Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies for absence.

There were no declarations of interest.

Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee held on 21 March 2024

The Minutes of the meeting of the Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee held on 21 March 2024 were approved as a correct record.

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth

The Committee gave consideration to a report providing an update following the Housing Emergency Summit which was held in November 2023 following the declaration of a Housing Emergency by the Committee in June 2023.

Decision

The Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee endorsed the Housing Summit Action Plan contained at Appendix 1 to the submitted report and noted that appropriate elements would be incorporated into the updated Local Housing Strategy Action Programme to be presented to Council later in the year.

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

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure

The Committee gave consideration to a report advising of the introduction of the Circular Economy (Scotland) Bill on 13 June 2024 which established the legislative framework to support Scotland’s transition to a zero waste and circular economy, significantly increase reuse and recycling rates and modernise and improve waste and recycling services.

Decision

The Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee noted –

1.     the content of the submitted report;

2.     that future updates would be provided to on the progress of the Circular Economy Bill; and

3.     noted that clarification would be sent to the Scottish Government confirming that the response attached at Appendix 1 of the report was an officer response and that the Committee rejected the premise that the matters referred to within would be considered a criminal offence.

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

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure Services

The Committee gave consideration to a report providing an update on the Council’s request to the Scottish Government for a derogation for the Council’s Public Private Partnership (PPP) contract.

Decision

The Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee –

1.     noted the update regarding discussions held with Scottish Government on the Waste PPP contract;

2.     noted the implications of Argyll and Bute Council not receiving the derogation from the Scottish Government, and approved the variation of the Waste PPP contract with Renewi to enable the conversion of the Mechanical Biological Treatment (MBT) plants into Waste Transfer Stations for Biodegradable Municipal Waste (BMW) ban compliance;

3.     noted the discussion relating to financial support from Scottish Government and instructed Officers to continue to pursue the Scottish Government for the additional costs for compliance with the BMW ban (circa £1.5m);

4.     agreed that the Chair of the Committee engages with the Cabinet Secretary to secure financial support from Scottish Government for the additional costs for compliance with the BMW ban (circa £1.5m); and

5.     noted that Renewi had formally notified officers that their UK operation, including the Argyll and Bute Contract, was being taken over by Biffa.

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

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure Services

The Committee gave consideration to a report proposing a review of second bins be carried out in line with the Policy agreed in June 2016.

Decision

The Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee –

1.               endorsed the second domestic bin review; and

2.               noted the progress made regarding the publicity and the timeframe and that further updates would be provided as the review progressed.

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

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure Services

The Committee gave consideration to a report providing an update on changes to the Roads Capital Reconstruction Programme for 2024/25.

Decision

The Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee –

1.               endorsed the amended programme of capital works for 2024-25; and

2.               agreed that details of each Area Committee’s programme would be forwarded on to individual Elected Members.

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

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure Services

The Committee gave consideration to a report summarising the content of the Roads Development Technical Guidance and sought adoption of the Guidance for future developments involving either the existing road network or proposed new roads.

Decision

The Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee agreed to adopt the Roads Development Technical Guidance.

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

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure Services

The Committee gave consideration to a report providing an overview of the Road Safety Plan 2024 – 2030, which aligns with Transport Scotland’s national document Scotland’s Road Safety Framework to 2030.

Decision

The Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee –

1.     noted the content of the submitted report; and

2.     endorsed the Road Safety Plan 2024 – 2030.

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

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure Services

The Committee gave consideration to a report providing additional information in respect of pavement, double and dropped kerb parking under the Transport (Scotland) Act 2019, which had been requested by the Committee at the meeting held on 21 March 2024.

Decision

The Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee –

1.     agreed to the introduction of enforcement of the prohibitions set out in the Transport (Scotland) Act 2019, in relation to pavement parking, parking at dropped kerbs and double parking, to commence once the associated back-office system was upgraded, before the end of 2024; and

2.     agreed to the creation of two new warden posts; one based in Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands, and one based in Helensburgh and Lomond, to support both the enforcement of the new prohibitions but also to enhance the capacity to enforce restrictions under the Decriminalised Parking Enforcement (DPE) regime.

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

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure Services

The Committee gave consideration to a report providing an update on the public convenience door access control project.

Decision

The Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee –

1.     noted the update provided within the submitted report;

2.     agreed to defer the remaining site installations until after the summer season to obtain further detail on the reliability of the installations, noting that any delay should not impact on the budgeted income target as it was anticipated that this should be achieved from the current sites that were operational; and

3.     agreed that the Rothesay Victoriana and Moir Street/Riverside facilities which had now returned to the Council should be categorised as high use and quotes sought for charging installations at these sites.

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

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure Services

The Committee gave consideration to a report advising of an agreement by the Executive Leadership Team that a review of the Roads and Infrastructure Service be undertaken, and the appointment of Consultants “People Too” to undertake the review.

Decision

The Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee –

1.     noted the findings and service specific recommendations at Stage 1 of the 4 Stage Change Process;

2.     agreed to recommend to Council to approve that officers move onto Stages 2, 3 and 4 of the Review and approve up to £150,000 of funding from the Strathclyde Pension Fund Gain Earmarking set aside for Spend-to-Save or Transformation which would be used to bring in external support; and

3.     noted that officers would bring a progress report to Members later this year with anticipated opportunities and savings to be identified that could feed into budget considerations for 2025-26 onwards.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure Services dated 10 June 2024, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure Services

The Committee gave consideration to a report proposing that all funding opportunities be explored including lobbying the Scottish Government to seek to secure funding to implement flood prevention works in Oban, as well as exploring any additional funding opportunities. The report detailed a number of short, medium and long term actions and works that had been identified to mitigate flooding.

Decision

The Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee –

1.     noted the content of the submitted report; and

2.     endorsed the proposals by officers to lobby for funding and explore external funding opportunities and agreed that the Chair engages with the Scottish Government to try and secure additional resource to mitigate flooding issues in Oban.

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

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure Services

The Committee gave consideration to a report highlighting the launch of a Scottish Government Consultation on Flood Resilience Strategy which had a closing date of 13 August 2024.

Decision

The Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee –

1.     noted the Flood Resilience Strategy consultation announced by the Scottish Government on 20th May 2024 with a closing date of 13th August 2024;

2.     agreed that given the timescale for responding, that the formal response to the consultation from the Council be prepared with the final response being delegated to the Executive Director with responsibility for Road and Infrastructure Services in consultation with the Chair of the Environment Development and Infrastructure Committee (who is also the Policy Lead for Roads, Transport and Amenity Servies), the Leader, Leader of the largest Opposition Group and the Policy Lead for Climate Change; and

3.     noted that a copy of the Council’s response would be presented to the Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee at its meeting in September 2024.

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

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure Services

The Committee gave consideration to a report providing information on the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) consultation on Potentially Vulnerable Areas for Flood Risk Management.

Decision

The Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee noted –

1.     the content of the submitted report; and

2.     the recommendation that Members consider completing the consultation questionnaire on an individual basis before the closing date of 24 June 2024.

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

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure Services

A report providing an update on the Audit and Scrutiny report regarding Fly Tipping was before the Committee for noting.

Decision

The Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee noted–

1.     the detail in the Scrutiny Review; and

2.     that further observations, conclusions and recommendations had been taken on board by the service and that work continued to reduce duplication.

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

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure Services

A report providing an update on the street signage and litter bin replacement programme was before the Committee for noting.

Decision

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

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

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

Decision

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

(Reference: Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee workplan dated June 2024, submitted)