Printed minutes
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 in the DUNOON GRAMMAR SCHOOL AND MICROSOFT TEAMS on TUESDAY, 2 DECEMBER 2025 Present: Councillor Reeni Kennedy-Boyle (Chair) Councillor William Sinclair Councillor Gordon Blair Councillor Ross Moreland Councillor Peter Wallace Attending: Stuart McLean, Committee Manager, Argyll and Bute Council Mark Calder, Project Manager, Roads and Infrastructure, Argyll and Bute Council Caroline Robertson, Head of Adults - Hospital & Community Service, Health and Social Care Partnership Catriona Renfrew, Kilfinan Community Council Julie-ann Hurwood, Friends of Thomson Court Jean Moffat, Member of the Public Ian Mitchell, Isle of Bute Responders Team Andrew Galloway, Local Democracy Reporter 1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting. Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Daniel Hampsey, Yvonne McNeilly and Audrey Forrest. 2. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST There were no declarations of interest intimated. 3. MINUTES (a) Bute and Cowal Area Committee - 2 September 2025 The minute of the meeting of the Bute and Cowal Area Committee, held on 2 September 2025 was approved as a correct record. (b) Bute and Cowal Area Community Planning Group - 4 November 2025 The minutes of the meeting of the Bute and Cowal Area Community Planning Group, held on 4 November 2025 were noted. (c) Cowal Transport Forum - 24 November 2025 The minute of the meeting of the Cowal Transport Forum, held on 24 November 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 in attendance, invited Ian Mitchell to present his questions. Mr Mitchell advised that the community on Bute was concerned at the potential loss of the Isle of Bute Responders and asked the following questions: 1. If the responder service is removed, who will attend emergency telecare alarms when someone is lying on the floor, injured or unable to get up? Who, specifically, is taking on that responsibility? 2. Has the Council plans complete a formal risk assessment showing how many lives will be put at risk if people spend hours on the floor waiting for an ambulance? If so, can it be published? 3. Have you carried out any feasibility study to calculate the additional number of ambulance callouts that will be triggered when responders no longer attend falls, ‘no response’ calls, and welfare checks? 4. Given that Bute typically has only one or two ambulances on duty, how will the Scottish Ambulance Service safely absorb dozens of extra callouts per week without severely impacting response times for heart attacks, strokes, or major trauma? 5. If an elderly person is lying on the floor at 2am with no responder available, do councillors accept responsibility for the consequences if the ambulance is delayed because of increased callouts? 6. Has the Council calculated the cost of an ambulance attending every fall that responders currently deal with? If not, why are you proposing cuts without understanding the financial consequences for the wider health system? 7. Responders routinely locate and return people with dementia who have wandered from home, preventing police involvement. Has the Council consulted Police Scotland on the increased workload and risk caused by removing responders? 8. If someone with dementia goes missing at night and there is no responder to search for them, what is the Council’s plan to keep that person safe? 9. Responders often support people who are palliative or at the end of life, especially overnight when no other service is available. What service will provide those checks, reassurance visits, and personal care if responders are removed? 10. Have you spoken to families of palliative residents to ask how they feel about losing the overnight responder presence?
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11. Bute has only one very small care home. What assessment has been made of the emotional, social, and mental health impact of removing the last safety net for islanders who want to die at home or remain in their community? 12. Has the Council taken legal advice on whether removing the responder service meets the statutory duty to protect vulnerable adults under the Adult Support and Protection Act? 13. If a serious incident occurs because no responder was available, where does liability sit; with the Council, the HSCP, or individual decision makers? 14. Why has there been no public consultation on such a major safety related decision that affects elderly, disabled, and isolated people across Argyll & Bute? 15. Will the Council commit to pausing this proposal until full impact assessments, costings, and public consultation have been completed and published? 16. Are councillors confident that they understand what responders actually do, including attending deaths, providing personal care at night, locating missing dementia residents, and preventing ambulance callouts, before voting on this cut? 17. Can any councillor honestly say that the Responder service is non-essential and that removing this service will not put lives at risk? The Chair thanked Mr Mitchell for his questions and his service to the community on Bute. Councillor Kennnedy-Boyle advised that the final decision regarding the future of the service rests with the Health and Social Care Partnership and at this time no decision in this regard had been made. The Chair added that Argyll and Bute Council fully supports the Health and Social Care Partnership and that all Partners are anxious to get clarity around the Scottish Government budget allocation. Councillor Moreland advised that he sits on the Board of the Health and Social Care Partnership and that the Partnership are in a much better place financially than others in Scotland. Councillor Moreland added that he hopes the Scottish Government’s budget will be favourable but at this time all options need to be on the table. Councillor Blair wished to reassure the public that regardless of whether an elected member is part of the Administration or Opposition that they care about people and that the options available will be looked at cautiously and carefully. The Chair thanked Mr Mitchell once again for his questions and assured him that they would be fed into the budget setting process. The Chair then invited any other members of the public in attendance to submit any questions they may have. Julie-Ann Hurwood, Friends of Thomson Court Following the motion considered at Full Council on 26 November 2025 entitled ‘Health and Social Care Emergency in Argyll and Bute’, would a state of emergency be declared if services at Thomson Court and Isle of Bute Responders Team were withdrawn?
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Councillor Wallace responded that any further cuts to social care on Bute would make the situation much worse and would create a crisis. Councillor Wallace added that all options should be explored but that these services are so crucial that they should not be on the table. Councillor Moreland advised that declaring an emergency would not automatically take these potential savings off the table, and that following consideration of the Motion the Council Leader and Policy Lead have requested a meeting with ministers to discuss the challenges that the Health and Social Care Partnerships are facing. The Chair advised that as a member of the Administration she recognised the responsibilities that comes with that and believes that the correct approach at this time is to consider all options, adding that by declaring an emergency for the sake of it would be of no value. The Chair encouraged members of the public to visit the Argyll and Bute website to put their views across. Miss Hurwood asked how local councillors, specifically Councillors Kennedy-Boyle and Wallace, would vote if there was a proposal to cut either the Isle of Bute Responders Team or services at Thomson Court? The Chair advised that this question could not be answered at this time, as councillors would need all the information and implications of such a proposal to make an informed decision, and that would be only possible in February 2026 once the budget is known. Councillor Blair reflected on past experiences of uncertainty around Struan Lodge and that no decision can be made without all the facts and figures being known and that Councillors must be allowed to follow due process. Councillor Moreland agreed with Councillor Blair confirming that no decision can be made without the financial settlement and implications being known. Councillor Moreland added that while he is not a Bute member, he is a member of the Bute and Cowal Area Committee and that there is no favouritism between Councillors with regards to their own local areas. Catriona Renfrew, Kilfinan Community Council Mrs Renfrew questioned how to progress securing additional public bins, as she was finding this difficult. Mark Calder, Project Manager, responded that he would liaise with colleagues regarding previous correspondence sent by Mrs Renfrew and would contact her directly to advise of next steps. Mrs Jean Moffat Mrs Moffat highlighted that an elected members first responsibility is to their constituents and that she was concerned that a member had been removed from a senior position within the Council as result of her voting against the Administrations proposal for a Visitor Levy. Mrs Moffat asked if Councillors should put their community first and not their political allegiances?
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The Chair advised this was not a matter for the Area Committee and that changes had been made to the political managements arrangements as a consequence of some elected members moving position. Councillor Moreland advised that the Visitor Levy has been paused and that any member of the Administration voting against the Administration’s position would face consequences, as they would in any political environment. Councillor Moreland added that the best way to serve democracy is by having a functioning Administration. Councillor Blair stated that all Councillors wish to take care of and look after their constituents. Councillor Moreland concluded by saying that constituents always come first, and that it shouldn’t be about who shouts the loudest. The Chair ruled, and the Area Committee agreed, to adjourn the meeting for 5 minutes to allow for a comfort break and recommenced at 1055. 5. AREA COMMITTEE QUARTERLY PERFORMANCE REPORTS – FQ2 2025/26 The Committee gave consideration to the Area Performance report for financial quarter 2 of 2025/26 (July – September 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 7 November 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 10 October 2025, submitted) 7. ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING STRATEGY The Committee gave consideration to a presentation on the Electric Vehicle Charging Strategy and the list of current and proposed locations for electric vehicle chargers. Members provided feedback to the Project Manager in relation to suggested locations for future electric vehicle charging points across the Bute and Cowal area.
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Decision The Bute and Cowal Area Committee noted the information provided. (Presentation by Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure Services, dated 20 October 2025, submitted) The Chair ruled, and the Committee agreed to change the order of business in order to facilitate Officer attendance. 8. CHARITABLE TRUSTS, BEQUESTS AND TRUST FUNDS The Committee gave consideration to a report which provided details relating to the ongoing management of Charitable Trusts, Bequests and Trust Funds for which the Bute and Cowal Area Committee are Trustees. Decision The Bute and Cowal Area Committee noted the financial position of all the Charitable Trusts, Bequests and Trust Funds as of August 2025 (Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Legal and Regulatory Support, dated November 2025, submitted) 9. ARGYLL AND BUTE HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE PARTNERSHIP PERFORMANCE REPORT - FQ1 2025/26 (APRIL - JUNE) Consideration was given to the Health and Social Care Partnership Performance Reports for financial quarter 1 of 2025/26 (April – June). Decision The Bute and Cowal Area Committee noted the: 1. revised suite of 77 Key Performance Indicators within the Integrated Performance Management Framework for 2025/26; 2. performance for FQ1 2025/26 (April – June 2025); 3. Delayed Discharge Sitrep as of 30 Jun 2025, as at Appendix 1 of the report; and 4. latest performance against the National Health & Wellbeing Outcomes and Ministerial Steering Group Integration Indicators, as at Appendix 2 of the report. (Reference: Report by Senior Manager Performance & Improvement, Argyll and Bute Health and Social Care Partnership, dated November 2025, submitted) 10. SAKURA CHERRY TREE PROJECT UPDATE
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A report providing an update on Argyll and Bute’s Sakura Cherry Tree Project was before members for information. Decision The Bute and Cowal Area Committee noted the contents of the report. (Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Legal and Regulatory support, dated 7 November 2025, submitted). 11. DRAFT BUTE AND COWAL AREA COMMITTEE WORKPLAN 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 December 2025, submitted). 12. MRS MARY MILLAN BEQUEST, BERTHA WIER BEQUEST, PROVOSTS BEQUEST (BUTE) & BAILLIE GILLIES BEQUEST - AWARD RECOMMENDATIONS The Committee gave consideration to a report providing information regarding two applications that had been received for support from the Mrs Mary Millan Bequest, Bertha Wier Bequest, Provosts Bequest (Bute) and Baillie Gillies Bequest. Decision The Bute and Cowal Area Committee agreed to award £100 to each of the applicants who met the criteria for support from the Combined Funds. (Reference: Report by the Executive Director with responsibility for Legal and Regulatory Support, dated November 2025, submitted)