Agenda and minutes

Apologies were intimated by:

Councillor Anne Horn

Councillor Robin Currie

David Jardine (Forestry Commission)

Jim Frame (SEPA)

Benedict Tustin (SEPA)

Kate MacAulay (NHS Highland)

Morag Brown (Argyll & Bute Council)

The Minute of the previous meeting held on 13 March, 2013 was approved as a true  record.

Bob Millar requested that the leaflet providing Argyll and Bute contact detail be re-circulated to the group.

Decision

It was noted that this would be re-circulated via email to MAP members.  

An update and presentation by Carron Tobin and Andrew Wilson.

The group heard a presentation by Carron Tobin and Andrew Wilson, Heart of Argyll providing the detail and background to Heart of Argyll and informed the group that they were now part of the Argyll and the Isles Tourism Cooperative Limited. 

Carron Tobin detailed various forthcoming  events, these included:-

28 July             -           Crinan Canal Water Festival

20-28 July        -           Clipperton Project Floating Laboratory

Oct-Nov 2013  -           Rocak Art

She informed the group of the utilisation of social media sites (Facebook and Twitter) to promote the local area and attractions and detailed the training which Heart of Argyll had received.

Detail of the website is as follows:-

Explore Argyll 

Discussion followed in regards:-

·         Effective dissemination of information

·         How MAP could assist and provide support

·         Instigation of a Friends of Heart of Argyll contact database

·         Funding provision from Visit Scotland 

The website for Heart of Argyll is:-

http://www.heartofargyll.com/

The Chair thanked Carron and Andrew for their informative presentation and leaflets. 

An update by the IOD Programme Manager.

There was no Officer to update the group on this item.  Apologies had been proffered.  

Jeannette Laughton updated the group on the following:-

·         Funding received from Wind Farm Trust amounted to £50,000 and there had been 20 expressions of interest received.  The final applications forms would be forwarded to Ardrishaig Funding Panel for consideration.  The Funding Panel now comprised all Community Council members and all the Trust Directors.

·         Free bus travel was available on the first Saturday of the month at 10.15 from Ardrishaig to the Wind Farm.  Tickets were available from J Laws and the Rumblin Tum Café. 

·         Ardrishaig Gala Day would be held at the end of July.

·         Scottish Canals were undertaking work at the Bridge House in Ardrishaig in the construction of apartments.

·         The Project collaboration with Scottish Canals – ‘Shovel-ready projects’ – there was now uncertainty as Scottish Canals had failed to deliver on their

      side of the agreement.  

There was no update.

Colin Davidson updated the group on the following:-

• Remedial work had now been undertaken on the rough stretch of the B8002
• Public hearing had been convened for 17 June with regard to the Church of Scotland planning application in Ardfern.

Andrea Henderson updated the group on the following:-

• Forthcoming meeting arranged between Scottish Water and Argyll and Bute Council to give further discussion to the erosion issue at Furnace.
• Concerns in regards the road into Furnace
• Marketing project to advertise for GP replacement – forthcoming meeting between Furnace and Inveraray Community Councils had been scheduled.
• Wind Farms projects – uncertainty over the progression
• Furnace Gala Day was being held on the last weekend in August.

Leonard McNeill reported on the following:-

• Roads Department had undertaken remedial work on the potholes at Upper Achagoyle.

Bob Millar reported on the following:-

·         There was a Stage 2 complaint with Argyll and Bute Council in regards to the conditions for planning consent at the Old High School site in Lochgilphead.

·         Forthcoming meeting had been scheduled with Visit Scotland to discuss the issue of proper tourist information representation in Lochgilphead.

Betty Rhodick continued with information on forthcoming events:-

·         Flag Raising day                     -           26 June

·         Armed Forces Day                 -           6 July

·         Multiple Sclerosis Open Day  -           17 August

There was no update.

Rod Buchanan tabled a report detailing the history and remedial action on the dampness issues in some ACHA properties.  He reported on the success of the factoring service provided by ACHA in Tarbert and Lochgilphead.

Leonard McNeill highlighted the detrimental state of ACHA properties in Lochnell Street, Lochgiilphead.  Rod informed the group of the difficulties in obtaining owners consents to progress remedial works on these properties.  

Jane McKenzie updated the group on water issues in the local area.

These included:-

Salt water ingress at Inveraray Pier

Drainage issues at pumping station

Glenburn Road, Ardrishaig

Jane informed the group of visits by local school children to visit the water treatment works to see the process in action.  She advised of a forthcoming meeting in Furnace to discuss the water erosion problem.

Jeannette Laughton voiced concerns that Ardrishaig Community Council had not received notification of the planned works.  Jane replied that an email had been disseminated and letters had also been sent to local residents on Brae Road, Ardrishaig.

Leonard McNeill reported on problems at the pumping station in Minard.  Jane agreed to take this issue away for  further review.   

Stewart Clark tabled a report on local roads issues and the capital scheme for planned works.  He advised that the footway from the High School should be open by late July and a new map was being produced.

Jeanette Laughton highlighted concerns in regards usage of the B8024 road by heavy vehicles and the detriment to the road surface.  Stewart Clark detailed the exercise which was undertaken prior to any planning application being agreed to determine traffic usage. The pre-survey had an agreement in place for replacement of any damage to local roads.

Colin Davidson enquired on the rationale to prioritise grass cutting on local roads and highlighted spots on local ‘B’ roads where visibility was impaired by grass and overhanging shrubs.  He voiced further concerns in regards the issue of Japanese knotweed and the need for contractors avoiding cutting areas where the weed was prevalent, prior to treatment.  Stewart Clark agreed to review these issues.  The Chair reiterated the need to monitor the condition of verges, especially at road junctions.

Bob Millar enquired on local signage and enquired who was the Argyll and Bute council point of contact.  Stewart Clark replied that Julian Green was the point of contact for signage. 

Bob highlighted concerns in regards overgrown weeds, etc on the footpath between the Hospital and MacIntyre Terrace.  Stewart Clark agreed to liaise with colleagues on this issue, but stated that there was no additional budget available to maintain the footpath. 

There were no updates.

There were no issues.

Jeanetter Laughton reported on the Ardrishaig Education Fund, whereby the annual funding amounted to £30,000 per annum.  The Panel and Chair had been appointed and bids were going out soon.  Funding would be apportioned in the first instance, to applicants within the PA30 postcode.  Thereafter, if funding was still available, it would be opened to Mid Argyll, then Argyll wide.  Jeannette advised that there would be a Press article providing further detail regarding the fund.   

Paul Martin advised that there were no updates to report.

Jeanette Laughton informed the group of the on-going issue of horse fouling on the canal bank between Millers Bridge and Lock 4.  Paul Martin replied that this responsibility lay with Scottish Canals.

Andrea Henderson reported on a refuse issue in Quarry Road, Furnace.  The Chair suggested that this could be taken forward on the basis of fly tipping and suggested writing to the Council to take enforcement action.  

Bob Millar requested that an item be placed on the Agenda in regards Windfarm Planning applications in terms of dealing with community benefit in an equitable manner.

The Chair reported that Argyll and Bute council were currently in discussion with Highland Council on the issue of capacity of land/landscape.

Decision  

The group agreed that representation would be invited from Planning Department and this item would be included on the September MAP Agenda.

Jeannette Laughton raised the issue of her application for additional play equipment at Bay View Park.  She voiced her concerns about the deadline for tenders and that it appeared that the information on tenders would not be made readily available.  Paul Martin agreed to discuss this issue with her at the conclusion of the meeting. 

The group gave discussion to the appointment of a Chair.  Jeanette Laughton proposed that Councillor Taylor be re-appointed as Chair and this was seconded by Councillor Douglas Philand. No other nominations were forthcoming.  Councillor Taylor accepted the nomination as Chair of the Group and was so appointed.

The date of the next meeting is:-

11 September, 2013 – 10.00a.m. in the Council Chambers, Lochgilphead.

The date of the next meeting was scheduled for Wednesday, 11 September at 10.00a.m. in the Council Chambers.