Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee held on 12 September 2024
Argyll and Bute Council · 26 September 2024
Back to Argyll and Bute Council — 26 September 2024 and its agenda
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MINUTES of MEETING of ENVIRONMENT, DEVELOPMENT AND INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE held ON A HYBRID BASIS IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER, KILMORY, LOCHGILPHEAD AND BY MICROSOFT TEAMS on THURSDAY, 12 SEPTEMBER 2024 Present: Councillor John Armour (Chair) Also Present: Councillor Jan Brown Councillor Graham Hardie Councillor Willie Hume Councillor Andrew Kain Councillor Jim Lynch Councillor Tommy MacPherson Councillor Ian James MacQuire Councillor Yvonne McNeilly Councillor Luna Martin Councillor Liz McCabe Councillor Ross Moreland Councillor Gary Mulvaney Councillor Alastair Redman Councillor Andrew Vennard Councillor Peter Wallace Attending: Kirsty Flanagan, Executive Director Fergus Murray, Head of Development and Economic Growth Jim Smith, Head of Roads and Infrastructure Services John Blake, Fleet, Waste and Transport Manager Scott Reid, Marine Operations Manager Stuart McLean, Committee Manager 1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE Apologies for absence were received from Councillor William Sinclair. 2. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST There were no declarations of interest. 3. MINUTES The Minutes of the meeting of the Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee held on 20 June 2024 were approved as a correct record. 4. ARGYLL AND BUTE COUNCIL'S ECONOMIC STRATEGY ACTION PLAN: 2024-2027 The Committee gave consideration to a report detailing an action plan to implement and deliver the refreshed Argyll and Bute Council Economic Strategy, endorsed by the Committee on 21st March 2024, covering the short-term period 2024-2027. Decision The Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee – 1. provided commentary on the action plan, with the addition of appropriate outcomes, as outlined in Appendix 1 to the submitted report; and
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2. endorsed the Economic Strategy Action Plan. (Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth, dated 30 August 2024) 5. TRANSFORMATIONAL PROJECTS AND REGENERATION TEAM - LARGE SCALE PROJECT UPDATE REPORT The Committee gave consideration to a report providing an update on progress of the large-scale, externally funded project work of the Transformational Projects and Regeneration Team and key issues that may impact on the successful delivery of projects. Decision The Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee – 1. noted the current progress contained within the report; and 2. noted that the grant funding landscape remained extremely challenging and that the Transformation Projects and Regeneration Team would endeavour to identify alternative match funding opportunities for future place-based regeneration projects. (Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth, dated August 2024, submitted) 6. ARGYLL AND BUTE - DIGITAL UPDATE The Committee gave consideration to a report providing a full update on all aspects of digital infrastructure build across Argyll and Bute Fixed and Mobile. Decision The Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee noted the contents of the report. (Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth dated 7 August 2024, submitted) 7. WINTER SERVICE POLICY 2024/25 The Committee gave consideration to a report outlining the Council’s Winter Service Policy. Decision The Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee – 1. approved the 2024/25 Winter Maintenance Policy Document at Appendix 1 to the submitted report; 2. approved the Salt Use Reduction and Preservation of Stocks Protocol at Appendix 2 to the submitted report;
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3. noted the Advisory signing, routes unsuitable in severe conditions at Appendix 3 to the submitted report; 4. noted the Frontline Treatment Vehicle Fleet 2024-25 at Appendix 4 to the submitted report; 5. noted the Salt Stocks monitoring and resilience record at Appendix 5 to the submitted report; and 6. noted the weather summary from season 2023-24 at Appendix 6 to the submitted report. (Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure Services dated August 2024, submitted) Councillor Luna Martin joined the meeting during consideration of the following item of Business. 8. SCHOOL AND PUBLIC TRANSPORT - OPTIONS FOR FUTURE SERVICE DELIVERY The Committee gave consideration to a report detailing potential solutions for future service delivery of both statutory home to school transport services and supported local bus services. Decision The Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee noted the cost increases; and the scope of the brief for an expert external consultant. (Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure Services dated 27 August 2024) 9. MARINE OPERATIONS: COUNCIL FERRY SERVICE The Committee gave consideration to a report providing an overview and description of Argyll and Bute Council’s Ferry Services. Decision The Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee – 1. approved the vessel priority strategy as illustrated in table 2 at 3.4 of the submitted report; 2. approved the crewing plan described at 3.5 of the submitted report; 3. approved in principle, extra sailings outwith the published timetables, which were required to meet demand until capacity can be increased; and 4. agreed that the Council continue to pursue the full funding of the service. (Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure dated 27 August 2024, submitted)
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10. CAMPBELTOWN FLOOD PREVENTION SCHEME The Committee gave consideration to a closure report for Campbeltown Flood Protection Scheme and an update on some of the key elements of the project which is substantially complete. Decision The Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee noted the contents of the report. (Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure dated August 2024, submitted) 11. GENERAL WASTE UPDATE The Committee gave consideration to a report providing an update on a number of waste related matters, specifically on the capital funding request to support compliance with the landfill ban; the Circular Economy Bill and the Waste Composition Analysis undertaken by Zero Waste Scotland. Decision The Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee – 1. noted that the Scottish Government had made £1.5million of capital funding available to the Council to support compliance with the landfill ban; 2. noted that officers would bring forward a progress update along with a plan and timescales which detail the steps the Council requires to take to get to a complaint solution by the end of 2025 to the December Committee Meeting; 3. noted that the Circular Economy Bill was passed in Scottish Parliament on 26 June 2024; and 4. noted the content of the waste composition analysis and the outputs from the report attached at Appendix 1. (Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure dated September 2024, submitted) 12. FLOOD RESILIENCE STRATEGY - SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT CONSULTATION The Committee gave consideration to a report outlining the Council’s response to the Flood Resilience Strategy Public Consultation by the Scottish Government. Decision The Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee noted the Flood Resilience Strategy consultation response that had been submitted to the Scottish Government.
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(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure dated August 2024, submitted) 13. PLAY PARK FUNDING - UPDATE REPORT NO. 4 The Scottish Government had allocated £938k for Play Park Funding to Argyll and Bute Council for investment in play park equipment through to 2025/26. The Committee gave consideration to a report providing an update on the engagement process covering local Elected Members, Community Councils, Education and disability forums. Decision The Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee noted the updates provided in the report. (Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure Services dated August 2024, submitted) 14. COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT (SCOTLAND) ACT 2015 - ALLOTMENTS WAITING LIST REGISTER The Committee gave consideration to a report providing an update on the actions that were being undertaken in response to duties placed on the Council under Part 9 of the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015 which provides a legal framework that promotes and encourages community empowerment and participation in growing food. Decision The Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee noted the Allotments Waiting List Register update which reflected the duties placed on local authorities arising from Part 9 – Allotments of the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015. (Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Legal and Regulatory Support dated August 2024, submitted) 15. ENVIRONMENT, DEVELOPMENT AND INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE WORKPLAN The Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee workplan was before the Committee for noting. Decision The Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee noted the content of the workplan. (Reference: Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee workplan dated September 2024, submitted)