Printed minutes
Argyll and Bute Council · 3 December 2025
Back to Mid Argyll, Kintyre & the Islands Area Committee — 3 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 THE MEETING OF THE MID ARGYLL, KINTYRE & THE ISLANDS AREA COMMITTEE HELD ON A HYBRID BASIS IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER, KILMORY, LOCHGILPHEAD AND BY MICROSOFT TEAMS ON WEDNESDAY, 3 DECEMBER 2025 Present: Councillor John Armour (Chair) Councillor Jan Brown Councillor Garret Corner Councillor Anne Horn Councillor Jennifer Kean Councillor Tommy MacPherson Councillor Alastair Redman Attending: Shona Barton, Governance Manager Mark Calder, Project Manager Charlotte Craig, Business Improvement Manager, Argyll and Bute Health and Social Care Partnership Susan MacRae, Area Manager, Skills Development Scotland 1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting. Apologies for absence were intimated on behalf of Councillors Dougie McFadzean and Dougie Philand. The Governance Manager advised that in terms of Standing Order 14, the following Notice of Motion by Councillor Jennifer Kean, seconded by Councillor Tommy MacPherson, had been received for consideration as a matter of urgency at this meeting – The purpose of Area Committees within Argyll and Bute Council is to consider local issues and to provide a forum for councillors and communities to raise issues of local importance and interest, and to consider matters which have particular relevance to the area. Budget proposals currently under development include measures which will have a material impact on services, assets and communities within the Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Isles (MAKI) area. Members of the MAKI Area Committee will be required to consider related budget matters at the February 2026 meeting of the Council and, in order to discharge that responsibility, require access to MAKI-specific information and an opportunity for collective consideration within a formal committee setting. Budget seminars, whilst available to Members, are informal and are not meetings of the Council or its committees, are not open to the public, and are intended to provide a Council-wide overview rather than consideration of area-specific impacts. They therefore do not provide an appropriate or equivalent mechanism for Area Committee scrutiny or public transparency. Members have received representations from constituents expressing concern regarding the potential local impacts of the emerging budget proposals and the lack of accessible public forums in which such matters can be considered at local level.
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The agenda and reports for this meeting, published in accordance with Standing Orders, do not include any provision for consideration of the budget process or its implications for the MAKI area. It has therefore only become apparent following publication of the agenda that, without urgent action, there will be no formal opportunity for the Area Committee to consider budget-related matters prior to the February 2026 Council meeting. Standing Orders permit the consideration of business not specified in the agenda where, by reason of special circumstances, the matter is urgent and cannot reasonably be deferred. Given the proximity of the February 2026 budget meeting and the absence of any further scheduled ordinary MAKI Area Committee meeting prior to that date, deferral would result in Members attending Council without having undertaken area-specific scrutiny of budget proposals in a public forum. That loss of opportunity cannot be remedied retrospectively. The need for this motion has therefore arisen since the publication of the agenda and delay would prejudice Members’ ability to fulfil the role of the Area Committee and undermine the principles of openness and transparency. The motion accordingly meets the test of urgency in terms of Standing Orders. The MAKI Area Committee agrees: 1. In terms of Standing Orders relating to urgent business, to request that a Special meeting of the MAKI Area Committee be convened as a matter of urgency and in advance of the February 2026 Council budget meeting. 2. That the purpose of the Special meeting be to enable officers to brief Members on budget proposals which may have a material impact on the MAKI area and to allow Members to scrutinise the implications for local wards, services and communities. 3. That the Special meeting be convened as a formal meeting of the Area Committee open to public observation. 4. That, in order to ensure proportionality and minimise additional cost, the Special meeting be held remotely via Microsoft Teams. The Chair ruled that he did not consider that the content of the Motion was a matter of urgency by reason that there was already an established budget process, which he believes gives Members every opportunity to be fully briefed in advance of taking budget decisions. The Chair advised that the Motion would come before the Area Committee for consideration under Standing Order 13 at the next meeting of the Area Committee. 2. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST There were no declarations of interest intimated. 3. MINUTE OF THE MID ARGYLL, KINTYRE AND THE ISLANDS AREA COMMITTEE HELD ON 3 SEPTEMBER 2025 The Minute of the meeting of the Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands Area Committee, held on 3 September 2025, was approved as a correct record.
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4. PUBLIC QUESTION TIME The Governance Manager advised that there had been two public questions submitted in advance of the meeting by Jean Mary Knowles and in her absence read them out on her behalf. The Chair then invited any other members of the public in attendance to ask any questions they may have. Jean Mary Knowles Question 1 How many public toilet individual buildings are there in MAKI and where suitable alternative provision may exist ie is potentially closing public toilets risking a direct threat to public health due to lack of alternative facilities in this widespread rural and island area. The Project Manager advised that there are 21 public conveniences in the MAKI area, 7 in Mid Argyll, 6 in Kintyre and 8 in the Islay/Jura area. Mr Calder advised that there is a page on the Council’s website which lists all of the public conveniences and that he would share the link to this page with the Governance Manager to pass onto Ms Knowles. Question 2 What are the potential impacts of the proposed budget challenges for the council run residential homes in MAKI? The Business Improvement Manager advised that at present there are no plans to make any substantive changes in respect of residential care homes in the MAKI area in 2026/27 and that the HSCP and the Council are working on a strategic review of care home provision across Argyll and Bute, and expect to commence consultation with communities and stakeholders on options for the longer term early in the new year. David Moncrieff This building, Kilmory Castle is a workplace, venue for public meetings and events. Yet Argyll and Bute Council have been made fully aware that the front area of the building is for emergency access. Through an FOI release, a planned view of the castle clearly shows emergency vehicle clear area at the front of the building, yet there is no signage, and janitors are unaware that this is a no parking area, especially the area in front of the entrance. When is the Council going to be compliant with this legislation? The Chair advised that Mr Moncrieff would receive a written response to the question following the meeting. It was noted that Mr Moncrieff had further questions, however these related to individual Members and employees of the Council, and as such the Chair advised that it would not be appropriate for the questions to be shared in this forum. Carole Anne Shields I work in Lorne Campbell Court in Campbeltown and staff only discovered 2 weeks ago that there were proposals put forward to change the care in Lorne Campbell Court. As of yet we still haven’t been told what the criteria for Lorne Campbell Court is in relation to getting clients in. Can I ask which Councillors will support us and are going to help with
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this situation? They continue to be mention of 4 residents in Lorne Campbell Court, these 4 residents have wraparound care, they are not 4 which need nursing needs so there is no need for them to go to the nursing home. It seems that only these 4 clients are spoken about, but we have more than 20 clients in Lorne Campbell Court that we work with. The Chair highlighted that some of the questions raised, as a local Member he has raised himself and is awaiting specific responses, and that he believes other Members have also asked similar questions. The Chair highlighted that the Committee would take note of Ms Shields questions and raise them with the relevant department. Councillor Kean highlighted that she would be supporting Lorne Campbell Court in any way she can and that she has already asked numerous questions and will continue to do so and make representations on this. Councillor MacPherson agreed with Councillor Kean and highlighted his support. Having noted a point raised by Councillor MacPherson, the Chair also asked for information to be provided to Members on the classification of the facility at Lorne Campbell Court. 5. SKILLS DEVELOPMENT SCOTLAND ANNUAL UPDATE The Committee gave consideration to a report which provided an update on the ongoing works of the Skills Development Scotland (SDS) team. The report included information on the provision of career guidance to young people from S1-S6 at Campbeltown Grammar, Islay High School, Lochgilphead Joint Campus and Tarbert Academy; the school leaver destination initial follow up; the post school service offer; Partnership Action for Continuing Employment (PACE); the Annual Participation Measure (APM); local partnership support provided by the SDS teams; the national update from SDS; regional skills planning; Scottish Careers Week which took place in November and support provided to employers. Decision The Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands Area Committee noted the information provided in the report. (Reference: Report by Area Manager, Skills Development Scotland, dated 3 December 2025, submitted) 6. HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE PARTNERSHIP - PERFORMANCE REPORT FQ1 2025/26 (APRIL- JUNE) Consideration was given to the Health and Social Care Partnership Performance Report for financial quarter 1 of 2025/26 (April to June). Decision The Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands Area Committee noted the: 1. revised suite of 77 Key Performance Indicators within the Integrated Performance Management Framework for 2025/26;
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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 and Improvement, Argyll and Bute Health and Social Care Partnership, dated 3 December 2025, submitted) 7. 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 Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands Area Committee noted the contents of the report. (Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure Services, dated 30 October 2025, submitted) 8. 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 Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands area. Decision The Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands Area Committee noted the information provided. (Presentation by Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure Services, dated 20 October 2025, submitted) 9. 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 to September 2025) which illustrated the agreed performance measures for this period. Decision The Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands 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)
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10. CHARITABLE TRUSTS, BEQUESTS AND TRUST FUNDS The Committee gave consideration to a report which provided details on proposals relating to the ongoing management and proposed distribution arrangements for Charitable Trusts, Bequests and Trust Funds for which the Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands Area Committee are Trustees. Decision The Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands Area Committee: 1. noted the financial position of the Charitable Trusts, Bequests and Trust Funds as of August 2025; 2. agreed that the Hutcheon Memorial Trust and May Paterson Trust prizes be limited to £30; and 3. agreed that all other charities and trust funds, that have historically been awarded to Council Departments and Allied partners, are awarded on the basis outlined in paragraph 5.4 and defined within appendix 1 of the report. (Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Legal and Regulatory Support, dated November 2025, submitted) 11. DRAFT MID ARGYLL, KINTYRE AND THE ISLANDS AREA COMMITTEE WORKPLAN The Committee gave consideration to the Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands Area Committee workplan for future meetings. Decision The Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands Area Committee noted the contents of the workplan. (Reference: Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands Area Committee Workplan, dated 3 December 2025, submitted) 12. NOTICE OF MOTION UNDER STANDING ORDER 13 The following Notice of Motion moved by Councillor Tommy MacPherson, seconded by Councillor Alastair Redman was before the Committee for consideration – Carradale Harbour The Area Committee Notes: • The strategically commercial and economic Local Government (LG) asset to Kintyre, Argyll & Bute, and the wider Western seaboard of Scotland. • That the Harbour supports and provides a haven to the fishing industry, Aquaculture, and Inshore Waters leisure & training activities.
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• That to maximise the potential benefits of the LG asset there is a consideration to maintain, upgrade and enhance what is currently planned. Officers are requested to bring forward a report to AC • That identifies potential strategic and economic benefits from investment in and expansion of the LG harbour facilities and operations. • At which time MAKI AC can consider making recommendations to the Economic Development and Infrastructure Committee and Piers and Harbours Authority. Decision The Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands Area Committee agreed the terms of the Motion. (Reference: Notice of Motion under Standing Order 13 by Councillor Tommy MacPherson, seconded by Councillor Alastair Redman, submitted) 13. SAKURA CHERRY TREE PROJECT UPDATE A report providing an update on the next stage of Argyll and Bute’s Sakura Cherry Tree Project was before members for information. Decision The Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands Area Committee noted the contents of the report. (Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Legal and Regulatory Support, dated 7 November 2025, submitted)