COMHAIRLE NAN EILEAN SIAR

ARTS AND LEISURE COMMITTEE

Minute of Meeting held in the Council Offices, Stornoway, on Tuesday 15 June 2004 at 9.00am

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

		MINUTES
Minute of Meeting of 20 April 2004	1	The Minute of Meeting of 20 April 2004 was approved.
		FINANCE
Use of Year End Surplus within Sustainable Communities PR100.01	2	The Director for Sustainable Communities submitted a Report concerning the use of revenue funds carried forward from 2003/04 in the Sustainable Communities portfolio of services. It was indicated that the unallocated combined sums carried forward were £93k. The allocation of funds carried forward from 2003/04 was detailed in the Report. It was agreed to recommend, insofar as the Committee’s interest were concerned that the Comhairle approve the allocation of revenue funds carried forward from the financial year 2003/04 from the combined budgets for the Department for Sustainable Communities to the services as listed in Appendix 1.
		BUILDINGS
Capital Works: Programme and Progress PR33.01.12	3	With reference to item 4 of the Minute of Meeting of 20 April 2004 the Director of Technical Services submitted a Report detailing programme and progress in relation to Arts and Leisure properties. It was agreed to recommend that the Report be noted.
Lews Castle Essential Repairs Programme AL02.17	4	With reference to item 5 of the Minute of Meeting of 20 April 2004 the Director for Sustainable Communities submitted a Report outlining a proposed programme of essential repairs to Lews Castle and seeking approval for expenditure of £200k over the Capital Programme period 2004-08. The repair proposals, which would prioritise safety related work and measures to deter vandalism, were outlined in the Report. It was also indicated that it was proposed to repair the main entrance and/or the two storey bay window in the town facing elevation of the Castle. It was further indicated that some elements of the programme may attract external funding through the proposed Stornoway Township Heritage Initiative. A project evaluation report for the Lews Castle essential repairs programme was appended to the Report. It was agreed to recommend that the programme of essential repairs to Lews Castle, as outlined in the Report, and the attached Project Evaluation Report be approved.
Refurbishment of Library Premises and Services AL08	5	The Director for Sustainable Communities submitted a Report seeking approval of a Capital Expenditure project for the refurbishment of Library premises and services, which would support the appropriate replacement of shelving, furniture and equipment in branch libraries. It was indicated in the Report that the project would also endeavour to extend library services, for example, lending videos, CDs and cassettes to other branch libraries. The Report further indicated that the overall cost of the project was £160k, which would be spread equally over four years. It was agreed to recommend that the Project Evaluation Report for the refurbishment of library premises and services be approved.
		It was agreed that the public including the press be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following item on the grounds that exempt information as defined in Paragraph 8 of Schedule 7A of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, as amended, would be disclosed, namely, Information relating to the amount of any expenditure proposed to be incurred by the Comhairle under any particular contract for the acquisition of property or the supply of goods or services.
Stornoway Town Hall: Proposals for Future Development AL01.11	6	With reference to item 6 of the Minute of Meeting of 20 April 2004 the Director for Sustainable Communities submitted a Report detailing proposals for the future use of Stornoway Town Hall. The outline costs for a feasibility study were detailed in the Report. An outline feasibility study, based on the limited uses identified at a meeting of the Town Hall Member/Officer Working Group, was appended to the Report. It was agreed to recommend that: (1) a feasibility study of Stornoway Town Hall be commissioned, with options including: (a) retaining the Main Hall in its current form; (b) changing the use of the current main hall and stage areas; and (2) £20k be utilised from the Town Hall external repairs budget for the purpose of the feasibility study.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

Arts Capital Grants Scheme

AL11.01

The Director for Sustainable Communities submitted a Report seeking approval for a Scheme of Administration and Project Evaluation Report regarding use of the capital programme to fund a Community Based Arts Facilities Initiative. It was indicated in the Report that funding had been allocated in the conditional capital programme 2004 – 2008. The Project Evaluation Report was appended to the Report.

It was agreed to recommend that:

(1) a Scheme of Administration as outlined in paragraph 6.1 of the Report be approved; and

(2) the project “Community Based Arts Initiatives” be included in the Capital Programme 2004 – 2008, in line with the Project Evaluation Report at Appendix 1 to the Report.

It was agreed that the public including the press be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following two items on the grounds that exempt information as defined in Paragraph 6 of Schedule 7A of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, as amended, would be disclosed, namely, Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person, other than the Comhairle.

Taigh Chearsabhagh – Revenue Funding

AL11.01

With reference to item 52 of the Minute of Meeting of 29 May 2001 the Director for Sustainable Communities submitted a Report concerning a revenue funding bid from Taigh Chearsabhagh and a proposal to assign part of the Cultural Co-ordinator funding allocation to Taigh Chearsabhagh to allow the continuation of its Education Officer post. A draft Service Level Agreement between the Comhairle and Taigh Chearsabhagh, setting out the level of service which the Comhairle would expect in return for this support, was appended to the Report.

It was agreed to recommend that:

(1) revenue assistance for Taigh Chearsabhagh of £12,000 per annum for the 3 year period 2004 – 2007 be approved, subject to sufficient budgetary provision in 2005 – 2006 and 2006 – 2007; and

(2) the assignation of the Comhairle's Cultural Co-ordinator funding allocation for the Uists Cultural Co-ordinator post to Taigh Chearsabhagh to allow its full time Education Officer post to continue be approved.

Theatre Hebrides

AL11.01

The Director for Sustainable Communities submitted a Report concerning an application for funding from Theatre Hebrides to produce and tour the play Metagama in the Western Isles and on the mainland. It was indicated in the Report that the Metagama was a bilingual play and concerned the issues surrounding emigration from the Western Isles in the early 1920s.

It was agreed to recommend that a grant of £6,500 be awarded to Theatre Hebrides towards the production and tour of “Metagama”.

SPORT

Ionad Spors Leòdhais: Provision of Shower Facilities

AL02.20

The Director for Sustainable Communities submitted a Report detailing the issues relating to the shower requirements in the spa area of Ionad Spòrs Leòdhais. It was indicated in the Report that the current proposal was to have a self contained shower unit with a hot and cold feed, with the option of jets of water from around the bather as well as above. It was further indicated that a request for a ‘needle’ shower, which would allow jets of cold water to surround the bather as well as having a conventional ‘rose’ head above should be brought to the attention of the Committee.

It was agreed to recommend that the Ionad Spòrs Leòdhais Member/Officer Working Group be asked to consider the options for inclusion of a ‘needle’ shower in Ionad Spòrs Leòdhais including the option of use of Ward Priority Fund if the relevant Members were agreeable.

Mr Alex A Macdonald declared an interest in the following item and left the meeting during consideration of the matter.

Concessionary Rates – Free Swimming

AL06.01.58

With reference to item 18 of the Minute of Meeting of 20 April 2004 the Director for Sustainable Communities submitted a Report detailing the outcome of the scoping exercise as requested by the Committee at its meeting on 20 April 2004.

It was agreed to recommend that:

(1) free swimming be offered to all Over 60, on a one year trial basis;

(2) a Report be submitted to a future meeting of the Committee detailing the results of the trial in (1) above; and

(3) consideration be given to the possibility of extending this offer to all Schoolchildren in the Western Isles and to possible funding sources and that discussions take place with the Western Isles NHS Board and General Practitioners in this regard with a view to promotion of the potential benefits to the community.

Opening Hours of Sports Facilities

AL06.02.01

With reference to item 10 of the Minute of Meeting of 3 February 2004 the Director for Sustainable Communities submitted a Report which gave information on the financial implications of opening Sports Centres in the Western Isles on a Sunday. The background to the matter and details of the current opening hours at Liniclate, Castlebay and the Ionad Spors Leodhais Sports Centres were outlined in the Report. Details of other additional running costs, excluding staff costs, were also outlined in the Report.

It was agreed to recommend that:

(1) the Comhairle confirm its decision to open Ionad Spòrs Leòdhais for the times agreed by the Comhairle in September 2003 as follows: from 8am – 10pm during Monday – Friday and from 9am – 8pm on Saturday and that the facility be not open on a Sunday;

(2) the opening hours for Lionacleit Sports Centre be unchanged; and

(3) Castlebay Swimming Pool be open for 3 hour public sessions and that the additional costs of £5k per annum be funded from a re-allocation of Quality of Life funding for 2004/05 designated to enhance children’s swimming, and future opening be considered within the revenue estimates for 2005/06.

Support for Local Sports Councils

AL06.01.58

With reference to item 11 of the Minute of Meeting of 4 February 2003 the Director for Sustainable Communities submitted a Report seeking approval for continued financial support for the two local sports councils. It was indicated in the Report that the two local sports councils have been flourishing since their inception in 1999 and have provided immense support for local sport.

It was agreed to recommend that continued support for the local Sports Councils through devolving £6k to the Uist and Barra Sports Council and £8.5k to the Lewis and Harris Sports Council for the 2004/2005 Sports and Games Budget in accordance with the recognised financial procedures be approved.

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

Back Community Workshop

AL02

The Director for Sustainable Communities submitted a Report seeking approval to transfer the Back Community Workshop to the Social Work Department. It was indicated in the Report that the Social Work Department have expressed an interest in taking over the workshop in order to establish a small workshop and equipment store for the Community Service section of the Criminal Justice Service.

It was agreed to recommend that:

(1) the Back Community Workshop be transferred to the Social Work Department for an initial two year lease for the purposes of providing a workshop and store for the Community Service Section; and

(2) the Director for Sustainable Communities, in consultation with the local community, prepare a proposal for the future use of the site, at which time the continuation of the lease would be re-assessed.

RELATED MATTERS

Support for the Fine Arts

AL05.01

With reference to item 15 of the Minute of Meeting of 20 April 2004 the Director for Sustainable Communities submitted a Report detailing the ways in which the Sustainable Communities Department supported the growing Fine Arts sector in the Western Isles. The range and scale of support provided to the local Fine Arts sector by the Arts Development function was outlined in the Report.

It was agreed to recommend that the Report be noted.

Fèisean nan Gàidheal – Devolved Funding

AL05.03.50

With reference to item 16 of the Minute of Meeting of 20 April 2004 the Director for Sustainable Communities submitted a Report concerning the issues surrounding the devolution of Comhairle funding for the island Fèisean na Gaidheal. The background to the matter, proposals for devolved funding, benefits of the proposal and the proposed delivery of the devolved funding were outlined in the Report.

It was agreed to recommend that Comhairle funding of £8,000 for 2005/06 for the island Fèisean be devolved to Fèisean nan Gàidheal, subject to the satisfactory conclusion of a Service Level Agreement between Comhairle nan Eilean Siar and Fèisean nan Gàidheal.

Mr Angus Campbell declared an interest in the following item and left the meeting during consideration of the matter.

Results of the Consultation on the Removal of Full Sugar Drinks from Schools/Sports Centres

AL06.01.55

The Director of Education submitted a Report detailing the findings of the consultation process on the removal of full sugar drinks from Schools/Sports Centres. It was indicated in the Report that the vast majority of stakeholders, with the exception of pupils, were not only in favour of the proposal but commended the Comhairle on it.

It was agreed to recommend that:

(1) all full sugar drinks be removed from schools and sports centres;

(2) the consumption of water, milk and other appropriate drinks in schools and sports centres be promoted through making these drinks the most easily accessible in schools and sport centres/leisure facilities as appropriate; and

(3) Reports on any variance in income targets for leisure centres be submitted to the Committee in December 2004 and March 2005.

PERFORMANCE REVIEW

Reports Outstanding: Progress

PR33.01.12

With reference to item 20 of the Minute of Meeting of 20 April 2004 the 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.