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 budget instead?
The Project Manager advised that
the Council have £8M for the roads Capital Programme but there is not enough
money to make the roads to the standards wanted. The Project Manager advised
that he would provide Mr Doyle with information on how decisions are made for
the Roads Capital Programme.
Questions from Jennifer Wilson
Jennifer Wilson submitted the
following question, which was read out by the Committee Manager:-
What policy do they have in place
to tackle the scourge of derelict properties?
In Port Bannatyne
on the Isle of Bute, specifically Buckingham Terrace (12, 14 and 16 Castle
Street) and No. 21 Castle Street are derelict properties within a residential
area. Can you confirm if these buildings have been removed from the Council Tax
Register pending redevelopment and, if so, for how long has this been the
case?
Buckingham Terrace, I understand,
was bought via a compulsory purchase order by the Isle of Bute Housing
Association in the late 1990's to provide affordable housing
locally, however, this was never completed. During and since that period
can you confirm whether any grants (public money) have been paid out for
redevelopment and the total amount paid out for redevelopment, to whom and
dates. Were any timescales given to complete redevelopment works?
No. 21 Castle Street is a
derelict building covered entirely in scaffolding and advertising sheets. Can
you confirm whether a grant has been made available for redevelopment of this
building and, if so, has a timescale been given for completion of this work.
Councillor McCabe advised that
the Buckingham Terrace property is owned by a private landlord and added that
she had to contact them in the past to get the roof made safe with it lying
derelict for many years.
The Housing Strategy Team Lead
advised that the Council’s general approach is through the Area Property Action
Group and added that a Scheme of Assistance details advice and information for
Private Owners.