Agendas, reports and minutes

Skye, Ross and Cromarty Area Committee

Date: Wednesday, 30 April 2014

Agenda: Read the Agenda

A meeting of the Skye, Ross and Cromarty Area Committee will take place in the Council Chamber, Council Offices, High Street, Dingwall, on Wednesday, 30 April 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. Community Challenge Fund
Maoin Dùbhlan Coimhearsnachd
There is circulated Report No. SRC-9-14  dated 3 April 2014 by the Depute Chief Executive/Director of Corporate Development which provides Members with an opportunity to consider the interest at a local level in the Community Challenge Fund, launched in January 2013, and also to discuss how the Fund could best be promoted and utilised within the local area.
The Committee is asked to: 
i. note the take up of the Fund to date in Skye, Ross and Cromarty;
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 the Community Challenge Fund could be promoted and used to best effect within Skye, Ross and Cromarty.
4. Deprived Area Fund 2014-15
Maoin Sgìre Bochd 2014-15
There is circulated Report No. SRC-10-14 (190kb pdf) dated 15 April 2014 by the Director of Development and Infrastructure which sets out the applications received for the Deprived Area Fund for 2014-15 and also the background to the Fund, together with a summary of applications, assessments and funding recommendations, with reasons stated.
The Committee is asked to: 
i. approve the grant award recommendations as set out in the report; and
ii. agree that decisions on the remainder of the Fund in 2014-15 be delegated to the Director of Development and Infrastructure following consultation with the Chair of the Area Committee and appropriate Ward Members.
5. Rural Poverty
Bochdainn Dùthchail
There is circulated Report No. SRC-11-14 dated 10 April 2014 by the Head of Policy and Reform which provides Members with a summary of the methodology and findings of two research studies considering rural poverty published in 2013: A Minimum Income Standard for Remote Rural Scotland and Local Incomes and Poverty in Scotland.
The Committee is asked 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, for whose use there will be opportunities in 2014.
6. Associated School Group Overviews
Sealladh Coitcheann air Buidheann Sgoiltean Co-cheangailte 
a) Dingwall Academy Associated School Group Overview
Sealladh Coitcheann air Buidheann Sgoiltean Co-cheangailte Acadamaidh Inbhir Pheofharain
There is circulated Report No. SRC-12-14 dated 14 April 2014 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport, which provides an update of key information in relation to the schools within the Dingwall Academy Associated School Group, and provides useful updated links to further information in relation to these schools.
The Committee is invited to scrutinise and note the content of the report.
b) Ullapool High School Associated School Group Overview
Sealladh Coitcheann air Buidheann Sgoiltean Co-cheangailte Àrd-sgoil Ullapuil
There is circulated Report No. SRC-13-14 dated 14 April 2014 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport, which provides an update of key information in relation to the schools within the Ullapool High School Associated School Group, and provides useful links to further information in relation to these schools.
The Committee is invited to scrutinise and note the content of the report.
7. Housing Performance Report
Aithisg Dèanadais a thaobh Taigheadais 
There is circulated Report No. SRC-14-14  dated 25 March 2014 by the Director of Community Services which provides Members with information on how the Service performed in relation to the Scottish Social Housing Charter and other performance indicators during the first three quarters of 2013/14.
The Committee is invited to scrutinise the information provided on housing performance in the period from 1 April to 31 December 2013.
8. Carbon CLEVER
Càrbon Ciallach
a) Update on the Carbon CLEVER Initiative
Fios as Ùr mu Iomairt Càrboin Chiallaich
There is circulated Report No. SRC-15-14 (25kb pdf) dated 9 April 2014 by the Head of Policy and Reform which provides Members with an update on the Carbon CLEVER initiative and asks Members to consider how the initiative can be further developed in Skye, Ross & Cromarty.
The Committee is asked 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 to discuss how this could best be achieved;
ii. discuss how to effectively promote the Carbon CLEVER Declaration to businesses and organisations in the region; and
iii. discuss the potential of the SMILEGOV project for Skye.
b) Cycling, Walking and Safer Streets Programme
Rothaireachd, Coiseachd agus Prògram Sràidean nas Sàbhailte
There is circulated Report No. SRC-16-14  dated 3 April 2014 by the Director of Community Services which invites Members to approve the projects delivered through the Scottish Government funding for Cycling, Walking and Safer Streets for the Skye, Ross & Cromarty area, as set out in Appendix 1 to the report.
The Committee is invited to:
i. approve the Safer Routes to School (SRTS) Project listed in Appendix 1 to the report; and
ii. note that the Road Safety Unit will continue to work with schools to develop further SRTS Projects for future years.
9. 20mph Speed Limit and Traffic Calming Features - Muir of Ord
Casg Astair 20msu agus Feartan gus Trafaig a Shocrachadh – Am Blàr Dubh
There is circulated Report No. SRC-17-14  dated 14 April 2014 by the Director of Community Services which invites Members to review the objections and approve the draft Road Traffic Order entitled “The Highland Council (Muir of Ord) (20mph Speed Limit) Order 2014” and the introduction of 2no. chicanes in Muir of Ord.
The Committee is invited to:
i. approve the draft Road Traffic Order entitled “The Highland Council (Muir of Ord) (20mph Speed Limit) Order 2014”; and
ii. approve the 2no. chicanes on the A862 Great North Road.
10. Street Naming - New Housing Developments at Dingwall and North Kessock
Ainmeachadh Sràide – Leasachaidhean Ùra Taigheadais ann an Inbhir Pheofharain agus Ceasag a Tuath
There is circulated Report No. SRC-18-14 dated 10 April 2014 by the Acting Head of Community and Democratic Engagement concerning the creation of addresses, following consultation with the respective Community Councils and local Members, for new housing developments at Dingwall and North Kessock. 
The Committee is asked to homologate:
i. the naming of the development at Dingwall (Phase 2 Land West of St Andrews Road, Dingwall) as Carnegie Court and Columba Court; and
ii. the naming of the development at North Kessock (Phase 4 Bellfield Meadows) as Balnabrath Way and Bronze Heuk.
11. Common Good Funds
Maoin Maith Choitchinn
There is circulated Report No. SRC/19/14 dated 15/16 April 2014 by the Acting Head of Community and Democratic Engagement in relation to the five following Common Good Funds:-
a. Cromarty Common Good Fund SRC-19a-14 
b. Dingwall Common Good Fund SRC-19b-14 
c. Fortrose & Rosemarkie Common Good Fund SRC-19c-14 
d. Invergordon Common Good Fund SRC-19d-14
e. Tain Common Good Fund SRC-19e-14 ( 
The report provides for consideration a monitoring statement for each Common Good Fund to the end of March 2014 and invites Members, for the first time, to set a revenue budget for each Fund for the financial year 2014/15.  For each Fund it sets out anticipated income, proposed expenditure and a proposed budget for 2014/15.
The Committee is invited to: 
i. note the 2013/14 Fourth Quarter Monitoring Report in relation to each Fund;
ii. agree the proposed budgets for each of the Funds; 
iii. note the ongoing survey work in relation to the condition of the Invergordon Town Hall;
iv. note the ongoing work in relation to the refurbishment of the Alexandra Bridge, Tain;
v. agree that that a final decision regarding the way forward in relation to the Alexandra Bridge and the potential for any additional Tain Common Good Fund contribution be delegated to the Director of Finance and the Acting Head of Democratic and Community Engagement in consultation with local Ward Members and the Chair of this Committee; and
vi. agree that update reports on all Funds be brought back to this Committee.
12. Dingwall Common Good Fund – Townhouse Tower, Dingwall
Maoin Maith Choitchinn Inbhir Pheofharain – Tùr Talla a’ Bhaile, Inbhir Pheofharain 
There is circulated Report No. SRC-20-14 (22kb pdf) dated 7 April 2014 by the Acting Head of Community and Democratic Engagement which seeks a contribution from the Dingwall Common Good Fund to complete a funding package to carry out external renovations at Dingwall Townhouse Tower.  The renovation work will enhance this landmark building’s contribution to the wider Dingwall townscape.
The Committee is asked to:
i. approve a contribution of £15,000 from the Dingwall Common Good Fund to complete a £197,560 funding package to carry out external renovations at Dingwall Townhouse Tower, including the restoration of the town clock; and
ii. note the Highland Council project funding totalling £95,860.
13. Minutes
Geàrr-chunntas

There are circulated for noting Minutes of the Skye, Ross and Cromarty Area Committee held on 5 February 2014, which were approved by the Council on 13 March 2014.

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