Minutes:
Question from Liz Neilson, Sandbank Resident
Liz Neilson highlighted that the Community were
concerned with traffic speeding through Sandbank and the general lack of road
safety measures along the entirety of the road. She added that within the last
6 months there had been a number of accidents with 2 fatalities being recorded.
Mrs Neilson advised that the Community would like the Council to consider a number
of suggestions to mitigate against speeding, the principal suggestion being a
reduction of the speed limit to 20mph from Sandbank to Sandhaven.
Response from Committee/Project Manager
Councillor Sinclair highlighted that a speed survey
had been requested for the section of road mentioned and advised that he had
also spoken to 2 senior officers who are aware of the situation.
The Project Manager referred to the general
purposes roads and infrastructure update provided in the agenda pack and highlighted
the outstanding speed surveys, with the Sandbank to Cothouse survey being first
on that list. He advised that local authorities have been allocated funding
from the Scottish Government to undertake reviews of the road network which
would allow an assessment of whether 30mph roads would remain as such or be
reduced to 20mph.
Decision
The Bute and Cowal Area Committee agreed to invite
Police Scotland to a future meeting to discuss road safety measures within the
locality.
Questions by Jim Osborne, Bute Community Councillor
Question 1
Jim Osborne enquired about the Traffic Speed
Survey’s which are to be carried out on Kilchattan
Bay and Crichton Road, Rothesay and asked the Project Manager if these are
separate from the previously mentioned 20mph speed reviews and when these would
be undertaken.
Response from Project Manager
The Project Manager advised that the speed surveys
are in addition to the 20mph national speed reviews and that there is a section
in the general purposes roads and infrastructure update that provides
information on the speed surveys which would be worked through in that order.
Question 2
Jim Osborne asked about the review of Ardencraig Gardens which was to
take place following the summer season, specifically the quality of plants. He
asked the Project Manager if it had taken place and if so what the outcome was,
he also enquired about who the Council’s horticultural experts were.
Response from Project Manager/Committee
The Project Manager confirmed that the Council employ a team of
gardeners across the council area and that there are two based in Rothesay. The
Project Manager confirmed that the Department would soon begin exploring
options for the supply of bedding plants for 2023.
Question 3
Mr Osbourne asked why the Chair
of the Bute and Cowal Area Committee never attends Bute Community Council
meetings?
Response from Councillor McCabe
Councillor Mcneilly responded that this was an inappropriate question as
there could be a host of private reasons as to why any elected member could not
attend certain meetings and that members do face demands on their time.
The Chair advised that there are two other local councillors who
routinely attend these meetings and are more than capable of giving council
updates.
Question 4
Jim Osborne enquired about the target of 73 in the performance measure
for "street cleaning" referenced within the Area Performance Report
and asked what the number meant?
Response by Project Manager
The Project Manager advised that the measurement was 73 was out of 100,
and that the figure was reached by applying the Local Environment Audit Management
System, a process used by all Scottish Local Authorities to compare and
benchmark street cleanliness levels and performance.
Question 5
Jim Osborne asked why there is a
target of 0 for social housing new builds in Bute & Cowal?
Response by Housing Strategy Team Lead
The Committee Manager advised that he had received
a response from the Housing Strategy Team Lead as follows:
I can’t see where in the report it says there is a
target of 0.
In terms of a couple of positive comments there are
currently 4 new build houses under construction by ACHA in central Dunoon due
for completion next year. We are actively looking for opportunities to build
new build affordable houses in the Dunoon area.
Also in the overall Strategic Housing Investment
Programme we have 40 units in there for Bute – all Fyne Homes. 10 at Ballochgoy
– not on site yet but estimated completion in financial year 2023/24 and 30 at
the Rothesay Academy site – not on site but preparatory work is ongoing and
once the building starts there is an estimated completion date of 2024/25 for
phase 1. There is scope for further units to be delivered on this site in the
future.
Question 6
Jim Osborne enquired what is
being done to address the causes of stress related absence amongst non-teaching
staff in schools and what staff does the LGE category include?
Response by HROD Manager
The Committee Manager advised that he had received
a response from the HROD Manager as follows:
LGE grouping of employees includes employees who
are covered by the SJC negotiating committee terms and conditions of service.
In practical terms that includes all employees who are not covered by teaching or chief officers conditions of service.
The figures reported will therefore include Local Government Employees from all
services across the council, and not only Education.
With regards to the actions around the causes of
stress related absence, I will respond in general terms outlining what the
council offer by way of identifying and managing stress in the workforce. Since
the question was specifically related to non-teaching LGE staff in schools, the
Education management team may be best placed to respond with any additional
measures relating to this specific group of employees.
The causes of stress related absence in this
category are varied and would include for example where an employee is signed
off by their GP after a life event such as a bereavement. This category also
includes other mental health matters such as depression, anxiety etc.
The council have a wellbeing strategy which aims to
support our employees with their physical, mental and financial wellbeing.
With a specific focus on stress we have the
following tools and resources which support employees and their line managers
to identify and address causes of stress, and support employees who are feeling
stressed:
Question 7
Mr
Osbourne asked why the Bute Resilience Team was not being funded by Argyll and
Bute Council?
Response from Committee Manager/Committee
The Committee Manager said that he was unaware if Bute Resilience Team
had tried to access any of the funding streams such as the Supporting
Communities Fund (SCF) which provides grants of up to £2,500 for the voluntary
sector, community councils and parent councils.
Mr McLean added that while it is not ‘Council money’ the Bute Resilience
Team had applied to the Rothesay Common Good fund and had subsequently been
awarded £900 in April 2020.
The Committee Manager highlighted that there is a Council hosted Grants
and Funding webpage which is designed to help groups find their way through the
funding maze and shows where Groups can get help to develop their project,
information on sources of funding with links to sites that gives tips on
funding and free software. The Committee Manager highlighted that he would be
delighted to pass the link to Mr Osborne.
The Chair highlighted that the Council had previously provided the Bute
Resilience Team with a shop to work from for many months and added that she was
aware of The Bute Resilience team applying, successfully, for funds.
Questions by Roland Zielinski,
Hunters Quay Community Council
Question 1
Roland Zielinski enquired about road signage for queuing traffic at
Western Ferries, Hunters Quay, which was to be erected and asked if the
Committee could provide an update.
Response from Committee/Committee
Manager
Councillor Sinclair advised that he had raised this issue at the Cowal
Transport Forum in relation to LED signage at Rankins Brae to give traffic the
opportunity to travel via the top road and that discussions were ongoing with
Western Ferries.
Councillor Hampsey advised that he would be happy to take this issue
forward as Chair of the Cowal Transport Forum.
The Committee Manager advised that the Environmental, Development and
Infrastructure Committee during its meeting of 1 December considered a report
following the allocation of £100k for a bin and signage programme.
Question 2
Mr Zielinski asked why there are no white lines along Marine Parade and
throughout the Hunters Quay area and those that are, are worn and not
visible?. Mr Zielinski added that many
double yellow lines are not visible which has created increased instances of
illegal parking as parking restrictions are unenforceable.
Response from Committee
The Chair advised that the Council had employed 3 external service
providers to undertake white lining work and that she expects the work to be
concluded within the next 2 weeks. The Chair confirmed that she would confirm
with the Department that the double yellow lines will also be reinstated.
Question 3
Mr Zielinski asked why a consultation is being undertaken regarding
terminal infrastructure at Dunoon when local opposition on a passenger only
service has been clear?
Response from Project Manager
The Project Manager advised that the purpose of the consultation is to
get feedback to ensure safe and reliable berthing facilities.
Question 4
Mr Zielinski advised that construction work at
Hunters Quay Holiday Park had to stop recently due to the release of hydrogen
sulphur gas which caused an explosion. Mr Zielinski asked whether the relevant
environmental agencies had been made aware and whether there had been an
investigation?
Response from the Committee Manager
The Committee Manager advised that he would take
this issue to the relevant Department and respond to Mr Zielinski and the Area
Committee in due course.
Questions by David Clough, Dunoon
Resident
Question 1
David Clough highlighted discussions held at the
recent meeting of the Cowal Transport Forum, specifically the reliability and
punctuality figures presented by Calmac ferries. Mr Clough advised that a
recent Freedom of Information request to Transport Scotland showed that the technical
reliability of Calmac was over 99%. Mr Clough asked whether Calmac are
reporting cancellations against scheduled timetables, and should Calmac be
providing better, more accurate performance data?
Response from Committee
Councillor Hampsey responded that the way in which
Calmac presented the performance data was not acceptable and advised that he
had raised this at the Cowal Transport Forum. Councillor Hampsey agreed that
Calmac should be providing reliability figures based on all cancellations and
added that he would be happy to pass Mr Clough’s concerns to Calmac.
Question 2
In the same Freedom of information request that was
provided by Transport Scotland Mr Clough reported that he had been advised that
there was a Scotrail ticket machine in place in Dunoon. Mr Clough asked if any
elected members knew of its location?
Response from Committee
The Committee advised that they were not aware of a
Scotrail ticket machine in Dunoon and suggested Mr Clough contact Scotrail.