Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Donald Kelly, Roderick McCuish, Sir Jamie McGrigor and Ellen Morton.

The Chair ruled and the Committee agreed to adjourn the meeting to allow for the conclusion of a presentation by the Head of Development and Economic Growth which had commenced before the start of the meeting.

The meeting reconvened at 11.15am.

There were none intimated.

Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee held on 5 December 2019

The Minutes of the meeting of the Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee held on 5 December 2019 were approved as a correct record.

Report by Interim Executive Director

The Committee gave consideration to the Development and Economic Growth and Roads and Infrastructure Services performance report and associated scorecard for financial quarter 3 2019-20 (October 2019 to December 2019).

Decision

The Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee noted the performance report and associated scorecard for financial quarter 3 2019-20 (October 2019 – December 2019).

(Reference:  Report by Interim Executive Director dated March 2020, submitted)

Report by Interim Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure Services

A report that provided details of the proposed roads reconstruction programme for 2020/21 was given consideration.

Decision

The Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee –

1.    Endorsed the proposed programme of capital works for 2020/21.

2.    Agreed that the details of each area committee’s programme would be forwarded on to individual Elected Members and that updated to Area Committees would be provided as the programme progresses.

(Reference:  Report by Interim Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure dated March 2020, and Appendix 5 dated 4 March 2020, submitted)

Report by Interim Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure Services

The Committee gave consideration to a report that provided details on how the grounds maintenance service of grassed open spaces would be delivered following a succession of budget reductions which had resulted in changes to specification.

Decision

The Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee endorsed the content of the submitted report.

(Reference:  Report by Interim Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure Services dated February 2020, submitted)

Report by Interim Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure Services

The Committee gave consideration to a report that detailed the technology currently used by Roads and Infrastructure Services.  The report also considered how technology could be further used to help deliver the varied front line services across the Roads and Infrastructure Services portfolio.

Decision

The Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee endorsed the content of the submitted report.

(Reference:  Report by Interim Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure dated February 2020, submitted)

Report by Interim Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure Services

The Committee gave consideration to a report that provided a summary update on the Transport (Scotland) Act 2019 and what it was likely to mean in practise for Argyll and Bute.

Decision

The Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee noted the content of the submitted report.

(Reference:  Report by Interim Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure Services dated February 2020, submitted)

Report by Interim Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure Services

The Committee gave consideration to a report providing an update on community-led festive lighting delivery across Argyll and Bute in 2019, as well as an overview of the overall project.

Decision

The Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee –

1.    Endorsed the positive work of communities across Argyll and Bute to deliver their own festive lighting schemes.

2.    Noted the significant amount of support provided by the Council’s street lighting team to communities to ensure effective transitions.

3.    Noted the detail in the submitted report on festive community engagement.

4.    Agreed that this general approach would be taken to the winter maintenance community engagement project, with further detail to be reported to the next Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee following the initial scoping work outlined at paragraph 3.15 of the submitted report.

(Reference:  Report by Interim Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure Services dated February 2020, submitted)

Report by Interim Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth

The Committee gave consideration to a report that provided an update on the progress in delivering the larger scale projects work of the Transformation Project and Regeneration Team with a focus on those projects that are mainly externally funded.  The report also highlighted the key issues that would impact on the successful delivery of the projects.

Decision

The Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee -

1.    Noted the current progress as contained within the submitted report.

2.    Thanked all staff in the Transformation Projects and Regeneration Team involved in the successful delivery of the projects.

(Reference:  Report by Interim Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth dated January 2020, submitted)

Report by Interim Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth

The Committee gave consideration to a report that provided a short overview of the current position of European funding allocations and programmes managed by Argyll and Bute Council and where the Council is a beneficiary.  The report sought retrospective approval of an officer response to the ‘The Replacement of European Structural Funds in Scotland Post EU-Exit’ consultation issued by the Scottish Government.

Decision

The Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee –

1.    Noted the content of the submitted report with regard to current European funding.

2.    Noted the officer draft response to the recent consultation outlined at Appendix 1 to the submitted report.

3.    Agreed to homologate the officer response and noted that any additional substantive comments raised by the Committee would be submitted by email to the Scottish Government department that is responsible for future funding.

(Reference:  Report by Interim Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth dated 24 February 2020, submitted)

Councillor Donald MacMillan left the meeting at this point.

Report by Interim Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth

The Committee gave consideration to a report that provided a proposed officer response for the ‘Safeguarding Scotland’s Remote Rural Communities’ consultation on a proposal for a Bill to enhance the consideration of remote rural mainland communities by public bodies in Scotland.

Decision

The Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee –

1.    Noted the content of the submitted report.

2.    Noted the officer draft response to the recent consultation as outlined at Appendix 1 to the submitted report.

3.    Agreed to homologate the officer response and noted that any substantive comments from the Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee would not be included in the response but could be fed back to officers for submission to Gail Ross, MSP, in writing.

(Reference:  Report by Interim Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth dated 24 February 2020, submitted)

Report by Interim Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth

The Committee gave consideration to a report proposing an officer response to the ‘Housing to 2040’ consultation due for submission to the Scottish Government on 5 March 2020 following the meeting of the Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee.

Decision

The Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee approved the officer response to the ‘Housing to 2040’ consultation for submission to the Scottish Government subject to amendments requested by Members of the Committee.

(Reference:  Report by Interim Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth dated 10 February 2020, submitted)

Report by Interim Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure Services

A report that provided an update on the transition from the annual distribution of paper waste calendars to digital calendar provision, as agreed by the Committee in June 2018, was before the Committee for noting.

Decision

The Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee –

1.    Noted the success of the collaborative digital transition.

2.    Noted that a post implementation review is scheduled to identify further improvements for 2020.

(Reference:  Report by Interim Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure and Customer and Support Services dated January 2020, submitted)

The Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee work plan as at March 2020 was before the Committee for noting.

Decision

The Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee noted the work plan as at March 2020.

(Reference: Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee work plan dated March 2020, submitted)