COMHAIRLE NAN EILEAN SIAR

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Minute of Meeting held in the Council Offices, Stornoway, on Thursday 16 December 2004 at 4.30pm 

PRESENT

Mr Alex A Macdonald (Chairman)

 

Mr Angus Campbell (Vice-Chairman)

Mr Angus McCormack

 

Mr John Mackay

Mr Donald I Nicholson

 

Mr Iain Morrison

Mr Norman M Macleod

 

Mr Roderick Morrison

Mr Donald J Macsween

 

Mr Norman A Macdonald

Mr Alexander M Mackintosh

 

Mr Malcolm J Graham

Mrs Annie Macdonald

 

Mr Ian M Macleod

Mrs Morag Munro

 

Mr Neil Campbell

Mr Archie Campbell

 

Mr George Lonie

Mr Donald Maclean

 

Mr Angus Nicolson

Mr Peter Carlin

 

Mr Murdo Macleod

Mr Ronald J Mackinnon

 

Mr Norman L Macdonald

Mr Angus Macdonald

 

Mr Keith Dodson

Mr Donald Manford

 

 

 

APOLOGIES

Miss Samantha E L Hawkins

Mr Donald Macdonald

 

Mr Angus M Graham

Mr Martin C Taylor

 

 

Prayer:  Mr Ian M Macleod

 

 

 

The Meeting was opened with prayer led by Mr Ian M Macleod.

 

 

Tribute:  Mr Donald Macdonald

 

 

The Chairman referred to Mr Donald Macdonald, Member for Harris East, who was in hospital, having broken his leg following a fall.  The Chairman, on behalf of the Comhairle, wished Mr Macdonald a speedy recovery.

 

 

Tribute:  Mr Martin C Taylor

 

The Chairman referred to Mr Martin C Taylor, Member for Benbecula North, who was unwell and, on behalf of the Comhairle, wished Mr Taylor a speedy recovery.

 

 

Tribute:  Sgoil Lionacleit

 

 

The Chairman referred to the school team from Sgoil Lionacleit who had recently won the schools quiz competition run by STV.  The Chairman, on behalf of the Comhairle, congratulated the team on their achievement.

 

 

Tribute:  The Nicolson Institute

 

 

The Chairman referred to the Nicolson Institute Football Teams who had won an achievement award for their performances in the North of Scotland Cup and the Scottish Cup, not only in this year’s games but also in all the games over the last few years.  The Chairman, on behalf of the Comhairle, congratulated The Nicolson Institute Football Teams on winning this award.

 

 

Tribute:  Mrs Margaret Faye Shaw

 

 

The Chairman referred to Mrs Margaret Faye Shaw, who had been one of Gaeldom’s leading archivists, who had died recently.  Mrs Shaw had been born in America in 1903 and had come to Scotland in the early 1920’s.  The Chairman referred to Mrs Shaw’s collection of Gaelic folksongs and also her work as a photographer and filmmaker.

 

 

 

 

MINUTES

 

Minute of Meeting of 10 November 2004

 

 

1

The Minute of Meeting of 10 November 2004 was approved.

 

 

Minute of Meeting of 6 December 2004

2

The Minute of Meeting of 6 December 2004 was approved, subject to the following amendment:

 

      delete the word “words” at insert the word “wards” in the last line of the Minute.

 

 

 

 

LEGISLATION

 

Boundary Commission for Scotland – Annotated Map to Accompany Initial Concluded View

C43

3

With reference to item 1 of the Minute of Meeting of 6 December 2004 the Director of Corporate Services submitted a Report concerning a proposed response to the Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland in relation to Stage 1 of the current review by the submission of an annotated map.  Three options for consideration were outlined in the Report and maps showing a range of options for amalgamated wards were appended to the Report.

 

Mr Angus Campbell, seconded by Mr Norman A Macdonald, moved that Map 3, appended to the Report, be submitted to the Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland together with an annotation stating that the Comhairle also wished to consider alternatives in relation to the representation of Harris and Barra.

 

Mr Donald Manford, seconded by Mr Donald J Macsween, moved as a first amendment that all three maps should be submitted for public consultation prior to any decision being taken.

 

Mr Murdo Macleod, seconded by Mr Keith Dodson, moved as a second amendment that Map 3, as appended to the Report be submitted to the Boundary Commission for Scotland and as Vice-Convener’s motion with the following amendment: the insertion of Manor Park in new ward classification 8.

 

On the vote being taken between the motion and the first amendment, the motion received the majority of the votes cast.

 

On the vote being taken between the motion and the second amendment, the motion and the second amendment received an equal number of votes.

 

There being an equality in the voting between the motion and the second amendment the Chairman gave his casting vote in favour of the motion, which became the finding of the meeting and it was agreed accordingly.

 

 

 

 

FINANCE

 

Report on the 2003/04 Audit

PR130.11

4

Mr Peter Johnston, Chief Auditor, Audit Scotland, submitted the Draft Report on the 2003/04 Audit dated 14 December 2004.  The Report summarised all significant matters which had arisen for the year to 31 March 2004.  The draft Abstract of Accounts was also submitted.

 

It was agreed to recommend that the draft Report be noted and that, in the event that any Member raised an issue arising from the draft Report or the draft Abstract of Accounts or in the event that the final Report or the Final Abstract differed substantively from the draft Report, the Report and Abstract would be resubmitted to the meeting of the Committee in February 2005.

 

 

 

 

 

 

COMMITTEES

 

 

5

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 – 7 December 2004

 

(b)           Housing Committee – 7 December 2004

 

At item 12 of the Decision Report it was agreed to delete the recommendation listed and insert the following:

 

It was agreed to recommend that the Comhairle dispose of Plot 3 Labost Lane for the sum of £10k.

 

 

 

(c)           Transportation Committee – 7 December 2004

 

Mrs Annie Macdonald and Mr Donald I Nicholson declared an interest in the following matter and left the meeting during consideration of the matter.

 

At item 18 of the Decision Report it was agreed to add the following:

 

“and the intervening period be used to consult and inform users”.

 

 

 

 

(d)           Social Work Committee – 8 December 2004

 

 

 

(e)           Education and Children’s Services Committee – 8 December 2004

 

 

 

(f)            Sustainable Development Committee – 8 December 2004

 

 

 

(g)           Environmental Services Committee – 9 December 2004

 

At Item 9 of the Decision Report it was agreed to add the following:

 

“A Site Visit be arranged to assist in determining the application”.

 

 

 

(h)           Commercial Operations Board – 9 December 2004

 

 

 

(i)            Policy and Resources Committee – 16 December 2004

               

                Mr Angus Campbell, seconded by Mr Norman A Macdonald moved approval of item 21 the Decision Report.

 

                Mr George Lonie, seconded by Mr Iain Morrison, moved, as an amendment, in relation to Item 21 of the Committee Decision Report that: “the Smoking at Work Policy, attached at Appendix 1 to the Report, be approved and implemented from 1 March 2005, subject to suitable receptacles being placed in relevant places and guidance being issued to all staff from Line Managers prior to that date”.

 

                On the matter being put to the vote the amendment received the majority of the votes cast and became the finding of the meeting.

 

 

 

(j)            Audit and Scrutiny Committee – 16 December 2004