19 Feb 2002 (3pm)

COMHAIRLE NAN EILEAN SIAR

POLICY AND FINANCE COMMITTEE

Minute of Meeting held in the Council Offices, Stornoway, on Tuesday 19 February 2002 at 3.00 pm

PRESENT

Mr Roderick J Murray (Chairman)

Mr Norman L Macdonald (Vice-Chairman)

Mr Angus Campbell

Mr Alexander A Macdonald

Mrs Morag Munro

Mr Norman A Macdonald

Mr Donald Maclean

Mr George Lonie

Mrs Mary Bremner

Mr Alasdair G Macrae

Mr Donald Manford

SERVICE ISSUES

It was agreed that the public, including the press, be excluded from the meeting during consideration of Items 1 and 2 below on the grounds that exempt information as defined in paragraph 6 of Schedule 7A of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 would be disclosed, namely, information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (other than the Comhairle).

Western Isles Slaughterhouses

1

The Director for Sustainable Communities submitted a Report regarding assistance to the Western Isles' four slaughterhouses. The Report set out progress regarding the exploration of possible Rescue and Restructuring Aid under the terms of the relevant Community Guidelines, in conjunction with SEERAD and slaughterhouse operators. The Community Guidelines on State Aid for Rescue and Restructuring firms in difficulty were summarised.

The Chairman paid tribute to the work of the Western Isles Slaughterhouse Member/Officer Working Group and thanked them for the considerable time and effort they had spent exploring the issues outlined in the report.

It was agreed that no notification for rescue and restructuring aid be submitted to the European Commission for any of the four existing slaughterhouse operators in the Western Isles under the terms of Community Guidelines 1999/C 288/02.

Auction Mart,

Steinish,

Stornoway

2

The Director of Corporate Services submitted a Report regarding a proposal from Lewis and Harris Auction Mart Limited that the Comhairle purchase the Auction Mart at Steinish, Stornoway from them. The background to the matter was set out in the Report, together with a summary of the options arising from the proposal.

It was agreed to defer consideration of the detail of the Report until further information is available and to authorise officers to explore the options available in relation to the Auction Mart.

___

PRESENT	Mr Roderick J Murray (Chairman)
	Mr Norman L Macdonald (Vice-Chairman)	Mr Angus Campbell
	Mr Alexander A Macdonald	Mrs Morag Munro
	Mr Norman A Macdonald	Mr Donald Maclean
	Mr George Lonie	Mrs Mary Bremner
	Mr Alasdair G Macrae	Mr Donald Manford


		SERVICE ISSUES
		It was agreed that the public, including the press, be excluded from the meeting during consideration of Items 1 and 2 below on the grounds that exempt information as defined in paragraph 6 of Schedule 7A of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 would be disclosed, namely, information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (other than the Comhairle).
Western Isles Slaughterhouses	1	The Director for Sustainable Communities submitted a Report regarding assistance to the Western Isles' four slaughterhouses. The Report set out progress regarding the exploration of possible Rescue and Restructuring Aid under the terms of the relevant Community Guidelines, in conjunction with SEERAD and slaughterhouse operators. The Community Guidelines on State Aid for Rescue and Restructuring firms in difficulty were summarised. The Chairman paid tribute to the work of the Western Isles Slaughterhouse Member/Officer Working Group and thanked them for the considerable time and effort they had spent exploring the issues outlined in the report.
		It was agreed that no notification for rescue and restructuring aid be submitted to the European Commission for any of the four existing slaughterhouse operators in the Western Isles under the terms of Community Guidelines 1999/C 288/02.

Auction Mart, Steinish, Stornoway	2	The Director of Corporate Services submitted a Report regarding a proposal from Lewis and Harris Auction Mart Limited that the Comhairle purchase the Auction Mart at Steinish, Stornoway from them. The background to the matter was set out in the Report, together with a summary of the options arising from the proposal. It was agreed to defer consideration of the detail of the Report until further information is available and to authorise officers to explore the options available in relation to the Auction Mart.