Minute of the Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands Area Committee Meeting Held on Wednesday, 4 September 2024
Argyll and Bute Council · 4 December 2024
Back to Mid Argyll, Kintyre & the Islands Area Committee — 4 December 2024 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 MID ARGYLL, KINTYRE & THE ISLANDS AREA COMMITTEE held ON A HYBRID BASIS IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS, KILMORY, LOCHGILPHEAD AND BY MICROSOFT TEAMS on WEDNESDAY, 4 SEPTEMBER 2024 Present: Councillor John Armour (Chair) Councillor Jan Brown Councillor Garret Corner Councillor Anne Horn Councillor Jennifer Kelly Councillor Tommy MacPherson Councillor Dougie McFadzean Councillor Dougie Philand Councillor Alastair Redman Attending: Jim Smith, Head of Roads and Infrastructure Services Shona Barton, Governance Manager Hugh O’Neill, Network & Standards Manager John Blake, Fleet Waste & Transport Manager Colin Young, Transport Planner Susan MacRae, Area Manager, Skills Development Scotland Seymour Adams, Vice-Chair, Culture Heritage & Arts (CHArts) Argyll and Isles Andrew Galloway, Local Democracy Reporter 1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE There were no apologies for absence received. 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 JUNE 2024 The Minute of the meeting of the Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands Area Committee, held on 5 June 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. It was noted that there were no members of the public in attendance at the meeting. 5. SKILLS DEVELOPMENT SCOTLAND ANNUAL UPDATE The Committee gave consideration to a presentation which provided an update on the ongoing works of the Skills Development Scotland (SDS) team. The Area Manager from SDS highlighted ongoing work around the review of SDS’s position; increased demand for Partnership Action for Continuing Employment (PACE); the provision of an exam results helpline; the ongoing work of SDS in supporting young people; and the availability of support from SDS for anyone in need of advice.
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The Chair thanked the Area Manager for their presentation, and the Area Manager invited Members to reach out to her if they would like to learn more about the work of SDS in the local area. Decision The Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands Area Committee considered and noted the information provided. (Reference: Presentation by Area Manager, Skills Development Scotland, dated 4th September 2024, submitted) Councillor Dougie McFadzean joined the meeting during discussion of the following item. 6. ROADS AND INFRASTRUCTURE SERVICES UPDATE The Committee gave consideration to a report which provided links to helpful resources and weekly briefings relating to the recent activities of Roads and Infrastructure Services. Decision The Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands Area Committee considered and noted the contents of the report. (Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure Services, dated August 2024, submitted) 7. RECYCLING AND RECOVERY PERFORMANCE The Committee gave consideration to a report which provided details of the Council’s recycling and landfill diversion performance, along with national policies, targets and regulations which are likely to impact on future performance. Decision The Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands Area Committee noted and considered 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 4 September 2024, submitted) 8. KILKERRAN CEMETERY UPDATE REPORT The Committee gave consideration to a report which provided a short update on the works which had been carried out to identify a suitable site for building a new cemetery for Kintyre. Decision The Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands Area Committee: 1. noted that officers had continued to try to engage with the MOD, as well as the Kings Harbour Master (KHM), to discuss their objection to the initial request to re-
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purpose the land adjacent to the current cemetery, and that this had been further supported by a letter being sent from the Mid Argyll Kintyre and the Islands Area Committee Chair to the MOD and the KHM requesting a suitable date to meet on site; 2. noted that a meeting took place on Thursday 22 August with the KHM, MOD Estates, Argyll and Bute Marine Officers, and Network and Standards Officers to discuss the MOD’s initial letter of objection. This was a positive meeting where the KHM and the MOD agreed that, having looked at the Council’s proposal for the purchase and use of the land as a cemetery in more detail, they were of the opinion that this would not likely have any effect on the Ship Light Beacon, provided no LED or lights were placed on grave stones and no gravestones were erected which were above 6 feet; 3. noted that the KHM and MOD would now look at internal processes for the potential purchase or lease of the land to Argyll and Bute Council, however this would be dependent on their estates and legal sections agreeing; and 4. noted that the Assistant Network and Standards Manager would now make contact with the local land owner with a view to entering into negotiations for the other part of the cemetery. (Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure Services, dated August 2024, submitted) Councillor Tommy MacPherson left the meeting during discussion of the following item. 9. CRAIGHOUSE TO CORRAN SANDS, ISLE OF JURA ACTIVE TRAVEL ROUTE PROGRESS REPORT The Committee gave consideration to a report which updated Members on the progress made in relation to developing plans to improve opportunities to walk, wheel or cycle between Craighouse and Corran Sands on the Isle of Jura, noting that this project was identified as a priority in the Isle of Jura Community Action Plan 2018-2023. Decision The Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands Area Committee agreed to: 1. support progression of the project to full Technical Design, as required by the external funder; and 2. instruct Officers, subject to securing external funding, to identify a single preferred option and to continue development of the designs for this option to Developed Design (stage 3) and Technical Design (stage 4). (Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth, dated 19 July 2024, submitted) Councillor Tommy MacPherson rejoined the meeting during discussion of the following item.
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10. CULTURE HERITAGE & ARTS (CHARTS) ASSEMBLY ARGYLL AND ISLES 2023-24 The Committee gave consideration to a presentation by the Vice-Chair of the Cultural Heritage and Arts Assembly (CHArts) for Argyll and the Isles. The presentation included information on CHArts work and their key projects; the local impact; youth involvement and training, including a successful local apprenticeship; the development of Campbeltown Museum; work in relation to the Argyll Aspires project; the Colmcille tour; partnership working with the Council in relation to the Argyll Collection; promotion of the Gaelic language and culture; and CHArts business plans going forward. The Chair thanks the Vice-Chair for their presentation, and congratulated those involved in the ‘Reflect, Remembering Together’ project. Decision The Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands Area Committee considered and noted the information provided. (Reference: Presentation and Annual Review Report by Vice-Chair, Culture Heritage and Arts Assembly (CHArts) Argyll and Isles, dated August 2024, submitted) 11. AREA PERFORMANCE REPORT - FQ1 2024/25 Consideration was given to the Area Performance Report for financial quarter 1 of 2024/25 (April to June 2024), which illustrated the agreed performance measures for the period. Decision The Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands Area Committee noted and considered the performance and supporting commentary as presented. (Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Customer Support Services, dated 6 August 2024, submitted) 12. AREA COMMITTEE MEETINGS - 2024-2025 The Committee gave consideration to a report which asked Members to consider the locations for meetings up until June 2025. Decision The Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands Area Committee agreed that scheduled meetings of the Committee until June 2025 would be held in various locations across the Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands area, to be agreed by the Chair and Vice-Chair in consultation with the Governance Manager. (Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Legal and Regulatory Support, dated 20th August 2024, submitted) 13. APPOINTMENTS TO OUTSIDE ORGANISATIONS A report asking the Committee to consider making appointments to a number of local bodies/organisations within the Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands area was considered.
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Decision The Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands Area Committee agreed: 1. to appoint Councillor Anne Horn to the Tarbert and Skipness Community Trust; 2. to appoint Councillor Anne Horn to the Kintyre Youth Fund; 3. to appoint Councillor Dougie McFadzean to Islay and Jura Community Enterprise Ltd; 4. to appoint Councillor Anne Horn to the Argyll and Bute Renewables Trust, alongside Councillor Jan Brown as the existing appointee; 5. to appoint Councillor Anne Horn to the Campbeltown Ferry Committee, alongside Councillor John Armour as the existing appointee. (Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Legal and Regulatory Support, dated 8th August 2024, submitted) 14. MID ARGYLL, KINTYRE AND THE ISLANDS AREA COMMITTEE WORKPLAN The Committee gave consideration to the Area Committee workplan for future meetings. Decision The Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands Area Committee considered and noted the contents of the workplan. (Reference: Area Committee Workplan, dated 4 September 2024, submitted)