Minutes
Argyll and Bute Council · 19 August 2026
Back to Planning, Protective Services and Licensing Committee — 19 August 2026 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 PLANNING, PROTECTIVE SERVICES AND LICENSING COMMITTEE HELD BY MICROSOFT TEAMS ON WEDNESDAY, 17 JUNE 2026 Present: Councillor Gordon Blair (Chair) Councillor John Armour Councillor Jan Brown Councillor Kieron Green Councillor Graham Hardie Councillor Fiona Howard Councillor Andrew Kain Councillor Paul Donald Kennedy Councillor Reeni Kennedy-Boyle Councillor Dougie Philand Attending: Stuart McLean, Committee Manager David Walker, Solicitor Emma Spence, Planning Officer Fiona Scott, Planning Officer David Moore, Senior Planning Officer Sandra Davies, Major Applications Team Leader Kirsty Sweeney, Area Team Leader – Bute, Cowal, Helensburgh & Lomond 1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE Apologies for absence were intimated on behalf of Councillors Audrey Forrest, Liz McCabe and Peter Wallace. 2. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST (IF ANY) Councillor Paul Kennedy declared a financial interest in agenda item 4 (Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982: Taxi Fare Scale Review) as he holds a taxi operator license. He advised that he did not consider the connection to be significant and would remain in the meeting, however, would take no part in the discussion and decision on this item. Councillor Fiona Howard advised in relation to item 7 (Helensburgh Golf Club, Cala Management Ltd & Dunbritton Housing: Proposal of Application Notice for Residential Development) of the agenda that she had been appointed to the Dunbritton Housing Board by the Council. Having taken note of the updated Standards Commission Guidance in relation to declarations (issued on 7 December 2021) with specific reference to section 5.4(c) she did not consider that she had a relevant connection and as such would remain in the meeting. 3. MINUTES a) The Minute of the Planning, Protective Services and Licensing Committee held on 20 May 2026 at 11.30 am was approved as a correct record. b) The Minute of the Planning, Protective Services and Licensing Committee held on 20 May 2026 at 2.00 pm was approved as a correct record. c) The Minute of the Planning, Protective Services and Licensing Committee held on 20 May 2026 at 2.30 pm was approved as a correct record.
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d) The Minute of the Planning, Protective Services and Licensing Committee held on 22 May 2026 at 10.00 am was approved as a correct record. e) The Minute of the Planning, Protective Services and Licensing Committee held on 22 May 2026 at 2.00 pm was approved as a correct record. 4. CIVIC GOVERNMENT (SCOTLAND) ACT 1982: TAXI FARE SCALE REVIEW In terms of Section 17 of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982, the Local Authority requires to fix maximum fares and other charges in connection with the hire of taxis operating in their area and to review the scales for taxi fares and other charges on a regular basis. The new fare structure requires to come into force by 22 October 2026. The fares were last reviewed by Members on 18 December 2025 and took effect on 22 April 2025. Consideration was given to a report advising the Committee they were now required to carry out a further review of taxi fares and other charges. Decision The Committee agreed: 1. to propose that a 5% increase be implemented in relation to the maximum fares across tariffs 1, 2 and 3 and that this take effect from 22 October 2026; 2. to authorise the Head of Legal and Regulatory Support to advertise the proposed changes to tariffs and to invite any responses within one month of the advertisement and report back to Members at their meeting on 16 September 2026 on objections or representations received; and 3. should no objections or representations be received in relation to the proposal, to delegate to the Head of Legal and Regulatory Support, in consultation with the Chair of the PPSL Committee to conclude the review without the requirement for the Committee to consider a further report. (Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Legal and Regulatory Support dated 17 June 2026, submitted) 5. MR BRIAN MANGAN: CHANGE OF USE OF EXISTING PRIVATE/FAMILY USE POD TO SHORT TERM LETTING ACCOMMODATION: 11 ETIVE PARK, NORTH CONNEL (REF: 26/00161/PP) At the PPSL Committee meeting on 20 May 2026 it was agreed to continue consideration of this application until the Operational Management Plan was submitted for consideration by Members. The Planning Officer spoke to the terms of supplementary report number 2 which included the Operational Management Plan and supplementary report 3 which advised that an objection had been raised in response to this application by Councillor Julie McKenzie; and a further representation had been made in response to the submitted Operational Management Plan by Mr Ali Anderson.
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It was recommended that planning permission be granted subject to the conditions and reasons appended to the Report of Handling. Decision The Committee agreed to grant planning permission subject to the following conditions and reasons: Standard Time Limit Condition (as defined by Regulation) Standard Condition on Soil Management During Construction Additional Conditions 1. PP - Approved Details & Standard Notes – Non EIA Development The development shall be implemented in accordance with the details specified on the application form dated 05.02.2026; supporting information and, the approved drawings listed in the table below unless the prior written approval of the planning authority is obtained for an amendment to the approved details under Section 64 of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997. Plan Title. Plan Ref. No. Version Date Received Location Plan 31326-0001-01 01 03.02.2026 Proposed Site Plan 31326-0002-02 02 06.04.2026 Existing/Proposed Elevations and Floor Plan 31326-0002-02 01 04.02.2026 Reason: For the purpose of clarity, to ensure that the development is implemented in accordance with the approved details. 2. Landscaping The increase in fence height as detailed on Proposed Site Plan - 31326-0002-02 shall be completed prior to the pod first being brought into use as short-term-let accommodation and shall thereafter be retained. Reason: In the interests of privacy and residential amenity. 3. Occupancy Restriction Notwithstanding the provisions of Class 9 of the Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) (Scotland) Order 1997 the residential accommodation hereby approved shall be used for short-term holiday occupancy or ancillary accommodation related to the main dwellinghouse 11 Etive Park and not as a main residence and shall not be occupied by any family, group or individual for a cumulative period of more than three calendar months in any one year. A register showing dates of arrivals and departures shall be maintained at the premises and shall be available at all reasonable times for inspection by the Planning Authority.
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Reason: In order to define the permitted occupancy having regard to the operational details submitted by the applicant and in order to avoid any potential privacy or amenity conflict which could otherwise arise. 4. Operational Management Plan Prior to the short-term-let accommodation being first brought into use, a detailed Operational Management Plan is to be submitted and approved in writing by the Planning Authority. The Management Plan shall include, but is not limited to, the following: 1. Minimum stay requirements. 2. How bookings will be recorded (pursuant to Condition 3). 3. Cleaning provision (frequency and access). 4. A description of parking and access for guest use. 5. Description of facilities provided for guest use. 6. Description of information to be provided to each guest including behavioural code of conduct. 7. How the pod and guest behaviour will be overseen and managed and the actions that the site manager will take to ensure compliance with the above. Reason: To ensure the short-term-let use is managed appropriately in the interests of residential amenity. (Reference: Report by Head of Development and Economic Growth dated 29 April 2026, supplementary report number 1 dated 19 May 2026, supplementary report number 2 dated 5 June 2026 and supplementary report number 3 dated 16 June 2026, submitted) 6. WEST KINTYRE COMMUNITY COUNCIL: DEMOLITION OF EXISTING PUBLIC TOILETS AND ERECTION OF REPLACEMENT PUBLIC TOILETS: PUBLIC TOILETS, TAYINLOAN (REF: 26/00436/PP) The Planning Officer spoke to the terms of the report. The application site is located at land adjacent to Tayinloan Slipway where ferry service is available connecting the Isle of Gigha. In terms of the adopted Argyll and Bute Local Development Plan 2 (LDP2) the application site is located within the Countryside Area wherein Policy 02 set out a presumption in favour of sustainable development where there is of appropriate scale, design, siting and use for its countryside location. Representations have been received from 19 respondents in relation to this planning application, 14 raise objection and 5 submit support. An objection has also been received from Gigha Community Council. Officers did not consider that the objections raise any complex or technical issues that have not been addressed in the report of handling and it is not considered that a discretionary hearing would add value to the planning process. The proposed development is considered to be consistent with relevant provisions of the Development Plan and there are no other material considerations of sufficient significance to indicate that it would be appropriate to withhold planning permission having regard to Section 25 of the Act.
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It was recommended that planning permission be granted subject to the conditions and reasons detailed in the report. Decision The Committee agreed to grant planning permission subject to the following conditions and reasons: Standard Time Limit Condition (as defined by Regulation) Standard Condition on Soil Management During Construction Additional Conditions 1. PP – Approved Details & Standard Notes – Non EIA Development The development shall be implemented in accordance with the details specified on the application form dated 6.3.2026, supporting information and, the approved drawings listed in the table below unless the prior written approval of the planning authority is obtained for an amendment to the approved details under Section 64 of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997. Reason: For the purpose of clarity, to ensure that the development is implemented in accordance with the approved details. 2. PP – Biodiversity Enhancement Notwithstanding the provisions of Condition 1, all physical biodiversity enhancement measures identified in the submitted biodiversity statement shall be implemented in full before the development hereby approved is first brought into use. All biodiversity enhancement measures consisting of new or enhanced planting shall be undertaken either in accordance with the approved scheme of implementation or within the next available planting season following the development first being brought into use. Reason: To comply with the requirements of NPF4 Policy 3. (Reference: Report by Head of Development and Economic Growth dated 17 June 2026, submitted) Plan Title. Plan Ref. No. Version Date Received Location Plan 1/3 09.03.2026 Existing Site Plan, Elevations and Floor Plan 25-3167-PP-01 09.03.2026 Proposed Site Plan, Elevations and Floor Plan 25-3167-PP-02 09.03.2026 Biodiversity Statement 09.03.2026 Design Statement – 2 Pages 09.03.2026
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7. HELENSBURGH GOLF CLUB, CALA MANAGEMENT LTD & DUNBRITTTON HOUSING: PROPOSAL OF APPLICATION NOTICE FOR RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT (INCLUDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING HOUSING ASSOCIATION); DEMOLITION OF THE EXISTING AND RELOCATION OF A NEW CLUBHOUSE WITH ASSOCIATED PARKING AND FACILITIES; A REVISION OF NEW AND RETAINED GOLF HOLES PROVIDING A REFRESHED 18 HOLE GOLF COURSE AND BIODIVERSITY ENHANCEMENT AND MANAGEMENT: HELENSBURGH GOLF COURSE, 25 EAST ABERCROMBY STREET, HELENSBURGH (REF: 26/00856/PAN) The Senior Planning Officer spoke to the terms of the report. This is an allocated housing site for 300 houses (H2004 – Helensburgh East). A small triangular area of land outside the housing allocation is included in the red line boundary at the south-eastern extent of the indicated site. This site has had previous grant of planning permission for housing and is within the settlement boundary. The land is understood to be under the control of Dunbritton Housing Association and will form part of the overall contribution towards affordable housing related to the wider development site. The boundary of the proposed application site forms part of both the existing Helensburgh Golf Club, a small area of settlement land, and an area of peatland known as “the Blackhill Mire” where the replacement golf holes are proposed to be constructed. The report sets out the information submitted to date as part of the Proposal of Application Notice (PAN) and summarises the policy considerations, against which any future planning application will be considered as well as potential material considerations and key issues based upon the information received to date. It was recommended that Members note the content of the report and submissions and provide such feedback as they consider appropriate in respect of the PAN to allow these matters to be considered by the Applicant in finalising any future planning application submission. Decision The Committee noted the content of the report and requested that flood mitigation measures be considered at the earliest possible stage of the developing project. (Reference: Report by Head of Development and Economic Growth dated 29 May 2026, submitted) 8. PROGRAMME OF PROPOSED PLANNING TRAINING FOR MEMBERS Over many years a series of short training sessions or occasionally workshops/site visits have been delivered for all elected Members with an aim to improve knowledge or the planning system on a wide range of issues. A report seeking endorsement of the training programme from August to December 2026 was before the Committee for consideration. Decision
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The Committee agreed: 1. to continuing an ongoing programme of planning related training for Members of the PPSL Committee, which should also be open to any other Members not currently involved in planning decision-making; and 2. to endorse the initial subject areas for training and the provisional dates for delivery, on the understanding that the programme may be varied to take account of any additional training requirements Members may wish to identify, along with any other particular training needs identified by Officers as a consequence of matters emerging during the course of the year. (Reference: Report by Head of Development and Economic Growth dated 21 May 2026, submitted) The Committee resolved in terms of Section 50(A)(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 to exclude the press and 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 13 respectively of Part 1 of Schedule 7A to the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973. E 1 9. TREE PRESERVATION ORDER Consideration was given to a request for a Tree Preservation Order. Decision The Committee agreed to the recommendation detailed in the report. (Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth dated 17 June 2026, submitted)