Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Maureen Arthur, David McEwan and Alison Palmer.

Vivien Dance declared a non financial interest in item 10 of the Agenda (Helensburgh Pier Masterplan) and item 11 of the Agenda (Helensburgh Pier Head) due to the possibility that there may have been a perception amongst some members of the public that her public support for an individual application may influence her in her deliberations of the masterplan and  therefore she took no part in the consideration of these items.

The Minutes of the Executive held on 15 December 2011 were approved as a correct record subject to the removal of Councillor Donald Kelly’s name and insertion of Councillor David Kinniburgh’s name under those attending.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Special Committee for Older People’s Services held on 7 December 2011 were noted.

Report by Leader of the Council

The Leader of the Council submitted a report which highlighted issues he had recently been involved with including –

His attendance at the Programme Monitoring Committee on 7 December 2011; his meeting with Mike Russell and a range of partners regarding the Dunoon-Gourock Ferry on 9 December 2011; and his attendance at the COSLA Convention in Edinburgh on 16 December 2011.

The Leader also gave updates on Local Tax Collection; Benefits; Procurement and Commissioning; Customer Services; IT; and Service Reviews.

Decision

Noted the contents of the report for the period 28 November 2011 to 20 January 2012.

(Reference:  Report by Leader of the Council dated January 2012, submitted)

Report by Spokesperson

The Spokesperson for Education and Lifelong Learning had submitted a report updating members on the following –

The recent marriage of The Head of Education, Carol Evans (formerly Carol Walker); property damage at Ashfield and Sandbank Primary Schools; the new appointments of permanent Head Teachers; the Education Strategy; the Performance Reporting Pilot and Mary’s Meals.

The Spokesperson also gave a verbal update on the “Try Before You Buy” event that had been held in Campbeltown and attended by Councillor Colville on her behalf; the appointment of Sandra Clark as Head Teacher of Sandbank; and an intimation from the Commission for Rural Education that they would like to visit Argyll and Bute for information gathering.

Decision

Noted the report.

(Reference:  Report by Spokesperson for Education and Lifelong Learning dated January 2012, submitted)

Report by Spokesperson

The Spokesperson for Transportation and Infrastructure had submitted a report updating Members on the following –

Oban Airport; Category 1 projects for SPT in 2012/13; improvements to Helensburgh town centre infrastructure and bus stop infrastructure; the Draft Ferries Plan consultation; the Scottish Government 2014 Rail Franchise consultation; the ferry contract for the Gourock to Kilcreggan Ferry Service; public transport tenders in the Helensburgh and Lomond area; the high speed rail network; the SPT Travel Card Unit; the Young Persons Concession Scheme; and RET.

In addition to his report, the Spokesperson gave a verbal update on the West of Scotland Road Safety Report; a meeting with Trunk Roads that had taken place at Arrochar; and a meeting with the ferries division.  A colour map showing proposed RET routes was circulated.

Decision

Noted the report.

(Reference:  Report by Spokesperson for Transportation and Infrastructure dated January 2012, submitted)

Budget Pack issued separately to Members on 26 January 2012

A report summarising the position with regard to Corporate and Service Plans and Budget Consultations; Revenue Budget and Capital Budget for 2012/13 and 2014/15 was considered.

Decision

 Agreed to refer this item, without recommendation, for consideration by the Council at their meeting on 16 February 2012.

(Reference:  Planning and Budgeting Pack 2012-13 and 2014-15, submitted; and supplementary pack containing amended pages 207; 285 and 286 dated 30 January 2012, submitted)

Report by Executive Director – Community Services

A report proposing the major school holiday arrangements for Argyll and Bute for the session 2013/14 and 2014/15 was considered.

Decision

Agreed -

1.      The proposed school holiday arrangements for the session 2013/14 and 2014/15.

2.      That the incorporation of in-service and additional holidays agreed by the Executive Director be intimated to Area Committees.

3.      That the final patterns of school holidays and in-service days be circulated widely thereafter to all interested parties.

(Reference:  Report by Executive Director – Community Services dated November 2011, submitted)

Councillor Rory Colville joined the meeting during consideration of the following item of business.

Report by Executive Director – Community Services

At the Executive on 29 September 2011 Members agreed 3 year funding for a list of events and festivals across Argyll and Bute.  At that meeting they also agreed a contingency sum of £20K within the Strategic Events budget.  A report proposing the allocation of this contingency sum for the promotion and development of a new Helensburgh Winter Festival was considered.

Decision

Approved the allocation of the £20K contingency sum within the Strategic Events budget for the promotion and development of the new Helensburgh Winter Festival.

(Reference:  Report by Executive Director – Community Services dated 25 January 2012, submitted)

Councillor Vivien Dance, having previously declared an interest in the following two items of business, left the meeting and took no part in the discussion of these two items.

Report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure Services

A report containing an overview of the public consultation on proposed Draft Masterplans for two key development sites in Helensburgh was considered.  The report presented the Pierhead Masterplan as a final consultation document and the Hermitage Masterplan as a final document; and invited their approval by the Executive.

Decision

1.      Approved the proposed Pierhead Masterplan, as contained in Diagram A appended to the report by the Executive Director; and as detailed in paragraph 5.4 of the report; for a further period of consultation in line with established Council procedures.

2.      Approved the finalised Hermitage Masterplan, as contained in Diagram B appended to the report by the Executive Director; and detailed in paragraph 5.4 of the report.

3.      To record the Committees appreciation of the exemplary work by Officers during a time of extreme pressure and the speedy production of a very informative report in response to the consultation.

(Reference:  Report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure Services dated January 2012, submitted)

Report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure Services

A report advising Members on the progress with regard to the development of options for the future development at the Helensburgh Pier Head was considered.

Decision

1.      Authorised Council officers to develop a procurement strategy and project delivery plan that will generate procurement options for the replacement of the existing Helensburgh Pool in accordance with the approved Masterplans and having regard to the Council’s previous decision on 19 March 2009 and to do so following any further consultation required by the Executive in respect of the proposed Masterplans. 

2.      Noted that the Executive Director of Development and Infrastructure Services is ensuring that planning gain and developer contributions continue to be identified and captured by Planning and Regulatory Services in regard to planning applications for  development sites that have a direct impact on infrastructure, public services, with particular regard to economic regeneration, and other relevant matters.

(Reference:  Report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure Services dated January 2012, submitted)

Councillor Vivien Dance rejoined the meeting.

The Committee resolved in terms of Section 50(A)(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 to exclude the public for the following two items of business on the grounds that it was likely to involve the disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 8, 9 & 13; and 8 & 9 respectively of Part 1 of Schedule 7A to the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973.

Report by Executive Director – Customer Services, extract from Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands Area Committee held on 7 December 2011 and report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure Services

A report advising members of two offers that had been received following the marketing for the sale of the former Lochgilphead Primary School was considered.

Decision

Agreed that the Executive Director – Customer Services would bring a further report to a future meeting of the Executive setting down proposals on how the property can best be utilised for the economic and social wellbeing of the area, picking up factors such as Best Value considerations and the Councils Corporate Objectives.

(Reference:  Report by Executive Director – Customer Services dated 21 November 2011, submitted)

Extract from CHORD Programme Management Board held on 13 January 2012 and report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure Services

Members considered a recommendation made by the CHORD Programme Management Board at their meeting on 13 January 2012.

Decision

Agreed the drawdown of funds to allow the first phase of the project to progress.

(Reference:  Extract of Minute of CHORD Programme Management Board held on 13 January 2012, submitted; report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure Services dated 6 January 2012, submitted)

E1       Paragraph 9             Any terms proposed or to be proposed by or to the authority in the course of negotiations for a contract for the acquisition or disposal of property or the supply of goods or services.

E2       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.

Paragraph 9  Any terms proposed or to be proposed by or to the authority in the course of negotiations for a contract for the acquisition or disposal of property or the supply of goods or services.

Paragraph 13  Information which, if disclosed to the public, would reveal that the authority proposes-

(a)               to give under any enactment a notice under or by virtue of which requirements are imposed on a person; or

(b)               to make an order or direction under any enactment.

E3       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.

Paragraph 9  Any terms proposed or to be proposed by or to the authority in the course of negotiations for a contract for the acquisition or disposal of property or the supply of goods or services.