Agenda and minutes

Councillor Robin Currie

Councillor Sandy Taylor

Councillor Douglas Philand

David Jardine

John Downie (Streetscene manager – who has now retired from Argyll and Bute Council)

Mary Smyth

Ian McIntyre

Peter Kastelein

May McGugan

Leonard McNeill

The Minutes of the previous meeting held on 12 June 2012 were approved as a true and correct record, subject to the following amendment:-

Page 5, Item 7 – Transportation Issues

He advised that he would instruct repairs by the patcher at School Road, Tarbert as there were issues about it.  Bishopton Road, Lochgilphead and Redwell Park, Furnace being included in the capital programme due to the current roads hierarchy.

In response to a question, Jeanette Laughton was advised that the funding bid for the regeneration project in Ardrishaig noted in the previous minute had failed and that therefore the funding was no longer available . If a subsequent applicable was submitted, then it was possible that further match funding might be sourced.

Andrea Henderson reported on a potential meeting with Furnace CC and Scottish Water to resolve the water issue in Furnace.    

Jeanette Laughton stated that the issue of the abandoned pipes was still unresolved in Ardrishaig.

Fergus Murray reported on strategic land uses and detailed that with the new Planning Bill it would be necessary to develop plans every 5 years. And that this would be an almost continuous process

He provided updates to  the group regarding :

Ø      Main Issues report and key changes detailed within.

Ø      Transportation issues – difficulties facing rural communities

Ø      Rising fuel prices

Ø      Craignish Community Plan – shortlisted for Scottish Government planning award.  Fergus and his team would assist other local communities in developing their plans

Ø      Coast and Community Trust – plans to secure core funding from partners and Argyll and Bute Council to progress the Trust

Ø      Expansion of Kilmory Industrial Estate  - further development to extend the industrial estate as an economic driver for the local area  

He informed the group of a recent meeting he had with the Head of Regeneration for Scotland at Kilmory.  He detailed the challenging times for offshore Renewables in the local area.

Jeanette Laughton reported that Ardrishaig had been given an award  as the best Windfarm in the UK.

The Chair thanked Fergus for his informative update on local planning issues.

Alison Hunter provided an update to the group on the Older Peoples Review detailing recent changes within the service and the resulting impact. 

These included:-

Ø      Not externalising the service in MAKI i.e. retaining it in-house

Ø      Addressing the Home Care service

Ø      Planning review

Ø      Quality Assurance – new post being developed in MAKI to oversee the   monitoring process

Ø      Work practices – still being developed 

Ø      Home Care Forum – group still continuing and provides an opportunity for Home Care users to take issues to the Forum

Ø      Care workers – system in place to review the number of carers assigned to clients.  Also monitors arrival/departure times

Ø      Police  - issue in regards the police being used as ‘care provider. Liaison with partner to resolve this issue.   

Jeanette Laughton reported:-

Ø      Wind Turbines successfully erected in place

Ø      Education Grant (30k) up and running next year.  Will provide a further update to a future meeting

Ø      ArtMap – local artists renting premises (The Blue Shop)  in Ardrishaig aided by Argyll and Bute council funding

Ø      Heart of Argyll Tourism - funding of a ‘Walking Theatre Group’.  Planned for young people in Ardrishaig over a 12-week period, involving the history of the village. Culminating in aseries of  performances at the  the Spring Festival.

Ø      Yellow lines appearing in Ardrishaig – queried the rationale since it was unclear whether these related to the routes of utility pipes and might be part of a survey (Scottish water to be asked

Councillor Horn read a statement from Ian MacIntyre who had confirmed that he would no longer be attending MAP meetings.

In regards the points Ian had raised regarding the land owned by Tarbert Harbour Authority (THA) being progressed by Argyll and Bute council for car parking, she was unaware of THA views.

Action: Councillor Horn would take Iains report to Tarbert and Skipness Community Council for further discussion. 

There were no representatives from Craignish CC.

Andrea Henderson reported on the following:-

Ø      Furnace Bridge – repairs would be undertaken by Cumlodden Estates

Ø      Funding received from the Wind Farm would maintain the local walk at Leacainn with an eventual link to Auchindrain Museum

Ø      War Memorial – a grant from the Wind Farm Trust would enable research of names inscribed on the War Memorial

Ø      Annual Gala Day – thanks were made to John Downie, Fraser McCorquodale and the local fish farm for their help on the day   

There were no representatives from the CC.

Bob Miller reported on the following:-

Ø      Issues – path at the old High School site and also Blairbuie- Kilmory

Ø      Signage – remote footways 

Ø      Bowling green, Lochgilphead – part of the fencing was down and this presented a Health and Safety issue due to the proximity of the burn

Ø      Trees on the front green – Bob still has issues in regards the effectiveness of the guards which have been put in place

Action: Fergus Murray would relay the remote footways and path issues to Jolyon Gritten 

Rod Buchanan updated the group on the following:-

Ø      Travellers site – 16 households were now in situ and the entrance to their access road was situated on a bad splay of the road.  In addition, there was no signage to the site; there was no bus stop in the vicinity,  which was proving onerous as not all the community could drive. A resident’s group was being set up to address such issues.

Ø      Sheltered Housing complexes – bathrooms and kitchens had been remodelled as per ACHAs redevelopment plans

Ø      Tarbert – temporary remedial work had been undertaken to resolve the dampness issue.  Some properties had been re-let.

The Chair reiterated the need for affordable housing in the Tarbert area and Jeanette Laughton again highlighted the rones in Chalmers Street, Ardrishaig which were overrun with vegetation and could present a Health and Safety issue.

Action: Rod Buchanan would investigate the rones issue in Ardrishaig.

There was no representative from Scottish Water at the meeting.

Action:  Scottish Water would be informed of the on-going issues raised at the meeting, in regards the abandoned pipes in Ardrishaig and would be advised if there was any recurrence of the odour problems in Tarbert.  

Action: Letter would be written to Transport Scotland enquiring on the outcome of the recent traffic surveys undertaken in Ardrishaig and Tarbert.

Audrey Baird provided a handout detailing the recent MS Fund day held in Lochgilphead on 18 August.  She informed the group of the deadline for  receipt of the  2^nd round of applications for the Health and Wellbeing Funding.  The date being 3 October.

Discussion ensued in regards the provision of a local notice board and potential sources to fund the board.

The Chair informed the group of the next Community Safety meeting which was scheduled for that afternoon in Campbeltown.  The Area Governance officer advised that the issues previously referred to the CSF had been considered in detail at that meeting and that appropriate action had been taken

Audrey Baird informed the group of the work being undertaken by the Community Education Service in the formulation of Business Development plans to help the local Community Centres. 

There were no amenity issues.

Action: Theresa McLetchie would contact Amenity Services to ascertain  who would be the representative at future MAP meetings, as John Downie had now retired from the Council.

Audrey Baird produced a Community Engagement Resources pack to support rural community engagement.

It was agreed that this issue would come to the November meeting.

Bob Miller advised the group that he had written to Visit Scotland detailing his concerns about the lack of a site in Lochgilphead.

The group agreed that this issue would come to the November meeting. 

There was no update in regards an alternative booking venue.

The Chair requested that West Coast Motors implement  clear destination signage on local buses and  highlighted a particular route – Blairbuie Woodland.

Action: Letter would be sent to West Coast Motors requesting clear destination signage on local buses.

Jeanette Laughton voiced her concerns in regards the timing of the forthcoming Community Council By-elections.

Area governance Officer agreed to relay her comments to Charles Reppke, Head of Governance and Law.

The next meeting is scheduled for – Tuesday, 6 November 10.00a.m. – Council Chambers, Kilmory.