Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Anne Horn, David Kinniburgh, Duncan MacIntyre and Richard Trail.

There were none intimated.

Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee held on 13 April 2015

The Minutes of the meeting of the Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee held on 13 April 2015 were approved as a correct record.

Report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure Services

The Committee considered the Development and Infrastructure Services departmental performance report and associated scorecard performance for financial quarter 4 2014-15 (January to March 2015).

Decision

The Committee reviewed and noted the scorecards as presented.

(Reference:  Report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure Services and FQ4 performance report and scorecard dated August 2015, submitted)

Report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure Services

The Policy and Resources Committee, at their meeting on 15 May 2014, approved the Pavement Café Licence Policy and requested that a report be brought back to Committee containing a review of the Policy after its first year of implementation. A report providing an update on the implementation of the Pavement Café Licence Policy was considered.

Decision

The Committee –

1.    Noted and endorsed the report.

2.    Agreed to recommend to the Policy and Resources Committee the proposal to waive the Pavement Café Licence fee for a further year.

3.    Agreed that the amended Pavement Café Licence Policy be taken to the Policy and Resources Committee for approval.

4.    Agreed that the Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure Services would report back on progress in respect of the removal of A-Board advertising on pavements by the Planning Service.

(Reference:  Report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure Services dated 13 July 2015, submitted)

Presentation by Kate Fraser, Senior Development Officer and report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure Services

The Committee received a presentation by Kate Fraser, Senior Development Officer, Business Gateway. A report was considered advising of an opportunity to raise awareness of the support on offer from the Business Gateway and to strengthen links to Business Gateway across the Council.

Decision

The Committee –

1.    Thanked Kate Fraser, Senior Development Officer, Business Gateway for her informative presentation.

2.    Noted the range of support available from the Council’s Business Gateway Service.

3.    Agreed to promote business gateway support to internal and external contacts as appropriate.

(Reference:  Report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure Services dated August 2015, submitted)

Councillor Elaine Robertson joined the meeting at this point.  Councillor Donald MacMillan left the meeting at this point.

Report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure Services

Colour copies of the Maps appended to this report will be made available in the Members Room

The Committee considered a report outlining management proposals for some Marine Protected Areas and Special Areas of Conservation recently announced by the Scottish Government.  The report identified a number of concerns relating to proposals affecting Argyll and Bute and sought approval of draft responses to Government consultations on draft Marine Conservation Orders which sought to implement management proposals for the Loch Sunart to Sound of Jura Marine Protected Area and South Arran Marine Protected Area.

Decision

The Committee –

1.    Noted the content of the report.

2.    Noted with concern that these proposals could have a disproportionate economic impact on Argyll and Bute and that the impact of displacement activity could also have adverse environmental impact within Argyll and Bute.

3.    Approved the draft responses to the Marine Conservation Order consultations as detailed at Appendices 1 and 2 to the report by the Executive Director.

4.    Agreed that the Executive Director, in consultation with the Policy Leads for Planning & Regulatory Services and Economic Development, should submit additional representation on MPA/SAC management proposal to the Cabinet Secretary Richard Lochhead and the Rural Affairs, Climate Change and Environment Committee, in order to influence parliamentary scrutiny of the proposals in Autumn 2015.

5.    Requested an update report to the EDI Committee in November.

(Reference:  Report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure Services dated 13 August 2015, submitted)

Report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure Services

A report providing the Committee with an update on the initial findings of the Compelling Argyll and Bute and its Administrative Areas research study was considered.

The Committee was issued with a copy of the research study which had just been received and which required further consideration.

Decision

The Committee noted –

1.    The content of the report.

2.    That on consideration of the completed research study a detailed report on proposed solutions, next steps and implications for Argyll and Bute council activity is brought to a future meeting.

(Reference:  Report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure Services dated August 2015, submitted)

Report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure Services

The Committee considered a report providing an update on the A83 Rest and Be Thankful.  The report also provided information on the latest Taskforce meeting held on 7 July 2015.

Decision

The Committee noted the report.

(Reference:  Report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure Services dated July 2015, submitted)

Report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure Services

The Committee considered a report setting out progress on the development of the street lighting project for the upgrade of the lighting assets within Argyll and Bute.

Decision

The Committee noted the content of the report.

(Reference:  Report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure Services dated June 2015, submitted)

Report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure Services

The Committee considered a report which sought approval of the Council’s Winter Service Policy for 2015/16.

Decision

The Committee –

1.    Noted the update on 2014/15.

2.    Noted the Salt Use Reduction and Preservation of Stocks Protocol as detailed at Appendix 3 to the report by the Executive Director.

3.    Approved the 2015/16 Winter Maintenance Policy as detailed at Appendix 2 to the report by the Executive Director.

(Reference:  Report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure Services dated July 2015, submitted)

Report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure Services

The Committee considered a report providing an update on the parking review process to date for all four areas of Argyll and Bute.  The report also presented the Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee with a list of traffic management and parking proposals that were agreed at the Helensburgh and Lomond Committee on 9 June 2015.

Decision

The Committee –

1.    Noted the current progress of the parking reviews in each of the 4 areas.

2.    Approved the proposed changes to car park charges in the Helensburgh and Lomond Area which were anticipated to be cost neutral.

(Reference:  Report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure Services dated 7 July 2015, submitted)

The Chair moved and the Committee agreed to re-order the agenda and to take the item entitled Decriminalised Parking Enforcement before the item entitled Argyll and Bute Employability – Business Model for Sustainability.

Report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure Services

A report was considered which summarised the first year of operation following the introduction of Decriminalised Parking Enforcement.  The report also provided commentary on the proposals for the current year.

Decision

The Committee noted the report.

(Reference:  Report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure Services dated July 2015, submitted)

Report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure Services

A report providing an update on a business model for the sustainability of Argyll and Bute Council’s Employability Team was considered.

Decision

The Committee noted –

1.    The content of the report in terms of the financial model and the steps being taken to reduce costs and increase income.

2.    That a further report will be prepared to take to a full Council meeting with respect to the proposed extension of the Work Programme contract for another year, into 2016/17 and what this will mean with regards to income and costs for the Employability Team.

(Reference:  Report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure Services dated August 2015, submitted)

The Committee reviewed the Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee Work Plan 2015/16 as at August 2015.

Decision

The Committee noted the up to date Work Plan.

(Reference: Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee Work Plan 2015/16 dated August 2015, submitted)