MINUTES of MEETING of MID ARGYLL KINTYRE & ISLAY AREA COMMITTEE held in the GIGHA VILLAGE HALL on WEDNESDAY, 3 MAY 2006 Present: Councillor Alastair McKinlay (Chair) Councillor Rory Colville Councillor Robin Currie Councillor Donald Kelly Councillor Donald MacMillan Councillor John McAlpine Attending: Deirdre Forsyth, Area Corporate Services Manager Donnie McLeod, Roads and Amenity Services Manager Richard Kerr, Senior Development Control Officer Peter Bain, Development Control Officer Felicity Kelly, Community Learning and Regeneration Manager Karen Henderson, Assistant Public Transport Officer Katie McKenzie, Area Committee Assistant Lorna Andrew, Gigha Heritage Trust Deputy Chief Constable Ricky Gray, Strathclyde Police Chief Inspector Harry Millar, Strathclyde Police Douglas Anderson, Head of Property Services, Strathclyde Police John Griffiths, District Officer, MCA 1. APOLOGIES Apologies were received from Councillors Alison Hay and John McAlpine. 2. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST Councillor Robin Currie declared a non-pecuniary interest in the application by the Columba Centre at item 14. 3. MINUTES OF MEETING OF 5 APRIL 2006 The minutes of the meeting of 5 April 2006 were approved. Arising from item 16 Councillor Kelly asked that Deirdre Forsyth write to Scottish Water to clarify whether the recent mains water connection to Defence Estates Machrihanish has added to the Campbeltown water constraints. Also arising from item 16, Councillor Findlay informed the Committee of the situation of the Islay Hotel. It was agreed to write to Scottish Water regarding this and ask the Local Network Group to carry this forward. 4. MINUTES OF CIVIC GOVERNMENT HEARING OF 5 APRIL 2006 The minutes of the Civic Government Hearing of 5 April 2006 were approved. 5. GIGHA ISSUES PRESENTATION Lorna Andrew gave an interesting and informative presentation about the changes which have taken place on Gigha since the Heritage Trust took over in 2002. She stated that the population has risen from 89 to 135 and the school roll has risen from 6 to 14. She gave details of various projects including the windfarm, housing and many others. Decision 1. The Committee thanked Lorna for her excellent presentation and noted its contents. 2. It was agreed to ask the Education Service to provide a report for the next Area Committee meeting addressing accommodating the rising numbers at the Primary School. 3. It was agreed to write to Scottish Water regarding the water constraints on Gigha, which are hampering the sustainability of the island. 6. PUBLIC QUESTION TIME / QUESTIONS FOR STRATHCLYDE POLICE 1. A written question was received from Mr W Crossan, Head Teacher, Campbeltown Grammar School. “The Gigha school children are dropped off by the School bus at about 1610 and have to wait in the unheated and unlit bus shelter at Tayinloan for the 1700 ferry. The ferry arrives at Tayinloan at about 1650 and they can usually get on board at about 1655. They therefore have at least 35 minutes to wait. Although this may not seem like a hardship, in Winter, Spring and Autumn [i.e. most of the school year] the weather is cold and windy at Tayinloan. It is dark at this time for a good few months too. The request is that on school days, the 1600 ferry waits till 1630 and there is a consequent re-adjustment to the 1700 and, in Summer the 1800 ferries from Tayinloan. So far Caledonian MacBrayne have not been willing to adjust the service. I request the Area Committee to take this up with Caledonian MacBrayne on behalf of the school.” It was noted that the bus was timetabled to arrive at 16.27 but Is often much earlier than that. It was agreed Karen Henderson would take this up with the bus operator and would write to Caledonian MacBrayne regarding a possible adjustment to the timetable. It was noted that the service bus waits at Kennacraig for the Islay ferry and it was suggested this could be put in place at Tayinloan for the Gigha ferry. 2. Councillor Colville informed the Committee that he has been receiving a large number of complaints about late night parties and when the police are called, the noise quietens until they leave and then it starts again. Chief Inspector Millar explained that for noise nuisance complaints, the offenders have to first be warned to quieten down before any further action can be taken so complainers must continue to call and report if noise persists after the police have attended. DCC Gray suggested that when the first call is received the police should advise the complainer not to hesitate to call again if the noise restarts. He went on to describe the police contact centre service and how much improved the response times have been as a result. Strathclyde Police are monitoring the call centre results on a frequent basis, and a very high level of staff training has been put in place. 3. Councillor McKinlay stated that he has noticed a that a lot of secondary pupils are becoming lawless and disrespectful suggested that the Police should forge relationships with these youths in order to keep them behaving appropriately. Chief Inspector Millar agreed that the Police will continue to contact Councillors to receive reports of any problems occurring in their wards. 4. Councillor Kelly asked what plans were in place to relieve police officers from the job of monitoring firearms licences. DCC Gray explained that support staff have been recruited to deal with firearms enquiries and it was also note that as many roles as possible are now being civilianised. 5. Councillor Currie then enquired if there had been any problems with the recently implemented smoking ban. DCC Gray advised that only one person has been reported to the Procurator Fiscal for refusing to pay their fine. 7. PLANNING APPLICATIONS The Committee considered and dealt with the applications for planning permission as detailed below. 05/01530/OUT Mr G Campbell. Outline. Site for erection of dwellinghouse. Land at Lorgba, Port Charlotte, Isle of Islay. Motion That the Committee endorse the recommendation contained in the report by Head of Planning. Moved by Councillor McKinlay, seconded by Councillor MacMillan. Amendment That consideration of this application be continued to a Site Inspection. Moved by Councillor Currie, seconded by Councillor Colville. Decision 1. The amendment was carried by 5 votes to 2. 2. That a Site Inspection be held on Thursday 11 May 2006 at 2pm. (Reference – Report by Head of Planning dates 18 April 2006, submitted). 06/00208/OUT Mr R Gilmour. Outline. Site for erection of dwellinghouse. Land at Quarry, East of Largiemore Farm, Kilkenzie, Campbeltown. Decision That outline planning permission be granted as a ‘minor departure’ to the provisions of the development plan, subject to the standard outline conditions and reasons and the conditions and reasons listed in the report by Head of Planning dated 18 April 2006. (Reference – Report by Head of Planning dated 18 April 2006, submitted). 8. DELEGATED DECISIONS The Committee noted the decisions issued by the Director of Development Services dated 12 April 2006. (Reference – Report by Director of Development Services dated 12 April 2006, submitted). 9. GIGHA MULTI USE BUILDING The Committee considered a report outlining a proposal to investigate the provision of a multi use Servicepoint building near the ferry slip on Gigha. John Griffuths of the MCA, DCC Gray and Jane Rennie on behalf of Gigha Heritage Trust expressed their support for the foregoing project, in particular Jane Rennie advised that the tenant of the ground adjacent to the ferry slip was supportive of the proposal. Decision The Committee agreed to the proposal and supports officers investigations into funding opportunities. (Reference – Report by Area Corporate Services Manager dated 30 March 2006, submitted). 10. PENINVER FOOTPATH The Committee considered a report outlining a proposal to reallocate area capital monies originally set aside for the formation of a new Peninver footpath to signage on the B842. There is a requirement for safety signage on the B842 for cars, cyclists and pedestrians because this road is both the SUSTRANS route and that of the Kintyre Way. Decision The Committee agreed that the sum allocated from the area capital budget for the formation of a new Peninver footpath be reallocated to the provision of signage on the B842. (Reference – Report by Area Corporate Services Manager dated 10 April 2006, submitted). 11. A816 LOCHGILPHEAD TO OBAN ROAD - LANE CLOSURE AT CARNASSARIE The Committee considered a report informing them of the implications of the recent decision by the Strategic Policy Committee not to undertake any remedial works on the failed retaining wall adjacent to the A816 Lochgilphead to Oban Road at Carnassarie. Decision It was agreed to continue consideration of the report to the next meeting in order to enable Donnie McLeod to provide a breakdown of the estimated costs. (Reference – Report by Head of Roads and Amenity Services dated April 2006, submitted). 12. RURAL TRANSPORT GRANT The Committee considered a report which outlined proposals for experimental public transport services to be funded by the Rural Transport Grant that the Council receives from the Scottish Executive. Decision The Committee agreed the use of Rural Transport Grant to provide the additional public transport services as detailed in the report. (Reference – Report by Head of Transportation and Infrastructure dated 3 May 2006, submitted). Arising therefrom it was noted that Councillor Kelly was disappointed that a pilot bus service between Campbeltown and Lochgilphead for people employed in the area had not been included. It was agreed that a report on this be submitted to a future meeting of the Area Committee. 13. HITRANS OBJECTIVES - VERBAL REPORT The Committee were informed that the development of the Hitrans Regional Transport Strategy is being undertaken at present and a number of consultation seminars have been held to establish what the objectives of the Strategy should be.