Agenda and minutes

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting.

There were no apologies for absence.

Councillor Maurice Corry declared a non-financial interest in relation to item 8 of the agenda (Supporting Communities Fund – Monitoring of projects funded), due to being the director of Project 81 Youth & Community Enterprise Ltd. He advised that he would remain in the meeting during the consideration of this item.

Councillor Mark Irvine declared a non-financial interest in relation to item 9 of the agenda (Housing Services Activity Update - Strategic Housing Investment Plan (SHIP) – Annual Update), due to being on the board of Argyll Community Housing Association. He advised that he would remain in the meeting during the consideration of this item.

The Minute of the meeting of the Helensburgh and Lomond Area Committee, held on 12 December 2023 was approved as a correct record.

Councillor Math Campbell-Sturgess joined the meeting during consideration of the following item of Business.

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

Kenneth Lockhart, Cardross Cycle Path Action Group

Since the year 2000, Argyll and Bute Council have been discussing and have partially implemented a cyclepath between Helensburgh and Dumbarton. There have been lengthy delays in delivering this route for a variety of reasons. We note from the previous minutes, the delivery of this path is a stated Council Priority.  24 years on, anticipated completion is still some years away.  On behalf of the community of Cardross, The Cardross Cyclepath Action Group would like to ask:

What assurances can the Helensburgh and Lomond Area Committee give to the community of Cardross that construction of the cyclepath, as a stated Council Priority, will be given the highest priority in terms of both staff and financial resources?

How can the community of Cardross and the Cardross Cyclepath Action Group best support Argyll and Bute Council in delivering this sustainable travel route?

The Committee members agreed that they all wished the cyclepath to be completed and that they were aware of issues and assured Mr Lockhart that the cyclepath remained a priority.

Councillor Mulvaney highlighted his frustration regarding the lack of progress and welcomed the support of the community to get this over the line. Councillor Mulvaney suggested that if landowners got the message of this support for the cyclepath it may be helpful to move the project forward. The Committee Manager advised that with permission, he would share Mr Lockhart’s contact details with the designated officer.

Norman McNally, Helensburgh Community Council

I read that both the Ryder Community Engagement exercise and the Collier Retail Study have been instrumental in finalising the bid selection for the Waterfront site.

My question concerns the Helensburgh Waterfront Community Engagement Reporting carried out by Ryder Architecture, Glasgow.

This stakeholder engagement was carried out over the course of a week between 17 and 23 June 2023.The architects had prepared five sets of themed image panels “illustrating the range of options currently being put forward for the Waterfront site in terms of broad function or type”.

Ten scheduled events were held in which a total of 83 people participated. The Report was published in September 2023. Attendees were invited to identify any images they liked or disliked (green and red dot-sticking) and discuss the pros and cons of each option.

The Report uses a wide range of loose descriptions to indicate the frequency of similarities in feedback gathered, and thus attempts to arrive at some important Key Findings. Words such as:

Everyone, Most, Many, Some, Several, Others, Few, Small number and further vague descriptors such as mixed feedback, positive feedback, very popular, positively received, even ‘close to the hearts’

In developing the feedback descriptions above, the author(s) will have had the dot-tally from each option to hand; one trusts the above commentary is based upon the numerical dot-sticking feedback gathered over those ten sessions. I am concerned that this verifying data remains absent from public view, particularly in the light of the Council’s declared reliance on this study.

My question is this.

Can the Council affirm that the selected development will meet the Key Findings criteria laid out the Ryder Report?

Which of the five alternative themes offered by Ryder Architecture received the greatest positive, and which alternative theme received the greatest negative Stakeholder Engagement returns?

Will the Council publish the actual (positive and negative) dot-tally data that relate to each of these five options?

The Estates & Property Development Manager advised that they had recently received information from the consultants and that the engagement consultants gave advice on how they would like to take things forward and where they would like to set it up. Mr Allan highlighted that the idea of the consultation was to reach parties who had not previously engaged with the Council, to get their views and find out why their views were what they were. It was highlighted that from the engagement study there was no strong consensus with many different views. Mr Allan advised that he would provide a written response in detail to Mr McNally following the meeting.

The Head of Commercial Services advised that the engagement report was based on engagement workshops carried out in September 2023, reinforcing that there was no consensus on any of the 5 options.

Mr Allan advised that the engagement exercise was an additional step undertaken by the Council to encourage people who were not engaging to give their views and that there would still be statutory consultation on any application by way of the planning process.

Cameron Foy, Helensburgh Community Council

At the last Area Committee meeting Councillor Mulvaney wrongly stated that supporters of Helensburgh skatepark were “re-writing history” in relation to the location of a skatepark on the waterfront development.  A permanent skatepark on the waterfront in Helensburgh town centre was promised by Argyll & Bute Council in its Masterplan adopted back in 2012 after lengthy public consultation.

Is the Council still committed to delivering the key elements of its approved Masterplan, including limiting commercial development to 2,600 sq m gross, and space for a skatepark as intended?

The Estates & Property Development Manager confirmed that this is built into the Masterplan and none of the proposals would exceed that space. Mr Allan also advised that as agreed at the September 2023 Area Committee, the skatepark would be located on the Waterfront unless a more suitable location was identified.

Peter Brown, Helensburgh Community Council

Question 1 and 2

The agenda for the H&L Area Committee meeting states that the Committee will be asked to pass a resolution to exclude from the public Appendices B, C and D of the Pierhead development item.  These Appendices are referenced in the overview briefing as:

• Appendix B - a summary of the five proposals received.
• Appendix C - council officers' assessment of the five proposals, and selection of 2 preferred bidders, and
• Appendix D - Avison Young's review of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

Update from Inspector Bart Simonis, Police Scotland

Consideration was given to an update which provided information on the ongoing work of the Service and information on yearly crime statistics; the support on the 16 days Against Gender Based Violence campaign; fraud prevention and awareness, specifically relating to scam calls; personal safety inputs provided to Lomond and Argyll Advocacy Service staff and the success at the Divisional Recognition Awards 2023.

Decision

The Helensburgh and Lomond Area Committee considered and noted the information provided in the report.

(Reference: Report by Inspector Bart Simonis, Police Scotland, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Customer Support Services

Consideration was given to the Area Performance Report for financial quarter 3 of 2023/24 (October to December 2023) which illustrated the agreed performance measures for this period.

Decision

The Helensburgh and Lomond Area Committee:

1.    noted and considered the performance and supporting commentary as presented;

2.    noted that upon receipt of the Quarterly Performance Report the Area Committee should contact either the Responsible Named Officer or the Organisational Development Project Officer with any queries; and

3.    noted that work was ongoing and to respond to the Organisational Development Project Officer with requests or comments regarding the layout and format of the Performance Report and Scorecard.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Customer Support Services, dated 7 February 2024, submitted)

Councillor Paul Kennedy joined the meeting during consideration of the following item of Business.

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Education

The Committee gave consideration to a report and a presentation which provided a range of key information about primary school provision in the Helensburgh and Lomond area during the school session June 2023 to January 2024 and reported the national collection of attainment and achievement data from June 2023.

Decision

The Helensburgh and Lomond Area Committee considered and noted the information provided within the report and presentation.

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

Report by Chief Executive

The Committee gave consideration to a report which highlighted the positive outcomes of the Council’s Supporting Communities Fund in 2022/23 for communities in the Helensburgh and Lomond area.

Decision

The Helensburgh and Lomond Area Committee:

1.    noted and consider the positive contribution of the Supporting Communities Fund detailed in section 4 of the report and the attached table; and

2.    noted that a total of £1,675.50 in unspent funds had been returned and agreed that this would be included in the distribution of the Supporting Communities Fund for 2024/25.

(Reference: Report by Chief Executive, dated 9 February 2024, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with the responsibility for Development and Economic Growth

Consideration was given to a report which provided an update on Housing Services activity and the delivery of the Local Housing Strategy within the Helensburgh and Lomond area.

Decision

The Helensburgh and Lomond Area Committee considered and noted the contents of the report.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth, dated January 2024, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure Services

The Committee gave consideration to a report which included a draft programme for roads reconstruction schemes for 2024/25 in the Helensburgh and Lomond area.

Decision

The Helensburgh and Lomond Area Committee:

1.    provided comments on the draft programme contained at appendix 1 of the report, which were noted by the Head of Roads and Infrastructure Services; and

2.    noted that the programme would go forward to the Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee on 21 March 2024 for endorsement.

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

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure Services

The Committee gave consideration to a report which provided an update on the proposed Traffic Regulation Order “The Argyll and Bute Council (Off Street Parking Places and Charges) (Helensburgh) (Amendment) Order 202_” (hereafter, the “TRO”) and provided detail of a single objection to the draft traffic regulation order.

Decision

The Helensburgh and Lomond Area Committee agreed that the draft “The Argyll and Bute Council (Off Street Parking Places and Charges) (Helensburgh) (Amendment) Order 202_” TRO be made with the following amendment:

• that the Order is amended to designate this area for coaches and limit the stay to 20 minutes maximum.

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

At this point, the Chair ruled and the Committee agreed to vary the order of Business and take agenda item 17 (Helensburgh Waterfront Development (Commercial Area) – Update & Shortlisting of Final Offers) next.

The Chair advised that should Members wish to discuss the content of appendices B, C and D of the following item there would be a requirement to agree to exclude the press and public.

The Committee gave consideration to a report which highlighted the assessment of the final propositions and candidates selected as preferred bidders to move into the interview process and detailed negotiations. The report also noted the completion of the retail study, which supports commercial development of the site.

Members agreed that they wished to discuss the information contained within the exempt appendices of the report and resolved in terms of Section 50(A)(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 to exclude the press and public for the following item of business on the grounds that it was likely to involve the disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 9 of Part 1 of Schedule 7A to the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973.

Decision

The Helensburgh and Lomond Area Committee:

1.    noted and considered the content of the retail study completed by Colliers Surveyors at Appendix A, which supports commercial development of the site to support the long-term viability of the town centre;

2.    noted and considered the varied interest in the site and the summary of the five proposals received as outlined in paragraph 4.4 and in Appendix B;

3.    noted and considered, commercial consultant, Avison Young’s review of the proposals attached as Appendix D;

4.    noted and approved the Property Development Working Group’s assessment on 19th January 2024 of the 5 proposals with 2 being selected as preferred bidders as outlined in Appendix C;

5.    noted appendices B, C & D are publically restricted given commercially and financially sensitive nature of the live bidding process; and

6.    agreed that a Business Day be held following the interview process and before the final report is presented to the Policy and Resources Committee.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Commercial Services, dated 12 February 2024, submitted)

Following consideration of the information contained within the exempt appendices of the report the Area Committee welcomed the press and public back to the meeting.

Councillor Paul Kennedy left the meeting during consideration of the following item of Business.

Presentation by Corporate Support Manager, Argyll and Bute Council

Consideration was given to a presentation which provided information in relation to the progress of the Council’s Area Plans project.

Decision

The Helensburgh and Lomond Area Committee considered and noted the information provided.

(Reference:  Presentation by Chief Executive’s Unit, dated 13 March 2024, submitted)

Councillor Math Campbell-Sturgess left the meeting during consideration of the following item of Business.

Report by Executive Director with the responsibility for Development and Economic Growth

The Committee gave consideration to a report which provided an update on the progress made in 2023/24 in relation to active travel projects in the Helensburgh and Lomond area, and sought continued support for the projects from Members.

Decision

The Helensburgh and Lomond Area Committee agreed to:

1.    welcome the progress made to date across a significant number of active travel projects by the small Active Travel Team;

2.    support the continuation of the projects and the submission of future funding applications to external challenge funds (while these still exist) to continue to develop design and construction stages in order to deliver these projects;

3.    support the allocation of the active travel funding element in the Council’s 2024/25 block grant to the development and delivery of appropriate active travel projects, including those already underway in Helensburgh and Lomond; and

4.    instruct Officers to continue to identify and develop new active travel projects to benefit local residents, businesses and communities.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth, dated 5 January 2024, submitted)

Councillor Gary Mulvaney left the meeting during consideration of the following item of Business.

Report by Executive Director with Responsibility for Development and Economic Growth

Consideration was given to a report updating Members on the progress made since the Helensburgh and Lomond Area Committee on 12 December 2023 in relation to the delivery of a dedicated, high quality walking and cycle route linking Helensburgh, Cardross and Dumbarton.

Decision

The Helensburgh and Lomond Area Committee:

1.    welcomed the community engagement to support the identification of a preferred route linking Morrisons Supermarket/Hermitage Academy to Helensburgh Town Centre/Waterfront;

2.    instructed Officers to progress with review of deliverables received from WSP, identification of outstanding requirements and to progress with securing these deliverables including sourcing funding for these as appropriate;

3.    considered the guidance from Legal Services in relation to Compulsory Purchase Order process and timescales;

4.    instructed Officers to submit a report to Council requesting approval for development and submission of a Compulsory Purchase Order for all land required to construct and maintain the preferred route alignment for the whole of Stage 1 (Colgrain to Cardross) and Stage 2 (Cardross to Dumbarton) of the Helensburgh – Cardross Dumbarton Cyclepath;

5.    considered how they can secure of match funding towards land acquisition and construction of this priority project, including from internal Council sources; and

6.    considered future maintenance options for the cyclepath, including if there is a role for community group volunteers.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth, dated 7 February 2024, submitted)

Councillor Iain Paterson left the meeting following this item of Business.

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth

Consideration was given to a report asking members to approve a grant offer of up to Sixty Two Thousand, Two Hundred and Thirty Six Pounds (£62,236) to the owner of the shopfront at 9 West Clyde Street, Helensburgh, as part of the Helensburgh CARS scheme – Shopfront Improvement Scheme.

Decision

The Helensburgh and Lomond Area Committee approved the grant offer of up to Sixty Two Thousand, Two Hundred and Thirty Six Pounds (£62,236) to the owner of the shopfront at 9 West Clyde Street, Helensburgh, as part of the Helensburgh CARS scheme – Shopfront Improvement Scheme.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth, dated 13 February 2024, submitted)

The Helensburgh and Lomond Area Committee workplan was before members for information.

Decision

The Helensburgh and Lomond Committee noted the contents of the workplan.

(Reference: Helensburgh and Lomond Area Committee workplan, dated 12 March 2024)