Agendas, reports and minutes

A meeting of the Skye, Ross and Cromarty Area Committee will take place in the Council Chamber, Council Offices, High Street, Dingwall, on Wednesday, 6 August 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

This item has been withdrawn.

4.  Police – Area Performance Summary
Poilis – Geàrr-chunntas an Dèanadais Sgìreil

There is circulated Report No. SRC/21/14 dated 19 July 2014 by the Area Commander for Police which updates Members on progress with reference to the local priorities within the Highland 2014-2017 Policing Plan.

The Committee is invited to scrutinise and discuss the progress report in relation to the 5 Priorities: Road Safety, Alcohol and Drug Abuse/Misuse, Antisocial Behaviour/Disorder, Crimes of Dishonesty and Protecting People.

5.  Fire and Rescue Service
Seirbheis Smàlaidh is Teasairginn

There is circulated Report No. SRC/22/14 dated 14 July 2014 by the Local Senior Officer for Fire and Rescue setting out, in separate booklets A & B:

i.   Area Committee Plan for Skye, Ross and Cromarty for 2014-15 (Appendix 1 – Booklet A); and
ii.  Performance Report for Skye, Ross and Cromarty for the period April-May 2014, together with an overview
     of performance figures for years 2010/11-2013/14 (Appendix 2 – Booklet B).

The Committee is invited to scrutinise and comment on both the Plan and Performance Report.

6.  Capital Projects – Investing in Skye, Ross and Cromarty 
Ùr-fhiosrachadh Prògram a’ Chalpa – In-ionmhas san Eilean Sgitheanach, Ros agus Crombaidh

There is circulated Report No. SRC/23/14 dated 22 July 2014 by the Director of Finance which lists the capital projects included in the Council’s capital programme being delivered in the Skye, Ross and Cromarty area in financial year 2014/15 and the in- year budgets for these projects.

The Committee is invited to consider and note the budgeted capital projects being delivered in the Skye, Ross and Cromarty area in 2014/15.

7. Communities Panel Development 
Leasachadh Panal nan Coimhearsnachdan

There is circulated Report No. SRC/24/14 dated 16 July 2014 by the Head of Policy and Reform summarising the approach to developing the Council’s new Communities Panel, with particular reference to the Skye, Ross and Cromarty Area.

The Committee is invited to:-

i.   note the approach to developing the Communities Panel outlined at section 2 of the report; and
ii.  consider and if appropriate suggest additional representative groups to be included in the draft invitation
     list provided at Appendix 1 to the report.

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

There is circulated Report No. SRC/25/14 dated 20 June 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) Projects 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.  Landfill Communities Fund 
Maoin Choimhearsnachdan an Tiodhlacaidh Sgudail

There is circulated Report No. SRC/26/14 dated 17 July 2014 by the Director of Community Services on an application to the Highland Council Landfill Communities Fund.

The Committee is invited to approve the application as detailed in the Appendix to the report.

10.  Housing Performance Report
Aithisg Dèanadais a thaobh Taigheadais

There is circulated Report No. SRC/27/14 dated 24 July 2014 by the Director of Community Services which provides information on housing performance indicators during the year 2013/14.

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

11.  Grounds Maintenance Programme
Prògram Gleidhidh Thalmhainn

There is circulated Report No. SRC/28/14 dated 24 July 2014 by the Director of Community Services which details performance management information for the Grounds Maintenance Services from April to June 2014.

The Committee is invited to:-

i.   scrutinise the performance management and remedial action information on the grounds maintenance
     service, as set out in the report;
ii.  note the management action taken to address the performance issues identified; and
iii.  agree to review required service standards at future Ward Business meetings.

12.      Tain & Easter Ross Discretionary and Youth Work Fund Support for Tain & District Youth Café YMCA
Taic Maoin Bhreithneachail agus Obrach na h-Òigridh Bhaile Dhùthaich is Ros an Ear do Café Òigridh YMCA Bhaile Dhùthaich agus Sgìre

There is circulated Report No. SRC/29/14 dated 22 July 2014 by the Acting Head of Community and Democratic Engagement which invites Members to homologate £8,268 funding already provided, and approve an additional £8,268 funding from the Tain & Easter Ross Discretionary and Youth Work Funds, to support the cost of the Tain and District Youth Café YMCA’s Youth & Community Worker. The report also provides detail about the activities of the Tain & District Youth Café and the Youth and Community Worker post which delivers much of the programme.

The Committee is invited to:-

i.  homologate the awards made of £3,518 Tain & Easter Ross Ward Discretionary funding and £4,750 from Tain & Easter Ross Youth Funding to the Tain and District Youth Café YMCA, towards the cost of the Youth and Community Worker post; and
ii.  approve a further payment of £3,518 and £4,750 respectively from each of these budgets, which will bring the total funding from the Council to £16,536.

13.  Common Good Funds
Maoin Maith Choitchinn

There are circulated Reports Nos. SRC/30a-e/14 dated 16 & 22 July 2014 by the Acting Head of Community and Democratic Engagement which provide information on the following Common Good Funds:-

a.    Cromarty Common Good Fund
b.    Dingwall Common Good Fund
c.    Fortrose & Rosemarkie Common Good Fund
d.    Invergordon Common Good Fund
e.    Tain Common Good Fund

The Committee is invited to note the update information provided in relation to each Fund.

14.  Associated School Group Overview – Tain Royal Academy
Sealladh Coitcheann air Buidheann Sgoiltean Co-cheangailte Acadamaidh Rìoghail Bhaile Dhùthaich

There is circulated Report No. SRC/31/14 dated 11 July 2014 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport, which provides an update of key information in relation to the schools within the Tain Royal Academy Associated School Group (ASG), 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.

15.  Education Scotland Report – 6 February to 1 July 2014 
Aithisgean Foghlam Alba – 6 Gearran gu 1 t-Iuchar 2014

There is circulated Report No. SRC/32/14 dated 21 July 2014 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport which provides details of Education Scotland’s inspections in the Skye, Ross and Cromarty area during the period 6 February to 1 July 2014, for Members’ scrutiny and monitoring.

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

16. Minutes 
Geàrr-chunntas

There are circulated for noting Minutes of the Skye, Ross and Cromarty Area Committee held on 30 April 2014, which were approved by the Council on 8 May 2014.

17. Engaging With Police and Fire and Rescue Services at Area Committee

There is circulated Report No. SRC33/14 dated 29 2014 July by the Head of Policy and Reform describing the role of Members in engaging with the new national services for police and fire and rescue. It is provided as context for the Members in considering the first round of performance reports from the national bodies at Area Committee.

The Committee is asked to:

i.   note the requirements on the Council for the engagement and scrutiny of police and fire and rescue
     services;
ii.  note the governance arrangements we have for this purpose through strategic, non-strategic and area
     committees as well as partnership arrangements through community planning and district partnerships; iii.  note that local Members have important engagement and scrutiny roles; but have no role in specifying
     operational matters or in agreeing resource allocation; and
iv.  agree to scrutinise the performance of police and fire and rescue services based on information provide
     separately for the Area Committee and to make use of the good practice guidance for doing this as set out
     in Appendix 2.