29 Nov 2002

ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES COMMITTEE

Minute of Meeting held in Sgoil Lionacleit, Benbecula, on Friday, 29 November 2002 at 10.30am

PRESENT

Mr Angus Nicolson (Chairman)

Mrs Katie M Mackenzie

Mr Alexander A Macdonald

Mr Norman A Macdonald

Mr Martin C Taylor

Mr Donald Manford

APOLOGIES

Mr Ian M Macleod (Vice-Chairman)

Mr Roderick J Murray

Mr George Lonie

Mr Alasdair G Macrae

Mr Donald I Nicholson

Mr Donald M Mackay

Mrs Morag Munro

Mr Donald Maclean

ASSENT HEARING

Explosives Factory at Range Head, South Uist

1

The Chairman welcomed Mr Ian Mackay, Health & Safety Executive to the Meeting.

It was agreed to adjourn the Meeting at 10.35am.

The Meeting reconvened at Range Head, South Uist at 11.00am where the following Members were found to be present:

Mr Angus Nicolson (Chairman)

Mrs Katie M Mackenzie

Mr Alexander A Macdonald

Mr Norman A Macdonald

Mr Martin C Taylor

Mr Donald Manford

The Chairman invited Major Graham Chubb to address the Committee and to answer Members' questions in relation to the site. Major Chubb responded to Members' questions.

It was agreed to adjourn the Meeting at 12.15pm.

The Meeting re-convened in Sgoil Lionacleit, Benbecula at 12.40pm where the following Members were found to be present:

Mr Angus Nicolson (Chairman)

Mrs Katie M Mackenzie

Mr Alexander A Macdonald

Mr Norman A Macdonald

Mr Martin C Taylor

Mr Donald Manford

The Director for Sustainable Communities submitted a Report concerning an Assent Application by QinetiQ for an Explosives Factory at Range Head, South Uist. It was intimated in the Report that, following the recent privatisation of the rocket testing and evaluation facilities, the new controlling company, QinetiQ, had to apply to the Health & Safety Executive for a licence to keep explosives. QinetiQ, having agreed draft terms for the licence with the Health & Safety Executive, was required by the Explosives Acts of 1875 and 1923, to apply to the Comhairle for an Assent.

The Report emphasised that the application related to existing facilities that had been in Ministry of Defence control since 1957. The Report referred to the advertisements placed in the local press in connection with the Assent Hearing and further intimated that the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, Scottish Natural Heritage, Northern Constabulary, Fire Service, Scottish Water and the Comhairle's Emergency Planning, Roads, Environmental Health and Building Control Officers had all raised no objections to the Application.

The Chairman invited Mr Alastair Banks, Principal Planning Officer, Mr Ian Mackay, Health & Safety Executive and Major Graham Chubb to address the Meeting and answer Members' questions in relation to the Application.

Mr Banks, Mr Mackay and Major Chubb responded to Members' questions.

It was agreed that the assent of the Comhairle be granted for an Explosives Factory at Range Head, South Uist and that the Director for Sustainable Communities be authorised to inform the Health & Safety Executive of the Comhairle's decision.

PRESENT	Mr Angus Nicolson (Chairman)
	Mrs Katie M Mackenzie
	Mr Alexander A Macdonald
	Mr Norman A Macdonald
	Mr Martin C Taylor
	Mr Donald Manford

APOLOGIES	Mr Ian M Macleod (Vice-Chairman)
	Mr Roderick J Murray
	Mr George Lonie
	Mr Alasdair G Macrae
	Mr Donald I Nicholson
	Mr Donald M Mackay
	Mrs Morag Munro
	Mr Donald Maclean

		ASSENT HEARING
Explosives Factory at Range Head, South Uist	1	The Chairman welcomed Mr Ian Mackay, Health & Safety Executive to the Meeting. It was agreed to adjourn the Meeting at 10.35am. The Meeting reconvened at Range Head, South Uist at 11.00am where the following Members were found to be present:
		Mr Angus Nicolson (Chairman)
		Mrs Katie M Mackenzie
		Mr Alexander A Macdonald
		Mr Norman A Macdonald
		Mr Martin C Taylor
		Mr Donald Manford
		The Chairman invited Major Graham Chubb to address the Committee and to answer Members' questions in relation to the site. Major Chubb responded to Members' questions.
		It was agreed to adjourn the Meeting at 12.15pm.
		The Meeting re-convened in Sgoil Lionacleit, Benbecula at 12.40pm where the following Members were found to be present:
		Mr Angus Nicolson (Chairman)
		Mrs Katie M Mackenzie
		Mr Alexander A Macdonald
		Mr Norman A Macdonald
		Mr Martin C Taylor
		Mr Donald Manford
		The Director for Sustainable Communities submitted a Report concerning an Assent Application by QinetiQ for an Explosives Factory at Range Head, South Uist. It was intimated in the Report that, following the recent privatisation of the rocket testing and evaluation facilities, the new controlling company, QinetiQ, had to apply to the Health & Safety Executive for a licence to keep explosives. QinetiQ, having agreed draft terms for the licence with the Health & Safety Executive, was required by the Explosives Acts of 1875 and 1923, to apply to the Comhairle for an Assent. The Report emphasised that the application related to existing facilities that had been in Ministry of Defence control since 1957. The Report referred to the advertisements placed in the local press in connection with the Assent Hearing and further intimated that the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, Scottish Natural Heritage, Northern Constabulary, Fire Service, Scottish Water and the Comhairle's Emergency Planning, Roads, Environmental Health and Building Control Officers had all raised no objections to the Application.
		The Chairman invited Mr Alastair Banks, Principal Planning Officer, Mr Ian Mackay, Health & Safety Executive and Major Graham Chubb to address the Meeting and answer Members' questions in relation to the Application. Mr Banks, Mr Mackay and Major Chubb responded to Members' questions.
		It was agreed that the assent of the Comhairle be granted for an Explosives Factory at Range Head, South Uist and that the Director for Sustainable Communities be authorised to inform the Health & Safety Executive of the Comhairle's decision.