Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Donald Kelly and Gary Mulvaney.

There were no declarations of interest.

Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee held on 6 December 2018

The Minutes of the meeting of the Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee held on 6 December 2018 were approved as a correct record.

Report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure Services

The Committee gave consideration to the Development and Infrastructure Services departmental performance report with associated scorecard for performance in financial quarter three 2018/19.

Decision

The Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee -

1.    Noted the Development and Infrastructure Services departmental performance report with associated scorecard for performance in FQ3 2018/19.

2.    Recognised the outstanding work carried out by departments in respect of building standards and empty homes; and in particular the achievement of Kelly Ferns in being named Outstanding Individual at the Howdens Scottish Empty Homes Champion of the Year Awards.

(Reference:  Report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure Services dated March 2019, submitted)

Report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure Services

The Committee gave consideration to a report which updated them on the 2018 flood event and subsequent relief works in Oban.  The report drew Members attention to the purpose and progress of the flood study currently underway for Oban.  The report provided guidance on interim works which had been completed to reduce flood risk, and gave clarity on the flood study programme including the potential for a wider flood scheme.

Decision

The Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee –

1.    Noted the interim actions undertaken to mitigate immediate flood risk by carrying out works to the pumps in Lochavullin car park, and the provision of temporary flood barriers.

2.    Welcomed the progress on the Oban flood study which was assessing flood risk and potential for cost beneficial flood protection solutions for Oban, with potential funding available from 2022 at the earliest.

3.    Noted the advice and links to advice available to the public at the Council’s website https://www.argyll-bute.gov.uk/transport-and-streets/flood-advice.

(Reference:  Report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure Services dated 29 January 2019, submitted)

Report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure Services

Consideration was given to a report that introduced Members to the draft Waste Strategy document and which updated them on the overall context for, and potential changes to, waste services.

Decision

The Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee –

1.    Approved the Draft Waste Strategy for public consultation.

2.    Noted the timeline at paragraph 4.4.1 of the submitted report and the approvals process for the production of the Final Waste Strategy.

3.    Noted the significant work to date in progressing the complex piece of work.

(Reference:  Report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure Services dated 12 February 2019, submitted)

Report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure Services

The Committee gave consideration to a report that updated Members on the delivery of festive lighting across Argyll and Bute in 2018, as well as the community handover arrangements now that the Council is ceasing to provide this non-statutory service.

Decision

The Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee –

1.    Noted the successful delivery of festive lighting schemes across Argyll and Bute in 2018.

2.    Endorsed the work of community groups to deliver festive lighting in their towns and villages.

3.    Agreed the scoring matrix guide for Area Committees as set out at paragraph 4.2.2 of the submitted report.

4.    Noted that the Council has now ceased to provide this service and that the project is on track to deliver full community handovers by the end of this financial year.

5.    Noted that other local authorities have approached the Council for advice and support in their own festive handover initiatives.

(Reference:  Report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure Services dated March 2019, submitted)

Report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure Services

The Committee gave consideration to a report that provided details of the proposed roads reconstruction programme for 2019/20.

The Head of Roads and Amenity Services clarified that the reference to Ardrishaig Street on the Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands proposed roads reconstruction programme should actually read streets in Ardrishaig.

Decision

The Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee –

1.    Endorsed the proposed programme of capital works for 2019/20.

2.    Agreed that the details of each Area Committee’s programme would be forwarded on to individual Members, and that updates to Area Committees would be provided as the programme progresses.

(Reference:  Report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure Services dated March 2019, submitted)

Report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure Services

Consideration was given to a report which sought endorsement from the Committee for officers to develop an evidence base of appropriate criteria and indicators to provide a regional policy position for Argyll and Bute to benefit from any future national funding allocations that may replace current European funding streams.

Decision

The Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee –

1.    Endorsed officers to do further work on the development of appropriate criteria and indicators to prepare an evidence based position to support an Argyll and Bute regional policy to ensure the area benefits from future external funding allocations.

2.    Agreed that officers come back to a future Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee meeting to present and seek approval on appropriate criteria and indicators.

3.    Agreed that Argyll and Bute Council lobby to ensure that national criteria recognise local needs.

(Reference:  Report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure Services dated 19 February 2019, submitted)

Councillor Alistair Redman and Councillor Donald MacMillan left the meeting during discussion of the following item of business.

Report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure Services

The Committee gave consideration to a report concerning the development of a new Argyll and Bute Economic Strategy and associated Action Plan that had been drafted to take account of a rapidly changing economy at global, national and local levels, increasingly influenced by a number of key economic drivers such as the emergence of City and Regional Growth deals including the Argyll Rural Growth Deal.

Decision

The Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee –

1.    Recommended approval of the Draft Argyll and Bute Economic Strategy and associated Action Plan to the Council.

2.    Noted that the Strategy and associated Action Plan would also be considered by the Community Planning Partnership Management Committee and any suggested amendments arising from that meeting would be subject to consideration and adoption by the Council.

(Reference:  Report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure Services dated March 2019, submitted)

Report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure Services

The Committee gave consideration to a report which updated Members on the progress made towards launching Phase Two of the Business Gateway Local Growth Accelerator Programme.

Decision

The Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee –

1.    Noted that Phase Two would create a £483k business support programme at no additional cost to the Council and that it can be delivered by the current head count within Business Gateway.

2.    Agreed the preparations for Phase Two, including the proposal to use all of the West of Scotland Loan Fund (WSLF) surplus of £150k as the Council’s match funding for Phase Two.

3.    Agreed to recommend to Council that the £75k West of Scotland Loan Fund (WSLF) surplus allocated for additional small and medium sized enterprises support is used in advance of an agreed Rural Growth Deal in order to be able to draw down European Structural Funds to maximise business growth opportunities within Argyll and Bute.

(Reference:  Report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure Services dated 5 February 2019, submitted)

The Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee Workplan as at March 2019 was before the Committee for noting.

Decision

The Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee noted the content of the Workplan as at March 2019.

(Reference: Environment, Development and Infrastructure Workplan as at March 2019, submitted)

The Committee resolved in terms of Section 50(A)(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 to exclude the press and public for the following item of business on the grounds that it was likely to involve the disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 8 and 9 of Part 1 of Schedule 7A to the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973.

Report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure Services

The Committee gave consideration to a report which sought approval for the issue of a tender for a collaborative procurement agreement for residual waste disposal services  for Argyll and Bute Council and another 2 local authorities.

Decision

The Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee –

1.    Approved the collaborative approach to procurement in conjunction with another two local authorities.

2.    Delegated the Minute of Agreement to the Executive Director of Development and Infrastructure Services in consultation with the Executive Director of Customer Services.

(Reference:  Report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure Services dated February 2019, submitted)

E1       Paragraph 8  The amount of any expenditure proposed to be incurred by the authority under any particular contract for the acquisition of property or the supply of goods or services.

Paragraph 9  Any terms proposed or to be proposed by or to the authority in the course of negotiations for a contract for the acquisition or disposal of property or the supply of goods or services.