MINUTES of MEETING of BUTE AND COWAL AREA COMMITTEE held in the QUEEN'S HALL, on TUESDAY, 6 SEPTEMBER 2005

Present: Councillor B Chennell (Chair)

Councillor D Currie Councillor L Scoullar Councillor G McKinven Councillor I Strong Councillor B Marshall Councillor J R Walsh

Attending: George McKenzie, Area Corporate Services Manager Eilidh Headrick, Area Committee Services/Information Officer Alan Lothian, Area Roads & Amenity Services Manager Phil O’Sullivan, Area Team Leader, Development Control Sandy Campbell, Development Control Hugh Blake, Estates Surveyor Mark Lodge, Statutory Planning Officer Muriel Kupris, Community Resources Manager

1. APOLOGIES

Apologies for absence were intimated on behalf of Councillors Macintyre and McQueen.

The Area Committee agreed to accept the Piers, Harbours and Ferries review as an urgent item of business to be considered as item 4 (d) of the agenda.

2. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Councillor Scoullar declared a non pecuniary interest in one of the items in the enforcement report at minute item 9 (a) and said he would leave the meeting if the item was discussed.

3. MINUTES

(a) MINUTE OF AREA COMMITTEE OF 2 AUGUST 2005

The minute of the Area Committee meeting of 2nd August was approved as a correct record.

(b) MINUTE OF TRAFFIC ORDER HEARING OF 2 AUGUST 2005

The minute of the Traffic Order Hearing of 2nd August 2005 was approved as a correct record.

(c) MINUTE OF CIVIC GOVERNMENT HEARING OF 2 AUGUST 2005

The minute of the Civic Government Hearings of 2nd August was approved as a correct record.

4. OPERATIONAL SERVICES

(a) KERBSIDE RECYCLING SCHEME

A report was submitted from the Director of Operational Services advising the committee of the introduction of a kerbside recycling scheme in the Cowal area.

Decision

The committee noted and approved the proposals contained in the report.

(Reference; Report by Director of Operational Services dated 15th August 2005 – submitted)

(b) CAPITAL WORKS PROGRAMME 2006

The committee considered a report containing draft proposals for Operational Services Capital works schemes in Bute and Cowal.

Decision

The Committee noted the draft proposals.

(Reference; Report by Area Manager, Roads and Amenity Services – submitted)

(c) TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT OF PIER

A report was submitted from the Head of Roads and Amenity Services seeking funding to alleviate the traffic problems being experienced at Rothesay Pier following the introduction of the MV Bute.

Decision

The Committee unanimously agreed that funding for the project should come from the Piers and Harbours budget.

(Reference; Report by Head of Roads and Amenity Services dated 24th August 2005 – submitted)

(d) PIERS, HARBOURS AND FERRIES REVIEW

The Committee considered a response be the Head of Roads and Amenity Services to the Piers, Harbours and Ferry Review. In the light of recent developments at Dunoon and Rothesay Piers they agreed that a recommendation be made to Council/SPC that the running costs of individual piers, harbours and ferries i.e. staffing and maintenance be maximised at the source of income and only surplus balances remitted to the centre.

Decision

Bute and Cowal Area Committee:-

i) Supports the intent of the piers, harbours and ferries review. ii) Recommends that in future any income at such facilities be utilised at source to meet the running costs and ongoing maintenance with only surplus funds remitted to the central piers and harbours budget.

(Reference; Report by Head of Roads and Amenity Services dated 1 September 2005 – submitted)

5. COMMUNITY SERVICES

(a) SPORT AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY STRATEGY

The Area Committee considered the Council’s Sport and Physical Activity Strategy.

Decision

The Area Committee supported the recommendations in the report.

(Reference; Report by Head of Community Regeneration – submitted)

6. CORPORATE SERVICES

(a) CONSULTATIONS FROM OFCOM AND BT

The Area Committee a consultation report which advised of BT’s proposals to alter certain public payphones in the Bute and Cowal to cashless operation.

Decision

The Committee noted the report.

(Reference: report by Director of Corporate Services dated 15th August 2005 – submitted)

7. DEVELOPMENT SERVICES

(a) LOCH LOMOND & TROSSACHS NATIONAL PARK DRAFT REPORT

The Committee considered a report which contained potential issues raised by the Draft Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park Plan in relation to Policies, Strategies and Resources of Argyll and Bute Council.

Decision

The Committee:-

(i) Noted the report (ii) Approved the attached response at appendix A with the recommendation that it forms the Argyll and Bute Council submission to the National Park Authority consultation on the Draft National Park Plan.

(Reference; Report by the Development Policy Manager – submitted)

(b) PLANNING APPLICATION REFERENCE NO: 05/00920/DET, KAREN BANCKS, GROUND SOUTH WEST OF CLADDY HOUSE, SHORE ROAD, SANDBANK

Decision

Continued to allow members a site familiarisation.

(c) PLANNING APPLICATION REFERENCE NO: 05/01244/COU, MR AND MRS A MCKAY, 28 ARDBEG ROAD, ROTHESAY,

Decision

Approved subject to the conditions contained in the report by the Head of Planning.

(d) PLANNING APPLICATION REFERENCE NO: 05/00663/DET, SCOTTISH WATER, LAND OPPOSITE THE JUNCTION OF KYLES VIEW, SHORE ROAD, COLINTRAIVE

Decision

Continued to a future meeting to allow Scottish Water to bring forward an appropriate landscaping design.

(e) DELEGATED DECISIONS

The Committee noted delegated decisions approved since their last meeting.

8. SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE'S PROPOSALS FOR NHS PROVISION FOR ARGYLL & BUTE

As this document was the subject of a Council Policy Development Group the Committee merely noted the paper.

The Committee resolved in terms of Section 50(A)(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 to exclude the 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 and 13 of Part 1 of Schedule 7A to the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973.

9. EXEMPT ITEMS

(a) ENFORCEMENT REPORTS

The Committee considered reports and recommended enforcement action as follows:-

Report on Enforcement of Planning Control – Noted 05/00027/ENFOCC – continued 05/00121/ENFOCC – noted

(b) KIRN SCHOOLHOUSE, PARK ROAD, KIRN

The Committee agreed to the sale of Kirn Schoolhouse in terms of the report by the Director of Corporate Services.

(c) VICTORIA PARK, DUNOON - PROPOSED SALE OF LAND

The Committee continued the report on the proposed sale of land at Victoria Park, Dunoon.