Agendas, reports and minutes

A meeting of the Communities and Partnerships Committee will take place in the Council Chamber, Council Headquarters, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness on Thursday 8 December 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

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.

Community Safety
Sàbhailteachd Coimhearsnachd

3. Scottish Ambulance Service Report
Aithisg Seirbheis Charbadan-eiridinn na h-Alba

There is circulated, for noting, performance report by the Scottish Ambulance Service for the Highland area for the period from August to September 2016.

4. Fire and Rescue Service Quarterly Performance Report for Quarter 2 2016/17
Aithisg Dèanadais Ràitheil na Seirbheis Smàlaidh agus Teasairginn airson Ràith 2 2016/17

There is circulated Report No CP/26/16 by the Local Senior Officer for Fire and Rescue, together with accompanying quarterly performance report (QPR), which provides detail on Fire and Rescue Service performance across a range of Intervention, Prevention and Protection activities for Quarter 2, 2016/17.    

The Committee is invited to scrutinise and comment on Scottish Fire and Rescue Service delivery and performance contained within the Report and accompanying QPR for Quarter 2, 2016/17.

5. Performance Against the Highland Local Policing Plan 2014-2017 – Summary Report
Coileanadh mu Choinneamh Plana Obair-phoilis Ionadail na Gàidhealtachd 2014-2017

There is circulated Report No CP/27/16 by the Divisional Commander for Police which provides a summary on the progress with reference to the objectives outlined in the Highland Local Policing Plan 2014-2017.

The Committee is invited to scrutinise the summary report against Highland Policing Plan Objectives from April to October 2016.

6. Highland Local Police Area - Road Policing
Sgìre Poileis Ionadail na Gàidhealtachd – Cunntas às Ùr mu Obair-phoileis Rathaid

There is circulated Report No CP/28/16 by the Divisional Commander for Police which provides an update in relation to Road Safety and the Road Policing Division operating within the Highland area.

The Committee is invited to note the report and agree that a Collision Investigation Workshop be arranged.

7. Scottish Police Authority – Update
Ùghdarras Phoileas na h-Alba – Cunntas às Ùr

The Scottish Police Authority (SPA) Director of Communications and Relationships will provide at the meeting a verbal update on the work of the SPA.

The Committee is invited to consider the update.

8. Road Safety Partnership - Annual Update
Com-pàirteachas Sàbhailteachd Rathaid – Cunntas Bliadhnail

There is circulated Report No CP/29/16 by the Director of Development and Infrastructure which provides an update on the progress in achieving the road casualty reduction targets set out in Scotland’s Road Safety Framework to 2020 entitled ‘Go Safe on Scotland’s Roads it’s Everyone’s Responsibility’.

The report highlights the work of the Highland Road Safety Group (HRSG) in relation to the Scottish Government priority areas and details the work undertaken by Highland Council Road Safety Unit to ensure a lasting reduction in Road Casualties on Highlands Roads.  A particular focus is placed on young drivers and motorcyclists in line with the Highland Single Outcome Agreement.  All casualty figures are sourced through Transport Scotland’s national statistics publication entitled ‘Reported Road Casualties Scotland 2015’.

The Committee is invited to note:-

i. the Road Safety Targets as set out in Scotland’s Road Safety Framework to 2020 and the figures for the period 2011 – 2015;
ii. the Scottish Government priority areas and the work of the Highland Road Safety Group in relation to these;
iii. the work of Highland Council Road Safety Unit, Police Scotland, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and North Safety Camera Unit;
iv. the collision data for our 17 – 25 year old drivers involved in injury accidents and note the general downward trend from the 2004 – 2008 average;
v. the motorcyclist casualty statistics for the 10 year period from 2005 – 2015 and welcome the general downward trend;
vi. the update of the HRSG Road Safety Action Plan which runs from 2016 – 2018; and
vii. the positive downward trend of casualty figures and the achievement of the 2015 target for the Highland area.

Equalities
Co-ionannachdan

9. Highland Violence Against Women Partnership Group – Minutes
Buidheann Ro-innleachd Fòirneart An Aghaidh Bhoireannach – Geàrr- Chunntas

There is circulated for noting Minutes of Meeting of the Highland Violence Against Women Strategy Group held on 21 June 2016, which were approved by the Partnership Group on 20 September 2016.

Community Empowerment and Localism
Ùghdarrachadh Coimhearsnachd agus Ionadaileachd

10. Draft Consultation on BT Payphone Closure Programme
Co-chomhairle mu Phrògram Dùnaidh Fònaichean-pàighidh BT

There is circulated Report No CP/30/16 by the Acting Head of Policy which summarises the Council’s draft response to BT’s proposals to remove 178 payphones from across the Highland area.  The Council’s draft response is appended to the report at Appendix 1 and is based upon comments received up until 28 November 2016.  The final date for responses is Friday 9 December 2016.

The Committee is asked to:-

i. consider and agree the Council’s draft response to BT’s consultation on payphone removal; and
ii. note that comments will be received up until 5pm on 9 December 2016, following which a final submission will be made to BT.

11. The Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015 – Community Asset Transfer Approach
Poileasaidh Gluasad So-mhaoin Chomhairle na Gàidhealtachd

There is circulated Report No CP/31/16 by the Acting Head of Policy advising Members that The Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015, in seeking to strengthen and empower communities, provides for community bodies to request ownership, lease, management or use of publicly owned buildings or land whether or not they are available for sale or deemed surplus to requirements by the owning body – Asset Transfer Requests.

The report sets out the requirements and scope of the legislation, and recommends a process to deal with community asset transfer that builds on existing Council processes and sets out the key issues particularly around assessing requests, decision making, price, timescales and costs.

The Committee is asked to:-

i. note the new requirements and considerations of Community Asset Transfer as allowed for under the Community Empowerment Act; and
ii. consider and agree the approach outlined in Section 4 and Appendices 1 and 2 to the report, to support the Asset Transfer Process in Highland.

12. The Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015 - Participation Requests
Pròiseas Iarrtais Com-pàirteach Chomhairle na Gàidhealtachd

There is circulated Report No CP/32/16 by the Acting Head of Policy advising Members that The Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015 seeks to strengthen and empower communities. Participation requests are a new process which will allow a community body to enter into dialogue with public authorities about local issues and local services on their terms.  Where a community body believes it could help to improve an outcome it will be able to request that the public body takes part in a process to improve that outcome.

The Committee is asked to:

i. note the new legislative requirements for Participation Requests; and
ii. consider and agree the draft Council approach, subject to final guidance being published by the Scottish Government.

13. Review of Polling Districts, Local Government Elections to Highland Council 2017
Ath-sgrùdadh air Àiteachan Bhòtaidh, Taghaidhean Riaghaltais Ionadail do Chomhairle na Gàidhealtachd 2017

There is circulated Report No CP/33/16 by the Chief Executive which advises the Committee of the review of Polling Districts required as a result of the 5th Review of Local Government Electoral Arrangements and its impact on Highland Council Polling Districts, for the forthcoming Local Government Elections to Highland Council in May 2017.

Maps 1-9 outlining the boundary changes in a number of Wards and proposed new polling districts in Ward 19 are provided at Appendix 1 to the report.  Larger scale copies of the Maps are also available in the Members’ Library.

The Committee is invited to:-

i. note the new polling arrangements for the Highland Council Elections in 2017, as outlined in Maps 1-7 at Appendix 1 to the report; and
ii. agree the forming of two new polling districts in Ward 19 to cover Milton of Leys and Slackbuie, as outlined in Maps 8 and 9 at Appendix 1 to the report.

14. Community Planning Board Minutes
Geàrr-chunntas Bòrd an Dealbhaidh Choimhearsnachd

There is circulated for noting Minutes of Meeting of the Community Planning Board held on 30 June 2016, which were approved by the Board on 7 October 2016.