Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors John McAlpine and Donald Kelly.

Councillor Jim Lynch declared a non-financial interest in item 10 (Update on Staycation Proposals) as he was a member of the GRAB Trust.  Having noted the updated Standards Commission Guidance in relation to declarations (issued on 7 December 2021) with specific reference to section 5.4(c) he did not consider that he had a relevant connection and as such would remain the meeting and speak and vote on this report.

Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee held on 3 March 2022

The Minute of the Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee held on 3 March 2022 was approved as a correct record.

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Customer Support Services

A paper presenting the Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee with the FQ4 2021/22 Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for Development and Economic Growth and Roads and Infrastructure Services was considered.

Decision

The Committee reviewed and scrutinised the FQ4 2021/22 KPI Report as presented.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Customer Support Services dated 25 April 2022, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure Services

At the Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee held on 3 March 2022 a programme of roads reconstruction works was endorsed.  Since the programme was set, there have been significant international occurrences which have affected the prices of both fuel and bitumen.

A report providing an update on the roads reconstruction programme for 2022/23 was before the Committee for consideration.

Decision

The Committee:-

1.    Endorsed the approach taken to deliver the programme within budget given the price increases; and

2.    Noted that the 2022/23 footway programme would be reported to the September Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure Services dated 20 May 2022, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure Services

A report providing Members with information on the Council funded projects and schemes being taken forward by the Roads and Infrastructure Service was considered.

Decision

The Committee:-

1.    Endorsed the overall programme of council funded projects being taken forward by Roads and Instructure Services;

2.    Noted that a programme of street lighting column replacements will be brought to the Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee in September 2022 and

3.    Agreed to the Chair of the Environment, Development and Infrastructure approaching the Scottish Government with a view to securing additional resources to support the scheme to repair the damaged Bute sea wall.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure Services dated 24 May 2022, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure Services

A report providing Members with information on the wide ranging programme of works which are externally funded considered.

Decision

The Committee:-

1.    Endorsed the overall programme of major externally funded projects being taken forward by Roads and Instructure Services;

2.    Endorsed the programme of bridge works set out at Appendix 1 of the report;

3.    Endorsed the programme of playpark works identified as High Priority set out at Appendix 2 of the report; and

4.    Instructed Officers to undertake a more robust consultation process with communities for future rounds of funding in respect of playpark works.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure Services dated May 2022, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth

The Council established a £250,000 Digital Exclusion Fund at its budget meeting on 25 February 2021.  The Fund was created to support communities and in some cases individuals that are missing out on national programmes due to logistics and economies of scale.

A report bringing forward two proposals for funding from the Digital Exclusion Fund was considered.

Decision

The Committee approved:-

1.    The provision of capital funding to Kerrera Digital Infrastructure project to a maximum of £40,000; and

2.    The provision of revenue funding to a maximum of £10,000, should the Islands Infrastructure Find bid be successful, in order to provide connectivity charges for identified island community halls for a period of 24 months.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth dated 19 May 2022, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth

Members approved a new Economic Strategy for Argyll and Bute in March 2019 and a high level economic recovery plan in June 2020 for the Argyll and Bute region in response to the Covid 19 pandemic.  In August 2020, a further report to the Business Continuity Committee identified key objectives and actions that needed to be taken forward to assist with economic recovery.

A report providing Members with a brief economic overview and an update on progress on both the actions agreed in the original economic strategy approved in June 2019 and the subsequent recovery plan approved in 2020, was considered.

Decision

The Committee:-

1.    Considered the contents of this report and noted the updated Argyll and Bute Economic Strategy Actions contained in Appendix 1 of the report and also noted the progress of the Economic Recovery Plan Actions identified in Appendix 2 of the report; and

2.    Considered and noted the intention to look at future economic priorities given the rapidly changing economy.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth dated May 2022, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth

The Council allocated two funding pots to support staycations in Argyll and Bute.  £500,000 was allocated from the 2021/22 budget and supplemented by a further £100,000 from the 2022/23 budget to support the delivery of a range of facilities across Argyll and Bute necessary to support camping and motorhome staycations.

Consideration was given to a report providing an update on the staycation facilities approved in December 2021 by the Committee for 2022, which were now set up and operational.

Decision

The Committee:-

1.    Noted and considered the content of the paper; and

2.    Noted that Staycation was an evolving process with key milestones identified throughout the year and beyond.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth dated 7 June 2022, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth/Roads and Infrastructure Services

Consideration was given to a report advising of correspondence received from the Chair of Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) which sought support from local authorities for the vision and direction detailed within “Transport for Strathclyde: A New Public Transport Network”.

Decision

The Committee:-

1.    Noted the letter from Councillor Dr Martin Bartos, Chair of SPT; and

2.    Supported the vision and direction detailed in the letter.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth/Roads and Infrastructure Services dated April 2022, submitted)

The Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee work plan was before the Committee for information.

Decision

The Committee noted the contents of the work plan.

(Reference: Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee Work 2022/23, submitted)