Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies for absence intimated.

There were no declarations of interest intimated.

Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee held on 2 March 2023

The Minutes of the meeting of the Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee held on 2 March 2023 were approved as a correct record.

Councillor Tommy MacPherson joined the meeting during the consideration of the following item of Business.

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure Services

The Committee gave consideration to a report setting out proposals for additional Member and Area Committee engagement for the development of the annual roads capital programme.

Decision

The Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee endorsed the proposals for additional member and Area Committee engagement in the roads capital programme.

(Reference:  Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure dated May 2023, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure Services

The Committee gave consideration to a report providing an update on the development of the route optimisation project following the report to the Committee on the same subject in March.

Decision

The Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee –

1.    noted the progress with the Route Optimisation project;

2.    agreed that a Member Seminar would be arranged in the Autumn to present the system and possible scenarios; and

3.    noted that a further update report would be brought back to the December Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee meeting. 

(Reference:  Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure dated May 2023, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure Services

The Committee gave consideration to a report providing an update on the £5.450M of funding secured through a highly competitive bid process from Scottish Government’s £32 million Local Bridge Maintenance Fund.

Decision

The Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee endorsed the programme of bridge works.

(Reference:  Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure dated April 2023, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure Services

The Committee gave consideration to a report providing an update on waste projects and engagement taking place with Scottish Government and Renewi following the report presented to the Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee on 1 December 2022.

Decision

The Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee –

1.    endorsed the content of the submitted report; and

2.    noted that further updates would be provided for the Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee on 31 August 2023.

(Reference:  Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure dated 1 June 2023, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Infrastructure

The Committee gave consideration to a report proposing the development of a robust Active Travel Strategy and subsidiary Active Travel Delivery Plan which would provide a basis for development of active travel projects to support residents and visitors to choose actively, supporting improved health, access to services and economic development.

Decision

The Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee approved the Strategic Transportation Team within Development and Economic Growth to develop an Active Travel Strategy and subsidiary Active Travel Delivery Plan for future approval.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Infrastructure dated May 2023, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth

The Committee gave consideration to a report providing an update on the delivery of the Argyll and Bute Shared Prosperity Fund Investment Plan.

Decision

The Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee noted the content of the update contained within the submitted report.

(Reference:  Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth dated 2 May 2023, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth

The Committee gave consideration to a report advising of the requirement to develop a new Argyll and Bute Council Economic Strategy from 2023. The report provided detail on the relevant context, proposed governance arrangements, scope and process of work, including community and business engagement and consultation proposals, funding and associated timescales.

Decision

The Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee –

1.    noted the content of the submitted report; and

2.    agreed the scope, process, including community and engagement, associated with revising the current economic strategy.

(Reference:  Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth dated 4 May 2023, submitted.

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth

The Committee gave consideration to a report providing an update on the delivery of services and associated outcomes by the overarching Economic Growth Team within the Development and Economic Growth Service during 2022/23.

Decision

The Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee noted the update on the delivery of services in 2022/23 by the Economic Growth Team.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth dated 18 May 2023, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth

The Committee gave consideration to a report outlining the key characteristics of stress within the Argyll and Bute housing system.  The report proposed that the Council formally acknowledge a Housing Emergency and suggested that the Council’s Local Housing Strategy be updated to identify in detail what the issues were and how they could be tackled by the Council and/or partners.

Decision

The Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee noted –

1.    the contents of the submitted report and formally declared a “Housing Emergency” in Argyll and Bute;

2.    the intention to update the Local Housing Strategy;

3.    the intention to hold an Argyll and Bute housing summit together with relevant stakeholders in the Autumn of 2023; and

4.    the operational officers group will explore and develop a series of options that will be brought forward to Members for consideration as and when developed. 

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth dated June 2023, submitted)

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

Decision

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

(Reference: Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee work plan as at June 2023, submitted)