COMHAIRLE NAN EILEAN SIAR

Minute of Meeting held in the Council Offices, Stornoway, on Tuesday 11 January 2005 at 2pm.

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

Prayer:  Mr John Mackay	The Meeting was opened with prayer led by John Mackay.
Tribute:  Mr Martin C Taylor	The Chairman referred to Mr Martin C Taylor, Member for Benbecula North, who had fallen seriously ill in December 2004. The Chairman stated that he was pleased to inform the Comhairle that Mr Taylor was now back in hospital in Balivanich.  He understood that Mr Taylor was relieved to be back home and was looking forward to making a full recovery and returning to his duties as councillor for Benbecula North.  On behalf of the Comhairle the Chairman extended best wishes to Mr Taylor for a speedy recovery.
Tribute: Mr Donald MacDonald	The Chairman referred to Mr Donald MacDonald, Member for Harris East, who had suffered a fall in early December. The Chairman stated that Mr MacDonald was now out of hospital and recovering at home.  On behalf of the Comhairle the Chairman wished Mr MacDonald a speedy recovery.
Tribute: Mr David Rattray	The Chairman expressed condolences on behalf of the Comhairle to Mr David Rattray and family following the recent death of Mr Rattray’s father.
Tribute:  Mr Roderick Morrison	The Chairman expressed condolences to Mr Roderick Morrison and his wife and family following the recent loss of Mr Morrison's father in law.

	CONTRACT
	It was agreed that, under the terms of Section 50 A (4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 as amended, the public including the press be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following item on the ground that exempt information as defined in part 1 of Schedule 7A of the said Act would be disclosed: Paragraphs 6, 8 and 9. Information relation to the financial or business affairs of any particular person, other than the Comhairle, 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 and information relating to any terms proposed or to be proposed by or to the Comhairle under any particular contract for the acquisition of property or the supply of goods or services.
Report on Tenders PR31.07	The Acting Director of Finance submitted a Report on a recent tendering exercise, highlighted issues encountered and outlined a proposed way forward. It was agreed that (1) the terms of the Report be noted; (2) it be noted that additional capital funding may be required to enable a tender to be awarded and that the tender award procedure continue on the basis of the negotiated procedure, taking account of all relevant  factors in the contract documentation including the project specification; and (3) a further Report be presented to the Comhairle detailing the outcome of the negotiated procedure and making a recommendation in relation to tender award and that the Report to be submitted would detail the history of the project and identify all relevant background papers.