COMHAIRLE NAN EILEAN SIARCOMHAIRLE NAN EILEAN SIAR

Minute of Meeting held in the Council Offices, Stornoway, on Thursday 9 October 2003 at 7.00pm

PRESENT	Mr Alexander A Macdonald (Convener)
	Mr Angus Campbell (Vice-Convener)
	Miss Samantha E L Hawkins	Mr Donald J Macsween
	Mr John Mackay	Mr Alexander M Mackintosh
	Mr Roderick Morrison	Mrs Annie Macdonald
	Mr Norman A Macdonald	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	Mr Martin C Taylor
	Mr Keith Dodson	Mr Peter Carlin
	Mr Donald I Nicholson	Mr Angus Macdonald
	Mr Norman M Macleod	Mr Donald Manford
APOLOGIES	Mr Norman L Macdonald	Mrs Morag Munro
	Mr Angus McCormack	Mr Ronald J Mackinnon
	Mr Ian M Macleod

Prayer		The meeting was opened with prayer led by Mr Donald I Nicholson.
Tribute:  Mr Donald M Maclean		The Convener referred to Mr Donald M Maclean who died recently.  Mr Maclean was a former Director of An Comunn Gaidhealach and Member of the Comhairle from 1984 – 1990, representing the Coll Ward.  Mr Maclean was a well known Gaelic playwright and worked for many years in broadcasting.  The Convener, on behalf of the Comhairle, extended condolences to Mr Maclean’s family at this sad time.
Tribute:  Mr Murdo Murray		The Convener referred to Mr Murdo Murray, Director of Technical Services, who was in Hospital.  The Convener, on behalf of the Comhairle, wished Mr Murray a speedy recovery.
Tribute:  Lochs Football Club		The Convener referred to Lochs Football Team, who had won the Highland Amateur Cup.  The Club had completed their most successful season by winning the Lewis Cup, having already won the League Cup.  The Convener, on behalf of the Comhairle, congratulated Lochs Football Team.
		MINUTES
Minute of Meeting of 4 September 2003	1	The Minute of Meeting of 4 September 2003 was approved, subject to the insertion of the following: Prayer:  The meeting was opened with prayer led by Mr John Mackay.

		CALENDAR
Public and Local Holidays 2004	2	The Director of Corporate Services submitted a report concerning the proposed public and local holidays for 2004.  The Comhairle’s draft Year Planner for 2004 was appended to the report, together with the suggested local and public holidays. It was agreed to recommend that: (1)        the pattern of Committee and Comhairle meetings and the proposed public and local holidays, as detailed in the Appendices to the report, be approved, subject to the following amendment:              the Committee series be moved from the week commencing 25 October 2004 to the week commencing 1 November 2004 and the Comhairle series of meetings be moved from the week commencing 1 November 2004 to the week commencing 8 November 2004; and (2)        the Director of Corporate Services be authorised, in consultation with the Convener, Vice-Convener and the Chief Executive, to make any necessary changes to the pattern of meetings within any series in light of experience and the practical requirements of managing the Comhairle’s business.
		Arising out of consideration of this item, it was agreed that: (1)        consideration be given to allowing staff an additional two floating days annual leave in 2005 which they could use to celebrate communions; (2)        if the proposal in (1) above be approved, staff, who wished, be permitted to work on Good Friday and Easter Monday in order to give them two floating days to use as detailed above; and (3)        in accordance with the Comhairle’s normal procedures, the above proposals be submitted to the Trade Unions and the Local Government Employee JCC for consideration, prior to possible implementation.
		COMMITTEES
Committee Decision Reports	3	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 – 30 September 2003 (2)        Housing Committee – 30 September 2003 (3)        Education and Children’s Services Committee – 30 September 2003 (4)        Environmental Services Committee – 1 October 2003              Item 11 of the Decision Report concerning the Erection of 2 Remote Controlled Cameras at St Kilda was withdrawn.              The last paragraph of the recommendation at Item 22 of the Decision Report concerning the Development of ACE Option and ACE Challenge Grant Schemes which states “It was noted that the Sandwick Community Council area would qualify for one ACE Option Grant” was withdrawn.
		(5)        Transportation Committee – 1 October 2003 (6)        Sustainable Development Committee – 1 October 2003
		(7)        Social Work Committee – 2 October 2003              The following recommendation, which was omitted from the Social Work Decision Report, was submitted and approved:              Item 6, South Uist Care Development:  Design Approval              It was agreed to recommend that: (1)        the design for the South Uist Care Development be approved; (2)        the number of accommodation units within the development be 18; (3)        the project moves from the current capital programme to the main programme for 2004-2008, on the basis of the costs set out in the report; and (4)        the project now proceeds to tender stage.
		(8)        Commercial Operations Board – 8 October 2003 (9)        Audit and Scrutiny Committee – 9 October 2003 (10)     Policy and Resources Committee – 9 October 2003

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