Agendas, reports and minutes

A meeting of the Caithness and Sutherland Area Committee will take place in the Assembly Rooms, Sinclair Terrace, Wick KW1 5AB on Tuesday, 27 May 2014, at 10.30 a.m.

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
Depute Chief Executive/
Director of Corporate Development

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. Highlands and Islands Enterprise – Presentation
Iomairt na Gàidhealtachd agus nan Eilean – Taisbeanadh

A presentation will be undertaken at the meeting by representatives of Highlands and Islands Enterprise.  Mr Peter Guthrie, Head of Strengthening Communities - Caithness and Sutherland, and Mr Keith Muir, Head of Business Growth and Sectoral Teams, will provide an update on their work within Caithness and Sutherland, with a particular focus on business growth and community capacity building.

4. Workskills and Development – Update
Sgilean-obrach agus Leasachadh – Fios Às Ùr

There is circulated Report No. CS-12-14 (359kb pdf) dated 13 May 2014 by the Director of Development and Infrastructure which summarises recent employability related activity in Caithness and Sutherland and asks Members to comment on the priorities identified for development in the current year.

The Committee is invited to comment on the provision of Employability Services in the Area and the work priorities for the year identified in paragraph 2.4 of the report.

5. Rural Poverty – Research Briefing
Bochdainn Dùthchail

There is circulated Report No. CS-13-14 (222kb pdf) dated 10 May 2014 by the Head of Policy and Reform advising that in 2013 two papers considering rural poverty were published: A Minimum Income Standard for Remote Rural Scotland and Local Incomes and Poverty in Scotland. The report provides Members with a summary of the methodology and findings of both these research studies.

The Committee is invited to note:

i. the findings of both research papers; and
ii. that a rural proofing tool has been drafted, assisted by the findings of these research studies, and that there will be opportunities to use the tool in 2014.

6. Community Challenge Fund – Area Update
Maoin Dùbhlan Coimhearsnachd - Fios Às Ùr

There is circulated Report No. CS-14-14 (189kb pdf) dated 10 May 2014 by the Depute Chief Executive/Director of Corporate Development which advises that the Community Challenge Fund was launched in January 2013.  The report provides Members with an opportunity to consider the interest in the Fund at a local level and also to discuss how the Fund can best be promoted and utilised within the local area.  

The Committee is invited to:-

i. note the take-up of the Fund to date in Caithness and Sutherland;
ii. note the changes made to the Fund and the approach to promoting the Fund agreed at Council in March 2014;
iii. consider what other potential services Members could envisage communities taking on locally; and
iv. consider how best could the Community Challenge Fund be promoted and used to best effect within the Caithness and Sutherland area.

7. Carbon CLEVER in Caithness and Sutherland
Càrbon Ciallach ann an Gallaibh agus Cataibh

There is circulated Report No. CS-15-14 (112kb pdf) dated 6 May 2014 by the Head of Policy and Reform which provides an update on the Carbon CLEVER initiative and asks Members to consider how the initiative can be developed in Caithness and Sutherland.

The Committee is invited to:-

i. agree that the Climate Change Team work with local organisations, stakeholders and community groups to gain an insight into local opportunities and priorities to inform the Carbon CLEVER Action Plan, and discuss how this could best be achieved; and
ii. discuss how to effectively promote the Carbon CLEVER Declaration to businesses and organisations in Caithness and Sutherland.

8. Thurso High School Associated School Group Overview
Sealladh Coitcheann air Buidheann Sgoiltean Co-cheangailte Àrd-sgoil Inbhir Theòrsa

There is circulated Report No. CS-16-14 (573kb pdf) dated 8 May 2014 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport which provides an update of key information in relation to the schools within the Thurso High School Associated School Group (ASG) and provides useful updated links to further information in relation to the schools.

The Committee is invited to scrutinise and note the content of the report.

9. Education Scotland Reports – 22 January 2014 to 14 May  2014
Sgrùdaidhean le Foghlam Alba– 22 Am Faoilleach gu 14 An Cèitean 2014

There is circulated Report No. CS-17-14 (151kb pdf) dated 12 May 2014 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport which provides details on Education Scotland’s inspections of schools in the Area during the period 22 January 2014 to 14 May 2014, for Members scrutiny and monitoring.

The Committee is invited to scrutinise and monitor Education Scotland reports through this report.

10. Maintenance Programme for Roads and Bridges
Prògram Gleidhidh – Rathaidean agus Drochaidean

There is circulated Report No. CS-18-14 (267kb pdf) dated 6 May 2014 by the Director of Community Services which invites Members to approve the Maintenance Programmes for Roads and Bridges for the Caithness and Sutherland Area for 2014/15.

The Committee is invited to approve the Maintenance Programmes for Roads and Bridges for the Caithness and Sutherland Area for 2014/15.

11. Grounds Maintenance Programme
Prògram Gleidhidh Thalmhainn

There is circulated Report No. CS-19-14 (284kb pdf) dated 10 May 2014 by the Director of Community Services which details the arrangements for delivering Grounds Maintenance Services and the resources and budgets available. The report invites Members to approve the levels of grounds maintenance service and to note the on-going arrangements for managing the service for the Caithness and Sutherland Area and for Members to review required service standards at Ward Business Meetings.

The Committee is invited to:

i. approve the Grounds Maintenance Service for 2014/15, as set out in the report; and
ii. note the on-going arrangements for managing the Grounds Maintenance Service for the Caithness and Sutherland Area and future engagement with Ward Members in relation to identifying the appropriate standards at specific sites.

12. Housing Performance Report
Aithisg Dèanadais a thaobh Taigheadais

There is circulated Report No. CS-20-14 (269kb pdf) dated 14 May 2014 by the Director of Community Services which provides information on housing performance in relation to Scottish Social Housing Charter and other performance indicators during the year 2013/2014.

The Committee is invited to scrutinise the information provided on housing performance in the period 1 April 2013 to 31 March 2014.

13. Dornoch Common Good Fund – 2013/14 Q4 Monitoring Report and Budget Setting 2014/15
Maoin Maith Choitchinn Dhòrnaich

There is circulated Report No. CS-21-14 (105kb pdf) dated 13 May 2014 by the Acting Head of Community and Democratic Engagement which provides a monitoring statement for the Dornoch Common Good Fund to the end of March 2014. The report also sets out the anticipated income and expenditure for the coming year and invites Members to set a revenue budget for the Dornoch Common Good Fund for the financial year 2014/15.

The Committee is invited to:

i. note the income and expenditure on Dornoch Common Good to the end of Quarter 4, 2013/14; and
ii. agree the Dornoch Common Good Fund budget for 2014/15 detailed within the report.

14. Minutes
Geàrr-chunntas

There are circulated for noting Minutes of Meeting of the Caithness and Sutherland Area Committee held on 11 February 2014, which were approved by the Council on 13 March 2014.

15. Exclusion of The Public
Às-dùnadh a’ Phobail

The Committee is asked to resolve that, under Section 50A(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, the public be excluded from the meeting during discussion of the following item on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 6 & 9 of Part 1 of Schedule 7A of the Act.

16. Lease of Dornoch Common Good Ground Land
Aonta Màil airson Talamh Maoin Maith Choitchinn Dhòrnaich

There is circulated to Members only Joint Report No. CS/22/14 dated 13 May 2014 by the Director of Development and Infrastructure and Acting Head of Community and Democratic Engagement in relation to the proposed lease of ground belonging to the Dornoch Common Good.

The Committee is invited to agree the recommendations set out in the report.