summarising progress in relation to the Council’s NPDO and Hub DBFM projects to the end of March 2019 was before the Council for noting.  The report provided an update on the current financial position of both projects.

Decision

The Council noted the content of the report.

(Reference:  Report by Executive Director – Customer Services dated April 2019, submitted)

The Council resolved in terms of Section 50(A)(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 to exclude the press and public for the following 2 items of business on the grounds that it was likely to involve the disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 8&9 respectively of Part 1 of Schedule 7A to the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973.

Recommendation by Bute and Cowal Area Committee of 5 March 2019

The Council gave consideration to a recommendation from the Bute and Cowal Area Committee in respect of the disposal of land to the rear of Rothesay Pavilion.

Decision

The Council agreed to the disposal of the site to the rear of Rothesay Pavilion to Appletree Nursery on the basis outlined in the submitted report.

(Reference:  Extract from the Minute of the Bute and Cowal Area Committee held on 5 March 2019 and report by Executive Director – Customer Services dated 8 February 2019, submitted)

Recommendation by Bute and Cowal Area Committee of 5 March 2019

The Council gave consideration to a recommendation from the Bute and Cowal Area Committee regarding the disposal of a narrow strip of land at Innellan Village Hall.

Decision

The Council agreed to the disposal of the strip of land at Innellan Village Hall to Innellan Public Hall Trustees on the basis outlined in the submitted report.

(Reference:  Extract from the Minute of the Bute and Cowal Area Committee held on 5 March 2019 and report by Executive Director – Customer Services dated 8 February 2019, submitted)

The Executive Director – Customer Services advised that this item had been withdrawn from the agenda and the item was therefore not considered by the Council.

E1   Paragraph 8  The amount of any expenditure proposed to be incurred by the authority under any particular contract for the acquisition of property or the supply of goods or services.

E2   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.