2 October 2001

COMHAIRLE NAN EILEAN SIAR

ARTS AND LEISURE COMMITTEE

Minute of Meeting held in the Council Offices, Stornoway, on Tuesday 2 October 2001 at 9.00am.

PRESENT

Mr Alasdair G Macrae (Chairman)

Mrs Katie M Mackenzie (Vice-Chairman)

Mr Iain Morrison

Mr Philip R McLean

Mr Alexander A Macdonald

Mr Donald J Macsween

Mr Norman A Macdonald

Mr Finlay Morrison

Mr Malcolm J Graham

Mrs Mary Bremner

Mr Roderick J Murray

Mr Ronald J Mackinnon

Mr George Lonie

Mr Donald Manford

MINUTES

Arts and Leisure Committee

C02.13

83

The Minute of Meeting of 28 August 2001 was approved, subject to recording apologies submitted by Mrs Mary Bremner.

LAND AND BUILDINGS

Programme and Progress

PR03.02.01

84

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.

It was agreed that, in accordance with the provisions of Schedule 7A of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following item on the grounds that exempt defined in Part 1 of Schedule 7A, namely any terms proposed or to be proposed by or to the Comhairle in the course of negotiations for a contract for the acquisition or disposal of property or the supply of goods or services would be disclosed.

Lews Castle - Essential Maintenance

AL02.17

85*

With reference to item 68 of the Minute of Meeting of 28 August 2001 the Director of Technical Services submitted a Report indicating that tenders had been sought for essential maintenance at Lews Castle. Only one tender had been received and the amount of that tender exceeded the available budget. The Report detailed the most urgent works required and detailed the options available to Members.

It was agreed to recommend that:

(1) the Director of Technical Services be authorised to execute stabilisation work to the bay window at Lews Castle at an estimated cost of £8,000 as an immediate priority;

(2) the Director of Technical Services be authorised to negotiate a limited amount with the sole tenderer for the contract for rebedding stone copes and repairing damaged chimney copes at Lews Castle, in light of the limited funds available for this work; and

(3) additional funding be sought for the work not undertaken to rebed stone copes and repair damaged chimney copes by way of a PIR for the 2002/2003 Capital Programme and the project be retendered.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

Local Capital Grants Scheme 2002/2003: Bidding Round

AL11.01

86*

The Director for Sustainable Communities submitted a Report concerning an invitation by the Scottish Executive for the Comhairle to nominate a village hall for a Rural Affairs Grant to support the building or major renovation of a voluntary sector managed village hall. Applications had been received from Castlebay, Barvas and Breasclete.

It was agreed to recommend that:

(1) nominations from the Comhairle, to the Scottish Executive, for a Rural Development Grant be made in the undernoted order of priority;

(i) Castlebay Hall Committee

(ii) Barvas Hall Committee

(iii) Breasclete Community Association; and

(2) in the event of a lower priority community group gaining access to a major source of external funding, while a higher priority group was unsuccessful, the Director for Sustainable Communities be authorised to negotiate with the Scottish Executive to amend the priority list in favour of the group which had been successful in receiving match funding.

SPORTS

Islands Forum

AL06.04.02

87*

The Director for Sustainable Communities submitted a Report concerning the progress of the Islands Forum which had been identified as the vehicle to ensure the implementation of the national strategy for sport in island communities. The Forum comprised of representatives from six Scottish Local Authorities and Sportscotland. The Report detailed the Forums terms of reference and four broad strategic aims.

It was agreed to recommend approval of officer involvement in the development of an Islands Forum strategy.

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

Adult Basic Education

AL04.01

88*

The Director for Sustainable Communities submitted a Report concerning guidance on planning and distribution of resources to deliver adult literacy and numeracy in the Western Isles. The Comhairle would be expected to co-ordinate and meet on the development of clearly defined action plans on adult literacy and numeracy as components of community learning strategies and would have to submit an adult literacy and numeracy action plan to the Scottish Executive by December 2001.

It was agreed to recommend that the Community Learning Strategy Partnership Group be requested to submit proposals on the development of adult literacy and numeracy provision throughout the Western Isles, in accordance with the guidelines in circular no ELLD 1/01.

Child Protection Update

SW02.17

89

With reference to item 82 of the Minute of Meeting of 28 August 2001 the Director for Sustainable Communities submitted a Report updating Members on the procedures for Scottish Criminal Record Office checks on adults working with young people.

It was agreed to note the Report.

Commercial Film Shows

AL05.01

90*

The Director for Sustainable Communities submitted a Report concerning proposals to negotiate a hire cost of the Town Hall, Stornoway and Lionaclete School with a commercial mobile cinema in an attempt to bring blockbuster type films to the islands on a regular basis.

It was agreed to recommend that:

(1) the Director for Sustainable Communities be authorised to negotiate a reduced letting charge for the Town Hall, Stornoway, for the purpose of showing films;

(2) the negotiated charge be greater than the charge which would be made to a voluntary sector group; and

(3) charges for the use of the Town Hall be reviewed as part of the preparation of the Revenue Estimates.

Play Areas in Balivanich

AL02.12

91*

The Director for Sustainable Communities submitted a Report concerning proposals to decommission the children's play area at Balivanich School on the basis that a comprehensive upgrading would be undertaken on an alternative site in the Balivanich area.

It was agreed:

(1) to recommend that the play area at Balivanich School be taken out of service and the area made safe;

(2) to note that the play areas at Columba Place and Winfield Way will be added to the list of play areas maintained and operated by the Comhairle; and

(3) to recommend that the single item of replacement equipment scheduled for Balivanich be allocated to Winfield Way.

PERFORMANCE MONITORING

Reports Outstanding - Progress

PR33.01.12

92

The Director of Corporate Services submitted a progress Report in relation to items of business outstanding from previous 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 Iain Morrison	Mr Philip R McLean
	Mr Alexander A Macdonald	Mr Donald J Macsween
	Mr Norman A Macdonald	Mr Finlay Morrison
	Mr Malcolm J Graham	Mrs Mary Bremner
	Mr Roderick J Murray	Mr Ronald J Mackinnon
	Mr George Lonie	Mr Donald Manford

		MINUTES
Arts and Leisure Committee C02.13	83	The Minute of Meeting of 28 August 2001 was approved, subject to recording apologies submitted by Mrs Mary Bremner.
		LAND AND BUILDINGS
Programme and Progress PR03.02.01	84	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.
		It was agreed that, in accordance with the provisions of Schedule 7A of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following item on the grounds that exempt defined in Part 1 of Schedule 7A, namely any terms proposed or to be proposed by or to the Comhairle in the course of negotiations for a contract for the acquisition or disposal of property or the supply of goods or services would be disclosed.
Lews Castle - Essential Maintenance AL02.17	85*	With reference to item 68 of the Minute of Meeting of 28 August 2001 the Director of Technical Services submitted a Report indicating that tenders had been sought for essential maintenance at Lews Castle. Only one tender had been received and the amount of that tender exceeded the available budget. The Report detailed the most urgent works required and detailed the options available to Members. It was agreed to recommend that: (1) the Director of Technical Services be authorised to execute stabilisation work to the bay window at Lews Castle at an estimated cost of £8,000 as an immediate priority;
		(2) the Director of Technical Services be authorised to negotiate a limited amount with the sole tenderer for the contract for rebedding stone copes and repairing damaged chimney copes at Lews Castle, in light of the limited funds available for this work; and (3) additional funding be sought for the work not undertaken to rebed stone copes and repair damaged chimney copes by way of a PIR for the 2002/2003 Capital Programme and the project be retendered.
		FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
Local Capital Grants Scheme 2002/2003: Bidding Round AL11.01	86*	The Director for Sustainable Communities submitted a Report concerning an invitation by the Scottish Executive for the Comhairle to nominate a village hall for a Rural Affairs Grant to support the building or major renovation of a voluntary sector managed village hall. Applications had been received from Castlebay, Barvas and Breasclete. It was agreed to recommend that: (1) nominations from the Comhairle, to the Scottish Executive, for a Rural Development Grant be made in the undernoted order of priority; (i) Castlebay Hall Committee (ii) Barvas Hall Committee (iii) Breasclete Community Association; and (2) in the event of a lower priority community group gaining access to a major source of external funding, while a higher priority group was unsuccessful, the Director for Sustainable Communities be authorised to negotiate with the Scottish Executive to amend the priority list in favour of the group which had been successful in receiving match funding.
		SPORTS
Islands Forum AL06.04.02	87*	The Director for Sustainable Communities submitted a Report concerning the progress of the Islands Forum which had been identified as the vehicle to ensure the implementation of the national strategy for sport in island communities. The Forum comprised of representatives from six Scottish Local Authorities and Sportscotland. The Report detailed the Forums terms of reference and four broad strategic aims. It was agreed to recommend approval of officer involvement in the development of an Islands Forum strategy.
		COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Adult Basic Education AL04.01	88*	The Director for Sustainable Communities submitted a Report concerning guidance on planning and distribution of resources to deliver adult literacy and numeracy in the Western Isles. The Comhairle would be expected to co-ordinate and meet on the development of clearly defined action plans on adult literacy and numeracy as components of community learning strategies and would have to submit an adult literacy and numeracy action plan to the Scottish Executive by December 2001. It was agreed to recommend that the Community Learning Strategy Partnership Group be requested to submit proposals on the development of adult literacy and numeracy provision throughout the Western Isles, in accordance with the guidelines in circular no ELLD 1/01.
Child Protection Update SW02.17	89	With reference to item 82 of the Minute of Meeting of 28 August 2001 the Director for Sustainable Communities submitted a Report updating Members on the procedures for Scottish Criminal Record Office checks on adults working with young people. It was agreed to note the Report.
Commercial Film Shows AL05.01	90*	The Director for Sustainable Communities submitted a Report concerning proposals to negotiate a hire cost of the Town Hall, Stornoway and Lionaclete School with a commercial mobile cinema in an attempt to bring blockbuster type films to the islands on a regular basis. It was agreed to recommend that: (1) the Director for Sustainable Communities be authorised to negotiate a reduced letting charge for the Town Hall, Stornoway, for the purpose of showing films; (2) the negotiated charge be greater than the charge which would be made to a voluntary sector group; and (3) charges for the use of the Town Hall be reviewed as part of the preparation of the Revenue Estimates.
Play Areas in Balivanich AL02.12	91*	The Director for Sustainable Communities submitted a Report concerning proposals to decommission the children's play area at Balivanich School on the basis that a comprehensive upgrading would be undertaken on an alternative site in the Balivanich area. It was agreed: (1) to recommend that the play area at Balivanich School be taken out of service and the area made safe; (2) to note that the play areas at Columba Place and Winfield Way will be added to the list of play areas maintained and operated by the Comhairle; and (3) to recommend that the single item of replacement equipment scheduled for Balivanich be allocated to Winfield Way.
		PERFORMANCE MONITORING
Reports Outstanding - Progress PR33.01.12	92	The Director of Corporate Services submitted a progress Report in relation to items of business outstanding from previous decisions of the Arts and Leisure Committee. It was agreed to note the Report.