Agendas, reports and minutes

A meeting of the Lochaber Committee will take place in the Council Chamber, Lochaber House, High Street, Fort William on Thursday, 11 February 2016 at 10.30 am.

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. Localism Action Plan Update
    Cunntas às Ùr mu Phlana-gnìomh Ionadaileachd

There is circulated Report No LA/1/16 by the Head of Policy and Reform. The report highlights the new devolved powers for the Committee and the further powers likely to be devolved in 2016.  It provides an up-date of work with partners on local community planning arrangements which Members will be involved in during 2016.

The Committee is invited to note:-

i.  the new powers devolved to the Committee and the planned further devolution of powers subject to Council approval in March 2016, and that further changes are likely during 2016; and

ii. the work underway with partners to establish community planning arrangements across Highland and that the experiences from Lochaber can be shared in other places.

4. Local Committees – Webcasting        
    Comataidhean Ionadail – Craoladh-lìn

There is circulated Report No LA/2/16 by the Head of Revenues and Business Support seeking a decision on whether the Lochaber Committee meetings should be webcast and, if so, the funding source/s of the additional costs that webcasting would incur.

The Committee is invited to:

i.   note the current service demand for webcasting;

ii.  decide whether Local Committees should be webcasted; 

iii. agree the preferred webcasting option if the wish is to have Local Committees webcast;

iv.  note that when the views of all local committees are obtained then where these views are that webcasting is to be undertaken, then approval for the capital funding will be submitted to Resources Committee at the earliest opportunity; and

v.   agree that where webcasting is to be undertaken the annual recurring cost of £4,800 is met by each Ward Discretionary budget providing £218 per annum.

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

There is circulated Report No LA/3/16 by the South 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 and updates in relation to the 3 Priorities: Road Safety, Drug and Alcohol Abuse, Dishonesty.

6. West Highlands and Islands Local Development Plan Main Issues
    Prìomh Chùisean Plana Leasachaidh Ionadail na Gàidhealtachd an Iar is nan Eilean

There is circulated Report No. LA/4/16 by the Director of Development and Infrastructure setting out the content of the Main Issues Report for the West Highlands and Islands Local Development Plan.

The Committee is invited to:

i.   note that the Main Issues Report (Appendix 2 – available in the North Committee Room, Lochaber House, Fort William) has been shaped by a series of appraisals, suggestions and discussions outlined in paragraphs 1.3 and 2.1 of the report;

ii.  approve the Main Issues Report (also available in the North Committee Room, Lochaber House, Fort William), accepting that a number of minor presentational and typographical changes will be made prior to publication; and

iii. agree the approach to consultation outlined in paragraph 3.1 of the report.

7. Education Scotland Report – Inverie Primary School and Nursery Class
    Aithisg le Foghlam Alba – Bun-Sgoil agus Clas Sgoil-àraich Inbhir Aoidhe

There is circulated Report No LA/5/16 by the Director of Care and Learning which provides details on Education Scotland’s report of Inverie Primary School and Nursery Class of 24 November, 2015.

The Committee is invited to continue to note the Education Scotland report on Inverie Primary School and Nursery Class of 24 November, 2015.

8. Housing Performance Report - 1 April 2015 to 31 December 2015
    Aithisg Dèanadais a thaobh Taigheadais – 1 Giblean 2015 gu 31 Dùbhlachd 2015

There is circulated Report No. LA/6/16 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 up to 31 December, 2015.

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

9. Housing Revenue Account Capital Programme Update
    Cunntas às Ùr mu Phrògram Calpa Cunntas Teachd-a-steach Taigheadais

There is circulated Report No. LA/7/16 by the Director of Community Services which provides information to Members on the status of the 2015-16 Housing Revenue Account Capital Projects and the 2016-17 Housing Revenue Account Capital Programme for Lochaber.

The Committee is invited to note the:-

i.   status of the 2015-16 Lochaber HRA capital projects contained in this report;

ii.  position regarding the 2016-17 Lochaber HRA Capital Programme and that the status of the 2016-17 programme will be reported to future Lochaber Area Committees; and

iii. position regarding completing external insulation work in the Plantation, Fort William.

10. Minutes         
      Geàrr-chunntas

There are circulated for noting Minutes of Meeting of the Lochaber Area Committee held on 24 November 2015 which were approved by the Council on 17 December 2015.