Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Anne Horn, Donald MacMillan and Sandy Taylor.

There were none intimated.

Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee held on 10 November 2016

The Minutes of the meeting of the Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee held on 10 November 2016 was approved as a correct record.

Report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure Services and demonstration of Story Map App

The Committee considered a report inviting them to approve the updated Renewable Energy Action Plan which provided an action plan which had been endorsed by Argyll and Bute Renewable Alliance members and which represented appropriate activities to ensure that the local economic benefits associated with the renewables industry within Argyll and Bute were realised.

The Committee also received an informative demonstration of the Story Map which incorporated the action plan along with other interactive mapping which was already available on the council’s website.

Decision

The Committee approved the Renewable Energy Action Plan contained at Appendix 1 to the report by the Executive Director and as demonstrated through the Story Map App.

(Reference:  Report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure Services dated 23 November 2016, submitted; and demonstration of Story Map App)

Report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure Services

Consideration was given to a report which provided the Committee with background to the UK Government’s Department for Business Energy and Industrial Strategy consultation on Treatment of Non-mainland GB Onshore Wind Projects; and which presented a draft response for members consideration and approval.

Decision

The Committee agreed the response to the consultation on Treatment of Non-mainland GB Onshore Wind Projects contained at Appendix 1 to the report by the Executive Director.

(Reference:  Report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure Services dated 6 December 2016, submitted)

Report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure Services

Consideration was given to a report providing the Committee with an update on the funding awarded for existing programmes, projects and initiatives and funding in progress for proposed programmes, projects and initiatives to be delivered by the Council’s Economic Development and Strategic Transportation Service.

Decision

The Committee –

1.    Noted that £9,268,259 of funding has been awarded to current existing programmes, projects and initiatives match funded by £1,367,100 of Council investment. This has resulted in £1 of Argyll and Bute Council funding levering in £6.78 of external funding.

2.    Noted that the Economic Development and Strategic Transportation service is seeking £9,636,058 of funding with £712,500 of Council match funding. If all sought funding is secured, for every £1 of Argyll and Bute Council funding a total of £13.52 will be levered in of external funding.

3.    Endorsed the continued efforts of the Economic Development and Strategic Transportation service to maximise the level of external funding being secured for Argyll and Bute to augment existing and potential projects.

4.    Congratulated the Economic Development and Strategic Transportation Team on their outstanding achievement across Argyll and Bute in attracting funding and stimulating development and regeneration.

(Reference:  Report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure Services dated 9 January 2017, submitted)

Report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure Services

The Committee gave consideration to a report which provided them with a summary of the Scottish Government’s Phase One Enterprise and Skills Review report which had been issued on 25 October 2016.  The report also provided an indication of the next steps of the process including clear principles of engagement for Argyll and Bute Council.

Decision

1.    Noted the content of the report.

2.    Agreed to the following principles, based on the comments made in the initial ‘Call for Evidence’ for input to the second phase of the review:

·         declutter the economic development landscape so that Argyll and Bute is treated as one region supported by either HIE or SE, in alignment with Business Gateway activity, and by SDS and SFC across all four of its administrative areas;

·         seek clarification from the Scottish Government on what the regional approach in terms of Regional Partnerships will entail in terms of collaborative working and the centralisation agenda with the creation of the new national statutory board;

·         emphasise the importance of the need to de-centralise the inclusive growth agenda with power and resources being placed at the local government level in order to effectively use and share local intelligence with appropriate agencies to tackle inequalities and promote inclusive growth for all of Argyll and Bute’s remote, remote rural and island communities; and

·         seek greater clarity on the roles and responsibilities of local government in terms of risk, innovation (including implementation of the innovation action plan, focusing on business growth) and the retention of sufficient capacity at the local level in order to make the required ‘step-change’ in the economy.

3.    Agreed to delegate to the Executive Director of Development and Infrastructure to undertake appropriate engagement with the Scottish Government, SOLACE, COSLA and SLAED during the second phase of the Enterprise and Skills Review.

(Reference:  Report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure Services dated 9 January 2017, submitted)

Report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure Services

The Committee considered a report presenting updated Road Speed Limit Policy Framework for the selection, prioritisation and approval of speed limits.  The updates to the policy framework were required due to recent changes and updates to legislation.

Decision

The Committee agreed to endorse the proposed Road Speed Limit Policy Framework and to recommend to the Policy and Resources Committee that it be adopted as a Council Policy.

(Reference:  Report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure Services dated 6 December 2016, submitted)

Report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure Services

Consideration was given to a report which introduced the Annual Status and Options Report which makes an analytical assessment of the condition of the Council’s road network and associated infrastructure as well as setting out projected conditions based on varying levels of investment.  The report also introduced Audit Scotland’s Maintaining Scotland’s Roads Audit which had been published in August 2016.

Decision

The Committee:

·         Endorsed the Annual Status and Options Report (ASOR);

·         Noted the Audit Scotland report Maintaining Scotland’s Roads;

·         Noted that over recent financial years, Argyll and Bute Council has significantly increased its expenditure on the roads network as detailed in the report, making a total allocation of £18.446m from the capital budget in the last three years, against a national picture where overall council expenditure continues to decrease;  

·         2008/09 - £3.16M

·         2009/10 - £7.02M

·         2010/11 - £4.64M

·         2011/12 - £8.11M

·         2012/13 - £9.05M

·         2013/14 - £8.26M

·         2014/15 - £7.42M

·         2015/16 - £5.11M

·         Noted that the Audit Scotland report identifies Argyll and Bute Council as the fifth most improved and one of the fastest improving councils due to our increased investment in roads maintenance, while (at the time of writing the report in August 2016) ranking roads condition in the area lowest in Scotland;

·         Agreed to instruct the Executive Director of Development and Infrastructure to write on behalf of the council, in a further written approach to the Scottish Government, to request a share of the £800m provided to the Scottish Government by the UK Government for investment in infrastructure, to augment the investment already committed by the council, given that the future economic prosperity of Argyll and Bute and Scotland as a whole relies on effective infrastructure with appropriate investment;

·         Notes that a report will come forward regarding the establishment of a joint board for the Northern Collaboration.

·         Agreed to instruct the Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure Services in consultation with the Chair of the Committee and local ward Members to write to Transport Scotland –

a)    Noting with concern the lack of action to address flooding and the associated safety risk on the A83 Trunk Road between Tarbert and Ardrishaig.

b)    To seek action on an interim solution in addition to implementation of the planned permanent solution.

(Reference:  Report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure Services dated October 2016, submitted; Annual Status and Options Report and Maintaining Scotland’s Roads – Audit Scotland Report; Notice of Motion by Councillor Ellen Morton, Seconded by Councillor Robert G MacIntyre)

Councillor Dick Walsh joined the meeting at this point.

Report by Executive Director – Customer Services

A report which presented the Committee with draft Service Plans 2017-20 for the Economic Development and Strategic Transportation Service; and the Roads and Amenity Service was given consideration.

Decision

The Committee -

1.    Noted the draft Service Plans for 2017-20 for the Economic Development and Strategic Transportation Service; and for Roads and Amenity Services.

2.    Agreed that as the Council moves forward post May 2017 that further consideration is given to the Service Plan development process including how best to involve Area Committees.

(Reference:  Report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure Services dated 19 December 2016, submitted; Business Outcomes, submitted; and Draft Service Plans 2017-20, submitted)

The Committee gave consideration to the Environment Development and Infrastructure Committee Work Plan as at January 2017.

Decision

The Committee noted the Work Plan as at January 2017.

(Reference: Environment Development and Infrastructure Committee Work Plan as at January 2017, submitted)

The Chair advised that in terms of Section 50(A)(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, the appendices relating to the following item of business would require her to exclude the press and public should any Member wish to discuss the content of those appendices on the grounds that it was likely to involve the disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 6 respectively of Part 1 of Schedule 7A to the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973.

Consideration was given to a report which summarised the main findings of a report providing independent advice to the Argyll and the Isles Tourism Co-operative. 

Decision

The Committee –

1.    Noted the content of the report.

2.    Noted the potential budget pressure of continued funding for Argyll and the Isles Tourism Co-operative after the current financial year as had been outlined in the Head of Strategic Finance’s Budgetary Outlook report to the Policy and Resources Committee.

(Reference:  Report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure Services dated 19 December 2016, submitted; report by Argyll and the Isles Tourism Co-operative, submitted)

E1       Paragraph 6  Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (other than the authority).