COMHAIRLE NAN EILEAN SIAR

Minute of Meeting held in the Council Offices, Stornoway, on Thursday 10 February 2005 at 7.00pm

PRESENT	Mr Alex A Macdonald (Chairman)
	Mr Angus Campbell (Vice-Chairman)
	Mr John Mackay	Mr Norman M Macleod
	Mr Iain Morrison	Mr Donald J Macsween
	Mr Roderick Morrison	Mr Alexander M Mackintosh
	Mr Norman A Macdonald	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 Donald Maclean
	Mr Angus Nicolson	Mr Peter Carlin
	Mr Norman L Macdonald	Mr Ronald J Mackinnon
	Mr Keith Dodson	Mr Angus Macdonald
	Mr Angus McCormack	Mr Donald Manford
APOLOGIES	Miss Samantha E L Hawkins	Mr Martin C Taylor
	Mr Murdo Macleod	Mr Donald I Nicholson
	Mr Angus M Graham

Prayer:		The meeting was opened with prayer led by Mr Peter Carlin.
Tribute:  Uist Tragedy		The Convener referred to the tragedy which took place on 11 January 2005 in Uist which resulted in the loss of Calum Campbell, Archie and Murdina Macpherson and their children Andrew and Hannah.  The Convener, on behalf of the Comhairle, extended sympathy to the Campbell and Macpherson families.
Tribute:  Tsunami		The Convener referred to the Tsunami tragedy in South Asia on Boxing Day 2004 and, on behalf of the people of the Western Isles, expressed condolences to all who had lost loved ones or suffered as a result of the Tsunami.  The Convener also commended the efforts of the many in the islands who had donated towards the relief appeal and those who had given time towards providing assistance.
Tribute:  Storm Damage		The Convener paid tribute to the work of all the services during the recent storm which hit the Western Isles.
Tribute:  Mr Edward Young		The Convener referred to Mr Edward Young, who had been Rector of The Nicolson Institute from 1968 until 1989, who had passed away recently.  The Convener, on behalf of the Comhairle, extended condolences to Mr Young’s family.
Tribute:  Mr Donald J Maclennan		The Convener referred to Mr Donald J Maclennan, Member for the Port of Ness Ward from 1986 to 1994, who passed away recently.  The Convener, on behalf of the Comhairle, extended condolences to Mr Maclennan’s family.
Tribute:  Mr Angus Nicolson		The Convener congratulated Mr Angus Nicolson, Member for the Castle Ward, and his wife Sue on the birth of their son, William.
Tribute:  Mr D R Morrison		The Convener referred to Mr D R Morrison, Janitor, Lionel School, who had been awarded an MBE in the Queen’s New Year Honours List for his dedication to coaching pupils in swimming, badminton and basketball in his spare time, with much success at national level.  The Convener, on behalf of the Comhairle, congratulated Mr Morrison on receiving this award.
Tribute:  Mairead MacNeill		The Convener referred to Mairead MacNeill from Barra whose winning entry in a Gaelic poetry competition had been engraved into flagstones at the entrance to the new Scottish Parliament.  The Convener, on behalf of the Comhairle, congratulated Mairead for winning this competition.
Tribute:  Mrs Chrissie Macrae		The Convener referred to Mrs Chrissie Macrae, Marybank, who had recently celebrated her 104^th birthday.  The Convener, on behalf of the Comhairle, congratulated Mrs Macrae.
Tribute:  Mr Martin C Taylor		The Convener referred to Mr Martin C Taylor who had recently been in hospital in Glasgow and Uist.  The Convener, on behalf of the Comhairle, sent best wishes to Mr Martin C Taylor, Member for the Benbecula North Ward, for a speedy recovery.
Tribute:  Mr Angus M Graham		The Convener referred to Mr Angus M Graham who had been in hospital recently.  The Convener, on behalf of the Comhairle, wished Mr Graham a speedy recovery.
Tribute:  Miss Samantha Hawkins		The Convener referred to Miss Samantha E L Hawkins who had recently sustained an injury to her foot.  The Convener, on behalf of the Comhairle, wished Miss Hawkins a speedy recovery.
Tribute:  Mr Donald Macdonald		The Convener referred to Mr Donald Macdonald who had recently been in hospital.  The Convener indicated that he was glad to see Mr Donald Macdonald back after his recent period of absence.
Tribute:  Mr Bill Lucas		The Convener referred to Mr Bill Lucas, freelance journalist, who had recently been awarded the Barron Trophy, which recognises lifetime achievement in journalism.  The Convener, on behalf of the Comhairle, congratulated Mr Lucas on this achievement.
Tribute:  Mr Eric Mackinnon		The Convener referred to Mr Eric Mackinnon, Reporter with the Hebridean Newspaper, who had recently been highly commended in the category Sports Reporter of the Year in the Highlands and Islands Media Awards.  The Convener, on behalf of the Comhairle, congratulated Mr Mackinnon on this achievement.
Tribute:  An Ruadhach		The Convener, on behalf of the Comhairle, congratulated all involved in the production of An Ruadhach for being awarded the title of Best Community Newspaper at the Highlands and Islands Media Awards.
		MINUTES
Minute of Meeting of 16 December 2004	1	The Minute of Meeting of 16 December 2004 was approved.
Minute of Meeting of 11 January 2005	2	The Minute of Meeting of 11 January 2005 was approved.

		COMMITTEES AND BOARDS
Highland and Western Isles Valuation Joint Board The Highland Reserve Forces and Cadets Association: Appointment of Members C12.01	3	The Director of Corporate Services submitted a Report concerning the resignation of Mr Archie Campbell as the Comhairle’s representative on the Western Isles Valuation Board and sought the appointment of another Member to this role. The Convener called for nominations to serve on the Highland and Western Isles Valuation Joint Board. It was agreed to appoint Mr Donald I Nicholson to the Highland and Western Isles Valuation Joint Board. The Convener called for nominations for a substitute Member to serve on the Highland and Western Isles Valuation Joint Board in Mr Donald I Nicholson’s place. It was agreed to appoint Mr Angus Macdonald as substitute Member on the Highland and Western Isles Valuation Joint Board. The Convener referred to a further vacancy on The Highland Reserve Forces and Cadets Association and called for nominations to serve on The Highland Reserve Forces and Cadets Association. It was agreed to appoint Mr Neil Campbell to The Highland Reserve Forces and Cadets Association.
		COMMITTEES
	4	The Committee Decision Reports were submitted as undernoted.  The Comhairle approved the recommendations in the Committee Decision Reports unless otherwise indicated.
		(a)           Arts and Leisure Committee – 1 February 2005
		(b)           Housing Committee – 1 February 2005                 Mr Donald Macdonald declared an interest in Item 13 of the Housing Committee Decision Report.
		(c)           Transportation Committee – 1 February 2005                 Mr Malcolm J Graham declared an interest in items 4 and 26 of the Transportation Committee Decision Report.                 Mr Iain Morrison and Mr Ian M Macleod declared an interest in item 17 of the Transportation Committee Decision Report.
		At item 17 (2) it was agreed to delete the recommendation listed and insert the following recommendation:                 “that determination of the preferred route for utilisation of these vehicles be deferred to enable the Director of Technical Services to carry out consultations with interested parties and to present details of the outcome of the consultation and the evaluation of suitable routes to the next series of meetings”.
		The Convener declared an interest in item 11 of the Transportation Committee Decision Report and left the meeting during consideration of the matter.  The Vice Convener chaired the meeting during consideration of this item.                 At item 11 Mr Archie Campbell proposed that the following wording be added:
		“This response would include a recognition of the right of people of the Western Isles to travel throughout the islands area on each day of the week”.
		The Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Transportation Committee indicated their acceptance of this additional wording. Mr Donald Macdonald seconded by Mrs Morag Munro moved as an amendment that the following additional wording be added: “providing the view of the relevant communities are respected”. Prior to conclusion of the debate the Vice Convener gave Notice of his intention to lodge a further amendment – that consideration of this matter be deferred. It was agreed that the vote would be taken by roll call and the voting was as follows:
		Motion Mr Roderick Morrison Mr Norman Macdonald Mr George Lonie Mr Angus Nicolson Mr Keith Dodson Mr Donald J MacSween Mr Alexander Mackintosh Mr Archie Campbell  Mr Peter Carlin Mr Ronald J Mackinnon Mr Angus Macdonald	Amendment Mr Angus Campbell  Mr John Mackay Mr Iain Morrison Mr Malcolm J Graham Mr Ian M Macleod Mr Neil Campbell Mr Norman L Macdonald Mr Angus McCormack Mr Norman M Macleod Mrs Annie Macdonald Mrs Morag Munro Mr Donald Macdonald Mr Donald Maclean Mr Donald Manford
		The amendment received 14 of the votes cast and the motion 11 votes.  The Vice Convener indicated that he no longer wished to pursue his proposed further amendment and the amendment in the name of Donald Macdonald therefore became the finding of the meeting.
		(d)         Social Work Committee – 2 February 2005
		(e)         Education and Children’s Services Committee – 2 February 2005
		(f)          Sustainable Development Committee – 2 February 2005
		(g)         Environmental Services Committee – 3 February 2005               At item 7(b) of the Decision Report it was agreed to delete the recommendation listed and insert the following recommendation:               “grant the application for a new byre at 2 Holm, Isle of Lewis and note that the application to erect a holiday cottage at 2 Holm, Isle of Lewis had been withdrawn”.
		(h)         Commercial Operations Board – 4 February 2005
		(i)          Audit and Scrutiny Committee – 9 February 2005
		(j)          Policy and Resources Committee – 10 February 2005               At Item 25 of the Policy and Resources Committee Decision Report it was agreed to amend the decision as follows:               that the words “Care in the Community” in the last line thereof should be deleted and the words “the future of the National Health Service” be substituted therefor.