COMHAIRLE NAN EILEAN SIAR

COMHAIRLE NAN EILEAN SIAR

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Minute of Meeting held in the Council Offices, Stornoway, on Thursday 8 September 2005 at 2.00pm 

 

PRESENT

Mr Alex A Macdonald (Chairman)

 

 

Mr Angus Campbell (Vice-Chairman)

 

 

Mr Norman A Macdonald

Mr Alexander M Mackintosh

 

Mr Angus M Graham

Mrs Annie MacDonald

 

Mr Malcolm J Graham

Mrs Morag Munro

 

Mr Ian M Macleod

Mr Archie Campbell

 

Mr George Lonie

Mr Donald Maclean

 

Mr Murdo Macleod

Mr Martin C Taylor

 

Mr Keith Dodson

Mr Peter Carlin

 

Mr Donald I Nicholson

Mr Ronald J Mackinnon

 

Mr Norman M Macleod

Mr Angus Macdonald

 

Mr Donald J Macsween

Mr Donald Manford

 

 

 

APOLOGIES

Miss Samantha E L Hawkins

Mr John Mackay

 

Mr Iain Morrison

Mr Roderick Morrison

 

Mr Neil Campbell

Mr Angus Nicolson

 

Mr Norman L Macdonald

Mr Donald Macdonald

 

Mr Angus McCormack

 

 

 

Prayer

 

The meeting was opened with prayer led by Mr Ronald J Mackinnon.

 

Tribute:  Rev Donald A Macrae

 

The Chairman referred to Rev Donald A Macrae who had passed away on 12 July 2005.  Mr Macrae had been born in Uig in April 1918, educated at The Nicolson Institute and awarded an MA from Glasgow University in 1939.  Mr Macrae had been ordained and inducted by the Presbytery of Skye to the congregation and parish of Sleat in 1942.  He had then become the Minister in Tarbert in 1956.  Mr Macrae also served on the Comhairle’s Education Committee.  The Chairman, on behalf of the Comhairle, extended condolences to Mr Macrae’s family.

 

Tribute:  Rev Roddy Wright

 

 

The Chairman referred to Rev Roddy Wright who had passed away on 23 May 2005.  Mr Wright had been born in 1940 in Glasgow.  In 1980 he had been appointed to the parish of St Michael’s in South Uist where he spent six years.  During that time he was a Member of the Comhairle’s Education Committee and a Member of Co-Chomunn an Iochdair.  In 1986 he had accepted the post of Bishop of Argyll and the Islands.  The Chairman, on behalf of the Comhairle, extended condolences to Mr Wright’s family.

 

Tribute:  Hurricane Katrina

 

 

The Chairman, on behalf of the Comhairle, expressed condolences to all those in New Orleans and surrounding area who had lost loved ones or suffered as a result of the devastating effects of Hurricane Katrina.

 

Tribute:  Mr Norman L Macdonald

 

The Chairman referred to Mr Norman L Macdonald who had been unwell recently and had spent time in hospital.  The Chairman, on behalf of the Comhairle, wished Mr Macdonald a speedy recovery.

 

Tribute:  Stornoway Coastguard

 

The Chairman, on behalf of the Comhairle, congratulated the six members of Stornoway Coastguard who had been presented with the Chief Coastguard’s Award for Meritorious Action in recognition of their individual contributions in response to the storm on 11 January 2005.

 

 

Tribute:  Angus MacNeil, MP

 

The Chairman, on behalf of the Comhairle, congratulated the MP for the Western Isles, Mr Angus MacNeil and his wife Jane on the birth of their daughter Annie Sine on 29 July 2005.

 

Tribute:  COSLA Excellence Awards 2005

 

The Chairman congratulated all the Comhairle staff who had been involved with the Consumer Direct Project and all Consumer Direct employees for winning the Bronze Award for the Consumer Direct Scotland Project in the Advancing Community Wellbeing Category at the COSLA Excellence Awards 2005. 

 

 

 

MINUTES

 

Minute of Meeting of 29 June 2005

1

The Minute of Meeting of 29 June 2005 was approved.

 

 

 

Minute of Meeting of 16 August 2005

2

The Minute of Meeting of 16 August 2005 was approved.

 

 

 

Declarations of Interest

3

Mr Norman M Macleod declared an interest in item 14 of the Housing Committee Decision Report.

 

 

 

CALENDAR

 

Public and Local Holidays 2006

Timetable of Committee/

Comhairle Meetings 2006

C01.09

 

4

The Director of Corporate Services submitted a Report seeking approval for the proposed public and local holidays in 2006 and the proposed programme of Committee and Comhairle meetings.  It was indicated in the Report that it was proposed to hold the meetings of Audit and Scrutiny Committee, Policy and Resources Committee and the Comhairle in Barra in February 2006.

 

It was agreed that:

 

(1)                 the proposed timetable for Committee and Comhairle Meetings and public and local holidays as detailed in Appendices 1 and 2 to the Report be approved; and

 

(2)                the Audit and Scrutiny Committee, Policy and Resources Committee                 and the Comhairle be held in Barra in February 2006.

 

 

 

CONSULTATION

 

Consultation – Draft Code of Practice for Ministerial Appointments to Public Bodies in Scotland

C32

 

5

The Director of Corporate Services submitted a Report concerning the consultation by the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments in Scotland on the draft Code of Practice for Ministerial Appointments to Public Bodies in Scotland.  A draft response to the consultation was appended to the Report and it was indicated in the Report that responses to the consultation exercise required to be lodged by 30 September 2005.

 

It was agreed to recommend that:

 

(1)            the terms of the draft Code of Practice for Ministerial Appointments to Public Bodies in Scotland be noted; and

 

(2)            the Director of Corporate Services be authorised to submit a response to the consultation on the basis of the draft appended to the Report, subject to the resonse making reference to the Comhairle’s preference that as many holders of public office as possible be democratically elected.

 

 

 

 

APPOINTMENTS TO OUTSIDE BODIES

 

WINDO AND Urras Ionad Bhaltois – Appointment to Vacancy

PR42.01

6

The Director of Corporate Services submitted a Report concerning the resignation of Mr Norman L Macdonald as a Director from the Western Isles New Development Opportunity (WINDO) and Urras Ionad Bhaltois.

 

It was agreed that:

 

(1)                 a Member of the Comhairle be not appointed as a Director of the Western Isles New Development Opportunity (WINDO); and

 

(2)           Mr Alex M Mackintosh be appointed to serve on Urras Ionad Bhaltois.

 

 

 

COMMITTEES

 

Committee Decision Reports

C02

7

The Committee Decision Reports were submitted as undernoted.  The Comhairle approved the recommendations in the Committee Decision Reports unless otherwise indicated:

 

 

 

 

(a)                 Commercial Operations Board – 25 August 2005

 

 

 

(b)                 Arts and Leisure Committee – 30 August 2005

 

 

 

(c)                 Transportation Committee – 30 August 2005

 

(d)                 Housing Committee – 30 August 2005

 

It was agreed that consideration of items 9 and 16 of the Housing Committee Decision Report be deferred and considered in conjunction with item 15a of the Policy and Resources Committee Report when it was agreed to endorse the recommendations of the Policy and Resources Committee Decision Report.

 

(e)                 Social Work Committee – 31 August 2005

 

(f)                   Education and Children’s Services Committee – 31 August 2005

 

It was agreed that consideration of item 21 of the Education and Children’s Services Committee Decision Report be deferred and considered in conjunction with item 19 of the Policy and Resources Committee Decision Report, when it was agreed to endorse the recommendations of the Policy and Resources Committee Decision Report.

 

 

 

(g)                 Sustainable Development Committee – 31 August 2005

 

(h)                 Environmental Services Committee – 1 September 2005

 

Arising out of consideration of the Decision Reort it was agreed that a Report regarding the possibility of inserting deadlines for objections in relation to planning applications be submitted to the next meeting of the Committee.

 

 

 

(i)                   Policy and Resources Committee – 7 September 2005

 

Arising out of consideration of item 5 of the Committee Decision Report it was agreed that definite proposals regarding the equalisation of subsistence rates between Comhairle Members and Officers be submitted to a future meeting of the Committee as a matter of urgency.

 

It was agreed to insert the following text at Item 31(2) of the Committee Decision Report;

“and consideration of enhanced funding for Western Isles Citizens Advice Bureaus be included in the process”.

 

It was agreed that the following text be inserted at item 25 of the Committee Decision Report:

“In the event that the Boundary Commission refuse to accept the recommendation as detailed at paragraph 25(1) of the Policy and Resources Committee Decision Report, Ward 9 be amended (for the avoidance of doubt referred to as Ward 4 in the Committee Decision Report) to include Airidhbhruaich”.

 

(j)            Audit and Scrutiny Committee – 8 September 2005