Printed minutes
Argyll and Bute Council · 11 September 2024
Back to Oban Lorn & The Isles Area Committee — 11 September 2024 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE OBAN LORN & THE ISLES AREA COMMITTEE HELD ON A HYBRID BASIS ON MICROSOFT TEAMS AND IN THE MCCAIG SUITE, CORRAN HALLS, OBAN ON WEDNESDAY, 11 SEPTEMBER 2024 Present: Councillor Julie McKenzie (Chair) Councillor Kieron Green Councillor Amanda Hampsey Councillor Willie Hume Councillor Andrew Kain Councillor Luna Martin Councillor Andrew Vennard Attending: Melissa Stewart, Democratic Services Manager John Blake, Fleet Waste and Transport Manager Seymour Adams, Cultural, Heritage and Arts Assembly for Argyll & the Isles 1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE Apologies were intimated by Councillor Jim Lynch. 2. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST There were no declarations of interest intimated. 3. MINUTES (a) Oban, Lorn and the Isles Area Committee - 12 June 2024 Before inviting approval, the Chair indicated she had been made aware that part of Frank Robert’s question incorrectly appears in the wrong part of the minute. The Chair therefore proposed that the minute be amended by moving the second paragraph of Question 4 (on Page 5 of the agenda pack) and inserting this before the penultimate paragraph of Question 2. This was seconded by Councillor Kain. Decision The Oban, Lorn and the Isles Area Committee agreed to the amendment and approved the minute of the meeting of 12 June 2024 as a correct record. (b) Oban, Lorn and the Isles Area Community Planning Group - 14 August 2024 The Minute of the meeting of the Oban, Lorn and the Isles Area Community Planning Group held on 14 August 2024 was noted. (c) Oban Common Good Fund - 12 August 2024 The minute of the Oban Common Good Fund meeting held on 12 August 2024 was noted.
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4. PUBLIC QUESTION TIME Question 1 - 3 – Alison Rennie According to the current Flood Risk Management Plan the estimated annual average cost of flooding in Oban is £1.8m (2019 figure), affecting approx 320 residential and 310 non-residential properties. Today's report on flooding is a welcome step forward but raises a number of questions. As noted in the June 2024 ED&I report a comprehensive study was undertaken on the Council's behalf in 2019. That report highlighted the need to take urgent action over Japanese Knotweed and other obstructions in the Black Lynn in addition to restoring full functioning of the pumps in the Lochavullin Car Park. Q1. Whilst today’s report states that a consultant is currently being sought to deal with invasive species, what actions have been undertaken in the intervening 5 years to address the issue of clearing the Black Lynn of Japanese Knotweed and other obstructions, and are you confident that this necessarily lengthy process will begin this year? Q2 The building of the plinth for the control panel etc is also welcome but can we be told when the Lochavullin pump system is expected to be fully operational once again? The 2019 study also identified a 'preferred option' for a flood protection scheme for Oban and this is reported in the current Flood Risk Management Plan. Q3 What actions have been undertaken, to date, to develop the detailed design of the Oban Flood Protection Scheme and what are the next steps? (Members should note that the Campbeltown scheme has taken 16 years, to date, since endorsement by the relevant local Area Committee.) It was noted that governance staff had passed on these questions to the relevant service for response but to date a response had not been received. As there was no officer in attendance at the meeting to respond to Ms Rennie’s questions, the Chair advised that she would personally take this matter forward. Question 4 – Mr Frank Roberts At the Environment, Development and Infrastructure meeting of June 2021 it was noted that the estimated cost to reduce the risk of coastal, river and surface water flooding in Oban would be £12.75m. Is there an up to date figure of what this would now cost? Councillor Vennard thought it was now in the region of £20m but he would take this up with the relevant service and provide a response. Question 5 – Luing Community Council How can Community Councils engage with the Roads and Infrastructure Review? Several recommendations relating to Marine Services have a direct impact on Luing community, whose residents and businesses are the main customers and revenue generators of Cuan ferry. How can Luing CC represent their interests during the Review, and how will our community's needs be taken into account?
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It was noted that governance staff had passed on the question to the relevant service for response but a response had not been received. As there was no officer in attendance at the meeting to respond to the question it was agreed the Democratic Services Manager would seek a response from Roads and Infrastructure to pass on to Luing Community Council. Question 6 and 7 – Phil Hammerton How can the Area Committee make appropriate representations to the Harbour Board? The Chair advised that the terms of reference for the Harbour Board require the membership to have regard of area representation and that Councillor Vennard was the area representative. Phil then questioned who represented the Area Committee view to which the Chair advised that the Area Committee has not taken a view as the matter sits with the Harbour Board who were going through a formal consultation process, and that representations could be submitted as part of that process. Question 8 and 9 – Frank Roberts Ganavan Carpark was particularly busy at the weekend, why does the Council not enforce its Parking Policy in Ganavan and the Town? The Chair advised that this is an operational matter and the Area Committee cannot respond to operational matters. She commented that the traffic officers do a good job but cannot be everywhere at all times. Frank then queried what the Area Committee can do in relation to public questions? The Chair reiterated that Councillors cannot be involved in operational matters but can take any questions away to Officers and get a response for you, in the event that no relevant officer is in attendance at the Area Committee Meeting. She added that if questions were brought forward which related to policy matters then there would be more input from elected members. Question 10, 11, 12 and 13 – Ross Wilson Were officers asked to attend the Area Committee today to answer the questions? The Chair confirmed this was correct. Did they give a reason as to why they are not in attendance? The Chair advised that no reason had been given. Mr Wilson asked whether this was satisfactory? The Chair replied that it was not. Mr Wilson then asked about the Harbour Board meeting tomorrow which would be voting on the Piers and Harbours User Policy. Have the members of this Committee read the Policy and will they be expressing their views to the area representative on
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the Harbour Board in regard to the policy seeking to ban photography on the North Pier? He asked if members of the Committee felt it was satisfactory that people taking family pictures without the advanced approval of the council? The Chair advised that this Committee can discuss general policy but should not be involved the business dealt with by another Committee. Councillor Kain reflected that this may be a blanket ban for security reasons in terms of military use but that was a guess. Councillor Martin advised that she would be happy to take the question back to the department for a response. Councillor Vennard indicated that he felt this would be discussed at the Harbour Board meeting the following day. 5. AREA PERFORMANCE REPORT - FQ1 2024/25 Consideration was given to the Area Performance Report for financial quarter 1 of 2024/25 (January to March 2024) which illustrated the agreed performance measures for this period. Decision The Oban, Lorn and the Isles Area Committee noted and considered the performance and supporting commentary as presented. (Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Customer Support Services, dated 11 September 2024, submitted) 6. CULTURAL HERITAGE AND ARTS ASSEMBLY FOR ARGYLL AND ISLES (CHARTS) The Committee gave consideration to a presentation by the Vice-Chair of the Cultural Heritage and Arts Assembly (CHARTS) for Argyll and the Isles. The presentation included information on the impact of partnership working on both regional and local areas and provided highlights of key projects throughout the Oban, Lorn and the Isles Area. Mr Adams also provided information in relation to funding streams and the benefits of the continued support received from Argyll and Bute Council. Decision The Oban, Lorn and the Isles Area Committee considered and noted the information provided in the presentation. (Reference: Presentation by Vice-Chair, Cultural Heritage and Arts Assembly, submitted) 7. ROADS AND INFRASTRUCTURE UPDATE The Committee gave consideration to a report which provided links to the recent activities of Roads and Infrastructure Services relevant to the Oban, Lorn and the Isles Area.
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Decision The Oban, Lorn and the Isles Area Committee considered and noted the contents of the report. (Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure Services, dated 11 September 2024, submitted) 8. ANNUAL RECYCLING PERFORMANCE REPORT The Area Committee gave consideration to a report providing detail on the Council’s recycling and landfill diversion performance along with national policy, targets and regulations which were likely to impact on future performance. Decision The Oban, Lorn and the Isles Area Committee noted the detail as outlined in the submitted report and the national policy drivers that would likely impact over the coming years. (Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure Services dated 11 September 2024, submitted) 9. OBAN FLOODING UPDATE The Committee gave consideration to the update in respect of the Oban Flooding Report. Decision The Oban, Lorn and the Isles Area Committee considered and noted the report provided to the Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee. (Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure Services, dated September 2024, submitted) E1 10. CHARITABLE TRUSTS AND BEQUEST FUNDS REPORT The Committee gave consideration to a report providing information on the number of applications that have been received for support from the John of Lorn Bequest. Decision The Oban, Lorn and the Isles Area Committee noted the number of awards made from the John of Lorn Bequest since the last meeting of the Area Committee in June 2024. (Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Legal and Regulatory Support dated 11 September 2024, submitted) 11. DRAFT OBAN, LORN AND THE ISLES AREA COMMITTEE WORKPLAN
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The Committee gave consideration to the Area Committee workplan for future meetings. Decision The Oban, Lorn and the Isles Area Committee considered and noted the contents of the workplan. (Reference: Area Committee Workplan, dated 11 September 2024, submitted)