Education, Culture and Sport Committee, 03 Nov 1999

Meeting date: Wednesday, November 3, 1999

Official Report 172KB pdf

---

Petition

Do members have any comments to make about the petition?

Mr Guild outlines a serious matter. This sort of situation, where a series of public bodies and others have not co-ordinated their actions, is exactly what the petitioning process was designed to cover. As it is the committee's first petition, we should treat it with the utmost seriousness. Despite the clerk's note, it would be useful if we could have a recommendation with each petition so that we can consider the recommendation.

I suggest that we appoint a committee member to meet Mr Guild and report back with a view to the committee assisting him in resolving the matter. We cannot have a hearing yet, as we do not know enough about the situation.

Are there any other comments?

It is an important matter but it would be more appropriate for the local authority to deal with it. I am sure that the local authority is dealing with it. I do not have a problem with Mike's suggestion, but I am pretty sure that the issue will have been addressed in the local plan by the range of agencies that Mr Guild refers to.

I tend to agree with Ian. It is obviously an important issue that matters very much to Mr Guild, but there are many ways in which we can refer the matter to the local authority. Rather than tying up a committee member's time, we could write to ask for the local authority's view and how it is dealing with the situation. If necessary, we could also write to Historic Scotland, which might also have a view. It is a question of prioritising. We are having a nightmare this morning as it is.

Brian Monteith has an interest in the area and in the subject—he could meet Mr Guild. Mr Guild is a Liberal Democrat, while Brian is a Tory, so they are not likely to find that much in common. Perhaps they could talk history in a constructive way. Brian could come back and tell us what is happening.

It is fine if the appropriate action is to write to the local authority, but the press cuttings that Mr Guild has enclosed date back a long time. One can see how long he has been pursuing this matter and how old the cuttings are because they refer to Willie Ross as the Secretary of State for Scotland—those were grand days indeed for Ayrshire. It is time that something was done and we should treat the matter seriously. This is our first petition and we should show that the process works. I suggest that Brian should meet him and report back to the committee.

Brian, are you willing to take the matter up?

As one of the members with only one committee, I probably have more time than other members.

It would be helpful. I accept what Ian said, as the local authority has a lead role to play. However, if there is some way in which we can assist the local authority to take the matter on board, I am happy to take Mike's recommendation. Are we agreed?

Members indicated agreement.

Thank you, Brian.