PUBLIC QUESTION TIME
:
Minutes:
Having noted that there were members of the public
in attendance, the Chair invited them to submit any questions they may
have.ÌýÌýÌý
Sarah Davies, Helensburgh
Community Council
Why is the Helensburgh Waterfront
Development not on the Agenda today?
At the last meeting a decision
was taken, in private, to choose two preferred bidders and since then we have
heard nothing. We had expected the decision to be discussed at the next Policy
and Resources Committee but once again it was not on the agenda. Why was that?
We had heard that this Committee
would be holding a Business Day to discuss the bids further, has this happened?
If not, when will it happen, who will be involved and how will any decisions be
reported to Helensburgh residents.
Following the decision to move
forward without the Helensburgh Community Council’s bid, we wrote to all 51³Ô¹ÏÃâ·ÑApp
and Bute Councillors expressing our serious concerns with the process. We
believe community views have been excluded from the process and the overall
selection of bids is based on a flawed process and weak evidence. We are
concerned this will lead to a large retail development on the waterfront site,
against the wishes of the community and harmful to existing and fragile retail
in our town.
This letter was sent to all
51³Ô¹ÏÃâ·ÑApp and Bute Councillors, the Leader and Chief Executive of the Council our
local MSP’s and ²Ñ±è’s. We have since then had replies
and discussions with our local MSP and MP.
We have had acknowledgements from
some 51³Ô¹ÏÃâ·ÑApp and Bute Councillors, but not a single response from any of you our
local councillors who sit on this Committee that made that decision.
We have received a response from
an officer, Ross McLaughlin Head of Commercial Services informing us that the
Community Council will be further consulted once the selection has been made
and the proposal moves to planning. In our view this is too late.
What will now be the process for
the final selection of a bidder for the Waterfront?
When and how will the community
be informed or involved in any of the decisions or discussions about the
development of this prime and valued site in our town?
How and when will this committee
engage with the community about their plans?
The Chair advised that an Area
Committee Business Day was scheduled for 26 June for Members and Officers to
discuss the Helensburgh Waterfront Development further and that a report
regarding the project would be considered at a future meeting of the Policy and
Resources Committee.
Angela Anderson, Plastic Free
Helensburgh
Question 1
Plastic Free Helensburgh have
seen an increased amount of litter around Helensburgh Pier and beach area, as a
consequence of the better weather and longer evenings. However, we are concerned
that it has been reported that 51³Ô¹ÏÃâ·ÑApp and Bute Council consider the increase of
litter and vandalism due to the opening of the Skatepark and in Plastic Free
Helensburgh’s opinion even though both happened around same time we do not
consider them linked. Can you agree that these are not linked as suggested in
the report?
Councillor Campbell-Sturgess
agreed that it would be impossible to link the litter and vandalism with the
opening of the Skatepark.
The Project Manager advised that
there was no intention to cast dispersion on anyone in the Roads and
Infrastructure weekly update to Members and that it was simply to highlight the
increase of vandalism and littering in that area.
Question 2
This is the third quarterly
meeting I have brought up the issue of drainage and flooding which continues to
be an issue in the locality, especially due to the increased rainfall in the
last week.
Plastic Free Helensburgh are keen
to work with the Council on these issues and would like to have a campaign
locally to ensure the community are looking after the drainage system but we
feel we cannot do this in an enabling way without support from the Council. I
have been told that the drains are classed as ‘not blocked’ if there is no
standing water on them, which doesn’t help when the town is built on a hill.
Can the Committee ensure this
issue will be looked into?
The Chair advised that there is a
significant amount of ongoing work looking into drainage and that further
discussions on this matter would take place at the Roads and Infrastructure
Services Update item.
Councillor MacQuire advised that
clarification is needed on when drains are being cleared as he had received
mixed communications from the Roads Department.
Lindsey Young, Cyclepath Action Group
I would like the Committee to
consider the outstanding work undertaken WSP which is listed in the
Helensburgh, Cardross and Dumbarton Cyclepath update
report. A lot of this work can only be done in the summer months, consequently
if it is not done within the next 2 or 3 months it won’t be able to be done
until next year, meaning another year to wait. Can the Committee ensure that
these studies are completed this summer?
The Chair advised that he would raise
Ms Young’s comments to the Project Lead at the agenda item.
:
PUBLIC QUESTION TIME
:
Minutes:
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.
Ìý
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 51³Ô¹ÏÃâ·ÑApp
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 51³Ô¹ÏÃâ·ÑApp 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 51³Ô¹ÏÃâ·ÑApp Rally at a Business Day in the
autumn time with interested parties welcome to attend.
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