Minutes:
The first two questions were received in advance of the meeting from Luing Community Council;
Question 1
The two conservation villages
of Cullipool and Toberonochy experienced flooding during the heavy rains early
October, and it is the second time that flooding in Cullipool has damaged
homes. On the advice of the Community Planning Group administrator we have
emailed the Roads and Infrastructure Dept to ask if there is a possibility of
obtaining technical advice from their flooding engineers (though we are aware
of how much pressure they are under right now). It would be useful to know if
this is the best route or if there is anyone else that we can contact to obtain
technical advice on how to prevent or minimise future flooding risks.
Hugh O鈥橬eill advised that he
had passed the query onto the Design Services, who met with Luing Community
Council on Monday and will progress their query.
Question 2
How does the Council know
which houses are second-homes? I note that a number of people are on the
electoral register here who are second-home owners. Is this legitimate, and might this
allow them, for instance, to avoid the council tax increase for second-homes
when it is introduced, or to benefit in other ways (eg free University fees for
a child if their home is in England)?
Fergus
Walker had provided a response which was read out by the Committee Clerk.听 鈥淎 property is defined in law as a second
home if it is no-one鈥檚 sole or main residence and it is lived in for at least
25 days per annum鈥.
听
鈥淚n
terms of compliance we conduct reviews of second homes and ask for details such
as electricity/utility bills, insurance documents and other verification to
support the fact that a property is a second home. There are other tools that
we use to identify sole or main residences, ie:- where people are trying to
avoid their property being classed as a second home we would use credit
referencing tools and sharing data with other local authorities to track and
trace people鈥.
Question
3 鈥 Andrew Spence BID4 Oban
On Saturday 7th October 2023 Oban and the surrounding area
experienced severe flooding issues resulting in roads being washed away,
landslides, disruption, and serious flooding in the Lochavullin area of Oban.
The deluge happened very quickly and numerous busineses were unable to take any
precautions. The impact was catastrophic for many busineses in the area.
Similar flooding happened in 2017 and 2018. At that time, we were told
the reason for the flooding was that pumps had failed. In 2023, the same pumps
failed again.
There has been flood impact surveys undertaken in Oban. The most recent
being published in June 2019, 33 pages, with various short-term and long-term
options. To date the only visible change has been the introduction of plastic
walls along a very short length of the Black Lyn adjacent to the Guide Hall.
Impact to business and community:
Social impact.
This time Oban nearly lost all its supermarkets to flooding and had the
water level been about 20cm higher this would have occurred causing a serious
social impact to the area. No supermarkets, no food! The owners of the
businesses, staff and customers have all suffered with some of the businesses
community stating they will not be able to carry on if there is another flood.
This has had an impact on mental health.
What next?
Hugh
O鈥橬eill advised that this be taken off table for a detailed response, to which
Mr Spence agreed.
Question
4 & 5 鈥 Linda Robb, Dunbeg Community Council
Linda
advised that she had been in dialogue with the Council鈥檚 roads department over
a blocked drain on Meadow Road, Dunbeg, over the years.听 The recent bad weather had caused the
overflow of this drain to ice over the road making it unsafe for vehicles using
the road. On reporting it again she was advised by Traffic and Development that
this was a Trunk Road and therefore the Council could not do anything about
it.听 Meadow Road is not on the trunk road
therefore very disappointed in the unsatisfactory response from the Council.
Hugh
O鈥橬eill apologised for the lack of response and asked that Ms Robb pass her
details on to the Clerk and he would pick up on this and respond directly.
When
will the works on the proposed cycle track from Dunbeg to Connel start?
Councillor
Green advised that he had received a lengthy email in response to the cycle
track and will forward it on to Linda.听
The Council has been liaising with SAMS and Sustrans but are
disappointed in the lack of engagement from Transport Scotland.
Question
6 鈥 Duncan Martin
Firstly
Mr Martin questioned whether the meeting was quorate due to lack of members
present?
The
Clerk advised that the quorum is 3 and confirmed the meeting was quorate.
Mr
Martin then went on to ask the Area Committee what role does it see for itself
in the future management of Oban Harbour Board and what do councillors see as
their role?
Councillor Green advised that
constitutionally the Area Committee would not have direct accountability for
the Oban Harbour, the Harbour Board would have overall responsibility, along
with 4 members of the Area Committee who were also members of the Harbour
Board.听 He asked the Clerk to clarify,
which she did.
Mr
Martin also asked if there was any review within the Council as to how
communities are empowered and engage with Council Officers?
Councillor
Green stated there was a Scottish Government Local Democracy Review and
Consultation ongoing at the moment that would encompass community engagement
and decision making.
Question
7,8 & 9 鈥 Frank Roberts, Oban Community Council
Frank
also voiced his disappointment at the lack of members in attendance at the
meeting.听 With concerns for the longer
term development of the harbour, I have 3 simple questions:-
Will there be a
strategic marketing plan developed and implemented, and how will the views of
townspeople be assessed and taken into account?
How will this committee be
involved in this critical decision-making process on behalf of its OLI Area
constituents?
Will the development of
a marketing plan and its subsequent implementation be considered to be an
operational or a policy matter?
Councillor Lynch advised
that Policy decisions will be made by the Council and the Harbour Board, that
fees and charges will be the decision of the Council.听 All income from Piers and Harbours is put in
a central pot.听 The Clerk clarified the setting of fees and charges was reserved to the Council.
Councillor Green addressed the concerns about
members attendance stating that there were reasons why members had had to
submit their apologies, reminding the public that the Council policy was to
facilitate remote attendance at meetings.听
He stated that if the Council had not allowed remote participation in
meetings, it would have been likely that there would have been more absences.
Mr Roberts then asked if there could be
clarification given as to whether there would be separate accounts published
for Oban Harbour when the HRO was adopted?听
There was no finance officer present and it was agreed to raise this
question with the Director of Finance and respond after the meeting.
Question
10 鈥 Phil Hamerton, OCHDA
If
decision making of the Oban Harbour is made at a Policy Level, at what point
can the Area Committee put forward a view to the Harbour Board, and how do you
as an Area Committee formulate your views to the Harbour Board as
representatives of members of the Community?
The
Chair advised that it would be in the form of a Motion at an Area Committee
Meeting, making recommendation to the Harbour Board.听 He then asked the Clerk to clarify the rules
within the Constitution.
Councillor
Vennard stated that it was possible for non-members of the Harbour Board to
attend meetings of the Harbour Board and express views and that there would
also be a user group set up that would be chaired by the Harbour Master.
Question
11 鈥 John McAllister, OCHDA
Are
the Council going to start looking towards business and development of wind and
tidal power and what is the Council doing in the harbour to let businesses get
involved?
Councillor
Vennard advised that there are plans to expand the North Pier, however the
Harbour Review Order has to be in place before development.
With
no representative attending from the Economic Development Team, clarification
would be sought on what all renewable plans were as this might go beyond the
harbour.听
Question
12 鈥 Neil MacIntyre
What
had Economic Development done for the town of Oban in the last 5 years and what
do the local councillors see for the future of Oban?听 There was talk of a new School at Dunbeg, due
to the amount of the new housing development, the roundabout at Dunbeg has not
happened; no affordable houses within the town; 拢20m funding from the
Government for development and nothing is happening.听 Economic Development should be working with local
businesses for an Action Plan and proper framework.
Councillor Green advised that he
had seen outline plans, that cannot be听
shared at the moment, however, he hoped to be in a position to share
them with the Oban Community Council at their next meeting in January, after
wider input had been received on officer proposals.听
Councillor
Green also pointed out that Education looked at the need for a new school at
Dunbeg, the outcome being that the school that already exists within the
village is fit for purpose, due to the ages of the children living in the area
and the phased development of the housing.
Councillor
Green stated that he would like to see more housing in the centre of Oban but
that the gap sites within the town currently could not be developed.
Councillor
Martin advised that she had held several surgeries and not one person had
turned up to any of them to bring any points to the Council, and that she would
be more than happy to engage with the public present.听 She clarified the development she would like
to see was cycle lanes, accessible and repaired pavements, parking
(specifically issues with parking at schools) and opportunities for apprentices
which would increase growth within the business community.
Councillor Lynch commented the
plan was necessary to see what can and can鈥檛 be done.听 He would also like to see development in the
centre of town and accepted that the flood risk would not just disappear.听 He mentioned issues with shops not opening
due to footfall and that there was a need to look at what can be done
differently in terms of innovation.
Question
13 & 14 鈥 Mr Ross Wilson, OCDA
Will
members of Oban, Lorn and the Isles Area Committee be attending the Public
Meeting tomorrow night (14th December) which has been set up by
OCHDA and Oban Community Council to discuss the consultation which will run
from 30th November to 10th January?
Unfortunately,
the majority of members in attendance at today鈥檚 meeting will be unable to
attend as they have prior engagements but Councillor Vennard confirmed he would
attend.听 Councillor Green asked if the
meeting would be available to attend virtually, to which the response was it
was not possible as the Rockfield Centre did not have that facility,
Mr
Wilson expressed his disappointment and urged the Councillors to change their
priorities.
Mr
Wilson stated that at the last meeting Councillor Kain intimated that he would
see the business case for Oban Harbour,听
he asked if anyone present could clarify if Councillor Kain has seen the
business case and if not has he chased it up?
In
Councillor Kain鈥檚 absence this could not be clarified, although Councillor
Vennard advised that the Director of Finance had given a brief up date and is
now trying to finalise the fees charged to Calmac which will be the last piece
of the financial projection.
Mr
Wilson asked if, in view of the financial case not being in place, the Area
Committee would put forward a motion to the Harbour Board to stop the
consultation now.听 The Clerk explained
that there was no substantive item on the agenda during which it would be
possible to move such a motion, and it was not possible to move a motion as
part of public question time.
Question
15 鈥 Dougie Graham, Oban Community Council
What
are the exact legalities of the finances of a Harbour Authority being
published.听 I understand that as it is an
Act of Parliament that each Harbour Authority鈥檚 Financial Accounts should be
published?
Phil
Hamerton of OCHDA advised that he could answer that question. Councillor Green
commented that this was question time for the Committee or officers.听 Councillor Vennard stated that it would be
helpful to him if Mr Hamerton could be given the opportunity to respond, which
the Chair agreed to allow.听 Mr Hamerton
advised that under Section 42 of the 1964 Harbour Act each municipal port
requires every single income and expenditure to be published on an annual
basis.
Mr
Graham then questioned why the Council felt this did not apply to them?
Councillor
Green advised that this could be interpreted differently and confirmed that the
Harbour Board would receive its own legal advice.