Printed minutes
Argyll and Bute Council · 5 March 2025
Back to Mid Argyll, Kintyre & the Islands Area Committee — 5 March 2025 and its agenda
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MINUTES OF THE MEETING of MID ARGYLL, KINTYRE & THE ISLANDS AREA COMMITTEE held ON A HYBRID BASIS IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS, KILMORY, LOCHGILPHEAD AND BY MICROSOFT TEAMS ON WEDNESDAY, 5 MARCH 2025 Present: Councillor John Armour (Chair) Councillor Jan Brown Councillor Garret Corner Councillor Anne Horn Councillor Jennifer Kean Councillor Tommy MacPherson Councillor Dougie McFadzean Attending: Shona Barton, Governance Manager Douglas Whyte, Team Lead – Housing Strategy Colin Young, Strategic Transportation Delivery Officer Douglas Grierson, Sustainable Transport Coordinator Mark Calder, Project Manager Rosie MacKay, Education Manager Karen Lupton Garcia, Head Teacher, Kilmartin Primary School Andrew Welch, Head Teacher, Keills and Small Isles Primary Schools Michelle Mundie, Chief Executive, Argyll Community Housing Association (ACHA) Iona MacPhail, Chief Executive, Fyne Homes Laura Boyce, Communications and Engagement Team Lead, Scottish Water Ian Woodcock, Area Manager, Transport Scotland 1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting. Apologies for absence were intimated on behalf of Councillor 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 4 DECEMBER 2024 The Minute of the meeting of the Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands Area Committee, held on 4 December 2024, was approved as a correct record. 4. PUBLIC QUESTION TIME The Governance Manager advised that there had been no public questions submitted in advance of the meeting. Having noted that there were members of the public in attendance, the Chair invited them to submit any questions they may have. David Moncrieff Mr Moncrieff asked how many contractors were asked to tender for the Mull Campus project. The Chair advised that the contract had not gone out for tender but he would ask the relevant Officers to provide a full response to the question following the meeting.
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It was noted that Mr Moncrieff had further questions, however these related to individual 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. 5. ARGYLL COMMUNITY HOUSING ASSOCIATION (ACHA) UPDATE Consideration was given to a presentation by the Chief Executive of ACHA. The presentation included information on the storm damage to properties by Storm Eowyn and the emergency plan put in place to deal with the repairs; achievements since 2024; 2023/24 performance benchmarking; current and future projects within Argyll; work undertaken with communities and ACHA’s new structure and plans. Decision The Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands Area Committee: 1. noted the information provided in the presentation; and 2. agreed that the Chair write to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) on behalf of the Area Committee to ask them to give further consideration to identifying Port Ellen as a Potentially Vulnerable Area (PVA) in terms of flood risk. (Reference: Presentation by Chief Executive, Argyll Community Housing Association, dated 5 March 2025, submitted) 6. FYNE HOMES UPDATE Consideration was given to a presentation by the Chief Executive of Fyne Homes, which provided an update on a number of areas including property upgrades; welfare advice provided to tenants; the Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library which Fyne Homes is a partner of; current and future projects within Argyll and Bute; Auchadaduie Wind Farm and the gift aid recipients supported through profits of the wind turbines; the Tenants Information Service National Excellence Awards which they made the final in two categories and the Scottish Housing Awards 2024 which they were shortlisted in. Decision The Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands Area Committee noted the information provided in the presentation. (Reference: Presentation by Chief Executive, Fyne Homes, dated 5 March 2025, submitted) 7. SCOTTISH WATER UPDATE The Committee gave consideration to a verbal update from the Senior Communications and Engagement Consultant, Scottish Water, in relation to Scottish Water’s current workstreams in the Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands Area. The update provided information on projects completed in 2024 including the installation of replacement treatment monitors in Inveraray, Campbeltown and Torra and planned and ongoing investment such as the Port Ellen Investment project, Port Ellen Ferry Terminal Water Main Upgrade, an investigation carried out in the reservoir in Mill Loch on Gigha, the Port Charlotte treatment process upgrades project and the Port Ellen, Cnoc Na Faire Sewer Repairs.
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The update also highlighted future investment proposals such as the Jura Woodside septic tank replacement outfall project which is in very early development stages and the new top up tap in Lochgilphead which was unveiled in August 2024. Decision The Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands Area Committee noted the information provided. (Reference: Verbal update from Senior Communications and Engagement Consultant, Scottish Water) 8. TRANSPORT SCOTLAND UPDATE The Committee gave consideration to a verbal update from the Area Manager, Transport Scotland. Mr Woodcock provided information on the Rest and Be Thankful, specifically relating to the landslide which happened in September 2024, the effect of Storm Eowyn which resulted in the closure of the Rest and Be Thankful on 24 January 2025 and the progress on the debris fencing and long term solution. It was advised that throughout 2024, the Rest and Be Thankful was closed for 34 days and 31 nights and both the Old Military Road and A83 was closed for 1 day and 1 night resulting in travellers having to use the longer diversion. Mr Woodcock highlighted that they have carried our numerous works and spent around £9.2 million across the A83 and highlighted future works due to be undertaken; the active travel scheme in Campbeltown and near the Lochfyne Oyster bar; the new footway link in Kilchenzie; drainage issues at Lochgair; bridge works and the implementation of 20mph limit zones. Decision The Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands Area Committee noted the information provided. (Reference: Verbal update from Area Manager, Transport Scotland) Councillor Tommy McPherson left the meeting during consideration of the next item. 9. PRIMARY AREA ATTAINMENT REPORT: MID ARGYLL, KINTYRE AND THE ISLANDS The Committee gave consideration to a report and a presentation which provided a range of key information about primary school provision in the Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands area during the school session June 2024 to January 2025 and reported the national collection of attainment and achievement data from June 2024. Decision The Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands Area Committee noted the information provided within the report and presentation. (Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Education, dated March 2025, submitted)
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10. HOUSING SERVICES ACTIVITY UPDATE - STRATEGIC HOUSING INVESTMENT PLAN (SHIP) - ANNUAL UPDATE Consideration was given to a report which provided an update on Housing Services activity and the delivery of the Local Housing Strategy within the Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands area. Decision The Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands Area Committee noted the contents of the report. (Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth, dated January 2025, submitted) 11. 2024/25 ACTIVE TRAVEL PROGRESS REPORT The Committee gave consideration to a report which provided an update on the progress made in 2024/25 in relation to active travel projects in the Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands area, and sought continued support for the projects from Members. Decision The Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands Area Committee: 1. welcomed the progress made to date across a significant number of active travel projects by the small Active Travel Team; 2. supported the continuation of the projects and the submission of future funding applications to external challenge funds to continue to develop design and construction stages in order to deliver these projects; 3. supported the allocation of the Tier 1 active travel funding element in the Council’s 25/26 block grant to the development and delivery of appropriate active travel projects, including those already underway in MAKI; and 4. instructed Officers to continue to identify and develop new active travel projects to benefit local residents, businesses and communities. (Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth, dated 3 February 2025, submitted) 12. LOCHGILPHEAD TOWN CENTRE TO JOINT CAMPUS ACTIVE TRAVEL ROUTE: DEVELOPED DESIGN AND FUTURE EXTERNAL FUNDING Consideration was given to a report which updated Members on the progress made to date on the Lochgilphead Town Centre to Joint Campus Active Travel Route, and sought Members support for the continuation of the project. Decision The Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands Area Committee:
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1. welcomed the progress made to date; and 2. supported the continuation of the project and the submission of the 2025/26 Active Travel Infrastructure Fund funding application for the construction of the section of the route between the Joint Campus and Manse Brae. (Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth, dated 3 February 2025, submitted) 13. 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 February 2025, submitted) 14. AREA PERFORMANCE REPORT - FQ3 2024/25 The Committee gave consideration to the Area Performance Report for financial quarter 3 of 2024/25 (October to December 2024) 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 11 February 2025, submitted) 15. 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 5 March 2025, submitted) 16. CAMPBELL AND MCNEIL BEQUEST AWARD RECOMMENDATIONS The Committee gave consideration to a report regarding an application that had been received for support from the Campbell and McNeil Bequests.
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Decision The Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands Area Committee agreed to award £100 to the family applicant who met the criteria of the Campbell and McNeil Bequests. (Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Legal and Regulatory Support, dated February 2025, submitted)