COMHAIRLE NAN EILEAN SIAR

ARTS AND LEISURE COMMITTEE

Minute of Meeting held in the Council Offices, Stornoway, on Tuesday 21 March 2006 at 9.30am

PRESENT	Mr Malcolm J Graham (Chairman)
	Mr Iain Morrison (Vice-Chairman)
	Miss Samantha E L Hawkins	Mr Angus Campbell
	Mr John Mackay	Mr Angus McCormack
	Mr Alex A MacDonald	Mr Donald I Nicholson
	Mr Norman L Macdonald	Mr Donald J Macsween
	Mr Keith Dodson	Mr Angus Macdonald

Tribute:  Mr Angus M Clinton		The Chairman referred to Mr Angus M Clinton who had died recently.  Mr Clinton had been a generous supporter of the Duke of Edinburgh Award over a number of years and the Chairman, on behalf of the Committee extended sympathy and condolences to his family in their bereavement.
Tribute:  Eilidh Mackenzie		The Chairman referred to Eilidh Mackenzie, a fifth year pupil at the Nicolson Institute who had recently been selected to represent Scotland at the Celtic International Cross Country event in Dublin where she had finished in an excellent 8^th position and helped the Scottish team to 2^nd place overall.  The Chairman on behalf of the Committee congratulated Eilidh on her achievement.
Tribute:  Mairi Levack		The Chairman referred to Mairi Levack from the North Uist Athletic Club who had recently been awarded Volunteer of the Year by Scottish Athletics and on behalf of the Committee congratulated Mairi on this well deserved award in recognition of her enthusiasm and commitment to the development of athletics in North Uist and the Western Isles.
		MINUTES
Minute of Meeting of 31 January 2006	1	The Minute of Meeting of 31 January 2006 was approved. Arising out of this item it was agreed to recommend that a Report be submitted by the Director for Sustainable Communities on the potential for using the remaining £12,000 left in the budget, for the next project on the priority list, namely Leverburgh Pitch, in order that the Leverburgh Enhancement Group who have asked to take over the facility, can be assisted in putting together a funding package, which includes an application for funding from the Rural Services Priority Area of South Harris.
Declaration of Interest	2	Mr Archie K Campbell declared an interest and left the meeting during consideration of item 5. Mr Donald J Macsween and Mr Donald I Nicholson declared an interest and left the meeting during consideration of item 7. Mr Angus McCormack declared an interest in item 8. Mr Iain Morrison declared an interest and left the meeting during consideration of item 13.

		BUSINESS PLANS
Business Plans 2006/07 – 2008/09 PR33.01.04	3	The Chief Executive submitted a Report seeking approval of the Business plans for 2006/07 – 2008/09.  it was stated in the Report that the Chartered Institute of Public Finance (CIPFA)/Society of Local Authority Chief Executive’s (Solas) Corporate Governance Framework advised that local authorities should maintain effective arrangements for explicate accountability to stakeholders for the authorities performance and its effectiveness in the delivery of services and suitable use of sources. It was agreed to recommend that: (1) the Comhairle approve the Business Plans for the Arts and Leisure Committee contained in Appendix 1, subject to the amendment at (2) below; and (2) the Business plans be amended removing all the Arts Funding related items from the Sustainable Development Committee section and including them under the heading Arts in the Arts and Leisure Committee section.
		BUILDINGS
Capital Works:  Programme and Progress PR33.01.12	4	With reference to Item 7 of the Minute of meeting of 31 January 2006 the Director of Technical Services submitted a Report concerning Programme and progress in respect of properties held on the Arts and Leisure account. It was agreed to recommend that the Report be noted.
		Mr Archie K Campbell declared an interest and left the meeting during consideration of item 5.
Repairs and Maintenance (Revenue) Programme 2005/2006:  Quarterly Expenditure Report to 3 February 2006 PR33.01.12	5	With reference to Item 4 of the Minute of Meeting of 25 October 2005 the Director of Technical Services submitted a Report detailing expenditure on repairs and maintenance for properties held on the Arts and Leisure account in the current financial year to 3 February 2006. It was agreed to recommend that the Comhairle note this Report and note further Reports on the repairs and maintenance of properties held on the Arts and Leisure account will continue to be placed before Committee at quarterly intervals.
Nicolson Clock Tower LB38.23	6	The Director for Sustainable Communities submitted a Report concerning a proposal to undertake necessary repair work and restoration of the Nicolson Clock Tower.  Details of the proposed works were given in the Report which included retaining the clock tower without public access, but reinstating the specialist cornicing and rendering, leaving the building as close to its original conditions as practicable, with the memorial plaques for the Seaforth Highlanders and for Alexander Morrison Nicolson on the exterior of the clock tower. It was agreed to recommend that the Comhairle approve the restoration work to the Nicolson Clock ower, as described in the Report and Plan, at an estimated cost of £62K.
		Mr Donald J Macsween and Mr Donald I Nicholson declared an interest and left the meeting during consideration of item 7.
Area of land adjacent to Bridge Centre, Stornoway LB06.01	7	The Director of Corporate Services submitted a Report seeking authority for the transfer of an area of land adjacent to the Bridge Centre, Stornoway and owned by the Comhairle, to the Bridge Centre, in order to facilitate it’s development of the site.  Details of the proposed transfer were given in the Report. It was agreed to recommend that the triangular area of land adjacent to Bridge Centre and extending to approximately 140 square metres, as shown on the plan appended to the report, be sold to the Bridge Centre at Bayhead, Stornoway for no consideration, subject to the consent of the Scottish Ministers being obtained for a transfer at less than market value, and to such other terms and conditions as the Director of Corporate Services, in consultation with the Director for Sustainable Communities, shall deem appropriate.
		ARTS
		It was agreed that the public, including the press, be excluded from the meeting during consideration of item 8 below on the grounds that exempt information as defined in Paragraph 6 of Schedule 7A of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 would be disclosed, namely, information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person, other than the Comhairle.
		The Chairman ruled that, in accordance with the provisions of Section 50(B) 4 of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 as amended, that the following item be considered as a matter of urgency in order to allow the Comhairle to take a view on the matter.
		Mr Angus McCormack declared an interest in item 8.
An Lanntair AL05.02.29	8	It was agreed to defer consideration of item 8.
James Barret, “The Village of Stornoway with Hunting Lodge”, 1798 AL05.01	9	With reference to Item 8 of the Minute of meeting of 1 February 2005 the Director for Sustainable Communities submitted a Report concerning the successful acquisition of the James Barret 1798 oil painting of Stornoway.  Details of the acquisition were given in the Report. It was agreed to recommend that the Comhairle note the contents of this Report and convey its thanks to the funding bodies for their generous support.
The Museum Accreditation Scheme:  A New Standard AL09.01	10	The Director for Sustainable Communities submitted a Report seeking approval to submit an application on behalf of Museum nan Eilean for the new accreditation standard for museums which replaces the previous registration standard.  Details of the new accreditation standard were given in the Report. It was agreed to recommend that the Comhairle give approval to the Director for Sustainable Communities to take all necessary steps within existing budgetary provision to achieve the new Accreditation Standard.
Feisean nan Gaidheal – Three Year Funding Agreement AL11.01	11	With reference to Item 16 of the Minute of meeting of 15 June 204 the Director for Sustainable Communities submitted a Report concerning a proposal for a 3 year funding agreement with Feisean nan Gaidheal.  The background to the proposal and an outline of the benefits of the proposed 3 year service level agreement were given in the Report. It was agreed to recommend that the Comhairle agree funding of £13,500 per annum for financial years 2006/07, 2007/08 and 2008/09 to Fèisean nan Gaidheal for the Outer Hebrides Fèisean and associated Fees Support Worker, subject to the satisfactory conclusion of a Service Level Agreement between the Comhairle and Fèisean nan Gaidheal and subject to sufficient budgetary resources in the Arts Development budget.
Public Library SPI Data Collection AL08	12	With reference Item 8 of the Minute of Meeting of 25 October 2005 the Director for Sustainable Communities submitted a Report concerning data collection methods for public library and information service statutory performance indicators with the advent of broadband.  An outline of the impact of broadband on data collection methods was given in the Report.  The Report indicated the borrower calculations are currently possible electronically with the automated library management system in place only at Stornoway and Shawbost libraries but with use of broadband connections all the other libraries which were currently using a manual could be linked to the central library management system in Stornoway, using a broadband connection.  It was agreed to recommend that the Comhairle note: (1) that Public Library Statutory Performance Indicators are being collated manually for 2005/06; and (2) the progress being made to use broadband connections to facilitate automation of this process for 2006/07.
		SPORT
		Mr Iain Morrison declared an interest and left the meeting during consideration of item 13.
Request for an Annual Grant for the Island Games AL11.01	13	With reference to Item 10 of the Minute of meeting of 14 June 2005 the Director for Sustainable Communities submitted a Report seeking approval to award an annual grant to the Western Isles Games Association.  A letter of 6 March 2006 from the Chairperson of the Western Isles Games Association was included as an appendix to the Report. It was agreed to recommend that: (1) the Comhairle approve an award of £5k for 4 years, to the Western Isles Island Games Association following the submission of a business plan supporting the cost projection of £75k per annum and the presentation of audited accounts each year; and (2) a Report be submitted by the Director for Sustainable Communities giving options for  the potential for supporting the Western Isles Games Association in the total sum of £25k per annum, highlighting areas where such funding could be resourced, the significant pressures which the budgets are under and the various demands for other projects across this area of the Committee’s budget.
		It was agreed that the public, including the press, be excluded from the meeting during consideration of item 14 below on the grounds that exempt information as defined in Paragraph 6 of Schedule 7A of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 would be disclosed, namely, information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person, other than the Comhairle.
Spors Nis	14	The Head of Legal and Democratic Services sought and obtained the Chairman’s permission to withdraw the Report concerning Spors Nis.

		PERFORMANCE REVIEW
Reports Outstanding:  Progress PR33.01.12	15	With reference to Item 14 of the Minute of Meeting of 31 January 2006 the Director of Corporate Services submitted a Report concerning the Reports Outstanding arising from decisions of the Arts and Leisure Committee. It was agreed to recommend that: (1) the Report be noted; and (2) on the item regarding the Hebridean Celtic Festival:  Revenue Funding and the possibility of entering into Service Level Agreements for Revenue Assistance in respect of other annual events operated by Community Groups throughout the Western Isles, that the Report submitted at item 11 above be considered to constitute the Report requested and this item be removed from the list of Reports outstanding.
		It was agreed to adjourn the meeting and to reconvene on Thursday 30 March 2006 at 9.00am in order to consider the Report at Item 8, above, on An Lanntair.
		The Committee reconvened on Thursday 30 March 2006 at 9.00am when the following Members were present:
PRESENT		Mr Malcolm J Graham (Chairman)
		Mr Iain Morrison (Vice-Chairman)
		Mr John Mackay	Mr Angus McCormack
		Mr Alex A MacDonald	Mr Donald I Nicholson
		Mr Norman L Macdonald	Mr Donald J Macsween
		Mr Keith Dodson	Mr Angus Macdonald
		Mr Angus Campbell	Mr Donald Manford
APOLOGIES		Mr Norman A Macdonald
		It was agreed that the public, including the press, be excluded from the meeting during consideration of item below on the grounds that exempt information as defined in Paragraph 6 of Schedule 7A of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 would be disclosed, namely, information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person, other than the Comhairle
		Mr Angus McCormack declared an interest in item 8.
An Lanntair AL05.02.29	8	With reference to Item 10 of the Minute of Meeting of 31 January 2006 the Director of Finance submitted a Report concerning the possibility of additional financial support for An Lanntair.  A letter of 20 march 2006 from An Lanntair was included as an appendix to the Report. It was agreed to recommend in so far as Committee’s interests are concerned that the Comhairle: (1) meet the balance of the capital funding for An Lanntair through prudential borrowing financed from the remainder of the 2005/06 budget for increases in insurance premiums for 2006/07 and incorporated within the revenue estimates thereafter; and (2) provide revenue support of £70K to An Lanntair to deliver an agreed arts programme within a formal service level agreement and that this service level agreement be agreed in advance by the Comhairle and subject to an annual review.
		The Chairman ruled that, in accordance with the provisions of Section 50(B) 4 of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 as amended, that the following item be considered as a matter of urgency in order to allow the Comhairle to take a view on the matter.
		ADDITIONAL ITEM
Pitch Development Programme – Grant to Leverburgh AL06.01.62	16	With reference to Item 12 of the Minute of Meeting of 31 January 2006 the Director for Sustainable Communities submitted a Report concerning financial support for Leverburgh enhancement group for the purpose of developing a sports pitch at Leverburgh.  Details of the proposed financial assistance were given in the Report. It was agreed to recommend that a grant of £12k be awarded to Leverburgh Enhancement Group for the purpose of development a sports pitch at Leverburgh school, subject to evidence that the full financial package is in place and is sufficient to enable the development to take place prior to 31 March 2007.