Agenda and minutes

Apologies were intimated by:

Leonard McNeill

Jim Frame (SEPA)

Benedict Tustin (SEPA)

Kate MacAulay (NHS Highland)

Jane MacKenzie

The Minute of the previous meeting held on 12 June, 2013 was approved as a true  record.

The Chair advised the group that in regards to Bob Millar’s request for further information and advice on Windffarm Planning,  his discussion with Melissa Stewart had alluded to the close proximity of the Community Council elections and awaiting the formalisation of the Councils Political Management arrangements.  He asked the group to give consideration to holding a seminar to enable fuller discussion and provision of advice on Wind Farm issues.

Decision

The group agreed:

1.                  That a meeting and seminar would be arranged for 11 December to fully discuss the Wind Farm issue.  The format would be MAP meeting in the morning with a seminar in the afternoon.    

2.                  That Ailsa Raeburn would disseminate information on Wind Farm which HIE had compiled.

There were no Matters arising.

Audrey Baird updated the group on the proposed Area Forum event and encouraged participation.

Discussion followed on the following:-

·         Encourage young people to participate in the proposed event

·         Declining population – higher than the national average in Scotland

·         Invitation to RSLs – to enable relevant discussion on local housing issues

Decision

The group agreed to the recommendations detailed with the report.

A presentation by Ailsa Raeburn, HIE - Scottish Land Fund Advisor.

The group heard a presentation by Ailsa Raeburn, HIE updating the group on Scottish Land Fund.

Decision

It was agreed that Ailsa Raeburn would forward on her presentation and leaflet detailing information on Wind Farms to the group.  

The Chair thanked Ailsa for her informative presentation.

Presentation by Paula McLean.

Councillor Anne Horn gave a short presentation on Tarbert Music Centre detailing its background and ethos.

Discussion continued in regards:-

• Fundraising
• Tutorage costs
• Travel costs for school children attending the Music Centre

Decision

The group agreed:

1.                  That contact would be initiated with Scottish Citylink in regards students from Gigha being charged for travel whilst attending the Music Centre.

2.                  That contact would be made with Public Transport at Argyll and Bute Council on the same issue.

3.                  That Jeanette Laughton would forward contact information for the Educaiton Grant Scheme to Councillor Horn to allow her to explore whether this project would be eligible for funding.     

Jeannette Laughton updated the group on the following:-

• Bus trips to Allt Dearg had now finished.  Each bus had been full and it was deemed that the trips were successful.
• The Action Panel had met on 6 July to award the first tranche of funding.  The panel consisted of Community Councillors, Trust Directors, local Member and local store manager.  Twenty six applications had been made and 19 had received full funding.  The second tranche was due in October.
• Seven thousand was awarded to a sub-committee of the Community Council for the purchase of a spire net, tables and benches plus 2 BBQs. The BBQs would be constructed by students from Argyll College, with the Community Council paying for materials. The local community had already raised £725 towards these items and with the further aid of Argyll and Bute council, the project had been able to purchase equipment through the Council Portal VAT free. Thanks was proferred to Paul Martin, Alan McDonald, Stuart Green and Dougie Philand.
• Further money was awarded to another sub-group to embark on a Christmas lights programme.  This would enable re-cabling to allow the Christmas tree to be placed in the centre of the green space between the 2 car parks in Ardrishaig.  The Gala Day committee also intended to make a contribution towards this project.
• A third sub-group had been established to take forward the redevelopment of the King George V field.  The group comprised Councillors, Directors and other interested parties.  An architect would be commissioned to draw up a plan for the field.  It was hoped that the plan would be brought to the November Community Council meeting for discussion.
• A successful partnership between the Community Council and Argyll and Bute council had resulted in a community shield for the Best Kept Garden in the Village.

The Chair thanked Jeannette for her informative update.   

Councillor Anne Horn updated the group on local issues in Tarbert.  These included:-

·         Work on the Castle continued with the inclusion of a pond and wildlife area.  This was being used by the school as an ‘outdoor classroom’.

·         Access for disabled people had been completed

·         A children’s playarea had been constructed at the Outdoor gym on the walkway

·         Both the 5 and 10K marathons recently held in Tarbert had been well attended with plans to make this an annual event

·         Music Festival was scheduled for 21 and 22 September with a Book Festival planned for November

The Chair thanked Anne for her informative update.   

Mary Smyth updated the group on the following:-

• Community Festival held in the Summer had been successful.  One of the initiatives had been for attendees at the event to bring along a personal artefact with a 100-word description of why they held it dear to them.
• A new Planning Application had been lodged for the Glebe which was particularly contentious.  The Community Council had lodged an objection to the original plan and there would be a meeting that evening to discuss an alternative arrangement for a community buyout.

The Chair thanked Mary for her informative update.   

Andrea Henderson updated the group on the work being conducted by the community council in updating their community survey with the aim of determining prioritisation of community needs.

Heather Clark discussed the success of their recent Gala Day.

 Discussion continued in regards the alcohol controls in place at the event.

The Chair thanked Andrea for her informative update.   

Fred Bruce reported on the following:-

• Recent rumours in regards the closure of the Primary school in Minard.
• Community Council had been re-instigated in West Lochfyne.

Discussion continued and Councillor Philand commented that, to his knowledge, there were no plans to re-visit the School Estates issue at the present time although there could be no guarantee that this wouldn’t be looked at in the future.

The Chair thanked Fred for his informative update.   

Peter Kastelein reported on the following:-

·         Recent meeting held on 14 June with Visit Scotland at the lack of tourist information in Lochgilphead. 

·         Implementation of enforcement of procedures on local building sites.

·         Finalisation of Memo of Understanding with Infinus which the community council were not willing to commit to at this stage, but wished to leave for the new community council to determine following the October elections.

It was agreed that an invitation would be made to South Knapdale, Dunadd and Inveraray to attend future MAP meetings.

There was no update.

Rod Buchanan updated the group on the housing allocation – New Home Argyll which would be brought to local Committees and Boards for endorsement.

Discussion ensued in regards the following:-

• New Housing Options advice model which was in progress to assist prospective tenants
• Lack of 3 bed roomed properties in local areas
• Re-commencement of the re-wiring and heating work to ACHA properties
• ACHA policy on heating
• Possibility of MAP representation in regards the recent Bedroom Tax

The Chair thanked Rod for his informative update and requested that the Group receive a copy of ACHA’s  Policy on Heating Systems.  

Jane McKenzie had sent her apologies as she was unable to attend the meeting.  

She would make direct contact in regards issues previously raised in Tarbert and Minard.

Stewart Clark tabled a report on local roads issues and the capital scheme for planned works.

Jeannette Laughton raised concerns in regards a plan for a bus shelter in Ardrishaig.  She detailed the background to the request and highlighted the opposition of some of the local community to the shelter.

Further discussion was given to:-

• Rose bush in Ardrishaig which was causing visibility issues
• Request for a bus shelter in Craignish
• Road works at Corran roundabout – need for liaison with Scottish Water

The group agreed that the Roads Performance manager would action the above issues.  

There were no updates.

Councillor Anne Horn updated the group on recent initiatives undertaken in the local area:-

• Safer Swimming
• Cold Calling initiative

The group were asked to feed any issues into the Community Safety Forum.

Councillor Robin Currie highlighted concerns in regards continuing dog fouling issues and it was agreed that Paul Martin should pick this up under Item 14 of these Minutes. 

The Chair enquired on the possibility of a report coming to the MAP on the Ardrishaig Education Fund.

Jeannette Laughton replied that she could provide a report for the next meeting, but if the group were so minded, it may be more appropriate to ask Mary Broadfoot (who Chaired the Panel) to attend the next meeting to discuss criteria, etc.  This was agreed by the Group.

Paul Martin updated the group on increased patrols to try and deter dog fouling instances in the local area.  Paul reported that there were joint patrols being undertaken with Police Scotland and new signage was being erected to highlight the fines which would be imposed for offenders.

Discussion followed and the issue of horse manure on the canal footpath was raised.  The matter had been reported to Scottish Canals, but the problem still persisted.

The group agreed that Paul Martin ascertain if there was any legislation to resolve the horse manure on the canal bank and that the Roads Performance Manager would also review the Roads Act in noting that there was also an issue on Glengilp Road.     

The Chair enquired if the group would be agreeable to hearing a presentation from John Woods, Project worker on alcohol issues and that, subject to agreement by the Group, he also intended inviting Partners from Social Work and Health to discuss the integration work being taken forward jointly by them in terms of care in the community.

The group agreed to both these suggestions.

Discussion followed in regards the format of the next meeting which would incorporate a seminar on Wind Farm issues.  It was agreed to hold 2 sessions on 11 December, 2013.

This would involve holding the MAP meeting in the morning and the seminar in the afternoon and attendees could attend either an individual session or both sessions.

11 December 10.00a.m. – Room 1 Community Centre, Manse Brae, Lochgilphead