Agenda and minutes

Apologies were intimated by:-

Jeanette Laughton – Ardrishaig Community Council

David Jardine – Forestry Commission

Jane Mackenzie – Scottish Water

Councillor Anne Horn

The Minutes of the previous meeting held on 4 September 2012 were approved as a true and correct record, subject to the following amendment:-

Page 2 Item 3 (Matters Arising) Andrea Henderson advised that she would like the word water replaced with coastal erosion in the second paragraph. In response to Jeanette Laughton’s question about the issue of the abandoned pipes in Ardrishaig, Scottish Water had written to advise that there was no plans to remove the pipes and that no other work was being carried out in the area.

Page 6 Item 14(c) (AOB) the Area Governance Officer provided an update by way of the response by West Coast Motors as detailed at item 7(b) on the Agenda.

West Coast Motors advised that Blarbuie Woodland is not a recognised terminal point and would replace Mid Argyll Hospital if it were to be adopted. Mid Argyll Hospital is a key destination for the local service and needs to be clearly displayed on the destination screens and as such will not be changed to Blarbuie Woodland.

With regards to the Ardrishaig Office, it will remain open on reduced hours (mornings only) for the foreseeable future providing the number of people who use this service does not drop significantly.

While there was no representative from Visit Scotland at the meeting, Bob Millar advised that he had had a meeting with them recently where certain issues were raised which Visit Scotland said they would address. Bob also highlighted that there was now no tourist office in Lochgilphead but other areas had offices which did not help to promote the area. Councillor Taylor advised that a positive meeting had been held between himself, Bob Millar, Julian Green who works with the Council developing Tourism and Councillor Louise Glen-Lee the night before. The purpose of the meeting was to move forward with Visit Scotland as a strategic partner to promote more of the local area and he had also received a commitment from Archie McGilp who is currently hosting the Visit Scotland information for a meeting the following week.

It was noted that the local tackle shop in Lochgilphead was willing to provide leaflets and a pc to promote the local area but were finding it difficult to get hold of information. Councillor Taylor advised that in the future the local partnership working would see a shift away from Visit Scotland towards more local partners such as “the heart of Argyll” which may include the promotion of local produce.

There were no representatives from Ardrishaig Community Council.

There were no representatives from the Tarbert Area.

Colin Davidson reported on the following:-

Their Community Development Plan was submitted in the Development Awards and Colin Davidson hoped that the Planning, Protective Services and Licensing Committee would take account of their Plan. Councillor Taylor advised that he had been promoting their approach and commended what they were doing.

Councillor Currie raised a question with regard to the houses being built in Ardfern which had received rural housing development money which was granted last year. Colin Davidson reported that the site did not have planning permission yet and that an alternative site was being looked at and was awaiting development.

Andrea Henderson reported on the following:-

The Community Council had received no further nominations of candidates for the recent run of by-elections. It was noted that there was a problem with trying to get younger people to sit on Community Councils.

Furnace CC had been approached by West Lochfyne CC regarding two wind farm developments in the area and they were looking into what their responsibilities were. There was an indepth discussion on wind farms and Andrea Henderson advised that they were looking at doing a survey in the area on the impact of wind farms. Councillor Taylor advised that the Council has invested with SNH to do a landscape capacity to see if windfarms can fit in and be less visible in areas. The Council are also investing with Highland Council with regard to the number of wind farms in a geographical area which will inform future planning.

There was no representative from West Lochfyne Community Council.

Ruaraidh MacCallum reported on the following:-

They had received one new candidate following the recent run of by-elections.

Following on from the wind farm discussion, Dunadd CC had received a presentation by Fergus Murray regarding the work being done at Craignish. The key issue is to get people to take an interest in his area and that wind farm developers could offer a lot more money.

Ruaraidh MacCallum requested copies of minutes of these meetings for the future.

Bob Millar reported on the following:-

The main issue was the development of the old high school site, in particular the creation of a footpath, he had written to Fyne Homes in Rothesay regarding this. Drainage at the site was also causing flooding to some peoples gardens, he has spoken to Planning and he will submit photos to them.

There had been little response to the two recent by-elections held, one candidate was appointed at the first round and none for the second. There was a discussion on the Community Council by-elections around the paperwork, the need to include the electoral number, tight timelines for submitting nomination papers, promotion of date of election rather than date of close of nomination and more advance notice. Advice was given on the need to provide personal details on the nomination form in terms of the election rules and the regulatory framework of the timelines. Community Council secretaries are written to months in advance of by-elections to enquire if they would like one held but it was noted that a draft timetable could be included and the paperwork could be looked at for the future legislative constraints permitting.

Bob Millar requested that future meetings be held in Kilmory due to better facilities for people with hard of hearing.

Rod Buchanan updated the group on the following:-

The ACHA annual report was tabled for anyone who wanted a copy.

Rones in Ardrishaig – there were three blocks and ACHA have engaged with the owners regarding their share. One block is majority owned by ACHA and had its rones cleared, a second is currently under discussion, however the third is not owned by ACHA but by 3^rd parties, this did not get agreement from the owners and consequently has not been progressed.

Travellers site – a delegation from Scottish Parliament visited without the knowledge of ACHA, thereafter they wrote a letter to highlight what should be done at the travellers site. A residents group has been set up and they have come up with ideas but the costs are too great so they are politically lobbying for funding.

Transerv have responded to some issues with regard to signage for the site on eh trunk road and the possibility of improving access by improving the road splays which ACHA were looking at although traffic calming is a Council responsibility. Rod Buchanan also noted that some of the paths through Dunholigan are on the core path plan and that this may assist in obtaining funding for maintaining the paths from external sources in the longer term.

Councillor Taylor advised that he had spent a lot of time up there looking at the various signs and Rod Buchanan said that Transerv will get their safety team to look at ways to improve the signage.

A questionnaire had been issued to the residents of Dewar Avenue in Lochgilphead with regard to the future of the play park. Rod Buchanan had taken the view that while the play park equipment was ACHA’s the land was joint owned. Several residents had the play park included in their titles but the tarmac is not currently safe for children. This could be fixed if there was funding, but owners would have to pay a share. Bob Millar asked that ACHA should write to Lochgilphead CC for a request for funding. Audrey Baird advised that a working group was normally set up to raise awareness of funding for play parks.

Rod Buchanan indicated that an issue had been raised in the local paper where it was reported that ACHA would be providing rewiring and heating in a sheltered housing complex in Tarbert but had not provided for the residents during the period of the works. Rod Buchanan reported that this article was inaccurate.  A local hotel would be providing a room with heating and facilities and tea and coffee for residents as needed.

Rod Buchanan noted that the Home Argyll Housing Allocations Policy which is used by all the local RSLs was currently being reviewed and consultants had been engaged to look at that. He advised that they were getting an increase in refusals of properties due to the new houses being built locally. Rod Buchanan advised that he would circulate the Allocations Policy to the group.

Councillor Currie enquired about the affordable housing and dampness issue from the minute of the last meeting. No update on affordable housing at the moment but one person was still in the block and it needed to be empty to resolve.

Councillor Taylor asked a question on behalf of Anne Horn regarding tenants in Tarbert for whom ACHA had recently installed a new heating system but now find that they can’t afford to run it. Rod Buchanan advised that the dampness issue was unlikely to improve and might actually get worse once the changes to housing benefit take effect and some people having to pay rent whereas previously they did not, while heating costs are increasing. Rod Buchanan advised that he had a heating advice policy which can be sent out. Councillor Taylor asked that Councillor Anne Horn and the former Chair of the Community Council be advised of this.

There was no representative from Scottish Water at the meeting but issues were raised for discussion at the following meeting.

Councillor Taylor advised that a letter had been written to all Community Councils regarding an open consultation on Scottish Water’s development plan and encouraged every one to represent the issues in their area to influence the plan.

Action: The Area Governance Officer will get a copy of the Scottish Water consultation document and circulate to everyone.

Councillor Currie left the meeting at 11.00am.

Stewart Clark (Roads) provided an update on the following:-

Capital resurfacing schemes – this year’s capital schemes are all complete with the exception of the Cairnbaan structural edge patching which will be in next year’s budget but will be on a rolling programme. Councillor Taylor enquired as to what was being done regarding the recent flooding which closed the road. Stewart Clark advised that he was in discussion with Scottish Canals and were looking at various options. Jim Frame advised that SEPA would also be involved if they were discussing the whole catchment area with regard to flood management.

Revenue works – revenue maintenance works will now largely be directed towards labour intensive work over the winter months and the winter maintenance standby has now commenced.

Actions from previous meetings – were covered in the report submitted to the group. Stewart Clark will liaise with planning colleagues with regard to the footpath at the former High School site.

Councillor Philand raised an issue with flooding at Victoria Terrace in Ardrishaig which he wanted to formally raise at the meeting. Stewart Clark advised that he was liaising with Transerv to resolve this as he believed it to be a blockage of debris under the trunk road and was hoping for a quick resolution.

This item was covered earlier under the minute of the previous meeting.

A representative from  Scottish Citylink will be attending the meeting.

The Chair invited questions for Aiden Proctor on the bus services and various questions were put and answered. Aiden advised that the timetable was enhanced last year from 3 round trips to 5 and half. The number of passenger journeys had increased by 20% and the new coaches had almost doubled the seats available. He advised that he had received an approach from the Council to sell tickets from a Council Office in the event that the Ardrishaig Office closed.

Ruaraidh MacCallum raised some points in relation to the provision of signs for pre-booking and the Ardrishaig Office. Aiden Proctor advised that pre-booking is not a requirement but is preferable and you can always buy a ticket on the bus if there is space, there are no signs to advise that you have to pre-book. The Ardrishaig Office will remain open if there is demand and the Council offer to sell tickets from an Office would only be implemented if the Ardrishaig Office closed.

Councillor Taylor asked about pre-booked ticket holders who had arrived before the bus had left, but after the bus driver had let the reserved ticket holders on to the bus whereby their tickets had been re-sold to non ticket holders so their seats were no longer available, this happens in particular at Buchanan Bus Station. Aiden Proctor advised that he would speak to his colleagues for the Campbeltown/Glasgow route.

Colin Davidson enquired about the timings of the Campbeltown to Glasgow buses now leaving Lochgilphead at 8.00am and 10.00am which did not tie in with the Oban bus arriving to Lochgilphead at 9.00am. Aiden Proctor advised that the Campbeltown bus tied in with ferry times but he would have a look at the Oban route.

Councillor Taylor enquired about school bus runs and in particular for Tarbert pupils who were unable to take advantage of after school activities due no bus being available after the school run. Aiden Proctor advised that the Council could pay through West Coast Motors to use the Citylink bus as that arrangement happens in the Oban area at the moment, happy to come to some arrangement.

Audrey Baird advised that the Health and Wellbeing Fund had made 18 grant awards to groups this year including the Fun Run taking place at the Lochgilphead Joint Campus. Funding for next year has also been secured and to make people aware of that. 

The Area Governance Officer advised that the Community Safety Forum was meeting as scheduled and next year signage would be erected at kayaking sites.

Councillor Taylor tabled Community Safety resilience leaflets on drawing up a community resilience plan to the Group together with a DVD on tackling flooding from SEPA.

Audrey Baird advised that the Community Development Team were running a one day event on 2 March 2013 with the focus on managing events and to measure social impact. The first tranche of the Third Sector Grants programme is 1 February 2013 which is earlier than usual. Applications can be completed online and the budget for 2013/14 is £35,000.

Jim Frame advised that he was trying to attend all the area meetings for feedback and to contact him directly with any issues.

The Area Governance Officer provided an update from amenity services on the domestic waste uplifts. Negotiations are still ongoing with Shanks and no decision to change the method of service delivery had been taken as yet. A report was submitted to the Council meeting on 25 October which was a high level strategy document for waste management and the Group were encouraged to review this so as to understand the various issues impacting on the service.

It was noted that John Downie had now retired from the Council and Allan MacDonald is the Area Streetscene Manager for Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands area. Allan could not attend due to injury but he has been added to the mailing list and is invited to the next meeting.

A presentation by Audrey Baird and Malcolm Sinclair

The Group heard a presentation on Better Community Engagement Resources by Audrey Baird and Malcolm Sinclair.

The next meeting of the MAKI Partnership will take place on Wednesday 13 March 2013 at 10.00am in the Council Chamber, Kilmory.