Minute of the Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands Area Committee Held on 4 June 2025
Argyll and Bute Council · 3 September 2025
Back to Mid Argyll, Kintyre & the Islands Area Committee — 3 September 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 CONFERENCE ROOM, IONAD CHALUIM CHILLE ILE (ISLAY GAELIC CENTRE), ISLAY AND BY MICROSOFT TEAMS on WEDNESDAY, 4 JUNE 2025 Present: Councillor John Armour (Chair) Councillor Garret Corner Councillor Anne Horn Councillor Tommy MacPherson Councillor Dougie McFadzean Councillor Alastair Redman Attending: Shona Barton, Governance Manager Charlotte Craig, Interim Head of Strategic Planning, Performance and Technology, Argyll and Bute Health and Social Care Partnership Mark Calder, Project Manager James Lafferty, Lochgilphead CARS Project Officer Brendan Docherty, Education Manager James Helbert, Head Teacher, Lochgilphead Joint Campus David Mitchell, Head Teacher, Tarbert Academy Helen Steele, Acting Head Teacher, Tarbert Academy Kirsty Donnelly, Head Teacher, Campbeltown Grammar School Lynn Mitchell, Head Teacher, Islay High School 1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting. Apologies for absence were intimated on behalf of Councillors Jan Brown, Jennifer Kean and Dougie Philand. 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 5 MARCH 2025 The Minute of the meeting of the Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands Area Committee, held on 5 March 2025, was approved as a correct record. 4. PUBLIC QUESTION TIME The Chair having noted that three questions had been submitted by members of the public in advance of the meeting and having noted that these members of the public were in attendance, invited them to ask their questions. The Chair then invited any other members of the public in attendance to submit any questions they may have. The Islay, Jura and Colonsay Agricultural Association Given the longstanding cultural and economic significance of the Islay Agricultural Show— an event dating back to 1838 and a vital part of the islands’ community life—the Islay, Jura and Colonsay Agricultural Association wishes to express its deep dissatisfaction with the
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inadequate consultation process and lack of meaningful impact assessment carried out in relation to the recent school holiday scheduling. In light of the disruption this has caused to the planning and sustainability of the Islay Show and other key community events, will elected members: 1. Acknowledge the serious risk that inflexible school holiday scheduling poses to major community events such as the Islay Show; 2. Commit to reviewing the possibility of reinstating locally flexible school holiday arrangements that reflect the needs of rural and island communities; and 3. Ensure that future school holiday consultations involve meaningful engagement with impacted community organisations and are supported by detailed impact assessments (covering cultural, social and economic factors), to be included in reports to councillors to support more informed and community-sensitive decision making? It was advised that there were wider implications due to shows following a certain pattern meaning that if one show date is changed it impacts the others. The Committee all agreed that consultation on this is vital, and the Chair advised that he would undertake to liaise with the Policy Lead for Education and relevant Education Officers to ascertain what options were possible for more consultation in the future and he would feed back this information to the Association. Jean Knowles Question 1 I note that there has been a decline in Near Me consultations; is there any information about the geographical spread of these consultations? Patient travel is a huge topic of interest on Islay - a month's survey has just finished but many times people tell of going away to the mainland at considerable cost and discomfort only to be told that further investigations requiring another visit will be requested when they feel that this could have been discussed with them without the need for an additional journey. The Governance Manager advised that on receipt of the question she had passed it to the Interim Head of Strategic Planning, Performance and Technology, Argyll and Bute Health and Social Care partnership and currently awaits a response. It was advised that once a response was received that it would be sent to Ms Knowles and the Committee members for information. Question 2 Since the Council own the pier at Port Askaig we have heard about a new mooring gate being installed to facilitate the use of the pier by the new vessels under construction, has this been installed yet? The Governance Manager advised that she would liaise with relevant Council Officers and provide a response to Ms Knowles and the Committee members following the meeting.
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Peter Leckie, Chair of Carbon Neutral Islay Steering Group Would the members of the Area Committee meet with the Chair and Vice Chair of the Carbon Neutral Islay Steering Group, with relevant council officers Executive Director – Development and Economic Growth and the Head of Development and Economic Growth to discuss engagement with the Carbon Neutral Islay Steering Group’s progress and programme. The Chair advised that he would speak to Officers and see if this meeting could be arranged. 5. ARGYLL AND BUTE COUNCIL SECONDARY SCHOOL ATTAINMENT REPORTS (a) Lochgilphead High School The Committee gave consideration to a report relating to Lochgilphead High School, which provided information on S3 ACEL attainment in literacy and numeracy; the pass rates of national qualifications; data from Insight Scotland; wider achievement qualifications; equity and attainment; and Pupil Equity Funding. Decision The Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands Area Committee noted the information provided within the report. (Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Education, dated 4 June 2025, submitted) (b) Tarbert Academy The Committee gave consideration to a report relating to Tarbert Academy, which provided information on S3 ACEL attainment in literacy and numeracy; the pass rates of national qualifications; data from Insight Scotland; wider achievement qualifications; equity and attainment; and Pupil Equity Funding. Decision The Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands Area Committee noted the information provided within the report. (Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Education, dated 4 June 2025, submitted) (c) Campbeltown Grammar School The Committee gave consideration to a report relating to Campbeltown Grammar School, which provided information on S3 ACEL attainment in literacy and numeracy; the pass rates of national qualifications; data from Insight Scotland; wider achievement qualifications; equity and attainment; and Pupil Equity Funding. Decision The Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands Area Committee noted the information
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provided within the report. (Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Education, dated 4 June 2025, submitted) (d) Islay High School The Committee gave consideration to a report relating to Islay High School, which provided information on S3 ACEL attainment in literacy and numeracy; the pass rates of national qualifications; data from Insight Scotland; wider achievement qualifications; equity and attainment; and Pupil Equity Funding. Decision The Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands Area Committee noted the information provided within the report. (Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Education, dated 4 June 2025, submitted) 6. ARGYLL AND BUTE HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE PARTNERSHIP PERFORMANCE REPORT - FQ3 2024/25 The Committee gave consideration to the Health and Social Care Partnership Performance Report for financial quarter 3 of 2024/25 (October to December 2024). Decision The Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands Area Committee: 1. acknowledged the performance for FQ3 2024/25 (October - December); 2. acknowledged the performance update on the National Health & Wellbeing Outcomes and Ministerial Steering Group Integration Indicators, as at Appendix 1; and 3. noted Delayed Discharge Sitrep as of 06 January 2025, as at Appendix 2. (Reference: Report by Interim Head of Strategic Planning, Performance and Technology, Argyll and Bute Health and Social Care Partnership, dated 4 June 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 May 2025, submitted)
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8. AREA PERFORMANCE REPORT - FQ4 2024/25 The Committee gave consideration to the Area Performance Report for financial quarter 4 of 2024/25 (January to March 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 8 May 2025, submitted) 9. AREA COMMITTEE MEETINGS - 2025-2026 The Committee gave consideration to a report which asked Members to agree to the suggested locations for meetings up until June 2026. Decision The Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands Area Committee agreed that the meetings until June 2026 would be held as follows:- 3 September 2025 – Southend 3 December 2025 – Lochgilphead 4 March 2026 – Campbeltown 3 June 2026 – Gigha (Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Legal and Regulatory Support, dated 17 April 2025, submitted) 10. CHARITABLE TRUSTS, BEQUESTS AND TRUST FUNDS - DISTRIBUTION ARRANGEMENTS - MACALISTER MORTIFICATION & FISHER BEQUEST Consideration was given to a report inviting members to consider making awards from the Macalister Mortification and the Fisher Bequest. Decision The Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands Area Committee: 1. agreed to award £3850 from the Macalister Mortification to A'Chleit Hall and thereafter place a moratorium on this fund; and 2. agreed to award £348 from the Fisher Bequest to Westlochfyneside Foodshare and thereafter place a moratorium on this fund. (Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Legal and Regulatory Support, dated April 2025, submitted)
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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 4 June 2025, submitted) 12. NOTICE OF MOTION UNDER STANDING ORDER 13 The following Notice of Motion moved by Councillor John Armour, seconded by Councillor Anne Horn was before the Committee for consideration – Naming of Tarbert Playpark Late 2024 saw the successful conclusion of a very positive partnership project involving Argyll and Bute Council and the community of Tarbert, when a £100,000 upgrade of the village’s playpark was completed. The Council worked with local people and groups, who co-designed the playpark, to ensure that children and young people in Tarbert have a wonderful outdoor facility which contributes to mental and physical health and wellbeing – as well as being simply a great place to play outside. Many people have been involved in bringing this vision to life, but one of those who campaigned so passionately for a playpark in Tarbert is sadly no longer with us to see the enjoyment it brings to the community. The late Councillor John McAlpine played a key role in ensuring that this project was able to secure the funding it needed to make it a reality and was tireless in his determination to ensure that the village he loved so much could benefit from a new playpark. Sadly, John passed away in July 2022 and did not see the results of his hard work and dedication. Following discussions with his family and the local community, and given his service to the community over many years, a very fitting tribute to John would be for the new playpark to bear his name. Therefore, the Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands Area Committee recommends to the Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee that they: 1. Acknowledge the efforts made by John McAlpine in ensuring that Tarbert’s playpark was upgraded and improved for the benefit of local young people, alongside the contributions made by the community as a whole to this much-appreciated local amenity. 2. Agree that the Tarbert Playpark should be formally named ‘The John McAlpine Playpark’. 3. Ask officers to make the necessary arrangements to formally record the playpark name as required and for the installation of appropriate signage.
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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 John Armour, seconded by Councillor Anne Horn, 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 items of business, on the grounds that it was likely to involve the disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 8 of Part 1 of Schedule 7A to the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973. E 1 13. LOCHGILPHEAD CARS - RECOMMENDATION OF GRANT AWARD Consideration was given to a report which asked members to agree a grant award as part of the Lochgilphead Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme (CARS) project. The report also provided an update on the progress of Lochgilphead CARS. Decision The Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands Area Committee: 1. approved the recommended grant award as detailed in the report; 2. agreed to delegate responsibility for issuing the grant contract to the Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth in consultation with the Chair of the Area Committee and only once all necessary checks have been completed; and 3. noted the progress update provided in relation to the wider Lochgilphead CARS works. (Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth, dated 3 April 2025, submitted)