31 January 2002

COMHAIRLE NAN EILEAN SIAR

Minute of Meeting held in the Council Offices, Stornoway, on Thursday 31 January 2002 at 11.00 am

PRESENT

Mr Alex A MacDonald (Chairman)

Mrs Katie M Mackenzie

Mr Donald I Nicholson

Mr Iain Morrison

Mr Norman M Macleod

Mr Roderick Morrison

Mr Finlay Morrison

Mr Norman A Macdonald

Mr Donald M Mackay

Mr Angus M Graham

Mrs Morag Munro

Mr Malcolm J Graham

Mr Donald Macdonald

Mr George Lonie

Mr Archie K Campbell

Mr Angus Nicolson

Mr Donald Maclean

Mr Murdo Macleod

Mrs Mary Bremner

Mr Norman L Macdonald

Mr Ronald J Mackinnon

Mr Angus Campbell

Mr Donald Manford

APOLOGIES

Mr Roderick J Murray

Mr Philip R McLean

Mr Ian M Macleod

Mr David Blaney

Prayer

The meeting was opened with Prayer led by Mr Donald I Nicholson.

Tribute:

Mr James L McArthur

The Chairman referred with sadness to the recent death of Mr James L McArthur who had been elected as Member for the Benbecula North Ward in May 1999 and paid tribute to his work and his abilities in representing his constituents. On behalf of the Comhairle, the Chairman conveyed condolences to Mr McArthur's family in their sad loss.

Tribute:

Mr Roderick J Murray

The Chairman referred to Mr Roderick J Murray, Vice-Convener and Member for the Laxdale Ward, who had recently spent some time in hospital and extended best wishes to Mr Murray for a speedy recovery.

Tribute:

Mrs Agnes Rennie MBE

The Chairman referred to Mrs Agnes Rennie who had been awarded the MBE in the New Year's Honours List for her services to crofting and, on behalf of the Comhairle, congratulated Mrs Rennie on this recognition.

MINUTES

Comhairle

1

The Minute of Meeting of 11 December 2001 was approved.

CONSTITUTION

Establishment of Commercial Operations Board

PR01.01

2

With reference to Item 106 of the Minute of Meeting of the Policy and Finance Committee of 11 December 2001, the Chief Executive submitted a Report regarding the establishment of a Commercial Operations Board. The proposed Constitution and Remit of the Board was appended to the Report. It was indicated that the membership of the Board would be five Members of the Comhairle and two Staff Side Co-opted Members appointed by the Staff Side Members of the Local Government Employee Joint Consultative Committee.

It was agreed to approve the Constitution and Remit of the Commercial Operations Board as set out in the Appendix to the Report by the Chief Executive.

The Chairman called for nominations of Members to serve on the Commercial Operations Board.

The following Members were nominated, each having been duly moved and seconded:

Mr Angus Campbell

Mr Finlay Morrison

Mr Archie K Campbell

Mr Malcolm J Macleod

Mr Roderick J Murray

Mr Donald Macdonald

Mr Roderick Morrison

On a vote being taken by ballot, the votes were cast as follows:

Mr Angus Campbell 19 votes

Mr Finlay Morrison 14 votes

Mr Archie K Campbell 16 votes

Mr Malcolm J Macleod 18 votes

Mr Roderick J Murray 13 votes

Mr Donald Macdonald 16 votes

Mr Roderick Morrison 13 votes

The Chairman declared that Mr Angus Campbell, Mr Finlay Morrison, Mr Archie K Campbell, Mr Malcolm J Macleod and Mr Donald Macdonald had been elected as Members of the Commercial Operations Board.

The Democratic Services Manager reported that Mr Ian M Macleod, UNISON, and Mr Calum Mackay, TGWU, had been nominated to serve as Trade Union representatives on the Commercial Operations Board.

It was agreed to note these nominations.

Administration of Justice: Ex-Officio Justice of the Peace

CO1.03.01

3

The Director of Corporate Services submitted a Report indicating that Mrs Katie M Mackenzie had resigned as a Justice of the Peace and inviting the Comhairle to nominate one Member to serve as an Ex-Officio Justice of the Peace for the remainder of the term of the Comhairle.

It was agreed that Mr Malcolm J Macleod be nominated as Ex-Officio Justice of the Peace.

Membership of Committees

CO1.03.01

4

The Chief Executive submitted a Report advising that Mr Finlay Morrison had requested to transfer his membership from the Environmental Services Committee to the Transportation Committee. It was stated that the request had been approved following consultation with the Convener and the Chairmen of the relevant Committees.

It was agreed to note that Mr Finlay Morrison had become a Member of the Transportation Committee with effect from this series of meetings and that Mr Morrison had relinquished his membership of the Environmental Services Committee.

POLICY INITIATIVES

Creating Communities of the Future: Joint Document with Highlands and Islands Enterprise and Western Isles Enterprise

PR11.18

5

With reference to Item 108 of the Minute of Meeting of the Policy and Finance Committee of 11 December 2001, the Chief Executive submitted a Report "The Western Isles - Creating Communities of the Future". It was stated that the Report was a development of the paper considered by the Policy and Finance Committee and incorporated comments from Members of the Comhairle together with additional comments from Highlands and Islands Enterprise and Western Isles Enterprise. A draft timetable for the launch of "Creating Communities of the Future" was appended to the Report. It was indicated that it was planned to launch the document with formal signing and a press conference in mid-February 2002.

It was agreed to approve the document and that the Convener formally endorse the document with the Chairmen of Highlands and Islands Enterprise and Western Isles Enterprise so that it could be presented to the relevant Ministers and others at a Government and European level.

SERVICE MATTERS

Western Isles Slaughter-houses

6

The Democratic Services Manager sought and obtained the Chairman's permission to withdraw this Item.

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PRESENT	Mr Alex A MacDonald (Chairman)
	Mrs Katie M Mackenzie	Mr Donald I Nicholson
	Mr Iain Morrison	Mr Norman M Macleod
	Mr Roderick Morrison	Mr Finlay Morrison
	Mr Norman A Macdonald	Mr Donald M Mackay
	Mr Angus M Graham	Mrs Morag Munro
	Mr Malcolm J Graham	Mr Donald Macdonald
	Mr George Lonie	Mr Archie K Campbell
	Mr Angus Nicolson	Mr Donald Maclean
	Mr Murdo Macleod	Mrs Mary Bremner
	Mr Norman L Macdonald	Mr Ronald J Mackinnon
	Mr Angus Campbell	Mr Donald Manford

APOLOGIES	Mr Roderick J Murray	Mr Philip R McLean
	Mr Ian M Macleod	Mr David Blaney

Prayer		The meeting was opened with Prayer led by Mr Donald I Nicholson.

Tribute: Mr James L McArthur		The Chairman referred with sadness to the recent death of Mr James L McArthur who had been elected as Member for the Benbecula North Ward in May 1999 and paid tribute to his work and his abilities in representing his constituents. On behalf of the Comhairle, the Chairman conveyed condolences to Mr McArthur's family in their sad loss.
Tribute: Mr Roderick J Murray		The Chairman referred to Mr Roderick J Murray, Vice-Convener and Member for the Laxdale Ward, who had recently spent some time in hospital and extended best wishes to Mr Murray for a speedy recovery.
Tribute: Mrs Agnes Rennie MBE		The Chairman referred to Mrs Agnes Rennie who had been awarded the MBE in the New Year's Honours List for her services to crofting and, on behalf of the Comhairle, congratulated Mrs Rennie on this recognition.
		MINUTES
Comhairle	1	The Minute of Meeting of 11 December 2001 was approved.
		CONSTITUTION
Establishment of Commercial Operations Board PR01.01	2	With reference to Item 106 of the Minute of Meeting of the Policy and Finance Committee of 11 December 2001, the Chief Executive submitted a Report regarding the establishment of a Commercial Operations Board. The proposed Constitution and Remit of the Board was appended to the Report. It was indicated that the membership of the Board would be five Members of the Comhairle and two Staff Side Co-opted Members appointed by the Staff Side Members of the Local Government Employee Joint Consultative Committee.
		It was agreed to approve the Constitution and Remit of the Commercial Operations Board as set out in the Appendix to the Report by the Chief Executive. The Chairman called for nominations of Members to serve on the Commercial Operations Board. The following Members were nominated, each having been duly moved and seconded:
		Mr Angus Campbell Mr Finlay Morrison
		Mr Archie K Campbell
		Mr Malcolm J Macleod
		Mr Roderick J Murray
		Mr Donald Macdonald
		Mr Roderick Morrison
		On a vote being taken by ballot, the votes were cast as follows: Mr Angus Campbell 19 votes Mr Finlay Morrison 14 votes Mr Archie K Campbell 16 votes Mr Malcolm J Macleod 18 votes Mr Roderick J Murray 13 votes Mr Donald Macdonald 16 votes Mr Roderick Morrison 13 votes
		The Chairman declared that Mr Angus Campbell, Mr Finlay Morrison, Mr Archie K Campbell, Mr Malcolm J Macleod and Mr Donald Macdonald had been elected as Members of the Commercial Operations Board.
		The Democratic Services Manager reported that Mr Ian M Macleod, UNISON, and Mr Calum Mackay, TGWU, had been nominated to serve as Trade Union representatives on the Commercial Operations Board.
		It was agreed to note these nominations.
Administration of Justice: Ex-Officio Justice of the Peace CO1.03.01	3	The Director of Corporate Services submitted a Report indicating that Mrs Katie M Mackenzie had resigned as a Justice of the Peace and inviting the Comhairle to nominate one Member to serve as an Ex-Officio Justice of the Peace for the remainder of the term of the Comhairle.
		It was agreed that Mr Malcolm J Macleod be nominated as Ex-Officio Justice of the Peace.
Membership of Committees CO1.03.01	4	The Chief Executive submitted a Report advising that Mr Finlay Morrison had requested to transfer his membership from the Environmental Services Committee to the Transportation Committee. It was stated that the request had been approved following consultation with the Convener and the Chairmen of the relevant Committees.
		It was agreed to note that Mr Finlay Morrison had become a Member of the Transportation Committee with effect from this series of meetings and that Mr Morrison had relinquished his membership of the Environmental Services Committee.

		POLICY INITIATIVES
Creating Communities of the Future: Joint Document with Highlands and Islands Enterprise and Western Isles Enterprise PR11.18	5	With reference to Item 108 of the Minute of Meeting of the Policy and Finance Committee of 11 December 2001, the Chief Executive submitted a Report "The Western Isles - Creating Communities of the Future". It was stated that the Report was a development of the paper considered by the Policy and Finance Committee and incorporated comments from Members of the Comhairle together with additional comments from Highlands and Islands Enterprise and Western Isles Enterprise. A draft timetable for the launch of "Creating Communities of the Future" was appended to the Report. It was indicated that it was planned to launch the document with formal signing and a press conference in mid-February 2002.
		It was agreed to approve the document and that the Convener formally endorse the document with the Chairmen of Highlands and Islands Enterprise and Western Isles Enterprise so that it could be presented to the relevant Ministers and others at a Government and European level.
		SERVICE MATTERS
Western Isles Slaughter-houses	6	The Democratic Services Manager sought and obtained the Chairman's permission to withdraw this Item.
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