Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies for absence.

There were no declarations of interest.

Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee held on 19 December 2024

The Minutes of the meeting of the Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee held on 19 December 2024 were approved as a correct record.

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth

The Committee gave consideration to a report providing an update on 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 it had brought to the local economy, including the opportunities to promote and market the area. The report covers the period January 2024 to December 2024.

Decision

The Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee considered and noted the content of the report and the continued positive economic impact the screen industries have on Argyll and Bute.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth dated 14 February 2025, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth

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

Decision

The Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee –

1.    considered the current progress contained within the report; and

2.    noted that further updates relating to emerging funds such as the Community Regeneration Partnership funding and Empty Business Property Grants would be brought back to the Committee in due course to update Members.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth dated February 2025, submitted)

Councillor Jim Lynch joined the meeting during 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 detailing the feasibility of the creation of a blanket area of low-density airspace over rural areas to enable the safe integration of unmanned aircraft systems with general aviation/scheduled manned aircraft.

Decision

The Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee –

1.    considered the report included at Appendix A of the report; and

2.    approved the course of action to now publish the report, including Comms communications press release with quotes from participants.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth dated March 2025, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth

The Committee gave consideration to a report detailing the draft response to the Scottish Government’s consultation to inform a review of their Good Practice Principles guidance documents for the payment of community benefit in relation to both onshore and offshore net zero developments.

Decision

The Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee approved the draft response set out within Appendix 1 of the report and delegated approval to officers to submit this as the Councils formal response to the consultation.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth dated 18 February 2025, submitted)

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

The Committee gave consideration to a report detailing the benefits of Ofgem’s ECO4 Flex Scheme and seeking approval to appoint a Managing Agent to deliver ECO4 Flex enabling Council Officers to sign off eligible ECO4 Flex Declarations.

Decision

The Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee agreed to –

1.    delegate authority to the Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth to sign off ECO4 Flex Declarations for eligible households;

2.    engage a Managing Agent to deliver ECO4 Flex across the Local Authority area;

3.    note that a member training seminar would be delivered on the ECO4 Flex Scheme.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth dated March 2025, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth

The Committee gave consideration to a report detailing a recent review of a limited number of island-based projects and seeking approval, based on officer recommendations, on three island-based projects out of this series of previously identified Strategic Tourism Infrastructure Development (STID) proposals to take forward for 2025/26 Rural Tourism Infrastructure Fund funding applications.

Decision

The Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee –

1.    considered the content of the paper and Appendix 1 of the report;

2.    noted the origin of the projects listed in Table 1 and that the STID was a live document;

3.    agreed that the three projects noted in section 1.5 of the report, Bute Forest (Bute), Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (Islay) and Hynish Trust (Tiree) could be taken forward to the Design Grant (available throughout 2025) and/or full Rural Tourism Infrastructure Fund application stage, as appropriate, in time for the deadline of the end of April 2025.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth dated 17 February 2025, submitted)

Councillor Ian MacQuire joined the meeting during consideration of the following item of business.

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Road and Infrastructure Services

The Committee gave consideration to a report providing an update on the Helensburgh Waste Transfer Station project following the completion of the Options Appraisal and making a recommendation in relation to the next steps for this project and associated budgets.

Decision

The Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee –

1.    noted that the proposed Helensburgh Waste Transfer Station no longer provided the optimum solution to ensure Biodegradable Municipal Waste compliant disposal arrangements in the Helensburgh and Lomond area;

2.    agreed that officers should not progress further with the development and delivery of the Helensburgh Waste Transfer Station Project;

3.    recommended to the Policy and Resources Committee that the remainder of the £3m of budget earmarked for this project be retained to support other funding related pressures within the waste service; and

4.    noted that should circumstances change, specifically the cost benefit ration, that the scheme could be revisited.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure Services dated February 2025, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Road and Infrastructure Services

The Committee gave consideration to a report detailing the proposed roads reconstruction programme for 2025/26.

Decision

The Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee –

1.    endorsed the proposed capital works for 2025/26;

2.    agreed to allocate £2m to the repair of roads and coastal assets damaged by Storm Eowyn in January 2025 and to a delegation to the Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure Services in consultation with the Policy Lead for Roads, Transport and Amenity Services to finalise scheme specific budget allocations for these works; and

3.    agreed that details of each Area Committee’s Capital Works would be forwarded to individual Elected Members.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure Services dated March 2025, submitted)

Councillor Gary Mulvaney left the meeting during consideration of the following item of business.

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Road and Infrastructure Services

The Committee gave consideration to a report providing an overview of road infrastructure assets within Argyll and Bute Council based on 2023-24 and 2024-25 data for asset condition, previous investment, asset valuation and other relevant information.

Decision

The Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee –

1.    endorsed the Annual Status and Options Report and the positive analytical feedback it provided and agreed to use the information for future budget setting; and

2.    agreed that going forward officers use the previous year’s Road Condition Index to programme the coming years programme.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure Services dated February 2025, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure Services

The Committee gave consideration to a report providing an update on progress and next steps in relation to the Roads and Infrastructure Service Review (RIS Review).

Decision

The Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee –

1.    noted the content of the report;

2.    agreed to endorse the priority improvement actions set out within the report; and

3.    agreed to receive a further report on progress of the RIS Review in June 2025.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure Services dated March 2025, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure Services

The Committee gave consideration to a report providing a summary of the clear up and infrastructure recovery works undertaken to date and providing an estimated cost for the repair of all known damage to Council infrastructure assets while also setting out a method of prioritisation being applied to the recovery works.

Decision

The Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee –

1.    noted the updates on the current position of the projects;

2.    agreed that repair works to road and coastal assets that fall outwith the funding that may be provided by the Belwin Scheme would be considered for delivery on a prioritised basis alongside other works as part of the development and approval of the roads and infrastructure capital programme for 2025/26;

3.    agreed that repair works to marine assets that fall outwith the funding that may be provided by the Bellwin Scheme be funded through increases in fees and charges in future years where possible (in line with the Marine Asset Management Plan); and

4.    agreed that the Council would write to the Scottish Government seeking dialogue in relation to future funding models to support recovery of infrastructure and wider capital assets following major storm events.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure Services dated 11 March, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure Services

The Committee gave consideration to a report providing notification of the proposed Traffic Data Surveys Guidance Document and proposing that a Members Seminar take place where officers will brief members on the requirements for Traffic Data Surveys allowing a more in depth explanation on this matter.

Decision

The Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee –

1.    agreed the listed measures be endorsed to ensure best use of the limited staff resource as well as a consistent protocol for assessing criteria in relation to speed limits; and

2.    noted that a members seminar would take place to provide further detail to Elected Members on this matter.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure Services dated March 2025, submitted)

Members were asked to suspend Standing Orders with particular regard to Standing Order 8.1.8 - other business which is included on the agenda, including those items advised for noting only, which in the case of the latter shall not be subject to debate or discussion nor shall it be competent to move any motion other than that the matter be referred to the next meeting of the committee as a substantive item.  The requisite two thirds of Members present agreed to suspend Standing Order 8.1.8.

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure Services

The Committee gave consideration to a report providing an update in respect of the October 2023 weather event.

Decision

The Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee noted the updates on the current position of the projects.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure Services dated 26 February 2025, submitted)

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

Decision

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

(Reference: Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee workplan dated March 2024, submitted)

The Chair acknowledged that Veronica MacFarlane, Personal Assistant to Executive Director Kirsty Flanagan would be retiring in May.  He congratulated her on her retirement and wished her all the best for the future.