Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Jan Brown and Tommy Macpherson.

There were no declarations of interest

Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee held on 20 March 2025

The Minutes of the meeting of the Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee held on 20 March 2025 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 implementation of Empty Property Relief Policy for Non-Domestic Rates, and to propose an associated Empty Business Property Grant Scheme.

Decision

The Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee –

1.    considered the content of the paper;

2.    agreed to the framework and governance arrangements for an Empty Property Business Grant Scheme;

3.    agreed to delegate authority to the Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth in consultation with the Policy Lead and Chair of the Area Committee, to approve grants above £25,000 (maximum £50,000) should circumstances require a grant above £25,000.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth dated 20 May 2025, submitted)

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

Report by Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth

The Committee gave consideration to a report providing an high level synopsis on activity to tackle the Housing Emergency. 

Decision

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

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

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth

The Committee gave consideration to a report detailing the Argyll and Bute Council officer responses to the recent ‘call for views’ consultations for the proposed Community Wealth Building (Scotland) Bill and the Cruise Ship Levy (Scotland) Bill currently progressing through the Scottish Parliament.

Decision

The Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee –

1.    noted the content of the report;

2.    noted the Argyll and Bute Council officer responses to the questions in both consultations in Appendix 1 and Appendix 2 of the report. As the deadline for submission to the Scottish Government was 26th May and 30th May respectively, officers submitted responses aligned to the requested timetable. The responses were considered and commentary provided for inclusion in the submissions by members of the Executive Leadership Team. In addition. the Argyll Islands Sounding Board considered the response to the Cruise Ship Levy (Scotland) Bill;

3.    agreed to homologate the officer responses; and

4.    noted that as the consultations had closed any additional substantive comments from members of this committee should be submitted in writing to Tom Arthur, MSP, Minister for Employment and Investment (where Community Wealth Building is included in his portfolio) and on the Cruise Ship Levy to Shona Robison, MSP and Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth dated 28 May 2025, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth

The Committee gave consideration to a report outlining the Scottish Government Islands Programme funding of £5.3m which will be available for the 2025/26 financial year to fund capital projects on inhabited Scottish islands. A further £1.4m will be available to support the Carbon Neutral Islands (CNI) in their progression towards net zero. The report outlined the funds, the respective requirements for applications to each fund and progress made towards identifying projects for submission.

Decision

The Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee –

1.    noted the process for applying to the Islands Programme and Carbon Neutral Islands Capital Fund and the 22 July 2025 deadline for applications;

2.    approved the recommended Island Programme projects detailed in paragraph 4.10 of the report which would form the basis of funding bids to the Scottish Government;

3.    approved the submission of any of the potential CNI Capital Fund Projects listed at paragraph 4.15 of the report, subject to the project lead determining that this is still a project that should be progressed;

4.    noted the process for applying to the Regeneration Capital Grant Fund and the 27 June 2025 stage one deadline;

5.    approved the submission of any of the recommended RCGF projects listed at paragraph 4.22 of the report that would form the Expressions of Interest from Argyll and Bute Council to the Regeneration Capital Grant Fund for 2026/27;

6.    agreed to delegate authority to the Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth to approve the funding applications prior to submission to the Scottish Government; and

7.    noted that the Transformational Projects and Regeneration Team would be responsible for managing expenditure and ensuring compliance with grant funding conditions for successful projects.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth dated 4 June 2025, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth

The Committee gave consideration to a report detailing key Argyll and Bute transport issues that will inform the rationale, content, and future implementation of an Argyll and Bute Local Transport Strategy within the context of the resources available to us as a rural Local Authority together with National and Regional Transport priorities as set out in National and Regional Transport policy.

Decision

The Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee –

1.      considered and approved the list of Argyll and Bute key transport issues and associated survey questions, including priority transport projects, collaboration and partnership working opportunities contained within the report for a six-week period of public consultation to help inform a future Argyll and Bute Local Transport Strategy;

2.      noted that officers would arrange an Elected Members seminar to take place at the conclusion of the consultation; and

3.      noted that a further report would be presented at a future committee meeting once officers had analysed the consultation responses.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth dated 19 June 2025, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth

The Committee gave consideration to a report providing a final project update on the Remembering together programme managed by Greenspace Scotland and delivered by CHARTS through a partnership with Argyll and Bute Council and Greenspace Scotland.

Decision

The Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee considered the successful delivery of the Remembering Together Programme.

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

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure

The Committee gave consideration to a report detailing recommendations relating to Temporary Traffic Regulation Orders (TTROs) event charging and advertising and seeking agreement to undertake a wider review to ensure a consistent approach is applied to all applications and events.

Decision

The Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee –

1.      agreed that officers carry out a review of the event application costs associated with TTRO charges and advertising;

2.      agreed that a report outlining the scope and methodology of that review, including engagement with event organisers, would be reported to the next Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee; and

3.      agreed that the current Fees and Charges in relation to TTROs for events are suspended and the loss of income estimated to be up to £45,000 in 2025/26 is funded from the Priorities Investment Fund.

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

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure

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

Decision

The Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee –

1.      noted the content of the report;

2.      considered the progress made in relation to the Priority Improvement Actions as set out within Appendix 1 of the report; and

3.      noted that officers would bring a progress report to the September 2025 meeting of this Committee, which would identify, where possible, how savings would be delivered in 2025/26 and 2026/27.

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

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure

The Committee gave consideration to a report providing an update on progress towards landfill ban compliance.

Decision

The Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee –

1.    considered the content of the report; and

2.    agreed that officers would arrange an Elected Members seminar to take place later in the year.

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

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure

The Committee gave consideration to a report detailing £1.564m of capital funding available for allocation to suitable projects with Argyll and Bute Council and internal ferry operations.

Decision

The Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee –

1.    agreed that funds be allocated as follows:-

i.       engage with suitable contractors to realise on-site accommodation at Port Askaig;

ii.     to engage with suitable Naval Architects to develop a ‘keel ready’ concept design for the Eilean Dhiura replacement ferry; and

iii.    to engage with suitable consultants to update and progress plans for the Cuan ferry infrastructure for use by the Eilean Dhiura and Belnahua vessels; and

2.    in the event that part of the grant remains, approved ringfencing the fund for continued works on this Priority Strategy.

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

Recommendation from meeting of Mid Argyll Kintyre and the Islands held on 4 June 2025

The Committee gave consideration to recommendations from the meeting of the Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands Area Committee held on 19 June 2025 that the Committee relating to the naming of Tarbert Playpark.

Decision

The Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee –

1.    acknowledged the efforts made by John McAlpine in ensuring that Tarbert’s playpark was upgraded and improved for the benefit of local young people, alongside the contributions made by the community as a whole to this much-appreciated local amenity;

2.    agreed that the Tarbert Playpark should be formally named ‘The John McAlpine Playpark’; and

3.    asked officers to make the necessary arrangements to formally record the playpark name as required and for the installation of appropriate signage.

(Reference: Extract of minute of the Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands Area Committee held on 19 June 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 June 2025, submitted)

The Committee resolved in terms of Section 50A(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, to exclude the public from the following item of business on the grounds that it was likely to involve the disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 9 of Part 1 of Schedule 7A to the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973.

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure Services

The Committee gave consideration to a report detailing the options that have been reviewed to achieve service continuity upon the expiry of the Councils PPP contract for waste disposal.

Decision

The Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee agreed the recommendations as contained within the submitted report.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure Services dated 12 June 2025, submitted)