1 October 2002

ARTS AND LEISURE COMMITTEE

Minute of Meeting held in the Council Offices, Stornoway, on Tuesday 1 October 2002 at 9.00am

PRESENT

Mr Alasdair G Macrae (Chairman)

Mrs Katie M Mackenzie (Vice-Chairman)

Mr Roderick J Murray

Mr Malcolm J Macleod

Mr Finlay Morrison

Mr Alexander A Macdonald

Mrs Mary Bremner

Mr Norman A Macdonald

Mr Ronald J Mackinnon

Mr Malcolm J Graham

APOLOGIES

Mr Iain Morrison

Mr George Lonie

Mr Philip R McLean

Tribute: Mr Torquil Maclean

The Chairman referred to Mr Torquil Maclean, who had left his post as Chairman of the Uist and Barra Sport Council. The Chairman, on behalf of the Committee, praised the work done by Mr Maclean in connection with the Uist and Barra Sport Council and wished him well in the future.

Tribute: Shaun Macleod

The Chairman referred to Shaun Macleod, a pupil at Lionel School who had won two silver medals in a recent Army Cadet Swimming Championship and had been chosen to swim at Sandringham. The Chairman, on behalf of the Committee, congratulated Shaun on his achievement.

CONSTITUTION

Scheme of Delegation to Officers

1

The Director for Sustainable Communities submitted a report concerning updating the delegated powers given to the Director for Sustainable Communities. The report indicated that the current scheme gives the Director power to award all grants at a level the Director deems appropriate but in practice the Director has limited his powers on non per capita grants to guidelines previously agreed by the Arts and Leisure Committee.

It was agreed to recommend that the paragraphs in the Scheme of Delegation which refer to delegations by the Arts and Leisure Committee be deleted and replaced by the paragraphs set out in the appendix to the report by the Director for Sustainable Communities, with the exception of paragraph 6.

MINUTES

Minute of Meeting of 27 August 2002

2

The minute of meeting of 27 August 2002 was approved.

Arising from consideration of the above minute, it was agreed that the Director for Sustainable Communities submit a report concerning support for the Royal National Mod in 2001 and possible support for the Mod in 2005, giving full financial details and an analysis of both previous expenditure and future estimates, together with options and recommendations.

LAND AND BUILDINGS

Capital Works: Programme and Progress

PR33.01.12

3

With reference to item 6 of the minute of meeting of 27 August 2002 the Director of Technical Services submitted a programme and progress Report in relation to the Arts and Leisure Capital Programme.

It was agreed to note the Report.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

Request for Financial Assistance: Young Musicians -Stornoway

AL11.01

4

The Director for Sustainable Communities submitted a report concerning a request for financial assistance from Young Musicians - Stornoway. It was indicated in the report that the Young Musicians, Stornoway were embarking on an ambitious project to develop the music of young people and that the request for a grant was to support the establishment of Young Musicians and to assist in the provision of music classes for children and adults. It was further indicated that the project had received confirmed funding from the Scottish Executive, Robertson Trust, Gannochy Trust and anticipated funding from Western Isles Enterprise.

It was agreed that the Director for Sustainable Communities award financial assistance of £5,000 be awarded to Young Musicians, Stornoway, subject to evidence of setting up two music maker groups.

SPORT

Sgoil Lionacleit Fitness Suite Charges

AL06

5

The Director for Sustainable Communities submitted a report regarding setting of charges for the new Sgoil Lionacleit Fitness Suite Facility. The report indicated that the charges proposed for the Sgoil Lionacleit Fitness Suite were in line with the charges for the Fitness Suite Facility at the Nicolson Lewis Sports Centre, with adjustments made for the scale of the facility at Lionacleit.

It was agreed that:

(1) the decision taken by the Director for Sustainable Communities to open the Sgoil Lionacleit Fitness Suite with provisional charges be homologated; and

(2) the charges for Sgoil Lionacleit Fitness Suite be as set out in the appendix to the report by the Director for Sustainable Communities.

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

Bayhead Community Workshop

AL12

6

The Principal Administrator sought and obtained the Chairman's permission to withdraw this item.

Minibuses

AL06.06

7

The Director for Sustainable Communities submitted a report concerning the withdrawal of three Community Education Minibuses, used by community groups, as requested by the Comhairle meeting of 27 August 2002. Financial details relating to the minibuses in Uist, Harris and Lewis were set out in the report.

It was agreed to:

(1) note that a multi agency Working Group has been established, to quantify the demand for minibuses by public and voluntary sector agencies and community groups and to develop a sustainable partnership solution to meet this demand; and

(2) reinstate the Community Education Minibuses until 31 March 2003 with the financial shortfall being met from the Scottish Executive windfall for support to groups.

LIBRARY SERVICE

Mobile Libraries

AL08.06

8

The Principal Administrator sought and obtained the Chairman's permission to withdraw the item concerning mobile libraries.

PERFORMANCE REVIEW

Reports Outstanding: Progress

PR33.01.12

9

With reference to item 21 of the minute of meeting of 27 August 2002 the Director of Corporate Services submitted a report concerning reports outstanding arising from decisions of the Arts and Leisure Committee.

It was agreed to note the Report.

___

PRESENT	Mr Alasdair G Macrae (Chairman)
	Mrs Katie M Mackenzie (Vice-Chairman)	Mr Roderick J Murray
	Mr Malcolm J Macleod	Mr Finlay Morrison
	Mr Alexander A Macdonald	Mrs Mary Bremner
	Mr Norman A Macdonald	Mr Ronald J Mackinnon
	Mr Malcolm J Graham

APOLOGIES	Mr Iain Morrison	Mr George Lonie
	Mr Philip R McLean

Tribute: Mr Torquil Maclean		The Chairman referred to Mr Torquil Maclean, who had left his post as Chairman of the Uist and Barra Sport Council. The Chairman, on behalf of the Committee, praised the work done by Mr Maclean in connection with the Uist and Barra Sport Council and wished him well in the future.
Tribute: Shaun Macleod		The Chairman referred to Shaun Macleod, a pupil at Lionel School who had won two silver medals in a recent Army Cadet Swimming Championship and had been chosen to swim at Sandringham. The Chairman, on behalf of the Committee, congratulated Shaun on his achievement.
		CONSTITUTION
Scheme of Delegation to Officers	1	The Director for Sustainable Communities submitted a report concerning updating the delegated powers given to the Director for Sustainable Communities. The report indicated that the current scheme gives the Director power to award all grants at a level the Director deems appropriate but in practice the Director has limited his powers on non per capita grants to guidelines previously agreed by the Arts and Leisure Committee. It was agreed to recommend that the paragraphs in the Scheme of Delegation which refer to delegations by the Arts and Leisure Committee be deleted and replaced by the paragraphs set out in the appendix to the report by the Director for Sustainable Communities, with the exception of paragraph 6.
		MINUTES
Minute of Meeting of 27 August 2002	2	The minute of meeting of 27 August 2002 was approved. Arising from consideration of the above minute, it was agreed that the Director for Sustainable Communities submit a report concerning support for the Royal National Mod in 2001 and possible support for the Mod in 2005, giving full financial details and an analysis of both previous expenditure and future estimates, together with options and recommendations.

		LAND AND BUILDINGS
Capital Works: Programme and Progress PR33.01.12	3	With reference to item 6 of the minute of meeting of 27 August 2002 the Director of Technical Services submitted a programme and progress Report in relation to the Arts and Leisure Capital Programme. It was agreed to note the Report.
		FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
Request for Financial Assistance: Young Musicians -Stornoway AL11.01	4	The Director for Sustainable Communities submitted a report concerning a request for financial assistance from Young Musicians - Stornoway. It was indicated in the report that the Young Musicians, Stornoway were embarking on an ambitious project to develop the music of young people and that the request for a grant was to support the establishment of Young Musicians and to assist in the provision of music classes for children and adults. It was further indicated that the project had received confirmed funding from the Scottish Executive, Robertson Trust, Gannochy Trust and anticipated funding from Western Isles Enterprise. It was agreed that the Director for Sustainable Communities award financial assistance of £5,000 be awarded to Young Musicians, Stornoway, subject to evidence of setting up two music maker groups.
		SPORT
Sgoil Lionacleit Fitness Suite Charges AL06	5	The Director for Sustainable Communities submitted a report regarding setting of charges for the new Sgoil Lionacleit Fitness Suite Facility. The report indicated that the charges proposed for the Sgoil Lionacleit Fitness Suite were in line with the charges for the Fitness Suite Facility at the Nicolson Lewis Sports Centre, with adjustments made for the scale of the facility at Lionacleit. It was agreed that: (1) the decision taken by the Director for Sustainable Communities to open the Sgoil Lionacleit Fitness Suite with provisional charges be homologated; and (2) the charges for Sgoil Lionacleit Fitness Suite be as set out in the appendix to the report by the Director for Sustainable Communities.
		COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Bayhead Community Workshop AL12	6	The Principal Administrator sought and obtained the Chairman's permission to withdraw this item.
Minibuses AL06.06	7	The Director for Sustainable Communities submitted a report concerning the withdrawal of three Community Education Minibuses, used by community groups, as requested by the Comhairle meeting of 27 August 2002. Financial details relating to the minibuses in Uist, Harris and Lewis were set out in the report.
		It was agreed to: (1) note that a multi agency Working Group has been established, to quantify the demand for minibuses by public and voluntary sector agencies and community groups and to develop a sustainable partnership solution to meet this demand; and (2) reinstate the Community Education Minibuses until 31 March 2003 with the financial shortfall being met from the Scottish Executive windfall for support to groups.

		LIBRARY SERVICE
Mobile Libraries AL08.06	8	The Principal Administrator sought and obtained the Chairman's permission to withdraw the item concerning mobile libraries.
		PERFORMANCE REVIEW
Reports Outstanding: Progress PR33.01.12	9	With reference to item 21 of the minute of meeting of 27 August 2002 the Director of Corporate Services submitted a report concerning reports outstanding arising from decisions of the Arts and Leisure Committee. It was agreed to note the Report.