Bute and Cowal Area Committee - 2 September 2025
Argyll and Bute Council · 2 December 2025
Back to Bute and Cowal Area Committee — 2 December 2025 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 MEETING of BUTE AND COWAL AREA COMMITTEE held ON A HYBRID BASIS IN THE FYNE HOMES BOARDROOM, VICTORIA STREET, ROTHESAY AND BY MICROSOFT TEAMS on TUESDAY, 2 SEPTEMBER 2025 Present: Councillor Gordon Blair (Chair) Councillor Peter Wallace Councillor William Sinclair Councillor Ross Moreland Councillor Audrey Forrest Attending: Stewart McLean, Committee Manager, Argyll & Bute Council Andrew Summers, Head of Development and Infrastructure, Argyll & Bute Council Seymour Adams, Chair of Cultural, Heritage and Arts Assembly (CHARTS) Kirsty McLuckie, Community Development Officer, Argyll & Bute Council Jean Moffat, Bute Community Council Catriona Renfrew, Kilfinan Community Council Andrew Galloway, Local Democracy Reporter 1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting. Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Rennie Kennedy-Boyle, Liz McCabe and Yvonne McNeilly. 2. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST Councillor Gordon Blair declared a non-financial interest in relation to item 10 of the agenda (Supporting Communities Fund 2025/26) he advised, he would leave the meeting and not take part in any discussion and decision on this item. 3. MINUTES (a) Bute and Cowal Area Committee - 3 June 2025 The Minute of the meeting of the Bute and Cowal Area Committee, held on 3 June 2025 was approved as a correct record. (b) Bute and Cowal Area Community Planning Group - 12 August 2025 The Minutes of the meeting of the Bute and Cowal Area Community Planning Group, held on 12 August 2025 were noted. (c) Cowal Transport Forum - 11 August 2025 The Minute of the Meeting of the Cowal Transport Forum, held on 11 August 2025 was noted.
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4. PUBLIC QUESTION TIME The Chair noted that several questions had been submitted by a member of the public in advance of the meeting, having noted that the member of the public was not in attendance, invited the Committee Manager to present the questions of their behalf. The Chair then invited any other members of the public in attendance to submit any questions they may have. Bute Campaign to extend Thomson Court and Friends of Thomson Court Question 1 Can our 3 Elected paid Local Councillors tell us what action they will take to ensure the Council make immediate investment to guarantee the safety of residents currently in Thomson Court? The Chair responded that 2 of the Bute ward members were unable to make the Area Committee, but that all elected members have direct access to the Policy Lead for Care Services who would be happy to engage with them on this matter. Councillor Wallace confirmed that he is aware of the concerns of constituents and shares their frustrations. Councillor Wallace added that he raises these concerns at every opportunity and will continue to do so. Councillor Moreland advised that the work undertaken at Struan Lodge was essential and was not undertaken at the expense of Thomson Court. Question 2 Why, when we have constantly been told there is no money, has Argyll and Bute Council found money to invest in Struan Lodge Dunoon which has not been classified unsafe but does have local Council representation on the HSCP board. In contrast, funds for Thomson Court which does not have local council representation on the HSCP board have been 'paused'? The Committee Manager advised that he had passed this question to Health and Social Care Partnership who had provided the following response: The works in Struan are essential to enabling us to keep the building safe and operational. These address immediate building safety concerns and are based upon a technical assessment and prioritisation by professional / technical staff. Question 3 Could Argyll and Bute Council confirm the money previously set aside for Thomson Court is still ' ring fenced' and has not been used to fund alternative projects such as Struan Lodge? The Committee Manager advised that he had passed this question to Health and Social Care Partnership who had provided the following response:
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The funding for the project was being sourced from several sources. The Island Fund grant is no longer available as this was time bound; we could re-apply for this when we have a new project in place. The HSCP no longer has any resource available to support building / capital projects. Argyll & Bute Council make an annual allocation to support property spend in care homes and some of this is available to fund priority maintenance in Thomson Court, it is not sufficient to fund a re-modelling of the care home. The strategic work on care home capacity and demand is on-going and the next stage will be reporting to the care home and housing programme board in the coming weeks, this work will further highlight the mis-match between residential care places and demand on Bute. Question 4 and 5 Please can we be advised of the exact date, and at what Meeting the decision to provide this funding to Struan Lodge was made? We have looked through the minutes and agenda for the HSCP meetings and unfortunately, we cannot find this information. I appreciate we may have simply missed it. When approved which Councillors were given voting rights in this particular decision? The Committee Manager advised that these questions had been submitted later than the previously submitted questions and would liaise with the relevant Council Officers and provide a response to Bute Campaign to extend Thomson Court and Friends of Thomson Court and the Committee members following the meeting. Mrs Jean Moffat Mrs Moffat stated that the questions she put to the last Area Committee meeting in respect of Thomson Court had not yet, been responded to and asked why was resource given to Struan Lodge when Thomson Court is also in need of investment? Councillor Moreland apologised and advised that Mrs Moffat should have received answers to her questions, and that he would chase them up. Councillor Moreland added that the works undertaken at Struan Lodge were essential and that if the need for essential work had been identified at Thomson Court then Thomson Court would have received funding. Catriona Renfrew, Kilfinan Community Council Mrs Renfrew raised concerns regarding Speed Limits and how best to engage with the Roads Department to seek a reduction in the speed limit of 60mph through some of the local villages in Cowal. The Chair advised that he and other elected members had visited the sections of the roads in question with a roads department officer, which he found to be most beneficial in seeing firsthand the speed limits set within some villages.
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Andrew Summers, Head of Roads and Infrastructure advised that the Scottish Government have funded a Speed Limit Review and a new project manager would be in post in the near future to look at speed limits. Mrs Jean Moffat, Bute Community Council Mrs Moffat reported that Bute Community Council had received correspondence from Police Scotland advising that they had requested that the Council allow them sole use of the carpark outside the Rothesay Police Office and that this request had been refused. Mrs Moffat asked if the Area Committee would support Police Scotland in their endeavours to secure sole access to carpark? The Chair responded that he is committed to partnership working and advised that he would raise this issue with the responsible department. 5. CHARTS (ARGYLL AND THE ISLES) The Committee gave consideration to a presentation by the Chair of the Cultural Heritage and Arts Assembly (CHARTS) for Argyll and the Isles. The presentation included information on the strategic aims, key projects and impact of partnership working on both regional and local areas and provided highlights of key projects throughout the Bute and Cowal 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 Bute and Cowal Area Committee considered and noted the information provided in the presentation. (Reference: Presentation by Chair, Cultural Heritage and Arts Assembly for the Argyll and Isles, dated August 2025, submitted) 6. ROADS AND INFRASTRUCTURE SERVICES UPDATE The Committee gave consideration to a report which provided links to the recent activities of Roads and Infrastructure Services. Decision The Bute and Cowal Area Committee noted the contents of the report. (Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure Services, dated August 2025, submitted) 7. RECYCLING AND RECOVERY PERFORMANCE Consideration was given to a report providing details on the council’s recycling and landfill diversion performance along with national policy, targets and regulations which are likely to impact on future performance. Decision
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The Bute and Cowal Area Committee noted the details as outlined in the 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 August 2025, submitted) 8. CLACHAN FLATS WINDFARM TRUST: APPOINTMENT OF TRUSTEES Consideration was given to a report inviting the Area Committee to consider the composition of the Trustees of the Clachan Flats Windfarm Trust. Decision The Bute and Cowal Area Committee:- 1. agreed that the Trust Deed reflect that Scottish Power Renewables have declined the offer of appointment as a Trustee; and 2. resolved to increase the terms of the number of community representative position on the trust from one to two, and that arrangements for the election of community representatives be delegated to the Returning Officer to progress. (Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Legal and Regulatory Support dated May 2025, submitted) 9. AREA COMMITTEE QUARTERLY PERFORMANCE REPORTS - FQ1 2025/26 The Committee gave consideration to the Area Performance Report for financial quarter 1 of 2025/26 (April – June 2025) which illustrated the agreed performance measures for this period. Decision The Bute and Cowal Area Committee noted the performance and supporting commentary as presented. (Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Customer Support Services, dated 12 August 2025, submitted) Having declared an interest in the following item of business, Councillor Blair left the room and took no part in discussion of this item. In the absence of the Vice-Chair the Area Committee agreed that Councillor Peter Wallace act as Chair for this item. 10. SUPPORTING COMMUNITIES FUND 2025/2026 Consideration was given to a report which detailed recommendations for the award of the Council’s Supporting Communities Fund (SCF) for the 2025/26 round of funding that had been made available for distribution by Council to organisations in the Bute and Cowal area.
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Decision The Bute and Cowal Area Committee agreed that the 20 applications, marked as ‘Award’ and ‘Partial Award’ within Appendix 1 of the report, are awarded funding from the Supporting Communities Fund Budget totalling £22,500, as follows: Applicant Recommendation Amount Requested Recommended Award 2025/26 Glendaruel Hall Award £1,480.00 £1,480.00 Waterbaby Arts Award £1,350.00 £1,350.00 Crossroads caring for carers Cowal & Bute SCIO Award £1,500.00 £1,500.00 Kyles Allotment Group Award £500.00 £500.00 Rothesay & District Pipe Band Award £802.00 £802.00 Youthstuff Award £1,500.00 £1,500.00 Isle of Bute Resilience Team Award £1,500.00 £1,500.00 Strachur and District Piping Association Award £1,300.00 £1,300.00 Dunoon Community Shed Award £1,000.00 £1,000.00 Dunoon Foodbank Award £1,500.00 £1,500.00 Grow Bute Gardens Association Award £1,270.00 £1,270.00 Patchwork 2 to 5 Nursery Award £1,000.00 £1,000.00 Sandbank Community Development Trust Award £473.99 £473.99 Bute Junior Agricultural Club Partial award £1,500.00 £1,220.67 Bute Kitchen Partial award £1,500.00 £1,220.67 Bute Shinty Club Partial award £1,500.00 £1,220.67 Innellan and Toward Family Centre SCIO Partial award £1,500.00 £1,220.67 Lochgoilhead Climbing Club Partial award £1,500.00 £1,220.67 Sandbank Village Hall Partial award £1,500.00 £1,220.66 Cowal Walking Festival Association No award £1,500.00 £0.00 Cowal Choral Club No award £1,500.00 £0.00 Lochgoilhead Fiddle Workshop No award £1,500.00 £0.00 Voices of Argyll C.I.C No award £1,500.00 £0.00 Cowal Home Education Inclusion Project No award £1,500.00 £0.00 Castle House Museum No award £1,200.00 £0.00 Starter Packs Plus No award £1,500.00 £0.00 Cowal Community Orchestra No award £1,500.00 £0.00 South Cowal Trust No award £1,200.00 £0.00 TOTAL £37,075.99 £22,500.00 Councillor Blair re-joined the meeting for the remainder of the business. 11. SUPPORTING COMMUNITIES FUND - MONITORING OF PROJECTS FUNDED 2023/24 Consideration was given to a report providing information on the impact and spend of funding awarded to community projects from the Council’s Supporting Communities Fund in 2023/24.
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Decision The Bute and Cowal Area Committee noted the positive contribution of the Supporting Communities Fund detailed in section 4 and within the attached table; and that no funds were to be returned. (Reference: Report by Chief Executive, dated 2nd September 2025, submitted) 12. BUTE & COWAL AREA COMMITTEE WORKPLAN - SEPTEMBER 2025 The Bute and Cowal Area Committee workplan was before members for information. Decision The Bute and Cowal Area Committee noted the contents of the workplan. (Reference: Bute and Cowal Area Committee workplan, dated 2 September 2025, submitted)