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BRIEFING
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Prayer: Mr Donald I Nicholson
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The meeting
was opened in prayer led by Mr Donald I Nicholson
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TRIBUTES
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Mr Iain
MacLennan
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The Convener
paid tribute to Mr Iain Maclennan, who had died on 15 June 2006. The Convener stated that Mr Maclennan had
been a Councillor serving the Kinloch area and had campaigned vigorously and
successfully for the community he represented. He had a great interest in agriculture and had
been an assessor for the Crofters Commission as well as a founder member of
the Lochs Agricultural Show. He had
also been a founder member and Chairman of Lewis Livestock Ltd as well as a Director
of Highland and
Islands Livestock and Chairman of Lewis Crofters Ltd. On behalf of the Comhairle the Convener
extended sympathy to Mr Maclennan’s wife, Elizabeth and their five children
at this very sad time.
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Mr
Alistair Montgomery
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The Convener
paid tribute to Mr Alastair Montgomery who had died on the 22 April 2006
after a short illness. I. G. as he was
more fondly known would be remembered for his outstanding and committed
contribution to the Cleansing Department over the last 25 years. I.G. had been a Physics Graduate from Aberdeen University and had joined the
Comhairle in 1981 as a Career Grade Cleansing Officer. His ability to deliver effective and
efficient management had encouraged the Comhairle to successfully deploy his
analytical skills in the internal contracting areas and he had been happy to
share his experience and knowledge with his colleagues. On behalf of the Comhairle, the Convener
extended sympathy to his family at this sad time.
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Miss Samantha
E L Hawkins
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The Convener
paid tribute to Miss Samantha E L Hawkins who had resigned as councillor for Port of Ness on 14 June 2006, due to her
ever-increasing workload at Iomairt Nis.
On behalf of the Comhairle the Convener wished Miss Hawkins all the
best for the future.
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Mr Alastair Banks
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The Convener
paid tribute to Mr Alastair Banks
who would leave the Comhairle on 4 July 2006 to take up a new post with
Orkney Islands Council. The Convener
thanked Alastair for all of his hard work since joining the Comhairle in
1992. On behalf of the Comhairle the
Convener extended best wishes to Alastair and his family for the future.
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Mr John
Angus Mackay
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The Convener congratulated
to John Angus MacKay who had been awarded the OBE in the Queen’s Birthday
Honours List for his services to Broadcasting. Mr MacKay had been instrumental in a
successful campaign in the 1980’s to establish a Gaelic Television Fund, and had
become the first Chief Executive of the Gaelic Media Services, and had worked
tirelessly to secure a Gáidhlig Digital Channel with appropriate funding to
allow programme producers to deliver original material on a daily basis.
On behalf of
the Comhairle the Convener wished Mr MacKay well in his retirement and for
the future.
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Mrs
Ishbel Gilroy OBE
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The Convener
paid tribute to Mrs Ishbel Gilroy Head Teacher of Central Primary School, Inverness, who had recently been awarded an OBE for
services in Gaelic and Education. The
Convener stated that Mrs Gilroy was originally from Newmarket, Isle of Lewis. On behalf of the Comhairle the Convener congratulated
Mrs Gilroy on her award.
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Ms Christina
MacDonald MBE
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The Convener paid
tribute to Christina MacDonald who had recently been awarded the MBE in the
Queen’s Birthday Honours List for her services to Crofting and the Community
in North Uist. Ms MacDonald had served
as a councillor for Paible from 1998 to 2003.
On behalf of the Comhairle the Convener congratulated Ms MacDonald on
her award.
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MINUTES
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Minute of
Meeting of 30 March 2006
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1 (a)
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The Minute of
Meeting of 30 March 2006 was approved
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Minute of
Meeting of 11 April 2006
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(b)
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The Minute of
Meeting of 11 April 2006 was approved
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Minute of
Meeting of 15 June 2006
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(c)
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The Minute of
Meeting of 15 June 2006 was approved
subject to the deletion of Mr Neil Campbell from the apologies submitted and
the submission therefor of Mr Donald Manford.
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Declaration
of Interest
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2
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Mr Angus
Campbell declared an interest in item 3 and left the meeting while this
matter was under discussion.
Mr Norman L
Macdonald declared an interest in item 3 and left the meeting while this
matter was under discussion.
Mr Angus Nicolson
declared an interest in item 7 and left the meeting while this matter was
under discussion.
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QUESTIONS
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Written Questions to the Convener and the
Chairmen of Committees
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3
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Mr Donald J Macsween asked the Convener of
the Comhairle the following question.
Are you aware of the difficulties now being
faced by small traders and mobile shop operators in accessing cash and carry
goods following the Co-op’s decision to close their facility in Stornoway and
would you agree with me that these small traders and mobile shop operators
provide a vital lifeline service to our outlying communities?
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The Convener responded as follows:
Yes I am aware of that through the media and
also through e-mails I have received at home and I do agree with what you say.
Mr Donald J Macsween asked the following
supplementary question:
Would you further agree with me then that a Council
delegation meet with a local liaison group for the Co-op and their Scottish
Commercial Operations in order to reach a satisfactory solution to the
problems being faced by these small traders and mobile shop operators?
The Convener responded as follows:
I think on your behalf I will certainly do
that and maybe intimate to you that in the past few minutes I have spoken to
Mr Mackenzie and suggested this to him and he is more than happy to meet a
delegation.
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COMMITTEES/OUTSIDE
BODIES
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Appointment
of Representative of Religious Interests
E08
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4
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A Report was submitted by the Director of
Corporate Services reporting the resignation of the representative of
religious interests nominated by the Free Church of Scotland and the nomination
of a new representative.
It was agreed to
(a)
note the resignation of Rev Iain D Campbell as a representative of
religious interests on the Education and Children’s Services Committee; and
(b)
agree to appoint Rev Calum I Macleod as a representative of
religious interests on the Education and Children’s Services Committee.
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OUTSIDE
BODIES
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Hebridean Housing Partnership:
Appointment of Members
H01.17
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5
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A Report was submitted by the Director of
Corporate Services regarding the resignation of Mr Norman M Macleod from the
Hebridean Housing Partnership and Members were therefore asked to nominate a
member as to appoint Directors.
The Convener called for the nominations of
two nominees to serve on the Hebridean Housing Partnership and the following
members were duly moved and seconded
Mr Donald Manford
Mr Donald I
Nicholson
The Comhairle proceeded to vote by ballot,
the result of which was as follows:
Mr Donald Manford 13
Mr Donald I Nicholson 12
It
was agreed that Mr Donald Manford be appointed to the vacancy on Hebridean
Housing Partnership
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The Chairman
ruled that in accordance with the provision of Section 50(B) 4 of the Local
Government (Scotland)
Act 1973 as amended, that the following two items be considered as a matter
of urgency in order to allow the Comhairle to take a view on the matter.
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ADDITIONAL
ITEMS
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6
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A Report was submitted by the Director of
Corporate Services regarding a proposed amendment to the composition of the
Joint Union Side membership of the Local Negotiating Committee: Teaching Staff.
It
was agreed that the Comhairle amend the Framework Local Recognition and
Procedure Agreement in order to recognise the EIS and SSTA only as the Unions
participating in the Agreement and, as a consequence, in the membership of
the Committee, resulting in a Joint Union Side composition of six members of
the EIS and one member of the SSTA
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Change of use from Shop to Office at 49/50 Bayhead, Stornoway
DS21.01
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7
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A Report was submitted by the Director for
Sustainable Communities relating to an application for planning permission
for a change of use from a shop to an office by NIC Ltd at 49/50 Bayhead.
Stornoway. The proposal was in an area
covered by Policy ST1 in the Broadbay Local Plan which stated that changes of
use of ground floors from retail use would not normally be permitted. The application had therefore been
advertised as a Potential Departure.
However, it was in conformity with Policy LP/STY2 in the Finalised
Western Isles Local Plan that reflected Scottish Executive advice on allowing
appropriate mixes of other uses with retail to retain viable town
centres. It was considered that the
proposal should be permitted on this basis.
It
was agreed that subject to no representations being received within the
advert period, the application be approved subject to any conditions deemed
appropriate by the Director for Sustainable Communities.
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COMMITTEES
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Committee Decision Reports
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7
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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 –
13 June 2006
In relation to
item 8 it was agreed
(i)
to approve the Service
Improvement Plan of the Community Education Service, set out in Appendix 3,
including paragraph 2.2 of the Report by the Director for Sustainable
Communities; and
(ii)
that the Director for
Sustainable Communities submit Reports to the appropriate Committees on
progress with resources and possible solutions to implement the Service
Improvement Plan in (1) above.
(b)
Housing Committee – 13 June
2006
(c)
Transportation Committee – 13
June 2006
(d)
Social Work Committee – 14
June 2006
(e)
Sustainable Development
Committee – 14 June 2006
Mr Donald J Macsween seconded by Mr Ian M Macleod moved as an
amendment in relation to item 24 (2) that the Comhairle continue to operate
Community Employment Initiative in its present form with its present
workforce until September 2006 when the Comhairle would have had time to
consider the ongoing Best Value Review of Community Employment Initiative and
that this be funded by vacancy savings in the Department for Sustainable
Communities.
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On the matter being put
to the vote the amendment received the majority of the votes cast and became
the finding of the meeting.
(f)
Education and Children’s
Services Committee – 15 June 2006
(g)
Environmental Services
Committee – 15 June 2006
Mr Angus Graham seconded by Mr Malcolm J Graham
moved as an amendment in relation to item 25 that planning permission be
granted subject to such terms and conditions as the Director for Sustainable
Communities should deem appropriate.
On the matter being put to the vote the amendment
received the majority of the votes cast and became the finding of the
meeting.
(h)
Commercial Operations Board –
21 June 2006
(i)
Policy and Resources
Committee – 22 June 2006
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