Agendas, reports and minutes

 A meeting of the Caithness and Sutherland Area Committee will take place in Wick Town Hall, Bridge Street, Wick, KW1 4AJ, on Tuesday, 10 February 2015, 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. Scottish Hydro Electric (SHE) – Caithness-Moray Transmission Project
Pròiseact Tar-chur Ghallaibh-Mhoireibh

A presentation will be given by Mr David Mckay of Scottish Hydro Electric Transmission providing an overview of the Caithness-Moray transmission project which is in the early stages of construction. The presentation will focus on SHE Transmission's approach to managing the delivery of the project; its importance to the north of Scotland's renewable energy industry; and its direct economic impact on the area.

4. Council Emergency Response to Storms and Electricity Outage           
Freagairt Èiginn na Comhairle ri linn Stoirmean is Cion Dealain

There is circulated Report No. CS/01/15 dated 22 January 2015 by the Head of Policy and Reform which provides information on the Council’s involvement and reaction to the recent storm and power outages affecting large areas of both Caithness and Sutherland.

The Committee is invited to:-

i. comment on the Emergency Response; and
ii. consider how best to communicate issues and services to affected communities during future incidents.

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

There is circulated Report No CS/02/15 dated 27 January 2015 by the North Area Commander for Police Scotland which provides a local summary update for 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

6. Fire and Rescue Service – Area Performance Summary               
Seirbheis Smàlaidh is Teasairginn - Geàrr-chunntas Dèanadais Sgìreil

There is circulated Report No. CS/03/15 dated 22 January 2015 by the Local Senior Officer for Fire and Rescue which details Fire and Rescue Service performance against the key areas of planned activity identified during the Ward consultation sessions.
The Committee is invited to comment on and scrutinise the attached Area Performance Report.

 7. Deprived Area Funds 2015-17                                                             
Maoin Sgìre Bhochd 2015-17

There is circulated Report No. CS/04/15 by the Director of Development and Infrastructure which sets out the applications received for the Deprived Area Funds for 2015-16.  It sets out the background to the Fund, together with a summary of applications, the assessments and recommendations.

The Committee is invited to agree the recommendations for the Deprived Area Fund for 2015-16 of:-

i.  Pulteneytown People’s Project - £87,000; and
ii. Ormlie Community Association - £13,000

8. Housing Performance Report                                                           
Aithisg Dèanadais a thaobh Taigheadais

There is circulated Report No. CS/05/15 dated 22 January 2015 by the Director of Community Services which provides information on how the Housing Section performed in relation to the Scottish Social Housing Charter and other performance indicators during the first nine months of 2014/15.

The Committee is invited to scrutinise the information provided on housing performance in the period 1 April to 31 December 2015.

9. Amendments  to Wick Traffic Management Scheme Order 1997   
Atharrachaidhean ri Òrdugh Rianachd Trafaig Inbhir Ùige 1997

There is circulated Report No. CS/06/15 dated 26 January 2015 by the Director of Community Services which invites Members to approve the amendments to the Wick Traffic Management Scheme Order 1997 on the basis recommended in the report.

The Committee is invited to consider and approve the proposed amendments to the Wick Traffic Management Scheme Order 1997, as set out in the report.

10. Associated School Group Overviews                                               
Sealladh Coitcheann air Buidhnean Sgoiltean Co-cheangailte

a. Dornoch Academy Associated School Group Overview        
Sealladh Coitcheann air Buidheann Sgoiltean Co-cheangailte Acadamaidh Dhòrnaich

There is circulated (pp.59-65) Report No. CS/07/15 dated  26 January 2015 by the Director of Care and Learning which provides an update of key information in relation to the schools within the Dornoch 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.

b. Golspie High School Associated School Group Overview               
Sealladh Coitcheann air Buidheann Sgoiltean Co-cheangailte Àrd-Sgoil Ghoillspidh 

There is circulated (pp.66-74) Report No. CS/08/15 dated 26 January 2015 by the Director of Care and Learning which provides an update of key information in relation to the schools within the Golspie High School 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.

11. Landfill Communities Fund                                                               
Maoin Choimhearsnachdan Làraich Sgudail
 
There is circulated Report No. CS/09/15 dated 5 January 2015 by the Director of Community Services which invites Members to approve an application for Highland Council Landfill Communities funding.

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

12. Northwest and Central Sutherland Discretionary Fund Support North Coast Leisure Centre                                                                          
aoin fo Ùghdarras Iar-Thuath is Meadhan Chataibh a’ Toirt Taic do dh’Ionad-Spòrs a’ Chladaich a Tuath                                                

There is circulated Report No. CS/10/15 dated 27 January 2015 by the Head of Policy and Reform which invites Members to increase the ward discretionary funding award from £6,000 already provided to £11,004 to support the cost of urgent repairs to the PV and Solar Thermal Panel Energy System at North Coast Leisure Centre. The report also provides Members with some detail about the activities of North Coast Leisure.
The Committee is invited to approve an increase in the award to the North Coast Leisure Centre from £6,000 by a further £5,004 from the Northwest and Central Sutherland Ward Discretionary Fund, with conditions of grant to include repayment should the group succeed in obtaining financial compensation as outlined in paragraph 3.1 of the report. The additional award would bring the total funding from the Council to £11,004.

13. Dornoch Common Good Fund – Quarterly Monitoring Report 2014/15  
Maoin Maith Choitchinn Dhòrnaich – Aithisg Sgrùdadh Ràitheil 2014/15

There is circulated Report No. CS/11/15 dated 13 January 2015 by the Head of Policy and Reform which provides Members with information on the status of the Dornoch Common Good Fund as at 31 December 2014.

The Committee is invited to note the position of the Dornoch Common Good Fund as at 31 December 2014.

14. Minutes                                                                                                  
Geàrr-chunntas

There are circulated for noting Minutes of the Caithness and Sutherland Area Committee held on 9 December 2014, which were approved by the Council on 18 December 2014.