Venue: on a Hybrid Basis in The Queen's Hall, Dunoon and By Microsoft Team
Contact: Julieann Small, Senior Committee Assistant - 01546 604043
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APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE Minutes: There were no apologies for absence intimated. |
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DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST Minutes: There were no declarations of interest intimated. |
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MINUTES |
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Bute and Cowal Area Committee - 6 December 2022 PDF 186 KB Minutes: The Minutes of the meeting of the Bute and Cowal
Area Committee, held on 6 December 2022 were approved as a correct record. |
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Bute and Cowal Area Community Planning Group - 7 February 2023 PDF 259 KB Minutes: The Minutes of the meeting of the Bute and Cowal
Area Community Planning Group, held on 7 February 2023 were noted. |
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Cowal Transport Forum - 14 February 2023 PDF 247 KB Minutes: The Minutes of the meeting of the Cowal Transport
Forum, held on 14 February 2023 were noted. |
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The Chair ruled, and the Area Committee agreed, to a variation in the order of business. The minute reflects the order in which items were discussed. |
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PUPIL VOICE Verbal Presentation by Pupil Representatives from Dunoon Grammar School and Rothesay Joint Campus Minutes: The Committee gave consideration to a verbal update
from Pupils from Dunoon Grammar School and Rothesay
Joint Campus who outlined aspects of their learning journeys over the years. Salma Murray, an S2 student from Dunoon Grammar School spoke of her transition from Primary
to Secondary School which was done virtually due to Covid
restrictions. Charlotte Fish, an S3 pupil from Dunoon Grammar School spoke of her School trip to rural
Tanzania in which she and 16 other pupils volunteered in the Community. Charlotte
highlighted that it was an eye-opening experience, particularly the lack of
facilities within the Schools. S5 School Captains Emma Banks and Adam Smith from Dunoon Grammar School spoke of their experiences within the
Senior School and their chosen career pathways. Holly Reid, an S6 pupil from Rothesay Joint Campus
spoke of her experience learning online and independently which she felt had
prepared her well for the future. S5 Pupil Ewan McMillan from Rothesay Joint Campus
spoke of his plan to leave school at the end of S5 year and attend College to
study to become a Gamekeeper. Ewan further advised that in preparation for this
he had undertaken a one week summer placement with a Gamekeeper. Kitti Carpenter, an S5 student from Rothesay Joint
Campus spoke of her transition from Primary to Secondary School and spoke of
the Children and Young People Foundation Apprenticeship which she is currently
studying and highlighted her interest in continuing to study Childcare in
College in the future. On behalf of the Committee, the Chair took the
opportunity to thank the pupils for taking time out of their day to attend and
wished them well in their future endeavours. Decision The Bute and Cowal Area
Committee considered and noted the information provided. (Reference: Verbal Presentation by Pupil
representatives from Dunoon Grammar School and
Rothesay Joint Campus) |
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PUBLIC QUESTION TIME Minutes: Question from Kirstie Reid, Strachur
Community Council Kirstie Reid, Strachur
Community Council submitted the following question, which was read out by the
Committee Manager:- We have been told there are
currently 12 people on 51³Ô¹ÏÃâ·ÑApp & Bute Council's home waiting list whose
first choice is Strachur. Manse Gardens in Strachur is classified as amenity housing and consists of
21 properties. Only 7 of these are currently occupied and the rest have been
vacant for the past few years. The Trust Housing Association,
who own Manse Gardens, are investigating the possibility of redeveloping the
properties to make them more acceptable to potential tenants. Does 51³Ô¹ÏÃâ·ÑApp & Bute Council
support the redevelopment of Manse Gardens and, if they do, what are they doing
to ensure that this redevelopment goes ahead. The Committee Manager delivered a
response on behalf the Housing Strategy Team Lead as follows:- The short answer is yes, the
Council is supportive of the redevelopment of Manse Gardens to meet identified
housing need and demand. The Council has met with Trust Housing
Association (HA) to discuss Manse Gardens and we are meeting with the Scottish
Government to discuss funding options. It is not as straightforward as getting
Capital Grant from the Scottish Government to build new houses as the project
is a reconfiguration of an existing Trust HA asset. Question from Archie Reid, Strachur
Community Council Archie Reid, Strachur
Community Council submitted the following question, which was read out by the
Committee Manager:- As
with many Community Councils we at Strachur Community
Council are aware of the high number of patients that now receive Care in the
Community and are concerned about the lack of care at home staff, we appreciate
that this a nationwide issue but wonder what 51³Ô¹ÏÃâ·ÑApp and Bute Council is doing
to encourage people into the area to take this form of work. The Committee Manager delivered a
response on behalf the Health and Social Care Partnership as follows:- All Care at Home providers are
promoting opportunities in social care. Carrgomm, who
provide support in this rural area note good responses to recruitment and are
actively recruiting by fast tracking applications. We are actively working with Human
Resources and the Economic Development Team targeting opportunities in key
areas especially those affected by depopulation. The Integration Joint Board (IJB)
continues to note workforce as a strategic risk, the strategic workforce plan
is monitored on a 6 monthly basis with work undertaken reported through the
public papers of the IJB. Question from Hunters Quay Community Council Hunters Quay Community Council
submitted the following question, which was read out by the Committee Manager:- Ongoing issues with traffic
queuing on the main road waiting to board a Western ferry at the Hunters Quay
terminal. I understand that there is a bit of a blame situation via the Council
and Western Ferries re who pays? The situation is going to get
worse with one of Scotland biggest and now award winning holiday park companies
getting bigger and spending millions. Hunters Quay Community Council are
concerned about speeding, and want flashing 30mph signs and also queuing
traffic signs. The Project Manager advised that
a Traffic Regulation Order was promoted at Hunters Quay separately from the
queuing issue and advised that as part of that process a speed and volume
survey was undertaken which found vehicle speed level acceptable, adding Ìýthat at Council operated ferry sites they
ensure that there is no queuing on public road. Question from Andrew Widdows Andrew Widdows
submitted the following question, which was read out by the Committee Manager:- Who in the Council and/or local business leaders is
responsible and how are they directly benefitting by refusing to allow a budget
supermarket in Dunoon during a cost of living crisis
while local supermarkets are allowed to increase prices daily and therefore are
literally squeezing the life out of the poorest people in our town?" I would also hereby request that minutes of the
meeting are made available to myself and others upon request. I might also add
that this question continuously draws a blank from the council and one way or
another I will find out the answers to this question and make the results
public and publicly embarrass those responsible if it isn't discussed at the meeting. The Committee Manager assured
elected members and members of the Public that the agenda item is Public Question
Time and as such all public questions whether submitted in advance or raised at
the meeting will always be recorded and added that there has never been an
instance nor will there ever be an instance where questions submitted will not
be discussed or recorded at the meeting. The Committee Manager advised
that on receiving this question he visited the planning portal and there are no
outstanding planning applications regarding this matter. He added that Policy Planners
also confirmed that no queries had been received from budget supermarkets
coming to Dunoon and colleagues in Economic Development
also confirmed that no supermarkets, budget or otherwise had expressed any
interest in coming to Dunoon. Questions from Murray Doyle I'd like to enquire whether the
Serpentine Road, Rothesay, was considered as part of the Capital budget
repair program for this year? If not, what was the rationale of leaving it out,
I had requested on behalf of local cycling club Bute Wheelers for it be
included in this year's repair program? and why would the likes of the road out
to Glecknabae be included and Serpentine not? I'd also like to enquire about maintenance required to sections of A844, Bute's major A road, that is in very poor condition. I did enquire in an email earlier this year, officers mentioned that these issues would be noted and looked at. Mr Doyle noted that there is a section of road between Meikle Grenach and A844 listed in the capital spend draft, which in his opinion looks to be in very good condition, and wondered if the aforementioned sections of A844 could benefit from this allocated ... view the full minutes text for item 5. |
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AREA PERFORMANCE REPORT - FQ3 2022/23 PDF 551 KB Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Customer Support Services Minutes: The Committee gave consideration to the Area
Performance Report for financial quarter 3 of 2022/23 (October to December
2022) which illustrated the agreed performance measures for this period. Decision The Bute and Cowal 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 Sonya Thomas
with any queries; and 3. noted that work is ongoing and to respond to Sonya Thomas 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 8 February 2023, submitted) |
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POLICE SCOTLAND ROADS UPDATE Verbal Update from PS
Eddie McGunnigal, Police Scotland Minutes: Consideration was given to a roads update by
Sergeant Eddie McGunnigal, Police Scotland. Sergeant McGunnigal highlighted that he had asked the Council to undertake
speeding surveys, confirming that on receipt of these surveys Police Scotland
will target speeding ‘hot spots’. He advised that Police Scotland had received
very few speeding complaints from residents, adding that most reports come from
Community Councils meetings he attends, he encouraged people to report any
speeding so that they can target the area. Sergeant McGunnigal
highlighted that Community Speed Watch initiative is being developed and speed
signage for wheelie bins has been purchased which the Youth Volunteers will be
distributing. Decision The Bute and Cowal Area
Committee considered and noted the information provided. (Reference: Verbal Update by Sergeant Eddie McGunnigal, Police Scotland) |
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ROADS AND INFRASTRUCTURE SERVICES UPDATE PDF 190 KB Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure Services Minutes: The Committee gave consideration to a report which
provided an update on the recent activities of Roads and Infrastructure
Services and highlighted works being undertaken which were relevant to Bute and
Cowal area. Decision The Bute and Cowal Area
Committee: 1.
considered and noted the contents
of the report; and 2.
supported the commitment made by
the Council Leader during a recent meeting of the Mid 51³Ô¹ÏÃâ·ÑApp, Kintyre and the
Islands Area Committee regarding future Member engagement
in advance of developing the Roads Reconstruction Capital Programme. (Reference: Report by
Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure Services,
dated January 2023, submitted) |
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Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth Minutes: Consideration was given to a report which provided
an update on Housing Services activity and the delivery of the Local Housing
Strategy within the Bute and Cowal area. Decision The Bute and Cowal Area
Committee considered and noted the contents of the report. (Reference: Report by Executive Director with
responsibility for Development and Economic Growth, dated January 2023,
submitted) |
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DRAFT BUTE AND COWAL AREA COMMITTEE WORKPLAN PDF 229 KB Minutes: 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 7 March 2023) |
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LAMONT BEQUEST AWARD RECOMMENDATIONS Additional documents: Minutes: The Committee gave consideration to a report
providing information regarding two applications that had been received for
support from the Lamont Bequest. Decision The Bute and Cowal Area
Committee agreed to award £100 to the family applicant and £50 to the
individual applicant who met the criteria for support from the Lamont Bequest. (Reference: Report by Executive Director with
responsibility for Legal and Regulatory Support dated February 2023, submitted) |