Minutes:
The Chair advised that a number of public questions had been submitted
in advance of the meeting. He also noted
that there were a number of members of the public in attendance who had
intimated that they wished to ask a question.
He advised that his intention was to take the questions submitted in
advance first and then open the floor to those in attendance.
The questions were submitted in the following order:-
Question 1 – Jennifer Evans
Evans Funfair submitted an application to hold their annual Fun Fair at
Blaze Pitch Mossfield in February 2025 to Amenity Services, they have not
received an acknowledgement or any confirmation. They have heard that the
Waterboard are working on the site and do not know
how long that is going to go on for, therefore is there an alternative site
available for September or can they have confirmation that the works will be
complete and they are able to use the Blaze Pitch as normal?
The Operations Manager advised that Scottish Water were carrying out
works at the blaze pitch on Mossfield and that it was anticipated that they
would still be on-site in September. He
advised that he was currently awaiting confirmation from the Network and
Standards Manager as to whether Lochavullin Carpark
would be available to use as an alternative to site the annual fun fair and he
would confirm the position with Mrs Evans in due course.
Question 2 – Frank Roberts
On 24 January Storm Eowyn caused significant
damage to the pontoon berths adjacent to the North Pier, particularly to
sections of the floating breakwater. Consequently, the outer two sections
of the breakwater are now closed “until further notice", and the
inner section subject to restrictions for the time being of the number and size
of vessels which may use them. (EDI Committee, March 2025: Notice to
Mariners # 04/25, May 2nd 2025). The breakwater being out of commission
is having severe adverse effects on both commercial and leisure users of it.
At a recent meeting of the Oban Bay Management Group, it was stated that
it was not possible to say when repairs might be completed and full use of the
breakwater restored, but that it was not likely before an as yet indeterminate
date in 2026.
It is now four months since the storm, and surveys of the damage are
reported to have been conducted. Therefore, can the Area Committee
respond to the following questions, please:
1. Has the full extent of the
damage and necessary repairs been determined?
2. Has an initial schedule of
those repairs been developed?
3. Do either of the outer
sections of breakwater require to be rebuilt and replaced?
4. What is the anticipated
latest date for completion of repairs, and the breakwater to be fully re-opened
for use?
5. Will the EDI Committee be
given a full report on progress at its meeting later this month?
The Democratic Services Manager confirmed that the question(s) had been
forwarded to the Council’s Roads and Infrastructure Service and enquired as to
whether the Operations Manager was able to provide an update in this regard. Mr Murphy confirmed that he was unaware of
the position in relation to the questions.
He undertook to take forward with the Council’s Marine Operations
Manager following the meeting and ensure a response was provided to Mr Roberts
directly.
Question 3 – Terry Hegarty
How exactly does Argyll and Bute Council reconcile the legal rights
of children to enjoy the benefits of family life and equality of educational
opportunity with continuing reliance upon mainland hostel arrangements for
children resident in SW Mull attending High School in Oban?
The Democratic Services Manager advised that as this question related to
the Mull Campus Project, she had taken advice from the Council’s Legal
Services. Mrs Stewart confirmed that a
Judicial Review had been served on the Council, in regard to that project and
as the matter is now subject to Court Proceedings it would not be appropriate
to provide a response or have any discussion on the matter, or any other
question that may arise at the meeting relating to the Mull Campus Project.
Question 4 – Nigel Burgess
1.
What was the procurement process for awarding the contract to build Iona
Breakwater?
2.
Why was the contract awarded to a dredging Company when the EIA report
clearly stated that dredging would be required subsequent to the construction
due to sedimentation?
3.
Where is the £14.8 million budget coming from? This does not appear in
the Transport Scotland infrastructure budget
4.
Why was the advice of the Planning Statutory Consultee Naturescot not followed to investigate and mitigate for
seagrass?
5.
What will be the addition cost of the seagrass investigation, subsequent
to the contract preliminaries?
6.
What will be the increase to the contract price as a consequence of
these delays?
The Democratic Services Manager confirmed that the questions raised by
Mr Burgess were more aligned to a Freedom of Information request. She undertook to signpost Mr Burgess to the
process for lodging a Freedom of Information request.
Question 5 – Mary Braithwaite
Why has there been a change to care at home provision on Luing, with the care provider no longer willing to work
with family carers? This was introduced with no notice, and it has so far been
impossible to obtain any information on this change in policy. It has
already impacted care and the situation of families on Luing
and is of significant concern to the community in terms of current and future
care.
The Chair confirmed that this was an issue which was felt across the
Council area and was also a concern for Elected Members.
Councillor Green, Chair of the Argyll and Bute HSCP Audit and Risk
Committee advised that he was looking to progress this matter with the
appropriate personnel within the HSCP and would work with Committee Services to
avoid a duplication of questions.
Question 6 – Tracy Mayo
Ms Mayo sought clarification in relation to the platform the meeting was
taking place on. She advised that she
was aware of members of the public who were not in a position to attend the
meeting but had anticipated watching the live stream via the Council’s Public-i portal.
Councillor Green indicated that only meetings hosted from the Council
Chamber were livestreamed but that officers would confirm the position. The Democratic Services Manager confirmed
that meetings of the Area Committee are not webcast live due to a restriction
of the mobile equipment utilised to facilitate meetings that are not held
within the Council Chamber. She further
clarified that the teams link provided in respect of the meeting would allow
members of the public to participate in public questions or simply watch
proceedings in the same way that a webcast would.
Question 7 – Tracy Mayo
Referring to an invite extended to the Council by Jenni Minto MSP to
attend an online roundtable discussion on Mull Campus on Friday, 13 June 2025,
Ms Mayo enquired as to why the Council had declined the invitation.
The Chair referred to the earlier advice provided by the Democratic
Services Manager in relation to any question on the Mull Campus Project and
reiterated that, as there was a legal process in place, no discussion would be
had in any regard to the Mull Campus Project.
Question 8 – Roddy McCuish
Mr McCuish advised that he was in attendance
in his capacity as both Director of the Camanachd
Association and as President of the Macaulay Association. Referring to the decision of the Committee at
their meeting on 12 March 2025 to allocate funding available from the Agnes
Angus Bequest for use at Mossfield Stadium, he took the opportunity to thank
the Committee and sought clarity that the funding would be utilised for improvements
at Mossfield Stadium and not the wider area.
The Operations Manager referred to discussions that had taken place with
the Rugby Club and others in the town as well as colleagues in Property
Services around the possibility of linking amenity areas, such as reinstating
the bridge and other possible uses. He
advised that a further report would be brought to a future meeting of the Area
Committee before the end of the year which would outline proposals that related
specifically to Mossfield Stadium. Mr
Murphy offered to meet with Mr McCuish in person to
discuss further.
Question 9 – Emily Greenhalgh
Referring to the earlier question raised by Tracy Mayo on the roundtable
discussion with Jenni Minto MSP, Ms Greenhalgh
advised that the invitation had been extended to the Council on 5 June 2025 and
the Council were not notified of legal action until 7 June 2025. She asked why the invite to the roundtable
discussion was refused before the Council were aware of the legal action.
The Executive Director outlined the nature of the invitation to the
roundtable discussion on 13 June 2025.
He advised that following consultation with the Political Leadership and
the Chief Executive, he had been asked to write to the MSP confirming that the
Council would not be attending. He
advised that it was his understanding that the event had now been cancelled and
at no point had he intimated that the invite had been declined as a consequence
of the legal action having been notified.
Question 10 – Frank Roberts on behalf of Alison Rennie
Having noted an email exchange between Alison Rennie and the Council’s
Roads and Infrastructure Services, Mr Roberts read out the most recent email
from Ms Rennie to the Service and asked that answers be sought.
“Dear Roads and Infrastructure
Your
recent e-mail raises a number of questions which require to be clarified,
please.
In
December 2024 you informed me that you had identified Oban as a proposed Flood
Protection Scheme. At that time the Council had not secured funding for this.
In the meantime you were progressing temporary mitigations under the Flood Risk
Management team’s available revenue funding and proposed to carry out a list of
identified works and advised me regarding the proposed timescale for these
works.
Your
latest email tells me that your in-house flood event modelling now shows that
no works need to be done. This is contrary to what you said would happen in
your December email and is not consistent with the advice given in the Enviro
Centre 2019 report. This report even included a recommended list of specific
priority maintenance actions.
Can
you clarify whether you intend to carry out the routine maintenance as listed
in your December email?
Can
you specifically clarify whether work is to be carried out on the eradication
of Japanese Knotweed in Q3?
Can
you tell me what steps have been taken to secure funding from the Scottish
Government for the proposed Flood Protection Scheme, particularly in light of
the commitment made at the ED&I Committee meeting in June 2024?
Note that no screenshots were attached to your email to demonstrate the
modelling of the flood water level difference within the Lochavullin
area before and after dredging.
Regards
Alison Rennie”
The Democratic Services Manager referred to the response that she had
been copied into from the Service in relation to the email referred to. She undertook to forward this email to both
Ms Rennie, Mr Roberts and the Operations Manager and sought further comments
from the Operations Manager in relation to the Japanese Knotweed issue referred
to.
Mr Murphy advised that he would take forward the issues relating to the
flood risk in Oban to his colleagues within the Design and Infrastructure team
and advised that he had organised for additional training to be provided in
relation to the management of Japanese Knotweed.
Question 11 – Tracy Mayo
Referring back to the invitation from Jenni Minto MSP for the Council to
attend a roundtable discussion on the Mull Campus Project, Ms Mayo asked
whether the decision to decline the invite was taken by all 36 Elected Members;
the 4 Ward Councillors or simply by the Council’s Executive Leadership
Team.
The Chair reiterated that as this matter is now subject of a legal
action, no discussion could take place in this regard.