AL9610

ARTS AND LEISURE COMMITTEE

Minute of Meeting held in the Council Offices, Stornoway, on Tuesday, 1 October 1996 at 9.00am

PRESENT

Mr Donald Macleod (Chairman)

Mr Alasdair G Macrae (Vice-Chairman)

Mr Donald I Nicholson

Mrs Katie M Mackenzie

Mr Callum I Macmillan

Mr Roderick Macdonald

Mr Donald M Mackay

Mr Donald Murray

Mr Kenneth Mackay

Mr George Lonie

Mrs Mary Bremner

APOLOGIES

Mr Alasdair Nicholson

Arts and Leisure

C02.13

80

MINUTES

The Minute of Meeting of 27 August 1996 was approved.

Arts and Leisure Sub-Committee

AL01.02

81*

The Minute of Meeting of the Arts and Leisure Sub-Committee of 11 September 1996 was submitted and the recommendations contained therein recommended for approval.

Membership of Revenue Budget Working Groups

PR03.08

82

CONSTITUTION

With reference to item 68 of the Minute of Meeting of 27 August 1996 the Director of Administration and Legal Services submitted a Report on the establishment of the Member/Officer Working Group for the Committee comprising the Chairman, Vice-Chairman and two non-Chairman Members

It was agreed that the Arts and Leisure Member/Officer Working Group be established with the following Members:-

Chairman

Vice-Chairman

Mr Callum I Macmillan

Mrs Christina McNeill

FINANCE

Budget Strategy

1997/98

PR110.08.13

83*

With reference to Item 139 of the Minute of Meeting of the Finance Sub-Committee of 30 September 1996, the Director of Finance submitted a Report outlining the main factors affecting the 1997/98 Revenue Budget and indicating provisional Cash Planning Limits for planning purposes. The Report recommended that:-

(a) the provisional Cash Planning Limits for 1997/98 detailed in Appendix A of the Report be approved, subject to any virements arising from the Administration and Legal Services Departmental Review;

(b) Heads of Service be required to identify and Report on savings in their controllable Budgets to bring the 1997/98 Budgets within Cash Planning Limits and for these savings to be considered by the Service Committee Budget Working Groups and the Finance Sub-Committee Working Party;

(c) all Heads of Service be required, in consultation with the Directors of Administration and Legal Services and Finance, to identify those services and their costs which are discretionary;

(d) should Heads of Service wish to bid for growth that they be required to identify savings matching the growth bid with no guarantee that the savings identified would be earmarked for their growth bid; and

(e) the Council accepts in principle the ability of Committees and Heads of Service to carry forward some degree of over and underspends in the 1997/98 Budgets and that the Director of Finance be required to bring forward a Report on how this would operate in practice.

It was agreed to recommend approval of the recommendations of the Finance Sub-Committee, insofar as the Committee's interest was concerned.

Application for Financial Assistance: (a) Western Isles Duke of Edinburgh Award

AL07.01.16

84*

With reference to item 104 of the Minute of Meeting of 21 November 1996, the Director of Education and Leisure Services submitted a Report detailing the background to a request for financial assistance towards the Western Isles Duke of Edinburgh Award and recommending that the Council increase its revenue support of £8,000 per annum to £12,000 per annum on the basis outlined in the Report.

It was agreed to recommend that the Director of Education and Leisure Services be authorised to implement the recommendations detailed in the Report. In addition it was recommended that consideration of the additional provision be continued in the context of the 1997/98 budgetary process.

(b) Comunn Eachdraidh Nis

AL09.02.04

85*

With reference to item 33 of the Minute of Meeting of 14 June 1994 the Director of Education and Leisure Services submitted a Report giving details of an application for financial assistance from Comunn Eachdraidh Nis for funding towards the purchase of equipment and recommending that the Council offer a Revenue Grant of £2,688.00 to Comunn Eachdraidh Nis on the basis of payment being made following submission of detailed invoices.

It was agreed to recommend that the Director of Education and Leisure Services be authorised to implement the recommendation as detailed in the Report.

Capital Works Programme and Progress

AL02.02.01

86

With reference to item 72 of the Minute of Meeting of 27 August 1996, 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 note the Report.

Stornoway Town Hall

LB35.01

87*

The Director of Technical Services submitted a Report detailing remedial works identified in an inspectoral survey carried out by Simpson and Brown, Architectural and Conservation Specialists in relation to the present condition of Stornoway Town Hall, and highlighting the financial implications of the necessary works in the estimated sum of £280,000. The Report recommended that:-

(1) the urgent work identified in the Report, at an estimated cost of £21K, be progressed immediately on the basis of the funding identified in the Report;

(2) consideration be given at the half-yearly review to reinstating the sum of £11K in respect of the semi-ambulant disabled access, 5K to the ad hoc repairs budget and 5K to the consultancy fees budget;

(3) consideration be given to the long term future use of this building and that a further Report be submitted on the matter, by the Director of Education and Leisure Services;

(4) following consideration of the future use of the building, the additional costs of upgrading the services installation be determined;

(5) the estimated cost as necessary and desirable works be noted; and

(6) preliminary approaches be made to Historic Scotland in respect of possible external funding.

It was agreed to recommend that the Director of Technical Services and Director of Education and Leisure Services implement the recommendations of the Report.

Project Initiation Report: Stornoway Entertainment Complex

AL02.11

88*

With reference to item 46 of the Minute of Meeting of 23 April 1996, the Director of Education and Leisure Services submitted a Report outlining proposals for a new entertainment centre in Stornoway. The Report detailed the possible financial implications of such a centre and recommended that the Committee note the terms of the Project Initiation Report and that the Committee further progress the Project by agreeing to fund a full feasibility study taking into account the current facilities available.

Mr Donald M Mackay, seconded by Mrs Mary Bremner, moved that the Committee note the Report and await the outcome of the Stornoway Regeneration Study.

Mr Donald I Nicholson, seconded by Mr George Lonie moved as an amendment that in view of the inability of the Council to process the proposal further, consultations be undertaken with community groups, with a view to an appropriate Trust being formed to progress this initiative.

On the matter being put to the vote there was an equality of votes cast and the Chairman used his casting vote in favour of the motion and it was agreed to recommend accordingly.

Play Areas Training Information Seminar

AL04.09

89*

YOUTH WORK

The Director of Education and Leisure Services submitted a Report outlining proposals for an Information Road Show in relation to play areas. The proposal would bring together interested representatives in the community with funding, legal, safety and technical advisers who would tour Lewis and Harris and Uist and Barra. The Road Show would provide information on the development of play areas, with particular attention to the establishment and operation of play areas. The Report recommended that the Council approve a Play Areas Information Road Show to facilitate the community development of play areas throughout the Western Isles.

It was agreed to recommend that the Director of Education and Leisure Services implement the recommendations of the Report subject to "Road Show" being substituted by a Seminar at each proposed location.

The Adventure Activities Licensing Scheme

AL07.05

90*

The Director of Education and Leisure Services submitted a Report outlining the implications of the introduction of an Adventure Activities Licensing Scheme and detailed the legal requirement to have licenses for certain Adventure Activities Centres. The Report highlighted the need for the Council to have a licence in respect of its Outdoor Activity Centre at Valtos, Isle of Lewis, and indicated that the appropriate applications had been submitted to the Adventure Activities Licensing Authority.

It was agreed to note the Report and to recommend that the Director of Education and Leisure Services submit a more detailed Report on the matter, including any financial implications, once the Licensing Authority had responded to the Council.

Archaeologist

AL09.01.13

91*

MUSEUM SERVICE

With reference to item 47 of the Minute of Meeting of 23 April 1996, the Director of Education and Leisure Services submitted a Report concerning the establishment of a post of Archaeologist who would manage and safeguard the archaeological heritage of the Western Isles. The Report recommended that:-

(1) within the context of the Revenue Budget Process for 1997/98, the post of Museum Service Archaeologist be considered with an identified revenue implication in the first year of £58,370, thereafter, approximately £47,000 per annum; and

(2) consideration be given to the establishment of the post at the half-yearly review stage with the consequent costs within the present financial year being approximately £16K.

It was agreed to recommend that:

(1) the recommendation be not approved; and

(2) the Chief Executive prepare a Report for submission to the Development Services Committee on how the Council's Planning and Development Control obligations could be improved.

Cultural Services: St Columba's Anniversary Events 1997

AL09.01.13

92*

CULTURAL SERVICES

With reference to Item 49 of the Minute of Meeting of 11 June 1996, the Director of Administration and Legal Services submitted a Report concerning the development of links between the Western Isles, the Scottish Mainland and Ireland, in celebrating the anniversary of the death of St Columba in June 1997 and recommending that an additional sum of £28,000 be allocated to the proposed St Columba's exhibition and events in June 1997 over and above the sum of £12,000 already approved by the Council in June 1996. The Report indicted that the Council would be granted a loan of the facsimile of the Book of Kells from Trinity College, Dublin from June-October 1997 and that a number of related exhibitions, talks, and multi-media packages were being proposed in conjunction with a number of relevant bodies. Details of the estimated costs of the event were outlined in the Report. The Report recommended that a sum of £9,500 be allocated from the Mid-Term Review with a further sum of £18,500 being identified in the 1997/98 financial year. This sum would be reduced by any external funding and "assistance in kind" which may be received from other funding bodies.

It was agreed to recommend that the Director of Education and Leisure Services and the Director of Finance be authorised to implement the recommendations detailed in the Report.

Outstanding Action: Progress Report

PR33.01.12

93

RELATED MATTERS

With reference to item 61 of the Minute of Meeting of 27 August 1996, the Director of Administration and Legal Services submitted a Report, detailing action outstanding from the Arts and Leisure Committee since May 1994.

It was agreed to note the Report.

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PRESENT	Mr Donald Macleod (Chairman)
	Mr Alasdair G Macrae (Vice-Chairman)	Mr Donald I Nicholson
	Mrs Katie M Mackenzie	Mr Callum I Macmillan
	Mr Roderick Macdonald	Mr Donald M Mackay
	Mr Donald Murray	Mr Kenneth Mackay
	Mr George Lonie	Mrs Mary Bremner

APOLOGIES	Mr Alasdair Nicholson

Archaeologist AL09.01.13	91*	MUSEUM SERVICE With reference to item 47 of the Minute of Meeting of 23 April 1996, the Director of Education and Leisure Services submitted a Report concerning the establishment of a post of Archaeologist who would manage and safeguard the archaeological heritage of the Western Isles. The Report recommended that:- (1) within the context of the Revenue Budget Process for 1997/98, the post of Museum Service Archaeologist be considered with an identified revenue implication in the first year of £58,370, thereafter, approximately £47,000 per annum; and (2) consideration be given to the establishment of the post at the half-yearly review stage with the consequent costs within the present financial year being approximately £16K. It was agreed to recommend that: (1) the recommendation be not approved; and (2) the Chief Executive prepare a Report for submission to the Development Services Committee on how the Council's Planning and Development Control obligations could be improved.
Cultural Services: St Columba's Anniversary Events 1997 AL09.01.13	92*	CULTURAL SERVICES With reference to Item 49 of the Minute of Meeting of 11 June 1996, the Director of Administration and Legal Services submitted a Report concerning the development of links between the Western Isles, the Scottish Mainland and Ireland, in celebrating the anniversary of the death of St Columba in June 1997 and recommending that an additional sum of £28,000 be allocated to the proposed St Columba's exhibition and events in June 1997 over and above the sum of £12,000 already approved by the Council in June 1996. The Report indicted that the Council would be granted a loan of the facsimile of the Book of Kells from Trinity College, Dublin from June-October 1997 and that a number of related exhibitions, talks, and multi-media packages were being proposed in conjunction with a number of relevant bodies. Details of the estimated costs of the event were outlined in the Report. The Report recommended that a sum of £9,500 be allocated from the Mid-Term Review with a further sum of £18,500 being identified in the 1997/98 financial year. This sum would be reduced by any external funding and "assistance in kind" which may be received from other funding bodies. It was agreed to recommend that the Director of Education and Leisure Services and the Director of Finance be authorised to implement the recommendations detailed in the Report.
Outstanding Action: Progress Report PR33.01.12	93	RELATED MATTERS With reference to item 61 of the Minute of Meeting of 27 August 1996, the Director of Administration and Legal Services submitted a Report, detailing action outstanding from the Arts and Leisure Committee since May 1994. It was agreed to note the Report.
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