Agendas, reports and minutes

A meeting of the Community Services Committee will take place in the Council Chamber, Council Headquarters, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness on Thursday 4 February 2016 at 10.30 am.

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

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. Good News
Naidheachdan Matha

• Multi-agency day of action to tackle illegal vehicles in East Ross and Ross-shire
• The Highland Housing Register application form - now available on-line
• Staff Successes

• Sheila Nairn has completed the CIH Level 3 Certificate in Housing Practice
• Mark Smith completed The Association for Project Safety’s Course “The Principal Designer Role”
• Brian Fraser, Colin Morrice and Joanne Sutherland passed RSTA 2 Day Surface Dressing Course

4. Revenue Budget 2015/16 – Monitoring 1 April – 31 December 2015
Buidseat Teachd-a-steach 2015/16 – Sgrùdadh 1 Giblean – 31 Dùbhlachd 2015

There is circulated Report No COM/01/16 dated 26 January 2016 by the Director of Community Services inviting Members to approve the revenue budget monitoring position for the period 1 April to 31 December 2015.

The Committee is invited to approve the report and the monitoring statements which show the revenue position for the period 1 April to 31 December 2015 and the actions which have been put in place to manage the budget over the remainder of the financial year.

5. Capital Expenditure 2015/16 – Monitoring 1 April– 31 December 2015
Caiteachas Calpa 2015/16 – Sgrùdadh 1 Giblean – 31 Dùbhlachd 2015

There is circulated Report No COM/02/16 dated 21 January 2016 by the Director of Community Services which invites Members to approve the capital expenditure monitoring position for the period from 1 April to 31 December 2015 for both the Community Services element of the Council’s approved capital programme and the HRA capital programme.

The Committee is invited to approve:-

i. the capital expenditure monitoring position for the period 1 April to 31 December 2015; and

ii. the match-funding for the lighting upgrade project as an addition to the HRA Capital Programme 2016-2017.

6. Proposed Amendments to Service Structure 
Atharrachaidhean a Thathar a’ Moladh do Structar Seirbheis

There is circulated Report No COM/03/16 dated 24 January 2016 by the Director of Community Services which seeks to amend the Service structure and align teams under four Heads of Service and should be read in conjunction with the previous report on this subject to the Community Services Committee on 5 November 2015.

The Committee is invited to:-

i. agree the new four Heads of Service structure for Community Services;

ii. agree that appointment to the four new Heads of Service posts take place as a matter of priority;

iii. note the indicative structure below Heads of Service, as outlined in appendices 1-4 of the report;

iv. agree the key principles that should help shape final structures below Head of Service, as outlined in Section 5 of the report; and

v. subject to the agreement of (i) and (iii), agree that a further report be presented to the April Community Services Committee outlining firmed up details of the structure below Heads of Service, taking into account outcomes from the Voluntary Redundancy Scheme and the Council’s budget, which will be set on 25 February 2016.

7. Housing Revenue Account Estimates 2016/2017
Tuairmsean Cunntas Teachd-a-steach Taigheadais 2016/2017

There is circulated Report No COM/04/16 dated 18 January 2016 by the Director of Community Services which presents draft Housing Revenue Account estimates for 2016/2017 together with recommendations on the level of increase to be applied to Council house rents, other rents and service charges.

The Committee is invited to agree:-

i. a 1.9% increase for council house rents for 2016/2017;

ii. that this percentage increase (1.9%) is applied to all HRA rents and service charges and to Gypsy/Traveller site pitches;

iii. that non-HRA rents for leased property should increase as stipulated in existing contracts; and

iv. that the estimated HRA surplus of £2.790m in 2016/2017 be applied as Capital from Current Revenue to fund HRA capital investment.

8. Additional Capital - Roads, Bridges and Pier Funds
Maoin Calpa a Bharrachd airson Rathaidean, Dhrochaidean agus Chidheachan

There is circulated Report No COM/05/16 dated 20 January 2016 by the Director of Community Services which invites Members to approve the allocation of the additional funding for Roads, Bridges and Piers in 2016/17 and the allocation for future years will be discussed with Members at Ward Business Meetings over the next few months.

The Committee is invited to:-

i. note that the proposed programme for Roads and Bridges will be coordinated on a pan Highland basis;

ii. agree to change the remit of the Harbours Management Board to approve and monitor the Piers (and Harbours) element of the programme;

iii. approve the proposed infrastructure investment for 2016/17 using the additional capital funds; and

iv. note that the proposed programme for future years will be discussed at Ward Business Meetings over the next few months.

9. Roads Innovation Fund 
Maoin Ùr-ghnàthachaidh Rathaidean

There is circulated Report No COM/06/16 dated 25 January 2016 by the Director of Community Services which invites the Committee to note progress against the Action Plan, agree the recommendation to purchase a “Jetpatcher” and continue to develop partnership arrangements with neighbouring authorities.

The Committee is invited to:-

i. note progress against the Action Plan; and

ii. agree to purchase a “Jetpatcher”.

10. Grass Cutting and Ancillary Works Specification and Priorities 
Sònrachadh agus Prìomhachasan Gearradh Feòir agus Obraichean Taice

There is circulated Report No COM/07/16 dated 22 January 2016 by the Director of Community Services which presents an update on progress of the retender of grass cutting and ancillary services including the specification for grass cutting service standards.

The Committee is invited to:-

i. note the programme of Ward Business Meeting briefings and the proposals for involving communities;

ii. approve the revisions of grass cutting standards.

11. Corran Ferry
Aiseag a’ Chorrain

There is circulated Report No COM/08/16 dated 20 January 2016 by the Director of Community Services which follows up on recommendations and actions from the Community Services Committee of 5 February 2015 and the Highland Council meeting of 12 March 2015. A fares increase of 2% is recommended.

The Committee is invited to:-

i. note the legal position;

ii. note the extent of the financial information made available to the community;

iii. note the outcome of the community consultation and agree the proposed responses;

iv. note the position regarding Equalities and Rural Impact;

v. note the position regarding future options and the need to produce whole life costings; and

vi. agree to a fares increase of 2% for 2016/17.

12. Cromarty-Nigg Ferry 
Aiseag Chromba-Neig

There is circulated Report No COM/09/16 dated 22 January 2016 by the Director of Community Services which describes work done towards replacing the contract for the Cromarty–Nigg ferry and recommends granting of delegated powers to award a contract should the tenders received come within the available budget.

The Committee is invited to approve the granting of delegated powers to the Director, in consultation with the Chair and Vice-Chair, to award a contract subject to prices received in the current tender exercise being within the available budget.

13. Transport Programme
Còmhdhail Coimhearsnachd

There is circulated Report No COM/10/16 dated 22 January 2016 by the Director of Community Services which presents applications for the award of Community Transport Grants for the 3 year period 1 April 2016-31 March 2019.

The Committee is invited to:-

i. approve the grant award recommendations;

ii. note there may be a delay in release of grant awards to certain organisations as they complete the process of securing Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation or Company Limited by Guarantee status; and

iii. note there may be a delay in release of grant awards to certain organisations subject to clarification on State Aid issues which were identified during the State Aid assessment undertaken on each application.

14. Decriminalised Parking Enforcement 
Cur an Gnìomh Parcadh Dì-eucoirichte

There is circulated Report No COM/11/16 dated 21 January 2016 by the Director of Community Services which informs Members that The Highland Council has committed to the implementation of a Decriminalised Parking Enforcement (DPE) Scheme for our Statutory Boundary and that officers have been analysing and amending all the existing Traffic Regulation Orders (TRO) in place across the Highlands. This is to ensure continuity for refurbishment of all on-street lining & signing, thus ensuring that these TROs are fully enforceable under DPE. A Draft Application has been made to Transport Scotland for authorisation of DPE in Highland. Remedial works have started and will continue during 2016. The conclusion of this exercise will lead to the establishment of a new service being delivered by the Highland Council. This report updates Members on progress and seeks authorisation for the next stages of the implementation process.

The Committee is invited to:-

i. note the progress on the scheme delivery;

ii. note the risk of alternative implementation dates subject to Scottish Parliamentary timetables;

iii. agree that officers begin the process of implementing the new Traffic Regulation Orders and to report back to committee if any unresolved objections exist;

iv. agree that discussions with Trade Unions and staff continue to affect a Parking Enforcement Team, presenting to the Scrutiny panel for structure change as and when required to ensure appropriate delivery of posts required; and

v. agree to start active publicity of the scheme through a communications program with stakeholders and the media.

15. Scottish Cremations and Burials Bill Consultation
Co-chomhairle Bile Losgaidhean-cuirp agus Thiodhlacaidhean na h-Alba

There is circulated Report No COM/12/16 dated 21 January 2016 by the Director of Community Services which informs Members of the call for written evidence by the Scottish Government. The report also provides details of the work required to implement the forthcoming legislation.

The Committee is invited to:-

i. homologate the response of the Director to the Scottish Government call for written evidence; and

ii. note the development of the draft action plan for implementing the forthcoming legislation.

16. Minutes
Geàrr-chunntas

The following Minutes are circulated:-

i. for noting, Minutes of the Education Transport Entitlement Review Sub Committee of 2 December 2015; and

ii. for approval, Minutes of the Harbours Management Board of 4 December 2015.