Mco0009

Minute of Meeting held in the Council Offices, Stornoway, on Tuesday 12 September 2000 at 7.00pm

PRESENT

Mr Alexander A MacDonald (Chairman)

Mr Roderick J Murray

Mr Donald I Nicholson

Mr Iain Morrison

Mr Norman M Macleod

Mr Roderick Morrison

Mr Donald J Macsween

Mr Norman A Macdonald

Mr Finlay Morrison

Mr Angus M Graham

Mrs Morag Munro

Mr Malcolm J Graham

Mr Archibald K Campbell

Mr Ian M Macleod

Mr Donald Maclean

Mr George Lonie

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

Mr Philip R McLean

APOLOGIES

Mrs Katie M Mackenzie

Mr Donald M Mackay

Mr Malcolm J Macleod

Mr Donald Macdonald

Mr Angus Nicolson

Prayer

The Meeting was opened with Prayer led by Mr Murdo Macleod.

Tribute: Mr Donnie Morrison

The Chairman referred to Mr Donnie Morrison, Council Officer, who had recently been appointed Prime Warden of the Guild of Mace-Bearers, the highest office that could be held in the Guild, and, on behalf of the Comhairle, congratulated Mr Morrison on his achievement.

Twinning

The Chairman intimated that, following a ceremony on Friday 5 September, the Council was formally twinned with Newry and Mourne District Council and Clare County Council and expressed the wish that these links bring economic, social and cultural benefits to the Western Isles.

Tribute: Mr Robert Bennie and Miss Susan Twist

The Chairman referred to the forthcoming marriage of Mr Robert Bennie, Director of Finance, and Miss Susan Twist, Social Worker, and, on behalf of the Comhairle, extended best wishes to Mr Bennie and Miss Twist for their future together.

MINUTES

Comhairle

C01.01

34

The Minute of Meeting of 31 August 2000 was approved.

QUESTIONS

Examination Results

35

Mr Philip R McLean asked the Chairman of the Education Committee to confirm the situation in the Western Isles in connection with the recent confusion over examination results and in particular to indicate how many pupils were thought to have had incorrect results, how many pupils were still waiting their results and how many appeals were likely to be lodged. The Chairman of the Education Committee responded as follows:

The Chairman of the Education Committee responded as follows:-

It is difficult to state how many pupils are thought to have had incorrect results and be confident of precision as the scripts are with the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA). However, the schools reckon that on a subject basis, there are at least 185 wrong results. The total size of the S4 to S6 cohort is around 900 pupils each sitting an average of four or five subjects.

It is reckoned that around 30 results are awaited.

Around 240 subject appeals are likely to be lodged. This is just over double the usual number.

Mr Philip R McLean asked as a supplementary question will the Comhairle be submitting the statistics to the forthcoming parliamentary inquiry?

The Chairman of the Education Committee replied that the Education, Cultural and Sports Committee of the Scottish Parliament is conducting an inquiry and has asked the Comhairle to submit written evidence by 22 September 2000. The Acting Director of Education and Leisure Services will be submitting the foregoing statistics and any other information which he, in consultation with schools, considers to be relevant.

COMMITTEES

Committees

36

The Minutes and Reports of Committees were submitted as follows and, unless otherwise indicated, were noted with regard to delegated functions and approved with regard to referred functions except where they had already been dealt with by the Comhairle:

Environmental Services Committee

(1) Minute of Meeting of 30 August 2000.

Transportation Committee

(2) Minute of Meeting of 30 August 2000, subject to the addition in Item 94 that surfacing be undertaken at 15 Lionel, Ness, if the works met the appropriate regulations.

Development Services Committee

(3) Minute of Meeting of 30 August 2000 with the exception of the recommendation in Item 167.

Arising out of Item 142 of the Minute, it was agreed that in light of the importance of the Arnish Yard for inward investment in the Western Isles, a message of support be sent to the Stornoway Trust regarding their efforts to secure the assets of the Yard for the community and that the Council investigate as to whether the authority can help with the substantial costs involved.

Arts and Leisure Committee

(4) Minute of Meeting of 30 August 2000.

Social Work Committee

(5) Minute of Meeting of 31 August 2000, subject to the addition to Item 56 of the Minute of the following:

"Arising out of consideration of this matter it was agreed that the Director of Social Work submit a Report concerning all aspects of the operation of the Home Care Service."

Contract Services

(6) Minute of Meeting of 31 August 2000.

Housing Committee

(7) Minute of Meeting of 1 September 2000.

Education Committee

(8) Minute of Meeting of 1 September 2000.

Policy and Resources Committee

(9) Report of Meeting of 12 September 2000, with the exception of the recommendation in Item 12 (b) of the Report.

Mr Roderick J Murray, seconded by Mr Norman L Macdonald, moved approval of the recommendation in Item 12 (b) of the Report of the Meeting of the Policy and Resources Committee of 12 September 2000.

Mr Donald Manford, seconded by Mr Ronald J Mackinnon,. moved as an amendment that, in addition to officers, the apology sought from Mr Angus M Graham include Councillors and Community Councillors whose members had been accused of whitewash.

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

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PRESENT	Mr Alexander A MacDonald (Chairman)
	Mr Roderick J Murray	Mr Donald I Nicholson
	Mr Iain Morrison	Mr Norman M Macleod
	Mr Roderick Morrison	Mr Donald J Macsween
	Mr Norman A Macdonald	Mr Finlay Morrison
	Mr Angus M Graham	Mrs Morag Munro
	Mr Malcolm J Graham	Mr Archibald K Campbell
	Mr Ian M Macleod	Mr Donald Maclean
	Mr George Lonie	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
	Mr Philip R McLean

APOLOGIES	Mrs Katie M Mackenzie	Mr Donald M Mackay
	Mr Malcolm J Macleod	Mr Donald Macdonald
	Mr Angus Nicolson

Prayer		The Meeting was opened with Prayer led by Mr Murdo Macleod.
Tribute: Mr Donnie Morrison		The Chairman referred to Mr Donnie Morrison, Council Officer, who had recently been appointed Prime Warden of the Guild of Mace-Bearers, the highest office that could be held in the Guild, and, on behalf of the Comhairle, congratulated Mr Morrison on his achievement.
Twinning		The Chairman intimated that, following a ceremony on Friday 5 September, the Council was formally twinned with Newry and Mourne District Council and Clare County Council and expressed the wish that these links bring economic, social and cultural benefits to the Western Isles.
Tribute: Mr Robert Bennie and Miss Susan Twist		The Chairman referred to the forthcoming marriage of Mr Robert Bennie, Director of Finance, and Miss Susan Twist, Social Worker, and, on behalf of the Comhairle, extended best wishes to Mr Bennie and Miss Twist for their future together.
		MINUTES
Comhairle C01.01	34	The Minute of Meeting of 31 August 2000 was approved.

		QUESTIONS
Examination Results	35	Mr Philip R McLean asked the Chairman of the Education Committee to confirm the situation in the Western Isles in connection with the recent confusion over examination results and in particular to indicate how many pupils were thought to have had incorrect results, how many pupils were still waiting their results and how many appeals were likely to be lodged. The Chairman of the Education Committee responded as follows: The Chairman of the Education Committee responded as follows:-
		It is difficult to state how many pupils are thought to have had incorrect results and be confident of precision as the scripts are with the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA). However, the schools reckon that on a subject basis, there are at least 185 wrong results. The total size of the S4 to S6 cohort is around 900 pupils each sitting an average of four or five subjects. It is reckoned that around 30 results are awaited. Around 240 subject appeals are likely to be lodged. This is just over double the usual number.
		Mr Philip R McLean asked as a supplementary question will the Comhairle be submitting the statistics to the forthcoming parliamentary inquiry?
		The Chairman of the Education Committee replied that the Education, Cultural and Sports Committee of the Scottish Parliament is conducting an inquiry and has asked the Comhairle to submit written evidence by 22 September 2000. The Acting Director of Education and Leisure Services will be submitting the foregoing statistics and any other information which he, in consultation with schools, considers to be relevant.
		COMMITTEES
Committees	36	The Minutes and Reports of Committees were submitted as follows and, unless otherwise indicated, were noted with regard to delegated functions and approved with regard to referred functions except where they had already been dealt with by the Comhairle:
Environmental Services Committee		(1) Minute of Meeting of 30 August 2000.
Transportation Committee		(2) Minute of Meeting of 30 August 2000, subject to the addition in Item 94 that surfacing be undertaken at 15 Lionel, Ness, if the works met the appropriate regulations.
Development Services Committee		(3) Minute of Meeting of 30 August 2000 with the exception of the recommendation in Item 167. Arising out of Item 142 of the Minute, it was agreed that in light of the importance of the Arnish Yard for inward investment in the Western Isles, a message of support be sent to the Stornoway Trust regarding their efforts to secure the assets of the Yard for the community and that the Council investigate as to whether the authority can help with the substantial costs involved.
Arts and Leisure Committee		(4) Minute of Meeting of 30 August 2000.
Social Work Committee		(5) Minute of Meeting of 31 August 2000, subject to the addition to Item 56 of the Minute of the following:
		"Arising out of consideration of this matter it was agreed that the Director of Social Work submit a Report concerning all aspects of the operation of the Home Care Service."
Contract Services		(6) Minute of Meeting of 31 August 2000.
Housing Committee		(7) Minute of Meeting of 1 September 2000.
Education Committee		(8) Minute of Meeting of 1 September 2000.
Policy and Resources Committee		(9) Report of Meeting of 12 September 2000, with the exception of the recommendation in Item 12 (b) of the Report. Mr Roderick J Murray, seconded by Mr Norman L Macdonald, moved approval of the recommendation in Item 12 (b) of the Report of the Meeting of the Policy and Resources Committee of 12 September 2000.
		Mr Donald Manford, seconded by Mr Ronald J Mackinnon,. moved as an amendment that, in addition to officers, the apology sought from Mr Angus M Graham include Councillors and Community Councillors whose members had been accused of whitewash. On the matter being put to the vote, the amendment received the majority of votes cast and became the finding of the meeting.
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