COMHAIRLE NAN EILEAN SIAR

Minute of Meeting held in the Council Offices, Stornoway, on Thursday 4 December 2003 at 4.00pm

PRESENT	Mr Alex A Macdonald
	Mr Angus Campbell	Mr Angus McCormack
	Mr John Mackay	Mr Donald I Nicholson
	Mr Iain Morrison	Mr Norman M Macleod
	Mr Roderick Morrison	Mr Donald J Macsween
	Mr Norman A Macdonald	Mr Alexander M Mackintosh
	Mr Angus M Graham	Mrs Annie Macdonald
	Mr Malcolm J Graham	Mrs Morag Munro
	Mr Ian M Macleod	Mr Donald Macdonald
	Mr Neil Campbell	Mr Archie Campbell
	Mr George Lonie	Mr Martin C Taylor
	Mr Angus Nicolson	Mr Peter Carlin
	Mr Murdo Macleod	Mr Ronald J Mackinnon
	Mr Norman L Macdonald	Mr Angus Macdonald
	Mr Keith Dodson	Mr Donald Manford
APOLOGIES	Miss Samantha E L Hawkins	Mr Donald Maclean

Prayer		The Meeting was opened with prayer led by Mr Murdo Macleod.
Tribute: Miss Catherine Mackenzie		The Chairman referred to Miss Catherine Mackenzie from Upper Bayble, Point, who died recently. Miss Mackenzie was 104 years of age and the oldest person in Lewis. The Chairman, on behalf of the Comhairle, extended condolences to Miss Mackenzie’s family.
Tribute: Stornoway Coastguard Helicopter Crew		The Chairman referred to the crew of the Stornoway Coastguard Helicopter, who are to be honoured by the Queen for their rescue of nine crewmen from the fishing vessel Hansa, which sank 200 miles southwest of the Outer Hebrides on 5 March 2001. On behalf of the Comhairle, the Chairman congratulated the crew of the Stornoway Coastguard Helicopter on achieving this honour.
Tribute: Royal National Mod		The Chairman referred to the Royal National Mod which was held in Oban in October and paid tribute to all who participated in the Mod and all involved in the organisation of the event. This was a very successful Mod for the islands with many trophies been won by island competitors. The Chairman mentioned particularly Morag MacLean and Norman Smith who won the traditional Gold medals and the choirs who also did very well. The Chairman, on behalf of the Comhairle, congratulated all the successful competitors.
		MINUTES
Minutes of Meetings of 9 October 2003	1	The Minutes of Meetings of 9 October 2003 were approved.

		COMMITTEES AND BOARDS
Outside Bodies: Comhairle Representation PR42.01	2	The Director of Corporate Services submitted a report seeking the nomination of a Member to represent the Comhairle on Comunn na Gàidhlig Board of Directors and the Scottish Sub-Committee of the European Bureau of Lesser Used Languages. It was agreed that Mr Norman A Macdonald, Member for the Uig Ward, should represent the Comhairle on Comunn na Gàidhlig Board of Directors and the Scottish Sub-Committee of the European Bureau of Lesser Used Languages, for the term of the Comhairle.
Outside Bodies: Appointments PR42.01	3	The Director of Corporate Services submitted a report seeking the nomination of a Member to represent the Comhairle on the Western Isles Fisheries Trust. It was indicated in the report that the Trust had advised that the nominated Member would ideally have interests either in wild fishery or have knowledge of the operation of the aquaculture industry in the Western Isles and issues associated with both. It was agreed that Mr Donald Manford represent the Comhairle on the Western Isles Fisheries Trust, for the term of the Comhairle.
		ADDITIONAL ITEM
		The Chairman ruled that the following item be considered as a matter of urgency in order that the item be dealt with prior to the next meeting of the Comhairle.
Corporate Strategy 2003-07	4	The Chief Executive submitted the Corporate Strategy for 2003-07. It was stated that the CIPFA/SOLACE Corporate Governance Framework advises that local authorities should maintain effective arrangements for explicit accountability to stake holders for the authority’s performance and its effectiveness in the delivery of services and the sustainable use of resources. It was stated that once the Corporate Strategy had been approved the Comhairle’s departments would use the strategic objectives to direct their business plans for 2004-07. It was agreed to approve the draft Corporate Strategy 2003-2007, subject to the addition of a further Best Value Strategic Objective concerning all the Comhairle’s buildings.
		COMMITTEES
Committee Decision Reports	5	The Committee Decision Reports were submitted as undernoted. The Comhairle approved the recommendations in the Committee Decision Reports unless otherwise indicated. (1) Arts and Leisure Committee – 25 November 2003 The Chairman declared an interest in Item 16 of the Decision Report and left the Meeting during consideration of the matter. (2) Housing Committee – 25 November 2003, with the exception of Item 14
		(3) Education and Children’s Services Committee – 25 November 2003 (4) Environmental Services Committee – 26 November 2003, with the exception of Item 11. Mr Donald Macdonald declared an interest in the item concerning, Amendment to Car Park at Scalpay and left the Meeting during consideration of the matter.
		Mr Keith Dodson, Mr Angus Campbell and Mr Murdo Macleod declared an interest in the item concerning Change Upholstery Workshop into a Café on Ground Floor, 14-15 Garden Road, Stornoway, Isle of Lewis and left the meeting during consideration of the matter.
		Mr Angus Nicolson, seconded by Mr Martin Taylor, moved approval of the recommendation detailed at Item 11 of the Environmental Services Committee Decision Report of 26 November 2003.
		Mr Ian M Macleod, seconded by Mr Neil Campbell, moved as an amendment that the Director for Sustainable Communities be authorised to refuse the application for planning permission for a change of use of the existing premises into a café on the ground floor of 14/15 Garden Road, Stornoway, Isle of Lewis for the following reason: “the lack of off-street car parking on the site and the proposed use is likely to give rise to higher levels of on-street car parking that will be detrimental to the amenities of residents of Garden Road. On the matter being put to the vote, the motion received the majority of votes cast and became the finding of the meeting. The Comhairle agreed to suspend Paragraph 9(3) of the Scheme of Administration and agreed to approve the recommendations detailed at Item 19 of the Decision Report of the Environmental Services Committee of 26 November 2003 and to appoint the undernoted Members to the Waste Strategy Sub-Committee, namely: Chairman, Environmental Services Committee, Vice-Chairman, Environmental Services Committee, Convener, Vice-Convener, Vice-Chairman, Policy and Resources Committee, with the delegated powers detailed in the Decision Report and on the basis of the quorum for the Sub-Committee being three members of the Sub-Committee.
		(5) Transportation Committee – 26 November 2003. (6) Sustainable Development Committee – 26 November 2003, with the exception of Item 20.
		(7) Social Work Committee – 27 November 2003. Regarding item 16 of the Social Work Committee Decision Report, it was agreed to appoint Mr George Lonie and Mr Peter Carlin to serve on the Complaints Review Committee.
		(8) Commercial Operations Board – 28 November 2003.
		(9) Audit and Scrutiny Committee – 4 December 2003.
		(10) Policy and Resources Committee – 4 December 2003, with the exception of Item 20.
		Mr Angus Campbell, seconded by Mr Norman M Macleod, moved approval of the recommendation detailed at Item 20 of the Policy and Resources Committee Decision Report of 4 December 2003.
		Mr Norman A Macdonald, seconded by Mr Ronald Mackinnon, moved as an amendment that the Comhairle agree that the suggested responses as detailed at Appendix 1 of the Joint Report by the Director of Housing and Director for Sustainable Communities to the Housing and Sustainable Development Committees, would form the basis of the Comhairle’s response to the Scottish Executive on the review of the Crofter Building Grant and Loan Scheme 2003, subject to the following amendment:
		Question 2 – the Comhairle’s response to question 2 being 2A, on the basis that the grant level be increased to at least £30,000, and on the basis of seeking a substantial increase in the overall allocation to the Crofter Building Grant and Loan Scheme.
		On the matter being put to the vote, the amendment received the majority of votes cast and became the finding of the Meeting.
		It was further agreed that it be delegated to the Acting Director of Corporate Services, in consultation with the Convener, Vice-Convener and Vice-Chairman of the Policy and Resources Committee to submit a response to the Crofters Commission on the Crofting Development Plan, taking account of the views expressed by the Housing Committee and the Sustainable Development Committee and any further comments made by Members and received by the Director for Sustainable Communities by 10 December 2003.