Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Donald Kelly, Roddy McCuish, and Jamie McGrigor.

There were no declarations of interest.

Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee held on 6 June 2019

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

Councillor Gary Mulvaney joined the meeting at this point.

Report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure Services

A report that presented the Committee with the Development and Infrastructure Services departmental performance report with associated scorecard for performance in financial quarter 1 2019-20 (April to June 2019) was considered.

Decision

The Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee noted the Development and Infrastructure Services departmental performance report with associated scorecard for performance in financial quarter 1 2019-20 (April to June 2019).

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

Report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure Services

The Committee gave consideration to a report that presented the Service Annual Performance Reviews 2018-19 for the Development and Infrastructure Service.

Decision

The Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee endorsed the Service Annual Performance Reviews 2018-19 for Development and Infrastructure Services as presented.

(Reference:  Report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure Services dated 10 June 2019, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with the responsibility for Customer and Support Services

A report presenting an overview of the 23 Environment, Development and infrastructure indicators from the final Local Government Benchmarking Framework (LGBF) 2017/18 data for Argyll and Bute was considered. The analysis included ‘Telling Our Story’ and ‘Looking Forward – Expected Impact on Indicator’ commentary from Heads of Service.

Decision

The Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee –

1.    Noted the content of the report for scrutiny activity and performance reporting purposes.

2.    Noted that the completed Local Government benchmarking framework 2017/18 was published on the website as part of the Council’s statutory public performance reporting duty.

(Reference:  Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Customer and Support Services dated 5 July 2019, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure Services

Consideration was given to a report that presented the Winter Policy 2019/20 which remained in a similar format and which covered a similar network to the Policy approved by the Committee in previous years.  The Policy was generally based on the network and times of the public bus service with additional priority and resources allocated to strategic high speed roads.

Decision

The Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee –

1.    Noted the proposals for community resilience.

2.    Noted the weather summary from 2018/19 at Appendix 1 to the submitted report.

3.    Approved the 2019/20 Winter Maintenance Policy at Appendix 2 to the submitted report.

4.    Approved the Salt Use Reduction and Preservation of Stocks Protocol at Appendix 4 to the submitted report.

(Reference:  Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure Services dated August 2019, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure Services

In March 2019 the Committee had endorsed the release of the Draft Waste Strategy for public consultation and approved the action plan for the completion of the final Waste Strategy.  The Committee gave consideration to a report which detailed the outcome of the public consultation and the amended Waste Strategy and high level schedule of activities with a timescale.

Decision

The Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee –

1.    Noted the consultation responses received at Appendix 1 to the submitted report.

2.    Agreed to recommend to Council approval of the proposed amendments to the Waste Strategy that resulted from the consultation feedback as detailed at Appendix 2 to the submitted report.

(Reference:  Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure dated August 2019, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth

The Committee gave consideration to a report which updated Members on the progress in delivering the larger scale project work which sat under the remit of the Transformation Project and Regeneration Team, with a focus on the projects that were mainly externally funded.  The report also highlighted key issues that would impact on the successful delivery of the projects.

Decision

The Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee having considered the current progress as contained within the report agreed to congratulate officers involved for driving the projects forward and to also thank the communities for supporting the works involved.

(Reference:  Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth dated August 2019, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure Services

A report that provided the Committee with a high level analysis of the impact of the upcoming national ban on the disposable of Biodegradable Municipal Waste at landfill was before the Committee for noting.  The report also updated the Committee on the results of the joint procurement of the residual waste disposal contract with Argyll and Bute, West Dunbartonshire and Inverclyde Councils.  The report also contained details on the proposed testing of the in-vessel composting process in the Waste PPP area.

Decision

The Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee noted –

1.    The high level range of compliance costs model as summarised in the report and the action plan to develop and implement ban compliant solutions as detailed as Appendix 1 to the submitted report.

2.    The continuing engagement with the Scottish Government and its agencies to seek additional funding to develop, implement and operate future Biodegradable Municipal Waste Ban compliant solutions.

(Reference:  Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure Services dated August 2019, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Employability

A report which provided members with an update on the current activity by Argyll and Bute’s Employability Team and an overview of the new ‘No One Left Behind’ employability model introduced in April 2019 by the Scottish Government was before the Committee for noting.

Decision

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

(Reference:  Report by Executive Director with the responsibility for Development and Economic Growth – Employability dated 9 August 2019, submitted)

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

Decision

The Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee noted the work plan as at September 2019.

(Reference: Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee work plan dated September 2019, submitted)