Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were intimated on behalf of Councillors Iain Paterson and Tommy MacPherson.

There were no declarations of interest intimated.

Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee held on 19 March 2026

The Minutes of the meeting of the Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee held on 19 March 2026 were approved as a correct record.

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure Services

The Committee gave consideration to a report which provided an update in relation to the 2026-27 Winter Service Policy budget savings options, following the 2025-26 Winter Service Policy being endorsed by Members at the September 2025 meeting of the Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee.

This report proposed a two-track approach, immediate savings for winter 2026/27 which are achievable through a reduced gritter fleet hire period, alongside a fuller review of the Winter Maintenance Service Policy over the next 12 months to assess longer-term options for route prioritisation, network coverage and service resilience.

Decision

The Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee:

1.    approved the comprehensive review of the Winter Maintenance Service Policy over the next 12 months, with a report back to the committee in June 2027;

2.    agreed that the Winter Maintenance Service Policy for 2026/27 is brought to the Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee in September 2026 for approval; and

3.    approved the savings of £0.080m by reducing the hire period for the gritter fleet by four weeks, and that this can be implemented for winter 2026/27, thereby contributing to the overall savings allocated to the review of Roads and Infrastructure Services.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with Responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure, dated June 2026, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure Services

The Committee gave consideration to a report which provided an update on the progress of key aspects of the Roads and Infrastructure Services (RIS) Review.

Decision

The Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee:

1.    noted the progress to date on the Roads and Infrastructure Services review;

2.    noted that further reports on progress would be presented to future meetings of the Committee; and

3.    agreed to reallocate the balance of the funding for external consultancy support approved in December 2025 to activity specifically related to strategic improvements within the fleet service.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with Responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure, dated 18 June 2026, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure Services

The Committee gave consideration to a report which provided a summary of the duties, expectations and equality considerations for local authorities arising from Audit Scotland’s national report Flooding in Communities: Moving Towards Flood Resilience.

Decision

The Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee:

1.    noted the national implications associated with flooding and flood resilience;

2.    noted the duties and expectations placed on Councils by Audit Scotland’s 2025 report Flooding in Communities: Moving Towards Flood Resilience;

3.    noted the staffing and resource pressures that mirror the national findings of Audit Scotland;

4.    endorsed a proactive stance in national forums (COSLA / Scottish Government) to demand a funding model that provides clarity on Cycle 2 & 3 allocations and ensures that high-performing Councils are not penalised by national Cycle 1 cost overruns, in particular enabling the Oban Flood Protection Scheme; and

5.    acknowledged the success of the Campbeltown delivery while noting the external strategic and financial risks stalling the proposed Oban scheme.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with Responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure, dated June 2026, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure Services

The Committee gave consideration to a report providing an update on the Campbeltown Flood Protection Scheme.

Decision

The Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee noted:

1.    the project updates provided regarding land acquisition and final construction phases; and

2.    the progress made towards the completion of the Campbeltown Flood Protection Scheme.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with Responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure, dated June 2026, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure Services

The Committee gave consideration to a report which provided details of the proposed delay to the use of £0.900m unallocated funding for the Capital Reconstruction programme for 2026-27, specifically due to predicted increase in costs due to the ongoing Gulf Crisis.

Decision

The Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee agreed that the remaining £0.900m is not allocated to new schemes and is retained as a contingency for allocating to existing schemes in the current programme that are experiencing cost increases related to the war in Iran.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure, dated June 2026, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth

The Committee gave consideration to a report informing members of the progress made in terms of the Council tackling the Housing Emergency in Argyll and Bute, since the last report on this issue was presented to Council in November 2025.

Decision

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

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth, dated June 2026, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Infrastructure Services

The Committee gave consideration to a report which sought approval for a minor amendment to the wording of the current Scheme of Assistance which was approved by Council in April 2025.

Decision

The Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee:

1.    noted the content of the report; and

2.    approved the revised Scheme of Assistance attached at Appendix 1 of the report.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director for Development and Infrastructure Services, dated May 2026, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth

The Committee gave consideration to a report which informed members of the results of the public consultation on the findings of the Argyll and Bute Travel Strategy Consultation to develop a Local Transport Strategy.

Decision

The Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee:

1.    noted the findings of the public consultation that sought views on different transport issues via Argyll and Bute Travel Strategy Consultation; and

2.    approved the next steps in the process to use the findings to engage with key transport stakeholders to inform an Argyll and Bute Local Transport Strategy for further consideration by Members prior to a further period of public consultation.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with the responsibility for Development and Economic, dated May 2026, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth

The Committee gave consideration to a report which provided the most up-to date information available on the current digital infrastructure programmes, including Government Funded Programmes such as R100 and Project Gigabit or alternatively delivered through commercial investment via BT Openreach and Virgin. The report also looked at the change from analogue to digital and initial findings of mobile coverage using data gathered from trackers on our bin lorries.

Decision

The Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee noted the report.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth, dated 8 May 2026, 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 2026, submitted)