Â鶹Ãâ·Ñ°æ

The Vice Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting.

 

Apologies for absence were intimated on behalf of Councillors Mark Irvine (Chair) and Iain Paterson.

There were no declarations of interest intimated.

 

The Minute of the meeting of the Helensburgh and Lomond Area Committee, held on 11 June 2024 was approved as a correct record.

 

Before the introduction of Public Questions and in response to several questions that had been submitted in advance the Vice Chair made a statement regarding Helensburgh Waterfront.

 

This Committee and Council over the past 10 years has successfully invested over £20m in Helensburgh Waterfront with important community infrastructure including the new leisure centre, new car park, sea defences and resurfaced pier to name a few.

 

This Administration, and indeed the previous Administration, appreciates there remains a great deal of public interest in the final piece of the jigsaw and things have moved on considerably in last few weeks following the decision by Policy and Recourses Committee in August to select a sole preferred developer in Forrest Developments.Ìý

 

All of the submitted points from today’s Public Questions will be answered in the coming days. We will also be updating the information and frequently asked questions page on the Councils Website about the Waterfront so the correct narrative is shared as widely as possible.Ìý

 

I do however want to reiterate 3 points.

 

Firstly, our town centre is important to us all and we want to get this important site right with a viable and economically sustainable development. There has been an open process where we received several offers from retailers, fast food giants, hotels and the community. We have assessed these bids through an agreed process and have a proposal that is considered to be most adventitious in terms of deliverability, risk, financial outcomes and community feedback.Ìý

 

Secondly, we are aware that views both for and against this development have been expressed in the wake of the recent announcement and in this context, it is important to note that the council’s focus is on ensuring that the Waterfront regeneration ultimately delivers benefits for Helensburgh as a whole.

 

Community feedback has played an important part in reaching the stage we are now at. There have been opportunities for community involvement at various points. In response to previous community feedback the Masterplan was altered to reduce the retail area and building line was pulled away from Clyde Street to protect views.Ìý

 

We are listening, but the preferred bidder’s proposal is not developed to a stage that matters can be taken forward to a planning application yet. Officers are working with the developer on that and more detail will be shared when it is available and again community feedback will be welcomed as part of the planning process.ÌýÌý

 

Finally, the Committee acknowledge that the skatepark is interlinked to the waterfront and I wanted to reiterate what this Committee confirmed in December 2023. That there will be a skatepark at the waterfront as a backstop. This has been confirmed with Forrest Developments. However, and in supporting ambition of growth or expansion this Committee asked that 2 alternative locations were to be explored at both Kidston Park and Hermitage Park. Officers are currently looking at that and will report back to a future Area Committee once in a position to do so.Ìý

 

So for clarity and in conclusion, the Area Committee recognise the public interest and welcome the questions which will be answered by officers in the coming days. Wider information will continue to be shared via the website as it becomes available. When updates and more detail is available that of course will be shared widely.Ìý

 

All questions raised today around the waterfront will be welcomed and minuted, however it would be my intention that these are referred to Officers for a fuller, more detailed response.

 

Stella Kinloch

 

The Committee Manager read out questions submitted by Stella Kinloch in advance of the meeting as follows:

 

Question 1

 

I have concerns that the Committee in approving the sale of land on the waterfront were not provided with full and honest representation from the consultation and that there are continuous attempts to overrule and quash the voice of residents.

 

The sale of the land was supposed to include space for the skatepark. It’s now clear officers have been manipulating the process to find the ‘best’ site, whilst the community and its young people are repeatedly advising what they believe is the best site, the waterfront, yet this continues to be ignored.Ìý

 

Why did the elected members accept evidence from an outdated retail spending from 2017 to be submitted as part of the report?Ìý

 

And why did they not question the poor consultation numbers and lack of transparency from the consultants used to produce this report?

 

Why has there been no full community consultation on the best site for the skate park?

 

Councillor Campbell-Sturgess highlighted that there had been no decision made on where the Skatepark would be located.

 

The Committee advised that they would seek guidance from the relevant department and provide Ms Kinloch with a response to this question following the meeting.

 

Question 2

 

I’d like to know why did over 1300 pupils at Hermitage Academy start their year by being issued with 8 pages of printed paper giving GDPR notices for video and photo permissions and 2 for data confirmation.

 

The authorities currently pays for licenses and use Google forms; also pay for Xpressions as the agreed communication method.Ìý These 2 digital solutions are available and are not being used.Ìý Printed paper is a waste and where pupils don’t return it, they receive a second set printed out to take home.

 

We’re seeing committees discussing budgets, spending cuts, whilst this obvious waste of budget, not to mention the actual paper is astonishing when the digital solutions are there.Ìý I can only speak to what was issued at Hermitage but I would assume it’s authority wide.

 

Counting up all these little areas of waste are what is eating into overstretched budgets.

 

I’m looking for a commitment that the authority will stop the needless printing of forms to parents.Ìý This is only required where there is an exception agreed.ÌýÌý

 

Hopefully with all services removing such waste we’ll see small savings add up!

 

The Committee Manager highlighted that on receipt of the question he had passed it to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

Update from Inspector Bart Simonis, Police Scotland

Consideration was given to an update which provided information on the ongoing work of the Service and information on serious and organised crime; acquisitive crime; road safety and road crime; violent crime; public protection; fraud prevention and awareness; community policing; Operation Ballaton which has now concluded and the ongoing work with the Councils Anti-Social Behaviour Coordinator to improve CCTV within Helensburgh. Ìý

 

Decision

 

The Helensburgh and Lomond Area Committee considered and noted the information provided in the report.

 

(Reference: Report by Inspector Bart Simonis, Police Scotland, submitted)

 

Presentation by Vice Chair of the Cultural Heritage and Arts Assembly for the Â鶹Ãâ·Ñ°æ and Isles

The Committee gave consideration to a presentation by the Vice-Chair of the Cultural Heritage and Arts Assembly (CHARTS) for Â鶹Ãâ·Ñ°æ and the Isles. The presentation included information on the impact of partnership working on both regional and local areas and provided highlights of key projects throughout the Helensburgh and Lomond Area. Mr Adams also provided information in relation to funding streams and the benefits of the continued support received from Â鶹Ãâ·Ñ°æ and Bute Council.

 

Decision

 

The Helensburgh and Lomond Area Committee considered and noted the information provided in the presentation.

 

(Reference: Presentation by Vice-Chair, Cultural Heritage and Arts Assembly, submitted)

 

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Customer Support Â鶹Ãâ·Ñ°æ

The Committee gave consideration to the Area Performance Report for financial quarter 1 of 2024/25 (April to June 2024) which illustrated the agreed performance measures for this period.

 

Decision

 

The Helensburgh and Lomond Area Committee noted and considered the performance and supporting commentary as presented.

 

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Customer Support Â鶹Ãâ·Ñ°æ, dated 6 August 2024, submitted)

 

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure Â鶹Ãâ·Ñ°æ

The Committee gave consideration to a report which provided links to the recent activities of Roads and Infrastructure Â鶹Ãâ·Ñ°æ.

 

Decision

 

The Helensburgh and Lomond Area Committee considered and noted the contents of the report.

 

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure Â鶹Ãâ·Ñ°æ, dated August 2024, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure Â鶹Ãâ·Ñ°æ

Consideration was given to a report providing details on the council’s recycling and landfill diversion performance along with national policy, targets and regulations which are likely to impact on future performance.

 

Decision

 

The Helensburgh and Lomond Area Committee noted and gave consideration to the details as outlined in the report and the national policy drivers that would likely impact over the coming years.

 

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure Â鶹Ãâ·Ñ°æ, dated August 2024, submitted)

 

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth

Consideration was given to a report updating Members on the progress made since the Helensburgh and Lomond Area Committee on 11 June 2024 in relation to the delivery of a dedicated, high quality walking and cycle route linking Helensburgh, Cardross and Dumbarton.

 

Decision

 

The Helensburgh and Lomond Area Committee:

 

1.    agreed that an update report would be submitted bi-annually and that out with this time, elected members would be briefed on any significant developments;

 

2.    instructed Officers, subject to securing external funding, to appoint a new design team to complete development of Phase 1 and Phase 2 designs through Developed Design and Technical Design stages;

 

3.    instructed Legal Â鶹Ãâ·Ñ°æ to utilise the Council’s statutory powers as necessary to ensure access to private land for surveys required as part of the design process where landowner permission is not forthcoming; and

 

4.    supported progression of the project to full Technical Design, as required by the external funder.

 

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth, dated 6 August 2024, submitted)

The Helensburgh and Lomond Area Committee workplan was before members for information.

 

Decision

 

The Helensburgh and Lomond Area Committee noted the contents of the workplan.

 

(Reference: Helensburgh and Lomond Area Committee workplan, dated 10 September 2024)