Agendas, reports and minutes

Minutes of a Special Meeting of the Community Services Committee held in the Council Chamber, Council Headquarters, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness on Wednesday, 7 December 2016 at 2.10 pm.

Present:

Mr R Balfour, Mr A Baxter (video conferencing), Mr B Clark, Mrs G Coghill, Dr J Davis, Mr G Farlow, Mr A Graham, Mr R Greene, Mr A Henderson, Mr D Kerr, Mr G MacKenzie, Mr K MacLeod, Mrs B McAllister, Mr H Morrison, Mr B Murphy, Mr A Rhind, Mrs T Robertson

Non-Members also present:

Mr D Fallows, Mr K Gowans, Mr B Lobban, Mr D Millar, Dr A Sinclair

In attendance:

Mr W Gilfillan, Director of Community Services
Mr D Summers, Principal Transport Officer, Community Services
Mr T Usher, Harbours Manager, Community Services
Mr M Mitchell, Finance Manager, Finance Service
Mr S Graham, Project Manager, Chief Executive’s Office
Miss J Maclennan, Principal Administrator, Corporate Development Service
Miss J Green, Administrative Assistant, Corporate Development Service

An asterisk in the margin denotes a recommendation to the Council.  All decisions with no marking in the margin are delegated to Committee.

Mr A Henderson in the Chair

Business

1. Apologies for Absence
Leisgeulan

Apologies for absence were intimated on behalf of Mrs J Barclay, Mr N Donald, Mrs L MacDonald and Mr J Rosie.

2. Declarations of Interest
Foillseachaidhean Com-pàirt

There were no Declarations of Interest.

3. Role and Appointment of Duty Holder 
Dreuchd agus Cur an Dreuchd Neach-gleidhidh Dleastanais

There had been circulated Report No COM/52/16 dated 29 November 2016 by the Director of Community Services advising of the requirement and role of an appointed “Duty Holder” within the meaning of the “Port Marine Safety Code”, how the role was fulfilled in the past and providing options on how the role could be fulfilled in the future in light of the recently reissued Port Marine Safety Code, opinion from Counsel and examples from other Local Authorities.

The Committee AGREED to appoint the Director of Community Services as Duty Holder.

4. Exclusion of The Public
Às-dùnadh a’ Phobaill

The Committee RESOLVED that, under Section 50A(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, the public be excluded from the meeting during discussion of the following item on the grounds that it involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 9 of Part 1 of Schedule 7A of the Act.

5. Award of Bus Service Contracts and Closing the Savings Gap     
Buileachadh Chùmhnantan Seirbheis Bus agus Dùnadh na Beàirn Shàbhalaidhean

There had been circulated to Members only Report No COM/53/16 dated 30 November 2016 by the Director of Community Services presenting the outcome of tendering for replacement public bus service contracts for the next five years with recommendations for award and non-award of contracts.

Following a detailed presentation of the report and full debate, the Committee AGREED:-

i. the award of contracts for the routes listed in Appendix 2 of the report with the exception of one route being deferred meantime for further information; 
ii. the recommendations regarding the award of contracts for the routes listed in Appendix 3 of the report with two exceptions deferred meantime for further consideration and the possibility of mitigation to be examined  for a further route;
iii. not to withdraw the contracts for the routes listed in Appendix 4 but, with a view to reducing costs, discussions be held with the operators of two routes.  Ward Members served by one of the routes to be involved in discussions;
iv. to homologate the award of a contract previously approved by the Tender Board;

and NOTED:-

v. the awards of contract for the routes listed in Appendix 5 of the report; and
vi. the further activities planned to help address the remaining savings gap.

The meeting ended at 4.20 pm.