COMHAIRLE NAN EILEAN SIAR

ARTS AND LEISURE COMMITTEE

 

 

 

 

 

Minute of Meeting held in the Council Offices, Stornoway, on Tuesday 3 February 2004 at 9.00am.

 

PRESENT

Mr Malcolm J Graham (Chairman)

 

 

Mr Iain Morrison (Vice-Chairman)

 

 

Miss Samantha E L Hawkins

Mr Keith Dodson

 

Mr John Mackay

Mr Angus Campbell

 

Mr Alex A Macdonald

Mr Angus McCormack

 

Mr Norman A Macdonald

Mr Donald J Macsween

 

Mr George Lonie

Mr Angus Macdonald

 

Mr Norman L Macdonald

Mr Donald Manford

 

 

Tribute:  Kathryn Offer

 

 

 

The Chairman referred to Kathryn Offer, a pupil from Airidhantuim School, who won the Scottish Schools Swimming Championship for the 50 metres backstroke.  The Chairman, on behalf of the Committee, sent congratulations to Kathryn on this major achievement.

 

Tribute:  Michael Drummond

 

 

 

The Chairman referred to Mr Michael Drummond, Principal Administrative Officer, Corporate Services, who had been in hospital recently.  The Chairman, on behalf of the Committee, wished Michael a full and speedy recovery.

 

 

MINUTES

 

Minute of Meeting of 25 November 2003

 

 

1

The Minute of Meeting of 25 November 2003 was approved, subject to the inclusion of the name of Mr Angus McCormack in the sederunt.

 

 

 

FINANCE

 

General Fund Capital Monitoring 1 April 2003 – 31 December 2003

PR110.01

 

2

The Director of Finance submitted a Report detailing the General Fund Capital Monitoring for the period 1 April 2003-31 December 2003.

 

It was agreed to recommend approval of the recommendations detailed in the Report by the Director of Finance concerning the General Fund Capital Monitoring 1 April 2003-31 December 2003, insofar as the Committee’s interests were concerned.

 

Capital Programme 2004 – 2005

PR110.01

 

3

The Director of Finance submitted a Report in relation to expenditure on the Capital Programme 2004-2005.

 

It was agreed to recommend approval of the recommendations detailed in the Report by the Director of Finance concerning the Capital Programme 2004-2005, insofar as the Committee’s interests were concerned.

 

Third Quarter Revenue Monitoring

 

 

4

The Director of Finance submitted a Report in relation to the Third Quarter Revenue Monitoring.

 

It was agreed to recommend approval of the recommendations detailed in the Report by the Director of Finance concerning the Third Quarter Revenue Monitoring, insofar as the Committee’s interests were concerned.

Budget Strategy

 

 

5

The Director of Finance submitted a Report concerning the draft Budget for 2004/2005.

 

It was agreed to recommend approval of the recommendations detailed in the Report, insofar as the Committee’s interests were concerned.

 

 

 

BUILDINGS

 

Capital Works:  Programme and Progress

PR33.01.12

 

 

6

With reference to item 8 of the Minute of Meeting of 25 November 2003 the Director of Technical Services submitted a Report detailing the Capital Works Programme and Progress in relation to Arts and Leisure properties.

 

It was agreed to recommend that the Report be noted.

 

Repairs and Maintenance (Revenue) Programme 2003/2004:  Quarterly Expenditure Report to 31 December 2003

AL03.03.02

 

7

With reference to item 9 of the Minute of Meeting of 25 November 2003 the Director of Technical Services submitted a Report detailing expenditure on repairs and maintenance of properties held on the Arts and Leisure account in the current financial year to 31 December 2003.

 

It was agreed to recommend that:

 

(1)        the Report be noted; and

 

(2)        it be noted that further reports on the repairs and maintenance of properties held on the Arts and Leisure Account would continue to be placed before Committee at quarterly intervals.

 

 

Lews Castle Trust

AL02.17

 

 

8

With reference to item 4 of the Minute of Meeting of 19 November 2002 the Director for Sustainable Communities submitted a Report concerning progress with the Lews Castle project.  The principal conclusions of the Lews Castle Trust Steering Group were outlined in the Report.   A way forward, together with the financial and resource implications of taking the project forward through Lews Castle Trust were also detailed in the Report.

 

It was agreed to recommend that:

 

(1)           the conclusions of the Lews Castle Trust Steering Group, as summarised in the Report, be noted;

 

(2)           Mr Norman L Macdonald and Mr Angus McCormack be nominated to act as Directors of Lews Castle Trust; and

 

(3)           subject to funds being allocated from the appropriate programmes and further Reports detailing the funding implications, the Comhairle agree in principle to:

 

                (a)           a financial contribution to Lews Castle Trust towards the cost of a jointly funded feasibility study;

 

                (b)           joint fund or provide a suitable level of administrative, project management and technical support for Lews Castle Trust;

 

                (c)           installation by the Comhairle of CCTV and other security measures at Lews Castle; and

 

                (d)           acquisition by the Comhairle of surplus land adjacent to Lews Castle from Lews Castle College.

 

 

Request for Lease of Land at Daliburgh School – Comann Sports a Chinn a Deas

E02

 

9

The Acting Director of Corporate Services and the Director of Education submitted a Joint Report concerning the proposed lease of Comhairle owned land, forming part of the curtilage of Daliburgh School, to Comann Spors a Chinn a Deas, to enable them to proceed with plans to improve the outdoor sports centre at Daliburgh School, including the provision of an athletic track and football pitch.  A Site Plan was appended to the Report.

 

It was agreed to recommend that the Report be noted.

 

 

 

SPORT

 

New Sports Facility – Harris – Appointment of Staff

AL02.20

 

10

With reference to item 101 of the Minute of Meeting of 20 November 2001 the Director for Sustainable Communities submitted a Report concerning the process of consultation on the opening hours of the new sports facility in Harris.  It was indicated in the Report that, in order to maximise efficiency, the operational hours and staffing rota of the new sports facility would be confirmed in consultation with the Management Group for the new facility and the Education Department, prior to the formal interview process for the appointment of staff.

 

It was agreed to recommend that the process of consultation, outlined in the Report, on the opening hours of the new sports facility in Harris be approved.

 

Arising out of consideration of this item it was agreed to recommend that the Director for Sustainable Communities submit a Report to a future meeting of the Committee concerning the financial implications and presenting all options regarding opening Sports Centres in the Western Isles on a Sunday.

 

 

 

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

 

Detached Youth Work

AL07.01

11

The Director for Sustainable Communities submitted a Report concerning progress made with the Detached Youth Work project.  It was indicated in the Report that the Community Education Service were currently managing a Detached Youth Work Project.  The first phase of the Project was outlined in the Report and initial statistics were given.  The Project had been funded by Western Isles Community Safety and a further application for funding for the next financial year had been made.  The report stated that a situation could arise where a shortfall in funding may inhibit the project.

 

It was agreed to recommend that the Director for Sustainable Communities be authorised to use Arts and Leisure budgets to support projects, employing Youth Workers, within existing levels of financial delegation.

 

Adult Literacy and Numeracy Action Plan 2004-06

AL04.01

 

12

With reference to item 14 of the Minute of Meeting of 29 January 2002 the Director for Sustainable Communities submitted a Report seeking homologation of the submission of the Adult Literacy and Numeracy Action Plan 2004-06.  A draft Summary Report was appended to the Report.

 

It was agreed to recommend that the actions of the Director for Sustainable Communities in submitting the updated Adult Literacy and Numeracy Action Plan as approved by the Lifelong and Community Learning Partnership be homologated.

 

 

 

RELATED MATTERS

 

Enhancing Sexual Wellbeing in Scotland – Draft Strategy for Consultation

E01

 

13

The Director for Sustainable Communities submitted a report concerning the Scottish Executive’s Enhancing Sexual Wellbeing in Scotland Consultation Strategy, which was published in November 2003 following the recommendations of an expert Reference Group and in response to the poor sexual health of the people of Scotland.  A draft response to the Scottish Executive was appended to the Report.

 

It was agreed to recommend that the draft response to the Scottish Executive be approved.

 

 

 

 

PERFORMANCE MONITORING

 

Reports Outstanding:  Progress

PR33.01.12

14

With reference to item 20 of the Minute of Meeting of 25 November 2003 the Acting Director of Corporate Services submitted a Report concerning Reports Outstanding arising from decisions of the Arts and Leisure Committee.

 

It was agreed to recommend that the Report be noted.