COMHAIRLE NAN EILEAN SIAR

Minute of Meeting held in the Council Offices, Stornoway, on Tuesday 19 June 2001 at 7.00 pm

PRESENT	Mr Alexander A Macdonald (Chairman)
	Mr Roderick J Murray (Vice-Chairman)	Mr Philip R McLean
	Mrs Katie M Mackenzie	Mr Donald I Nicholson
	Mr Malcolm J Macleod	Mr Norman M Macleod
	Mr Iain Morrison	Mr Donald J Macsween
	Mr Roderick Morrison	Mrs Morag Munro
	Mr Norman A Macdonald	Mr Finlay Morrison
	Mr Angus M Graham	Mr Donald M Mackay
	Mr Malcolm J Graham	Mr Donald Macdonald
	Mr Ian M Macleod	Mr Archie K Campbell
	Mr George Lonie	Mr Donald Maclean
	Mr Angus Nicolson	Mr James L McArthur
	Mr Murdo Macleod	Mrs Mary Bremner
	Mr Norman L Macdonald	Mr Ronald J Mackinnon
	Mr Alasdair G Macrae	Mr David Blaney
	Mr Angus Campbell	Mr Donald Manford

Prayer		The Meeting was opened with Prayer led by Mr Murdo Macleod
Tribute: Mr Duncan Macinnes MBE		The Chairman referred to Mr Duncan Macinnes who had been awarded the MBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours List for his services to the fishing industry and, on behalf of the Comhairle, congratulated Mr Macinnes on the award of this honour.
Tribute: Mr John Macdonald MBE		The Chairman referred to Mr John Macdonald, who had been awarded the MBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours List for his services to crofting and the community of North Uist and, on behalf of the Comhairle, congratulated Mr Macdonald on the award of this honour.
Tribute: Mr Iain Macaskill OBE		The Chairman referred to Mr Iain Macaskill who had been awarded the OBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours List for his services to the Highlands and Crofting and, on behalf of the Comhairle, congratulated Mr Macaskill on the award of this honour.
Tribute: Mr Calum Macdonald MP		The Chairman referred to Mr Calum Macdonald MP who had been re-elected as Member of Parliament for the Western Isles for the fourth time and, on behalf of the Comhairle, congratulated Mr Macdonald on his re-election.
Tribute: Local Mods		The Chairman, on behalf of the Comhairle, congratulated all the participants in the Local Mods and paid tribute to parents and teachers for their efforts in preparing children for competitions.
Tribute: The Nicolson Institute		The Chairman referred to pupils from The Nicolson Institute who received the second prize in the Scottish Young Enterprise Competitions in Glasgow recently and, on behalf of the Comhairle, congratulated the pupils of the Nicolson Institute on their success.

Tribute: World Festival of Island Cultures, Jeju, Korea		The Chairman referred to the Western Isles participation in the World Festival of Islands Cultures which took place in Jeju, Korea from 19 May 17 June 2001 and, on behalf of the Comhairle, congratulated all those who took part in such a successful venture.
Tribute: Cardinal Thomas Winning		The Chairman referred to the recent death of Cardinal Thomas Winning and, on behalf of the Comhairle, extended condolences to the Catholic Church in Scotland and particularly those in the Islands who mourned the death of Cardinal Winning.
		MINUTES
Minutes	11	The Minutes of Meetings of - (1) 24 April 2001; (2) 8 May 2001; (3) 15 May 2001; and (4) 31 May 2001 were approved.
		COMMITTEES
Committees	12	Committee Decision Reports were submitted as undernoted. Unless otherwise indicated, the Comhairle approved the recommendations of the Committees and noted the decisions where these related to delegated functions.
		(1) Arts and Leisure Committee - 29 May 2001
		(2) Housing Committee - 29 May 2001
		(3) Education Committee - 29 May 2001
		(4) Environmental Services Committee - 30 May 2001
		(5) Transportation Committee - 30 May 2001
		(6) Development Services Committee - 30 May 2001, except item 27 of the Decision Report.
		Mr Donald Maclean, seconded by Mr Archie Campbell, moved approval of the recommendation at item 27 of the Development Services Committee Decision Report. Mr Donald J Macsween, seconded by Mr Angus M Graham, moved as the first amendment that, in light of the substantial benefits likely to accrue to the Western Isles in general and Harris in particular from the development of the quarry at Lingerbay, the Comhairle now support in principle the development of the substantial mineral resources at Lingerbay and authorises the Chief Executive and officers of the Comhairle to investigate ways by which this can be achieved. Mrs Morag Munro, seconded by Mr Angus Nicolson, moved as the second amendment that, in view of the fact that the Lingerbay Superquarry Planning Application of 1991 is being processed in the Court of Session and that the 1965 Lingerbay application is the subject of a PLI appeal and, depending on the outcome of these appeals, that one or both of these applications could come back to the Comhairle as Planning Authority for consideration, it is premature for the Comhairle to come to a decision on Lingerbay at this time as it would compromise its deliberations later on. It was agreed in terms of Standing Order 58 that the vote between the motion and the first amendment be taken by roll call. On the matter being put to the vote, there voted as follows:
		Motion Mr Alex A Macdonald Mr Roderick J Murray Mrs Katie M Mackenzie Mr Malcolm J Macleod Mr Iain Morrison Mr Roderick Morrison Mr Norman A Macdonald Mr Ian M Macleod Mr George Lonie Mr Angus Nicolson Mr Alasdair G Macrae Mr Philip R McLean Mr Norman M Macleod Mrs Morag Munro Mr Archie Campbell Mr Donald Maclean Mr James L McArthur Mr David Blaney Mr Donald Manford	Amendment Mr Angus M Graham Mr Malcolm J Graham Mr Murdo Macleod Mr Donald I Nicholson Mr Donald J Macsween Mr Donald M Mackay Mr Donald Macdonald Mrs Mary Bremner Mr Ronald J Mackinnon	Abstention Mr Norman L Macdonald Mr Angus Campbell Mr Finlay Morrison
		The Chairman declared that the motion had received the majority of votes cast. Prior to a vote being taken between the motion and the second amendment, Mrs Morag Munro, with the agreement of her seconder, amended the amendment to read as follows: "In view of the views expressed by members that not enough information is available at present, that a further report be submitted to a future meeting of the Development Services Committee." Mr Donald Maclean indicated that he accepted this amendment to the recommendation of the Development Services Committee and this became the finding of the meeting.
		(7) Social Work Committee - 31 May 2001
		(8) Contract Services Committee - 31 May 2001
		(9) Policy and Resources Committee - 19 June 2001, except items 9 and 11 of the Decision Report.
		The Chairman ruled in terms of Standing Order 67 that there had been a material change of circumstances arising from the publication of the report of the Leadership Advisory Panel and that there was no reference to the Contract Services Committee in the current proposals and that it would not be necessary to suspend Standing Orders to allow consideration of the following item. Mr Roderick J Murray, seconded by Mr Norman L Macdonald, moved approval of the recommendation in item 9 of the Policy and Resources Committee Decision Report. Mr Angus M Graham, seconded by Mr Donald Macdonald, moved as the first amendment that the Comhairle revert to the decision taken at its meeting on 24 April 2001 that the committee structure then agreed be the one adopted by the Comhairle. Mr Norman A Macdonald, seconded by Mr Ian M Macleod, moved as the second amendment approval of the recommendations of the Policy and Resources Committee with the addition of the following: (1) the Comhairle agree the membership of the Review Group; (2) the Review Group meet as soon as possible to: (a) set out reasons for the change in structure from the Leadership Advisory Panel; (b) agree a work programme and timetable; and (3) the Review Group be asked to report back by the end of the year.
		Mrs Katie M Mackenzie, seconded by Mr Malcolm J Graham, moved as the third amendment that the Comhairle defer consideration of the matter and that a seminar be convened before the next series of meetings to formulate the committee structure.
		It was agreed in terms of Standing Order 58 that the vote between the motion and the first amendment be taken by roll call. On the matter being put to the vote, there voted as follows:
		Motion Mr Alex A Macdonald Mr Roderick J Murray Mr Malcolm J Macleod Mr Iain Morrison Mr Roderick Morrison Mr Norman A Macdonald Mr Ian M Macleod Mr George Lonie Mr Angus Nicolson Mr Murdo Macleod Mr Norman L Macdonald Mr Alasdair G Macrae Mr Angus Campbell Mr Philip R McLean Mr Norman M Macleod Mrs Morag Munro Mr Archie Campbell Mr James L McArthur Mrs Mary Bremner Mr Ronald J Mackinnon Mr David Blaney Mr Donald Manford	Amendment Mrs Katie M Mackenzie Mr Angus M Graham Mr Malcolm J Graham Mr Donald J Macsween Mr Finlay Morrison Mr Donald M Mackay Mr Donald Macdonald Mr Donald Maclean	Abstention Mr Donald I Nicholson
		The Chairman declared that the motion had received the majority of the votes cast. Before a vote was taken between the motion and the second amendment, Mr Roderick J Murray, with the agreement of his seconder, indicated acceptance of the additions detailed in the second amendment. The motion was amended accordingly. It was agreed in terms of Standing Order 58 that the vote between the amended motion and the third amendment be taken by roll call. On the matter being put to the vote, there voted as follows:
		Motion Mr Alex A Macdonald Mr Roderick J Murray Mr Malcolm J Macleod Mr Iain Morrison Mr Roderick Morrison Mr Norman A Macdonald Mr Ian M Macleod Mr George Lonie Mr Angus Nicolson Mr Murdo Macleod Mr Norman L Macdonald Mr Alasdair G Macrae Mr Angus Campbell Mr Philip R McLean Mr Donald I Nicholson Mr Norman M Macleod Mrs Morag Munro Mr Archie Campbell Mr Donald Maclean Mr James L McArthur Mrs Mary Bremner Mr Ronald J Mackinnon Mr David Blaney Mr Donald Manford	Amendment Mrs Katie M Mackenzie Mr Malcolm J Graham Mr Donald J Macsween Mr Finlay Morrison Mr Donald M Mackay Mr Donald Macdonald	Abstention
		The Chairman declared that the motion had received the majority of votes cast and this became the finding of the meeting.
		Arising out of consideration of this item, it was agreed to appoint the following members to the Committee Review Member/Officer Working Group: Mr Roderick J Murray Mr Angus Nicolson Mr Angus Campbell Mr Norman M Macleod Mr Archie Campbell Mr Donald Maclean
		In respect of item 11, recommendation (6), of the Policy and Resources Committee Decision Report, Mr Angus M Graham, seconded by Mr Donald Macdonald, moved that, in light of the inadequacy of the Comhairle's capital expenditure consents for the next two years when set against the aspirations of the Comhairle and the community for infrastructure development in the Islands, the Comhairle investigate a Public Private Partnership Scheme of £100 million over a five year period, this to be in addition to the current capital consents, and that the Chief Executive be authorised to investigate ways in which this could be achieved. Mr Roderick J Murray indicated that he would accept the proposal as an amendment to the recommendation of the Policy and Resources Committee.
		Mr Roderick J Murray, seconded by Mr Norman L Macdonald, moved approval of the recommendations in item 11 of the Policy and Resources Committee Decision Report. Mr Donald J Macsween, seconded by Mr Iain Morrison, moved as an amendment that the following be added as recommendation (10) in item 11 of the Policy and Resources Committee Decision Report: "In light of the perilous state of the roads network, £1 million of the £3.86 million uncommitted expenditure in the 2002/03 Capital Expenditure Programme be allocated to the Transportation Capital Programme, Appendix 4, lines 15-18 of the joint report by the Chief Executive and Director of Finance, with particular attention to line 15 (minor road safety improvements), with funds to be allocated on an equitable Ward basis." On the matter being put to the vote, the motion gained the majority of votes cast and became the finding of the meeting.
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