Agenda and minutes

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting.

 

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Audrey Forrest, Yvonne McNeilly and William Sinclair.

 

The Chair shared his appreciation of the work that Councillor McCabe had done as the previous Chair of the Area Committee.

Councillor Peter Wallace declared a non-financial interest in relation to item 9 of the agenda (Supporting Communities Fund 2024/25) on the basis that he knew one of the applicants. He advised that he did not consider the connection to be significant and as such would remain in the meeting and take part in discussion and decision on this item.

The Minute of the meeting of the Bute and Cowal Area Committee, held on 5 March 2024 was approved as a correct record.

The Minute of the meeting of the Bute and Cowal Area Community Planning Group, held on 30 April 2024 was noted.

The Minute of the meeting of the Cowal Transport Forum, held on 18 March 2024 was noted.

Gillian Frew 

 

The Committee Manager read out the below question submitted by Gillian Frew:

 

The sunny weather this weekend brought out an increase in bikers who seemed to take great joy in revving their engines as they speed far in excess of the speed limit past the park.

 

I also wonder if a FOI to the police as to how many speed checks they have carried out in the last year at that particular postcode would assist?  I don't believe there is enough pro-activity in this regard but as primary initial email states this would only ever be a temporary panacea not a full time solution.

 

The Committee Manager advised that he had passed Ms Frew’s concerns to Police Scotland who confirmed that they have passed the matter onto the Roads Policing Department to make them aware of the issue and further advised that speed checks do not always get recorded so they cannot provide specific detail on how often they are carried out or when they have been undertaken. The Committee Manager advised that should he receive further information from Police Scotland that he would pass this to Ms Frew and the Area Committee for information.

 

Having noted that there were members of the public in attendance, the Chair invited them to submit any questions they may have.

 

Keith Wood

 

Question 1

 

Mr Wood advised that Ardentinny Community Council are currently paying for the upkeep and cleaning of Ardentinny public toilets which is costing the Community Council £140-£180 a month and that they are really struggling with the funding for this and asked what support the Area Committee could provide in this regard?.

 

The Chair advised that he would discuss and take this the matter forward at a Business Day with Officers.

 

The Committee Manager advised that he would send Mr Wood a link to the Grants and Funding portal on the Council’s website which includes information on available external funding.

 

Question 2

 

Mr Wood highlighted that the Ardentinny community are desperate for a late bus service, similar to what was available before covid. He advised that residents would like to be able to travel into town and support local businesses in the evening but due to the lack of a suitable bus service this was not possible.

 

The Chair advised that Kilmun Community Council had raised this matter at the Cowal Transport Forum previously.

 

Councillor Hampsey advised that should he be re-appointed as the Chair of the Cowal Transport that he would continue to pick up on the request for a late bus service within this locality.

 

David Eaglesham

 

Mr Eaglesham highlighted that the plans for the Argyll Rally are concerning many residents who live along the B866 who will be inconvenienced by the event as they will be unable to leave their homes on the Friday evening as well the Saturday. Mr Eaglesham advised that local residents have not been consulted or asked about the inconvenience that the Rally would cause.

 

Mr Eaglesham asked the Committee, who in the Council is authorised to approve Traffic Regulation Orders and what consultations have been undertaken with Community Councils or Local residents.

 

Mr Eaglesham highlighted that there are many holiday home owners along the B866 who have had to part refund bookings for their holiday lets due to their visitors unable to leave the property with some having to delay the arrival time as cleaners also cannot get to the property as well as Royal Mail being unable to deliver post.

 

The Chair advised that the Argyll Rally organisers had circulated communications as they had done in previous years to local residents advising what was planned.

 

Councillor Moreland advised that the Rally organisers hold meetings every second Monday with Community Councils and that either he or one of the other members in the ward try to attend these meetings. Councillor Moreland further advised that most Community Councils are supportive of the Rally and that there has not been many objections and that Traffic Regulation Orders are operational matters and do not include Elected Members input.

 

The Chair advised that, going forward, discussions would be had with the organisers of Argyll Rally at a Business Day in the autumn time with interested parties welcome to attend.

 

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Education

 

The Committee heard from Mr Mitchell, Head Teacher of Dunoon Grammar School, who picked out some highlights from the school report which had been provided to Members. The report included information in relation to S3 attainment of Curriculum for Excellence levels in literacy and numeracy and Gaelic; the pass rates of National qualifications and the Insight data. Information in relation to wider achievement qualifications; equity and attainment and Pupil Equity Funding was also provided.

 

Decision

 

The Bute and Cowal Area Committee considered and noted the contents of the report and information provided.

 

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Education, dated 4 June 2024, submitted)

 

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Education

 

The Committee heard from Ms Nicol, Head Teacher of Rothesay Joint Campus, who picked out some highlights from the school report which had been provided to Members. The report included information in relation to S3 attainment of Curriculum for Excellence levels in literacy and numeracy; the pass rates of National qualifications and the Insight data. Information in relation to wider achievement qualifications; equity and attainment and Pupil Equity Funding was also provided.

 

Decision

 

The Bute and Cowal Area Committee noted and considered the contents of the report and information provided.

 

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Education, dated 4 June 2024, submitted)

 

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Customer Support Services

The Committee gave consideration to the Area Performance Report for financial quarter 4 of 2023/24 (January to March 2024) which illustrated the agreed performance measures for this period.

 

Decision

 

The Bute and Cowal Area Committee noted and considered the performance and supporting commentary as presented.

 

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Customer Support Services, dated 15 May 2024, submitted)

 

Report by Head of Strategic Planning, Performance and Technology, Argyll and Bute Health and Social Care Partnership

Consideration was given to the Health and Social Care Partnership Performance Reports for financial quarter 3 and 4 of 2023/24.

 

Decision

 

The Bute and Cowal Area Committee considered and noted the Performance Reports for financial quarter 3 and 4 of 2023/24.

 

(Reference: Report by Head of Strategic Planning, Performance and Technology, Argyll and Bute Health and Social Care Partnership, submitted)

 

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure Services

The Committee gave consideration to a report which provided links to the recent activities of Roads and Infrastructure Services.

 

Decision

 

The Bute and Cowal Area Committee considered and noted the contents of the report.

 

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure Services, dated May 2024, submitted)

Report by Chief Executive

Consideration was given to a report which detailed recommendations for the award of the Council’s Supporting Communities Fund (SCF) for the 2024/25 round of funding that had been made available for distribution by Council to organisations in the Bute and Cowal area.

 

Decision

 

The Bute and Cowal Area Committee agreed that the 17 applications, marked as ‘Award’ and ‘Partial Award’ within Appendix 1 of the report, are awarded funding from the Supporting Communities Fund Budget totalling £30,176.69, as follows:

 

Ref	Applicant	Recommendation	Amount Requested	Recommended Award 2024/25
1	Isle of Bute Resilience	Award	£    2,500.00	£          2,500.00
2	Crossroads Caring for Carers B&C SCIO	Award	£    2,500.00	£          2,500.00
3	Heartstart Argyll	Award	£    2,450.00	£          2,450.00
4	Castle House Museum	Award	£    2,500.00	£          2,500.00
5	Waterbaby Arts	Award	£    2,448.00	£          2,448.00
6	Scenic Sandbank	Award	£    2,460.00	£          2,460.00
7	Cairndow Community Council	Award	£       350.00	£             350.00
8	Strachur and District Youth Drama	Award	£    2,500.00	£          2,500.00
9	Bute Advice Centre	Award	£    2,500.00	£          2,500.00
10	Dunoon Burgh Hall Trust	Award	£    2,498.00	£          2,498.00
11	Patchwork Nursery	Award	£    1,000.00	£          1,000.00
12	Tignabruich District Development Trust (1)	Award	£       400.00	£             400.00
13	Bute Community Forest	Award	£    2,500.00	£          2,500.00
14	Live Music Now Scotland	Award	£       614.25	£             614.25
15	Cormonachan Community Woodlands Ltd	Award	£       963.00	£             963.00
16	Cairndow Village Hall	Partial award	£    1,450.00	£             996.72
17	Youth Stuff	Partial award	£    2,222.37	£             996.72
18	Argyll Talking Newspaper	No award	£       666.66	£                    -
19	Argyll & Bute CAB	No award	£    2,500.00	£                    -
20	Lochgoilhead Bowling Club	No award	£    1,975.00	£                    -
21	Wild Goilers	No award	£    1,436.00	£                    -
22	Hunter's Quay Community Council	No award	£    1,340.00	£                    -
23	Lochgoil Comm Council	No award	£    2,088.00	£                    -
24	Rothesay Pipe Band	No award	£    2,500.00	£                    -
25	Kyles of Bute Golf Club	No award	£    1,950.00	£                    -
26	Cowal Choral Club	No award	£    2,500.00	£                    -
27	Bute Shinty Club	No award	£    1,000.00	£                    -
28	Argyll FM	No award	£       833.33	£                    -
29	Tignabruich District Development Trust (2)	No award	£    2,000.00	£                    -
30	Bute Community Bands	No award	£    2,500.00	£                    -
31	Cowal Walking Festival Association	No award	£    2,500.00	£                    -
32	Dunoon Community Shed	No award	£    2,500.00	£                    -

 

(Reference: Report by Chief Executive, dated 4 June 2024, submitted)

 

 

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Legal and Regulatory Support

A report asking the Committee to consider making appointments to a number of local bodies/organisations within the Bute and Cowal area was considered.

 

Decision

 

The Committee agreed to make the following appointments:

 

Organisation	Elected Member
Bute and Cowal Locality Planning Group	Councillor Daniel Hampsey
Cruach Mor Windfarm Trust	Councillor William Sinclair
Clachan Flats Windfarm Trust	Councillor Gordon Blair
Cowal Transport Forum	Councillor Daniel Hampsey
Historic Kilmun/Argyll Mausoleum	Councillor Ross Moreland
Benmore and Kilmun Community Development Trust	Councillor Gordon Blair
Rothesay Pavilion Charity	Councillor Reeni Kennedy-Boyle
Gourock-Dunoon Infrastructure and Vessels Project – Reference Group	Councillor Ross Moreland
Dunoon Community Development Trust	Councillor Audrey Forrest - subject to her acceptance.

 

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Legal and Regulatory Support dated 13 May 2024, submitted)

 

Report by Executive Director with responsibilities for Legal and Regulatory Support

A report providing an update on the work undertaken by the wind farm trusts set up at both Cruach Mhor (Glendaruel) and Clachan Flats (Cairndow) in accordance with consented developments was before the Committee for information.

 

Decision

 

The Bute and Cowal Area Committee noted the contents of the report.

 

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Legal and Regulatory Support, dated May 2024, submitted)

 

The Bute and Cowal Area Committee workplan was before members for information.

 

Decision

 

The Bute and Cowal Committee noted the contents of the workplan.

 

(Reference: Bute and Cowal Area Committee workplan, dated 4 June 2024)