COMHAIRLE NAN EILEAN SIAR

Minute of Meeting held in the Council Offices, Stornoway, on Thursday 17 May 2007 at 2.40pm

PRESENT	Mr Alex A MacDonald (Convener)
	Mr Angus Campbell (Vice-Convener)	Mr Keith Dodson
	Mr David Blaney	Mr Angus McCormack
	Mr Peter Carlin	Mr Charlie Nicolson
	Mr Gerry Macleod	Mr Neil Campbell
	Mr Donald Manford	Mr Roddie Mackay
	Mr Archie K Campbell	Mr Iain Mackenzie
	Mr Uisdean Robertson	Mr Murdo Macleod
	Mr Martin Taylor	Mr John A Maciver
	Miss Catherine MacDonald	Mr Kenneth Maciver
	Mr Philip R McLean	Mrs Catriona Stewart
	Mrs Morag Munro	Mr John Mackay
	Mrs Annie Macdonald	Mr Iain Morrison
	Mr Norman A MacDonald	Mr Kenneth M Murray
	Mr Norman M Macleod	Mrs Agnes Rennie
	Mr Donald J Macsween
	Mr Donald I Nicholson

Prayer	The meeting was opened with prayer, led Mr Peter Carlin.
Welcome: New Members	The Convener extended a warm welcome to each Member.
Tribute: Mr Alasdair Allan, MSP	The Convener referred to Mr Alasdair Allan, the new MSP for the Western Isles. The Convener, on behalf of the Comhairle, congratulated Mr Allan and looked forward to working with Mr Allan, on behalf of the Western Isles.
Tribute: Mr Alasdair Morrison	The Convener referred to Mr Alasdair Morrison, who was the MSP for the Western Isles from May 1999 to May 2007. The Convener, on behalf of the Comhairle, thanked Mr Morrison for representing the Western Isles during this period and thanked Mr Morrison for the many things he had done for the good of the Western Isles. The Convener, on behalf of the Comhairle, extended best wishes to Mr Morrison and his family for the future.
Tribute: Mr Allan Campbell	The Convener referred to Mr Allan Campbell, who had retired as Chief Executive of Bòrd na Gàidhlig at the end of March 2007. The Convener, on behalf of the Comhairle, paid tribute to the role played by Mr Campbell in respect of the Gàidhlig language and extended best wishes to Mr Campbell and his family for the future.
Tribute: Mr Donald Martin	The Convener referred to Mr Donald Martin, who had retired as Chief Executive of Comunn na Gàidhlig. The Convener, on behalf of the Comhairle, paid tribute to the role played by Mr Martin in respect of the development of Gàidhlig and extended best wishes to Mr Martin and his family for the future.
Tribute: Mr Bill Lucas	The Convener referred to Mr Bill Lucas, who would soon be retiring after more than 50 years service as a freelance reporter. The Convener, on behalf of the Comhairle, thanked Mr Lucas for his interest in the work of the Comhairle over the last 50 years and for the fair way in which he reported on Comhairle meetings. The Convener, on behalf of the Comhairle, extended best wishes to Mr Lucas and his family for the future.

		CONSTITUTION
Policy and Resources Committee: Appointment of Non-Chairman Members C02.10	1	The Chief Executive submitted a Report seeking the appointment of non-Chairman members to the Policy and Resources Committee. The membership of the Committee, in terms of the Comhairle’s Scheme of Administration, was detailed in the Report. It further indicated in the Report that additional Members may be appointed to the Committee in order to ensure representation from each Comhairle ward. Miss Catherine Macdonald, seconded by the Vice-Convener, moved that: “the Comhairle proceed to an open election for the remaining six vacancies on the Policy and Resources Committee and in the event that that did not ensure representation of every ward that further appointments be made”.
		Mr Kenneth Maciver, seconded by Mr Roddie Mackay, moved as an amendment that: “Members of the four unrepresented wards would put forward nominations for approval by the Comhairle and proceed to an open election for the remaining two vacancies on the Committee”. On the matter being put to the vote the amendment received the majority of the votes cast and became the finding of the meeting. The Convener called for nominations for four members, from the four unrepresented wards, to serve on the Policy and Resources Committee.
		It was agreed that the following four members of the four unrepresented wards, having been duly moved and seconded, be appointed as Members of the Policy and Resources Committee. Mr Norman M Macleod Mrs Agnes Rennie Mr John A Maciver Mr Roddie Mackay
		The Convener called for nominations for the remaining two vacancies on the Policy and Resources Committee.
		The following nominations were duly moved and seconded: Mr Neil Campbell Mr Peter Carlin Miss Catherine Macdonald Mr Charlie Nicolson Mrs Annie Macdonald There being no further nominations the Comhairle proceeded to vote by ballot, the results of which were as follows: Mr Neil Campbell 10 Mr Peter Carlin 11 Miss Catherine Macdonald 8 Mr Charlie Nicolson 16 Mrs Annie Macdonald 12 The Convener declared that Mr Charlie Nicolson and Mrs Annie Macdonald be appointed as Members of the Policy and Resources Committee.
Audit and Scrutiny: Appointment of Members C02	2	The Chief Executive submitted a Report seeking the appointment of Members to the Comhairle’s Audit and Scrutiny Committee. The purpose of the Committee was outlined in the Report. The Convener called for nominations for members to serve on the Audit and Scrutiny Committee and the following nominations were duly moved and seconded: Mr David Blaney Mr Keith Dodson Mr Philip McLean Mr Angus McCormack Mr Uisdean Robertson Mr Donald I Nicholson Mr Iain Mackenzie Mr Kenneth Maciver Mr Peter Carlin Mrs Catriona Stewart Mr Gerry Macleod Mr Martin Taylor Mr Kenneth Murray It was agreed: (a) to suspend Standing Orders to allow the membership of the Audit and Scrutiny Committee to be amended to thirteen Members; and (b) that the Members listed above be appointed as Members of the Audit and Scrutiny Committee.
		COMMITTEE AND BOARDS
Appeals Committee (School Placings) SS03	3	The Chief Executive submitted a Report seeking appointments to the Appeals Committee (School Placings). The purpose of the Committee was outlined in the Report and the membership criteria were listed. The Convener called for nominations for members to serve on the Appeals Committee (School Placings). It was agreed: (a) to appoint Mr David Blaney, Mr Martin Taylor, Mr Angus McCormack, Mrs Catriona Stewart, Mr Peter Carlin and Mr Gerry Macleod to the Appeals Committee (School Placings): and (b) to appoint Mr Roderick Macdonald, as a person not being a serving Councillor with an interest in education, to the Appeals Committee (School Placings)
Children’s Panel Advisory Committee C01.03.01	4	The Chief Executive submitted a Report concerning the appointment of the Comhairle’s representatives on the Children’s Panel Advisory Committee. The functions of the Children’s Panel Advisory Committee were outlined in the Report. It was indicated in the Report that the previous representatives on the Advisory Committee had been the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Social Work Committee. The Convener called for nominations for Members to serve on the Children’s Panel Advisory Committee. It was agreed to appoint Mrs Catriona Stewart and Mr Roderick Morrison, the former Vice-Chairman of the Social Work Committee, to the Children’s Panel Advisory Committee.
Gaelic Language and Culture Forum C01.03.01	5	The Chief Executive submitted a Report concerning the appointment of the Comhairle’s representatives to the Gaelic Language and Culture Forum. It was indicated in the Report that the purpose of the Forum was to provide a means of regular consultation between the Comhairle and other bodies active in the promotion of the Gaelic language with a view to co-ordinating the encouragement of the use of the Gaelic language in all aspects of life in na h-Eileanan an Iar. It was agreed to defer consideration of this matter until the next meeting of the Comhairle.
		OTHER BODIES
Local Negotiating Committee for Teaching Staff C01.03.01	6	The Chief Executive submitted a Report seeking the appointment of elected members to the Local Negotiating Committee for Teaching Staff. The remit of the Committee and details of the membership were outlined in the Report. It was further indicated in the Report that only members of the Education and Children’s Services Committee were eligible for membership of the Local Negotiating Committee for Teaching Staff. The Convener called for nominations for membership of the Local Negotiating Committee for Teaching Staff. It was agreed to appoint Mr David Blaney, Mr Angus McCormack, Mrs Morag Munro, Mrs Annie Macdonald, Mrs Catriona Stewart and Mrs Agnes Rennie to the LNC: Teaching Staff.
Convention of Scottish Local Authorities: Appointment of Representatives PR41.03	7	The Chief Executive submitted a Report seeking the appointment of the Comhairle’s delegation to the COSLA Convention to be held on 29 June 2007. It was agreed that Mr Angus McCormack, in addition to the Convener and Vice-Convener, attend the COSLA Convention to be held on 29 June 2007.
Appointments to Outside Bodies: Interim Arrangements PR41	8	The Chief Executive submitted a Report seeking delegation to enable the Comhairle to be represented on Outside Bodies during the period 17 May 2007 – 21 June 2007. It was indicated in the Report giving information on the purpose, objectives and current Comhairle membership on Outside Bodies was being prepared and would be presented to the Comhairle at its meeting on 21 June 2007. It was agreed that: (a) It be delegated to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Convener and Vice-Convener, to determine the Comhairle’s representation on any Outside Body, which may meet during the period 17 May 2007 – 21 June 2007; (b) Mr Donald Manford be appointed to serve on the Highlands and Islands Transport Partnership; and (c) Mr Donald John Macsween be appointed as substitute member on the Highlands and Islands Transport Partnership.