Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Robin Currie.

There were no declarations of interest intimated.

Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee held on 1 December 2022

The Minutes of the meeting of the Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee held on 1 December 2022 were approved as a correct record.

Councillor Luna Martin joined the meeting during the consideration of the following item of business.

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure Services

The Committee gave consideration to a report providing details on the proposed roads reconstruction programme for 2023/24.  The programme was based on the 2023/24 allocation of a total of £8.0M, which included £754k brought forward from 2022/23.

Decision

The Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee –

1.    endorsed the proposed programme of capital works for 2023/24;

2.    agreed that details of each area committee’s programme would be forwarded on to individual Elected Members;

3.    noted that following the budget decision on 23 February 2023, a programme of footway works would be presented to a future meeting of the Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee.

(Reference:  Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure dated February 2023, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Infrastructure

The Committee gave consideration to a report introducing the Annual Status and Options Report which set out 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.

Decision

The Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee –

1.    endorsed the Annual Status and Options Report and the positive analytical feedback it provided; and

2.    noted that the Annual Status and Options Report informs key elements of the Development and Infrastructure Asset Management Plan.

(Reference:  Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Infrastructure dated 15 December 2022, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure Services

The Committee gave consideration to a report providing an update on the introduction of a route optimisation system that would seek to improve the operational management of certain services operated via vehicles providing specific services.

Decision

The Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee noted the update provided in the submitted report.

(Reference:  Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure Services dated February 2023, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure Services

The Committee gave consideration to a report providing an update following the announcement by the Transport Minister in December 2022 in respect of improvements to the Old Military Road as a medium term solution to improve the resilience of the temporary diversion route to the A83, should it be closed.

Decision

The Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee –

1. reaffirmed the Council’s long-established position that a permanent solution for the A83 Rest and Be Thankful must be identified and, crucially, put in place as soon as possible, as first agreed in this new Council term through a motion to Council in September 2022 and subsequently embedded within the Priorities for the Council agreed in November 2022;

2. noted the confirmation from the Transport Minister that funding would remain available for both the medium and long-term solutions for the route;

3. noted the timescales set out in the report and that the aim was to have both lanes of the A83 reopened, with traffic signals removed, by June or July of this year;

4. noted that there was a further meeting of the A83 Taskforce due to take place in June 2023; and

5. in light of the timescales at (3) and (4) above, requested that officers bring a further update to the Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee meeting on 31 August 2023, for consideration of any further lobbying action that may be required.

(Reference:  Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure Services dated January 2023, submitted; and Motion by Councillor Andrew Kain, seconded by Councillor Donald Kelly, tabled)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure Services

The Committee gave consideration to a report providing an update on the current Argyll and Bute cemetery provision and detailing options for reviewing the current Management Rules for Burial Grounds as well as management of the cemetery assets in the context of current needs and future demands in each administrative area.

Decision

The Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee –

1.    noted the Area Committee Business Days arranged;

2.    noted that officers propose to review cemetery numbers annually; 

3.    noted the updated lair availability in each available cemetery with associated updates in regards to works carried out and proposed as detailed in Appendix 1 to the submitted report;

4.    endorsed and approved the change in policy for the Management Rules for Burial Grounds which have less than 10 years availability to restrict the pre-sale of lairs to protect the cemetery capacity as well as the other updates as detailed in paragraph 3.2.3 of the submitted report; and

5.    noted the future capital investment required in this asset group.

(Reference:  Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure Services dated January 2023, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure Services

The Committee gave consideration to a report presenting the findings of a recent inspection of Cardross Crematorium.

Decision

The Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee endorsed the findings of the inspection on Cardross Crematorium.

(Reference:  Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure Services dated February 2023, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure Services

The Committee gave consideration to a report outlining a suggested process and timelines for proposing further engagement with other groups, including youth forums and relevant Community Councils in relation to the Play Park Funding Award of £938k which had been awarded by the Scottish Government for the 28 play parks being renewed in Argyll and Bute until 2025/26.

Decision

The Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee –

1.    noted that Area Committee Business Days were underway, where officers were engaging with Elected Members; and

2.    agreed the proposed timeline as set out in section 4.4 of the submitted report.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure Services dated February 2023, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth

The Committee gave consideration to a report providing an update of the work of the Council’s Film in Argyll service in attracting inward investment into Argyll and Bute from the screen industries and the economic benefits that this had brought to the local economy, including opportunities to promote and market the area.

Decision

The Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee noted the contents of the submitted report, including the fact that the sector was still recovering from the impact of the pandemic, and the continued positive economic impact the screen industry had on Argyll and Bute.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth dated 10 December 2022, submitted)

Councillor Donald Kelly left the meeting during the consideration of the following item of business.

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth

The Committee gave consideration to a report providing an update on progress of the large scale, externally funded project work of the Transformational Projects and Regeneration Team.  The report highlighted key issues that could impact on the successful delivery of projects.

Decision

The Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee noted the current progress detailed within the submitted report.

(Reference:  Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth dated 9 January 2023, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth

The Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR2) was developed to inform transport investment in Scotland for the next 20 years (2022-2042).  The final STPR2 was published on 8 December 2022.  The Committee gave consideration to a report providing information on the outcomes of the review and advising that Argyll and Bute Council had been poorly served through the outcomes of the document despite initial assurances and having been fully engaged throughout the process.

Decision

The Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee –

1.    noted the Transport Scotland Strategic Transport Projects Review 2 that had been published on 8 December 2022.

2.    requested that the Leader of the Council write to the Scottish Government expressing the Council’s disappointment with the STPR2 process and its outcomes in relation to Argyll and Bute.

(Reference:  Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth dated 22 January 2023, submitted)

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

Decision

The Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee noted the content of the work plan.

(Reference:  Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee Work Plan dated February 2023, submitted)