THE chair of Oban Community Harbour Development Association has sought to get local councillors more involved in the decisions of the Argyll and Bute harbour board.

But Phil Hamerton was advised that the council’s local area committee – which has only one member on the board – has “no remit” for the organisation.

Councillor Andrew Vennard (Conservative, Oban North and Lorn) is the only Oban Lorn and the Isles councillor among the eight who make up the area’s harbour board.

The discussion took place at a meeting of Argyll and Bute Council’s Oban, Lorn and the Isles area committee on Wednesday, September 11.

Mr Hamerton said: “How can the area committee make appropriate representations to the harbour board, as is required by the 2014 governance arrangements?

“From 2001 to 2015, the four area committees across Argyll and Bute were responsible as harbour authorities for their areas.

“In 2014, a motion was put to the environment, development and infrastructure committee that arrangements should be put to one single harbour authority which would be established.

“At the same point, an amendment was supported which said that the harbour board would be a sub-committee of the environment, development and infrastructure committee.”

Councillor Julie McKenzie (SNP, Oban North and Lorn), the area committee’s chair, responded: “My understanding is that the representation on the harbour board is from Councillor Vennard for this area.

“The area committee has not taken a view. Councillor Vennard is not representing the area committee; he is representing his constituents. The area committee has no remit for the harbour board.”

Councillor Vennard added: “If it is any help to you, I am the only Oban Lorn and the Isles councillor on the harbour board and can explain any issues.”

Councillor Andrew Kain (Independent, Oban South and the Isles) then said: “As the previous chair of the harbour board, I spent an extraordinary amount of time talking with people representing themselves as representatives of OCHDA.

“At every turn, the questions kept coming back in a different way. I do not know if there was another intention to these questions, but clearly there is a lack of understanding.

“We are still in a position where we have not got the harbour review order in place, and you are looking at the intention of developing the surrounding areas further.

“But that cannot be done until we get the harbour review order, so a lot of time is being wasted as to what is being represented.”

Mr Hamerton simply responded: “I would have to say that is an interesting view.”

Councillor Vennard said: “Councillors can attend meetings of the harbour board and take part in the discussion, so if there was anything affecting the Oban area, any councillor could express their views.”

Councillor McKenzie said: “What Councillor Vennard says is absolutely true, but we have a duty to take a balanced view and it cannot be only the voices that shout the loudest.

“We have to take a view from all our constituents. From my point of view, I have had very few emails from individuals in the community on harbour board issues.

“I am struggling to see that OCHDA represent the views of the community. They represent a view, without a doubt.”