Committees

A meeting of the Transport, Environmental and Community Services Committee will take place in the Council Chamber, Council Headquarters, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness on Thursday 16 May 2013 at 10.30am.

Webcast Notice: This meeting will be filmed and broadcast over the Internet on the Highland Council website and will be archived and available for viewing for 12 months thereafter.

You are invited to attend the meeting and a note of the business to be considered is attached.

Yours faithfully

Michelle Morris
Assistant Chief Executive

Business

1. Apologies for Absence
 Leisgeulan

2. Declarations of Interest
 Foillseachaidhean Com-pàirt

Members are asked to consider whether they have an interest to declare in relation to any item on the agenda for this meeting. Any Member making a declaration of interest should indicate whether it is a financial or non-financial interest and include some information on the nature of the interest. Advice may be sought from Officers prior to the meeting taking place.

3. Revenue Budget – Monitoring 2013/14
 Buidseat Teachd-a-steach – Sgrùdadh 2013/14

There is circulated Report No TEC 36-13 (52kb pdf) dated 7 May 2013 by the Director of Transport, Environmental and Community Services setting out the revenue monitoring position for the period 1 April to 30 April 2013 and the projected year-end position.

The Committee is invited to note the report and the attached monitoring statements which show the revenue position for the period 1 April to 30 April 2013.

4. Capital Expenditure - Monitoring 2013/14
 Caiteachas Calpa –Sgrùdadh 2012/13

There is circulated Report No TEC 37-13 (258kb pdf) dated 7 May 2013 by the Director of Transport, Environmental and Community Services summarising the capital expenditure monitoring position for the period 1 April to 30 April 2013 and the projected year end position.

The Committee is invited to note the report and the attached monitoring statements which show the capital expenditure position for the period 1 April to 30 April 2013.

5. Update on Storm Damage
Cunntas as Ùr mu Mhilleadh Stoirm

There is circulated Report No TEC 38-13 (87kb pdf) dated 2 May 2013 by the Director of Transport, Environmental and Community Services updating Members on progress in relation to the repairs to the damage which occurred to harbours and coastal structures during the storm surge on 14/15 December 2012.

The Committee is invited to note:-

i. the progress made to repair the damage to Council harbour facilities and
    coast defence structures;
ii. that a further report providing details of final costs will be submitted to a
    future Transport, Environmental and Community Services Committee; and
iii. that the Council continues to provide advice and support to privately
    owned facilities which have been affected by the storm surge.

6. A890 Stromeferry Bypass – Outcome of Stage 1 Options Appraisal                                                                                               
A890 Seach-rathad Phort an t-Sròim – Toradh Measadh Roghainnean Ìre 1

There is circulated Report No TEC 39-13 (8785kb pdf) dated 2 May 2013 by the Director of Transport, Environmental and Community Services updating Members on the outcome of Stage 1 of the Options Appraisal for the Stromeferry Bypass and inviting Members to approve that the 9 routes, as detailed in the report, are taken forward to Stage 2 of the Options Appraisal.

The Committee is invited to:-

i. approve that the 9 routes, as detailed in the report, are taken forward to
    Stage 2 of the Options Appraisal; and
ii. note that Stage 2 of the Options Appraisal is programmed to be completed
    in the spring of 2014.

7. Distribution of Road Maintenance Budget – 2013/14
Riarachadh Buidseat Cumail Suas Rathaidean – 2013/14

There is circulated Report No TEC 40-13 (103kb pdf) dated 3 May 2013 by the Director of Transport, Environmental and Community Services inviting Members to approve the distribution of the Roads Maintenance Budgets for 2013/14 between the three Operational Areas, including the allocation of the additional £2m towards road maintenance, as agreed as part of the Revenue Budget, on the basis of need, with details contained in Appendix A of the report.

The Committee is invited to approve the distribution of the Roads Maintenance Budgets for 2013/14 between the three Operational Areas, including the allocation of the additional £2m towards road maintenance, as agreed as part of the Revenue Budget, on the basis of need, with details contained in Appendix A of the report.

8. Review of the Winter Maintenance Service 
Ath-sgrùdadh air Seirbheis Gleidhidh a’ Gheamhraidh

There is circulated Report No TEC 41-13 (162kb pdf) dated 2 May 2013 by the Director of Transport, Environmental and Community Services updating Members on the review of the winter maintenance service and setting out proposals for enhancing the current level of service.

The Committee is invited to approve:-

i. that the following enhancements are made to the current winter
    maintenance service:
a) engage with communities well before the start of next winter to promote
    the community self-help scheme;
b) provide 3 spare winter maintenance vehicles (one per Operational Area);
c) continue to use local contractors to provide additional resources to assist
    with snow clearing;
d) formalise the arrangements for the treatment of footpaths in sheltered
    housing schemes;
e) continue to ensure that Grit Bins are kept full;
f) reduce the number of Priorities in the Winter Maintenance Policy from 4 to
    3, and carry out a comprehensive review of routes to identify those routes
    which should be re-classified as Priority 1 (while the majority of the
    existing Priority 2 routes should be considered for re-classification to Priority
    1, other difficult routes should also be considered, however the overall
    length of route to be reclassified as Priority 1 should not exceed a level
    which requires additional drivers or vehicles);
ii. that the Service explores options to contain the additional costs associated
    with 8 (i) above within the overall Transport, Environmental and
    Community Services budget; and
iii. that the Winter Maintenance Policy is updated to take account of the
    changes set out in the report and that the revised policy is taken to the
    Transport, Environmental and Community Services Committee in August for
    approval.

9. Review of Bulky Uplift Service
Ath-sgrùdadh air Seirbheis Togail Nithean Troma

There is circulated Report No TEC 42-13 (120kb pdf) dated 3 May 2013 by the Director of Transport, Environmental and Community Services updating Members of the review of the Bulky Uplift Service and inviting Members to approve that work is undertaken to strengthen the message in relation to the services offered by the Council’s Social Enterprise Partners, who offer free collection service for items which can be re-used, and that the Council work with the Social Enterprise Partners to examine opportunities to carry out both re-use and reprocessing within the Highlands.

The Committee is invited to approve:-

i. that work is undertaken to strengthen the message in relation to the
    services offered by the Council’s Social Enterprise Partners who offer free
    collection service for items which can be re-used; and
ii. that the Council work with the Social Enterprise Partners to examine
    opportunities to carry out both re-use and reprocessing within the 
    Highlands.

10. Zero Tolerance on Litter/Maximum Civic Participation
Fulangas do Neoni a thaobh Sgudal / An Com-pàirteachas Catharra as Motha

There is circulated Report No TEC 43-13 (91kb pdf) dated 3 May 2013 by the Director of Transport, Environmental and Community Services inviting Members to approve a number of measures, including extending the powers of Community Wardens to issue fines, to support a Zero Tolerance approach to litter.

The Committee is invited to approve the following to support a Zero Tolerance approach to littering:-

i. the definition and approach to “zero tolerance” as described in the report
    will be carried out with a degree of discretion;
ii. additional staff will be authorised to enforce the law relating to litter and fly-
    tipping;
iii. Waste Management and Environmental Health staff carry out joint
    enforcement days;
iv. the preparation and publication of a calendar of enforcement days on the
    Council website; and
v. the Council encourages and supports local communities to organise events
    aimed at keeping their communities free of litter and improving the overall
    environment.

11. Consultation on New Food Safety Body for Scotland
Co-chomhairle mu Bhuidheann Ùr Sàbhailteachd Bìdh airson na h-Alba

There is circulated Report No TEC 44-13 (151kb pdf) dated 3 May 2013 by the Director of Transport, Environmental and Community Services inviting Members to approve the Council’s response to the Scottish Government’s consultation on “A Healthier Scotland: Consultation on Creating a New Food Body” and the Food Standard Agency consultation on “New Proposed Enabling Primary Food and Feed Legislation Provisions”.

The Committee is invited to approve the Council’s response to:-

i. the Scottish Government’s consultation on creating a new Food Safety
    Body for Scotland, as contained in Appendix A of the report; and
ii. the Food Standard Agency consultation on New Proposed Enabling Primary
    Food and Feed Legislation Provisions, as contained in Appendix B of the
    report.

12. Audit Scotland - Protecting Consumers
Sgrùdadh Alba - A’ Dìon Luchd-cleachdaidh

There is circulated Report No TEC 45-13 (166kb pdf) dated 3 May 2013 by the Director of Transport, Environmental and Community Services inviting Members to note the publication of the report prepared by Audit Scotland for the Accounts Committee titled “Protecting Consumers” and to consider the report’s recommendations, the questions for Councils contained in the report and, in the light of developments since the report’s preparation, what steps Highland Council now needs to take to address the report’s findings.

The Committee is invited to:-

i. note the conclusions and recommendations made in the Audit Scotland –
    “Protecting Consumers” Report;
ii. note how these conclusions and recommendations are considered to apply
    to the Highland Council’s Environmental Health and Trading
    Standards service and what the COSLA Task Group and Trading Standards
    Scotland are currently doing to address the situation;
iii. agree to delay making any decision on taking any action to address the
    issues raised until it becomes clear from the work of COSLA and the
    Scottish Government, what individual councils are being asked to do; and
iv. approve the Student Environmental Health Officer policy.

13. Review of Community Transport
Ath-sgrùdadh air Còmhdhail Coimhearsnachd

There is circulated Report No TEC 46-13 (57kb pdf) dated 3 May 2013 by the Director of Transport, Environmental and Community Services inviting Members to approve the scope of the review of Community Transport, as agreed by the Transport, Environmental and Community Services Committee on 17 January 2013, and to approve that the Council works with Robert Gordon University to carry out a research project which will develop a pilot scheme in a community that suffers from the negative impacts of poor connectivity.

The Committee is invited to:-

i. approve the scope of the review of Community Transport, as set out in the
    report;
ii. approve that the Council works with Robert Gordon University to carry out
    a research project which will develop a pilot scheme in a community that
    suffers from the negative impacts of poor connectivity; and
iii. note that an update on the review of Community Transport and the
    Research Project to develop a pilot scheme in a community that suffers
    from the negative impacts of poor connectivity will be reported to the
    Transport, Environmental and Community Services Committee in
    September 2013.

14. Strategic Consultation on Works on Scottish Roads
Co-chomhairle Ro-innleachdail mu Obraichean air Rathaidean na h-Alba

There is circulated Report No TEC 47-13 (214kb pdf) dated 2 May 2013 by the Director of Transport, Environmental and Community Services inviting Members to approve the Council’s response to the consultation which the Minister for Transport and Veterans tasked the Scottish Road Works Commissioner to consider as part of the Scottish Roads Maintenance Review.

The Committee is invited to approve the Council’s response to the strategic Consultation on Works in Scottish Roads, as set out in Appendix A of the report.

15. Internal Audit Reports  
Aithisgean In-Sgrùdaidh

There is circulated Report No TEC 48-13 (722kb pdf) dated 3 May 2013 by the Director of Transport, Environmental and Community Services updating Members on the status of the Audit Report Action Plans in relation to the Audit Reports presented to the Audit and Scrutiny Committee on 28 March 2013.

The Committee is invited to note the status of the Audit Report Action Plans in relation to the Audit Reports presented to the Audit and Scrutiny Committee on 28 March 2013.

16. Cycling, Walking and Safer Streets Programme
Prògram Rothaireachd, Coiseachd agus Sràidean nas Sàbhailte

There is circulated Report No TEC 49-13 (70kb pdf) dated 3 May 2013 by the Director of Transport, Environmental and Community Services inviting Members to approve the projects delivered through the Scottish Government funding for Cycling, Walking and Safer Streets for the areas out with Inverness and Caithness and Sutherland.

The Committee is invited to:-

i. approve the Safer Routes to School Projects as listed in Appendix 1 of the
    report; and
ii. note that the Road Safety Team will continue to work with schools to
    develop further Safer Routes to School Projects for future years.

17. 20mph Speed Limit Avoch
 Casg Astair 20 mìle san uair

There is circulated Report No TEC 50-13 (481kb pdf) dated 4 May 2013 by the Director of Transport, Environmental and Community Services inviting Members to approve the 20mph speed limit within the village of Avoch in accordance with the Draft Road Traffic Order (DRTO) entitled The Highland Council (Avoch Village) (20mph Speed Limit) Order 2013. One objection has been received in response to the DRTO.

Members are invited to approve the 20mph speed limit in Avoch in accordance with the Draft Road Traffic Order entitled The Highland Council (Avoch Village) (20mph Speed Limit) Order 2013.

18. Proposed Amendments and Adoptions to the List of Roads (Kinmylies   Road and Lawers Way, Inverness)
Atharrachaidhean is Gabhail Ri a Thathar a’ Moladh a thaobh Liosta nan Rathaidean (Rathad Cheann a’ Mhìlidh is eile)

There is circulated Report No TEC 51-13 (1334kb pdf) dated 29 April 2013 by the Director of Transport, Environmental and Community Services inviting Members to approve the amended road descriptions of Kinmylies Road and to approve the adoption of (a) the underpass, access ramps and steps to General Booth Road as part of Kinmylies Road and (b) a footpath on Lawers Way, subject to there being no unresolved objections after the consultation process.

The Committee is invited to approve:-

i. the adoption as a Cycle Track (footpath/cyclepath), the access ramps, steps
    and underpass to General Booth Road, as detailed in Appendix A of the
    report, subject to there being no unresolved objections after the
    consultation process;
ii. the re-determination of the section of Kinmylies Road, as detailed in
    Appendix C of the report, as a Cycle Track (Footpath/Cyclepath); and
iii. the adoption of the footpath on Lawers Way fronting numbers 32 to 38,
    as outlined in Appendix E of the report, subject to there being no
    unresolved objections after the consultation process.

19. Membership of Fishery Harbours Management Group  
Ballrachd de Stiùireadh Chalachan Iasgaich

Following changes to the TEC Committee membership, as agreed by the Highland Council on 9 May 2013, the Committee is invited to note the revised membership of the Fishery Harbours Management Group as follows:-

Mr H Fraser (Independent)
Mr R Greene (Independent)
Mr A Henderson (Independent)
Mr H Morrison (Independent)
Mr I Cockburn ( SNP)
Mr G Phillips (SNP)
Ms M Smith (SNP)
Mr M Rattray (Lib Dem)
Mr B Murphy (Labour)

20. Minutes
 Geàrr-chunntas

There are circulated, for approval, Minutes of the Fishery Harbours Management Board (57kb pdf) of 18 April 2013.