March 2003

COMHAIRLE NAN EILEAN SIAR

ARTS AND LEISURE COMMITTEE

Minute of Meeting held in the Council Offices, Stornoway, on Tuesday 11 March 2003 at 9.00am

PRESENT

Mr Alasdair G Macrae (Chairman)

Mrs Katie M Mackenzie (Vice-Chairman)

Mr Malcolm J Macleod

Mr George Lonie

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

APOLOGIES

Mr Iain Morrison

MINUTES

Minute of Meeting of 4 February 2003

1

The Minute of Meeting of 4 February 2003 was approved.

BUILDINGS

Capital Works: Programme and Progress

PR33.01.12

2

With reference to item 7 of the minute of meeting of 4 February 2003 the Director of Technical Services submitted a report concerning the capital works programme and progress in relation to Arts and Leisure properties.

It was agreed to note the Report.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

Arts and Leisure Grants 2003/2004

AL03

3

The Director for Sustainable Communities submitted a report concerning devolving voluntary organisation grants to local officers. The recommended distribution of the grants budget for 2003/04 was outlined in the report.

It was agreed to recommend that the Arts and Leisure grant for 2003/04 be re-distributed as outlined in paragraph 2.5 of the report by the Director for Sustainable Communities.

Mrs Morag Munro declared an interest and left the meeting during consideration of the following item.

Scottish Executive Re-Allocation - Grants to Voluntary Organisations and External Agencies

AL03

4

With reference to item 5 of the minute of meeting of 27 August 2002, the Director for Sustainable Communities submitted a report concerning grants to voluntary organisations and external agencies. It was indicated in the report that, following Committee approval, a series of successful projects will be implemented across the authority. A summary of the awards was outlined in the report.

It was agreed to recommend that the grant awards, as detailed in Section 6 of the report by the Director for Sustainable Communities, be approved.

SPORTS

Scottish Association of Local Sports Councils

AL06

5

The Director for Sustainable Communities submitted a report concerning agreement to obtain the membership of The Scottish Association of Local Sports Councils. The report indicated that Associate membership was available to local authorities for £70.00 and that this would be funded from the Sports Development Budget. The report further indicated that the Comhairle obtaining membership of the Scottish Association of Local Sports Councils would enhance the network of support available for the betterment of sport in the Western Isles.

It was agreed to recommend that the Comhairle obtains associate membership of the Scottish Association of Local Sports Councils.

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

Bayhead (Lochmaddy) Community Workshop

AL02

6

The Director for Sustainable Communities submitted a report concerning the future of Bayhead Community Workshop. It was indicated in the report that Bayhead Community Workshop was managed by a local voluntary committee and owned by the Comhairle and had not been in active use for over two years. At a public meeting held on 5 July 2002 it became apparent that the building was no longer required as a community workshop. The property was advertised for sale on the open market and two requests were received for the workshop. Details of these requests were outlined in the report.

It was agreed to recommend that the Bayhead Community Workshop be transferred to the Community Employment Initiative for the purpose of developing skills training in Uist.

LIBRARY SERVICE

Mobile Library Services

AL08

7

The Principal Administrator sought and obtained the Chairman's permission to withdraw this item, on the basis that it would be referred to the Policy and Finance Committee on 18 March 2003.

RELATED MATTERS

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 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 Library Coffee Shop

AL12

8

The Director for Sustainable Communities submitted a report concerning the Library Coffee Shop, which has shown a deficit at the end of the third financial quarter 2002-03. The background to the matter and details of employee and property costs, supplies and services, support services, the financial monitoring and the viability of the project were outlined in the report.

It was agreed to note:

(1) the report; and

(2) that a report will be submitted to the next series of meetings outlining the options for the future operation of the coffee shop.

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 would be disclosed, namely, information relating to a particular office holder or former office holder or applicant to become an office holder under the Comhairle.

Review of Lifelong Learning

AL12

9

The Director for Sustainable Communities submitted a report concerning changing the reporting line of staff following a business review of Community Education and Cultural Services. Recommended changes to the current reporting lines of staff within Arts, Archaeology, Museums, Employment Support and Training were highlighted in the report.

It was agreed to recommend that:

(1) the reporting lines, as outlined in the organisational chart in Appendix 1 of the report by the Director for Sustainable Communities, be approved; and

(2) the utilisation of any underspend for 2002/03, from the Department for Sustainable Communities, for the re-allocation of staff to the most effective locations, be approved; and

(3) the Director for Sustainable Communities submit a report to the next series of meetings concerning the review of lifelong learning and the way in which links can be fostered between Schools, Museums and the Comainn Eachdraidh and how these important relationships can be co-ordinated and developed through their possible adoption as one of the Comhairle's key tasks.

PERFORMANCE REVIEW

Reports Outstanding: Progress

PR33.01.12

10

With reference to item 17 of the minute of meeting of 4 February 2003, 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 Malcolm J Macleod	Mr George Lonie
	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

APOLOGIES	Mr Iain Morrison

		MINUTES
Minute of Meeting of 4 February 2003	1	The Minute of Meeting of 4 February 2003 was approved.
		BUILDINGS
Capital Works: Programme and Progress PR33.01.12	2	With reference to item 7 of the minute of meeting of 4 February 2003 the Director of Technical Services submitted a report concerning the capital works programme and progress in relation to Arts and Leisure properties. It was agreed to note the Report.
		FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
Arts and Leisure Grants 2003/2004 AL03	3	The Director for Sustainable Communities submitted a report concerning devolving voluntary organisation grants to local officers. The recommended distribution of the grants budget for 2003/04 was outlined in the report. It was agreed to recommend that the Arts and Leisure grant for 2003/04 be re-distributed as outlined in paragraph 2.5 of the report by the Director for Sustainable Communities.
		Mrs Morag Munro declared an interest and left the meeting during consideration of the following item.
Scottish Executive Re-Allocation - Grants to Voluntary Organisations and External Agencies AL03	4	With reference to item 5 of the minute of meeting of 27 August 2002, the Director for Sustainable Communities submitted a report concerning grants to voluntary organisations and external agencies. It was indicated in the report that, following Committee approval, a series of successful projects will be implemented across the authority. A summary of the awards was outlined in the report. It was agreed to recommend that the grant awards, as detailed in Section 6 of the report by the Director for Sustainable Communities, be approved.
		SPORTS
Scottish Association of Local Sports Councils AL06	5	The Director for Sustainable Communities submitted a report concerning agreement to obtain the membership of The Scottish Association of Local Sports Councils. The report indicated that Associate membership was available to local authorities for £70.00 and that this would be funded from the Sports Development Budget. The report further indicated that the Comhairle obtaining membership of the Scottish Association of Local Sports Councils would enhance the network of support available for the betterment of sport in the Western Isles. It was agreed to recommend that the Comhairle obtains associate membership of the Scottish Association of Local Sports Councils.
		COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Bayhead (Lochmaddy) Community Workshop AL02	6	The Director for Sustainable Communities submitted a report concerning the future of Bayhead Community Workshop. It was indicated in the report that Bayhead Community Workshop was managed by a local voluntary committee and owned by the Comhairle and had not been in active use for over two years. At a public meeting held on 5 July 2002 it became apparent that the building was no longer required as a community workshop. The property was advertised for sale on the open market and two requests were received for the workshop. Details of these requests were outlined in the report. It was agreed to recommend that the Bayhead Community Workshop be transferred to the Community Employment Initiative for the purpose of developing skills training in Uist.
		LIBRARY SERVICE
Mobile Library Services AL08	7	The Principal Administrator sought and obtained the Chairman's permission to withdraw this item, on the basis that it would be referred to the Policy and Finance Committee on 18 March 2003.
		RELATED MATTERS
		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 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 Library Coffee Shop AL12	8	The Director for Sustainable Communities submitted a report concerning the Library Coffee Shop, which has shown a deficit at the end of the third financial quarter 2002-03. The background to the matter and details of employee and property costs, supplies and services, support services, the financial monitoring and the viability of the project were outlined in the report. It was agreed to note: (1) the report; and (2) that a report will be submitted to the next series of meetings outlining the options for the future operation of the coffee shop.
		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 would be disclosed, namely, information relating to a particular office holder or former office holder or applicant to become an office holder under the Comhairle.
Review of Lifelong Learning AL12	9	The Director for Sustainable Communities submitted a report concerning changing the reporting line of staff following a business review of Community Education and Cultural Services. Recommended changes to the current reporting lines of staff within Arts, Archaeology, Museums, Employment Support and Training were highlighted in the report. It was agreed to recommend that: (1) the reporting lines, as outlined in the organisational chart in Appendix 1 of the report by the Director for Sustainable Communities, be approved; and (2) the utilisation of any underspend for 2002/03, from the Department for Sustainable Communities, for the re-allocation of staff to the most effective locations, be approved; and (3) the Director for Sustainable Communities submit a report to the next series of meetings concerning the review of lifelong learning and the way in which links can be fostered between Schools, Museums and the Comainn Eachdraidh and how these important relationships can be co-ordinated and developed through their possible adoption as one of the Comhairle's key tasks.
		PERFORMANCE REVIEW
Reports Outstanding: Progress PR33.01.12	10	With reference to item 17 of the minute of meeting of 4 February 2003, 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.