Agendas, reports and minutes

Minutes of Meeting of the Isle of Skye and Raasay Committee (Comataidh an Eilein Sgitheanaich agus Ratharsair) held in the Chamber, Tigh na Sgire, Park Lane, Portree on Monday, 5 March, 2018 at 10.30 am.

Present:

Mr J Finlayson, Mr J Gordon, Mr R MacDonald, Mr C MacLeod

In attendance:

Mr W MacKinnon, Ward Manager, Chief Executive’s Service

Sergeant B Crawford, Police Scotland

Mr A Summers, Head of Environmental & Amenity Services, Community Services (by Video Conference)

Mr T Stott, Principal Planner, Development & Infrastructure

Mr D Chisholm, Planner, Development & Infrastructure Service

Mr A MacInnes, Administrative Assistant, Chief Executive’s Service

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

Mr J Gordon – Cathraiche (Chair)

Business

1. Apologies for Absence/ Leisgeulan

There were no apologies for absence.

2. Declarations of Interest/ Foillseachaidhean Com-pàirt

There were no declarations of interest.

3. Minutes/ Geàrr-chunntas

There were circulated for information Minutes of Meeting of the Isle of Skye and Raasay Committee (Comataidh an Eilein Sgitheanaich agus Ratharsair) held on 11 December, 2017, the terms of which were NOTED.

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

There was circulated Report No SR/1/18 by the Area Inspector for Police which provided an update to the Committee on the progress relating to the objectives outlined in the Highland Policing Plan 2017-20.

It was advised that some of the statistics in the report covered the mainland area of the Division and an undertaking was given that where this occurred, revised statistics for the Isle of Skye and Raasay area only would be sent to Members. 

Overall the Isle of Skye and Raasay area continued to be a safe place to live, work and visit and the Police would seek to maintain this as the busy summer season approaches.

In discussion, the following main points were raised:-

• there were people who had committed historical offences that the Police could go back and detect and it was reassuring that people did come forward with information to the Police even after some considerable time after the offences had been committed. 

• It was good news that the number of people detected for speeding had reduced over the last period and it was advised that the Road Policing Unit made regular visits to the area.  However, particularly in the summer there was a problem with speeding and overtaking on Viewfield Road, Portree and perhaps there was a need for more signage to reinforce the 30mph speed limit on that stretch of road. 

• It was noted that drug use was an issue for every community and information was provided on the various methods of intelligence and investigation the Police used to detect those involved in the supply of drugs.  The public’s help was always welcome in detecting this crime and the anonymity of those providing the information was key particularly in small communities.  The  public could call the Police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously with information.

• It was queried what powers the Police had to prosecute those who had lit heath fires that then gone out of control and how extensive was the problem.  It was advised that in the last week there had been a number of heath fires in the area.  This was a legitimate way of looking after land, but it was strictly governed by the Hill Farming Act 1946 and the Muirburn Code of best practice.  Failure to control fires could result in prosecution. 

• It was queried if the Police received an increased number of calls in winter conditions due to the lack of gritting in certain areas.  It was advised that there had been an increase in calls relating to some roads in the area, and the Police would contact the Council asking them to send gritters in those circumstances. 

• Reference was made to an article in the Press relating to an increase in slips and falls during winter conditions and people having to attend Accident and Emergency as a result.  The costs of this could be substantial i.e. hip operations, and therefore it was perhaps a false economy to be cutting back on gritting roads and pavements.

The Committee having scrutinised the report:-

i  NOTED progress made against the objectives set within the Highland and Islands Local Policing Plan 2017-20 Year 1, attached as Annex A to the report, for the period covering 1 April 2017 to 31 December 2017; and 

ii NOTED that revised statistics for the Isle of Skye and Raasay area would be sent to Members.

5. Performance Report on Public Conveniences/ Aithisg Choileanaidh air Goireasan Poblach

There was circulated Report No SR/2/18 by the Director of Community Services which detailed performance management information of the Public Conveniences Service in Skye and Raasay covering the period of 1 November 2017 to 28 February 2018.  

There were 7 public convenience facilities on the Isle of Skye, including Elgol, which had been omitted from the report.  Insourcing of the service had provided opportunities to improve service delivery and performance management. A new inspection system had been developed to measure the quality of the facilities being provided from the perspective of the service user. 

In terms of the Council decision to introduce charging at certain facilities, it was confirmed that the facility in Portree would be considered for charging as there were significant income opportunities at the facility.

It was noted that there had been a proposal for charging at the Dunvegan public convenience.  Members were concerned about introducing charging at this facility as it was not in a great condition.  An undertaking was given to look at this proposal again taking into consideration Members comments.

Information was sought on a Highland Comfort Scheme for Kyleakin and an update on this would be sent to Councillor J Finlayson.  

In terms of the Highland Comfort Scheme there was a need for more publicity as to where these facilities were and when they were open.  It was confirmed that work would be undertaken to improve the publicity for the Highland Comfort Scheme and the facilities available, opening times etc. within the Scheme, by publicity on the Council’s website, signage and getting the message across to Community  Councils. 

Members views were sought on the seasonal public convenience at Elgol.  Options included closing the facility, a Community Asset transfer or a Highland Comfort Scheme. Members were firmly of the view that the facility should not close as this area was particularly busy in the summer.  Members were content that the other two options i.e. Community Asset transfer or Highland Comfort Scheme should be considered.

In terms of the Broadford facility, it was queried if there was to be any investment in upgrading it.  It was advised that currently there was no programme for capital investment in public conveniences.  However, investment in these facilities would be looked at when developing the Council’s strategy for public conveniences.

Thereafter, the Committee:- 

i  NOTED the contents of the report; and

ii NOTED the proposals to include information on:-

• the structural condition of Council facilities; 

• the cleanliness of facilities provided under the Highland Comfort Scheme; and

• the implementation of the Council’s decision on 15 February 2018 in future reports.

6. West Highland and Islands Local Development Plan/ Plana Leasachaidh Ionadail na Gàidhealtachd an Iar agus nan Eilean

There was circulated Report No. SR/3/18 by the Director of Development and Infrastructure which presented the outcome of consultation on the proposed West Highland and Islands Local Development Plan and sought agreement on the Council’s finalised position to enable officers to submit the Plan to Scottish Ministers for Examination.  Appendix 1 to the report contained the detail of this information. 

In discussion, the following main points were raised:-

• The Co-op had asked the Council to bolster the Co-op’s position in Broadford as the company has possible plans to refurbish and extend the existing store. To safeguard their potential future investment they wanted the local development plan amended, to close off the option of other retail development in the village. This was not a valid planning reason and it was not for the Council to prevent companies competing against each other and therefore no adjustment to the Plan was recommended.

• There was currently a major change for planning for health provision on the Isle of Skye, with a reduction in health provision and a shift from health provision from the main population growth area on the Island, Portree to Broadford. NHS Highland had stressed to the Council the need for more housing on the Island and it was queried if NHS Highland had consulted Planners on the implications of the redesign of health provision on the Island on economic development in the area. A view was expressed that it was difficult to see how economic growth could be sustained with the changes proposed by the NHS.  In response, it was advised that Planners had not been consulted by the NHS on which location (i.e. Broadford or Portree) the new hospital facilities would be built on the Island.  Once the Broadford site had been chosen, Planners had been consulted by NHS on potential sites within Broadford for the new health facility.  Further, public bodies did undertake research as to future population trends in order that   they could make plans for service provision for the future e.g. future housing requirements, health services. 

• It was essential that the road around the Lump, Portree was kept in the Plan as community groups regarded this as very important for the future regeneration of Portree.

• In terms of consideration to flooding risk in the development plan for Broadford, national flooding guidance advised Councils not to earmark sites for development in local development plans that were within the area that would flood in the case of a one in a two hundred years flood event. However, it was still open to a developer to carry out a detailed flood assessment risk which could prove that the proposed site for development would be outwith the one in two hundred years flood risk event area. 

• It was advised that the Scottish Government’s Planning Bill proposed reforms to the preparation of local development plans, with plans to be in place for 10 years rather than 5 years, but with a right to amend the plan during that time.   

• There was flexibility in local development plans as to the type of development that could take place by designating some sites ‘mixed use’.  Further, a developer could make an application on an area not zoned for development in a local plan and planning permission could be granted if the case for development was strong. The onus was on the developer to prove that their site was better than those zoned for development within the plan.

Thereafter, the Committee:-

i   NOTED the issues raised in representations received on the Proposed Plan as they relate to the Isle of Skye and Raasay Committee area and AGREED the recommended Council response to these issues as set out in Appendix 1 to the report;

ii  AGREED to authorise officers to undertake the statutory procedures required to progress the Plan to Examination including the submission of the Appendix 1 to Scottish Ministers; and 

iii AGREED to authorise the Director of Development and Infrastructure, in consultation with the Chairs of the Local Committees, to make non-material changes to Appendix 1 prior to its submission to the Scottish Government.

 

The meeting ended at 12.25 p.m.