Agendas, reports and minutes

A meeting of the Ross and Cromarty Committee will take place in the Council Chamber, Council Offices, High Street, Dingwall, on Wednesday 31 January 2018 at 10.30 am.

You are invited to attend the meeting and a note of the business to be considered is attached.

Yours faithfully

Stewart Fraser
Head of Corporate Governance

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.

MAIN PAPERS
PRÌOMH PHÀIPEARAN

3.  Minutes
Geàrr-chunntas

There are circulated for noting Minutes of the Ross and Cromarty Committee held on 31 October 2017, which were approved by the Council on 14 December 2017.

4.  Scottish Ambulance Service
Seirbheis Charbadan-eiridinn na h-Alba

Mr Chris Alves, Community Resilience Facilitator (North) will undertake a presentation on community resilience and community support for the Scottish Ambulance Service.

The Committee is invited to note the presentation.

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

There is circulated Report No RC/1/17 and dated 8 January 2017 by the North Area Commander for Police.

The Committee is invited to scrutinise and note 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 - 30 November 2017.

6.  20mph Speed Limit Implementation 
Buileachadh Casg Astair 20msu

There is circulated Report No RC/2/17 dated 16 January 2018 by the Director of Development and Infrastructure.  

The Committee is invited to:-

1. approve the proposed Road Traffic Regulation Order for the following 20mph speed limits:

• Alness
• Dingwall
• Invergordon
• Tain

2. agree that Officers implement the scheme in the event there are no sustained objections; and
3. note that a further report will only be brought back to Committee in the event of sustained (relevant) objections.

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

There is circulated Report No RC/3/18 dated 10 January 2018 by the Director of Community Services. 

The Committee is invited to note the update on the rollout of Decriminalised Parking Enforcement to Ross and Cromarty.

8.  Transport Scotland
Còmhdhail Alba – Taisbeanadh

Representatives of Transport Scotland will be present to provide information and to respond to any concerns raised by Members in regards to junctions under their responsibility within the Ross & Cromarty area.

The Committee is asked to note the position.

9.  Education Scotland Reports 
Sgrùdaidhean le Foghlam Alba

There is circulated Report No RC/4/18 dated 19 January 2018 by the Director of Care and Learning.

The Committee is invited to note the content of the reports.

10.  Street Naming – Multiple Sites 
Ainmeachadh Sràide - Leasachaidhean Ùra Taigheadais

There is circulated Report No RC/5/18 dated 6 January 2018 by the Head of Policy and Reform, Ward Management.

The Committee is invited to homologate the naming of the new development of:-

1. 10 flatted properties in Alness and Alastair Munro Court;
2. 10 flatted properties in Muir of Ord as Braeside Court;
3. 54 housing properties in Muir of Ord as MacRae Park and Westfield Gardens; and
4. 20 housing properties in Munlochy as Belmaduthy Gardens

11.  Ross and Cromarty Sports Council
Comhairle Spòrs Rois agus Chromba

The Committee is invited to appoint three representatives to the Ross and Cromarty Sports Council.

12.  Common Good Funds
Maoin Maith Choitchinn

There are circulated Joint Reports Nos RC//18 – RC//18 by the Depute Chief Executive/Director of Corporate Resources and the Head of Policy and Reform/Ward Management which provide information on the following Common Good Funds:-

1. Cromarty Common Good Fund RC/6/18 
2. Dingwall Common Good Fund RC/7/18 
3. Fortrose and Rosemarkie Common Good Fund RC/8/18
4. Invergordon Common Good Fund RC/9/18
5. Tain Common Good Fund RC/10/18

The Committee is invited to note the updated information provided in relation to each Fund and to approve the proposed Fund budgets for 2018/19 as shown in Appendix 2 of each report.

13.  Tain Common Good – Tain Initiative Group Funding Application
Math Coitcheann Bhaile Dhubhthaich – Iarrtas Maoin Buidhne Iomairt Bhaile Dhubhthaich

There is circulated Joint Report No RC/11/18 dated 17 January 2018 by the Depute Chief Executive/Director of Corporate Resources and Head of Policy & Reform/ Ward Management.

The Committee is invited to consider the request for £61,000 over 3 years to allow the Tain Initiative Group to employ a local Development Officer.  The Community Council raises issues for Members to consider.  Any award would have to be drawn from reserves as income to the Common Good Fund has been low in recent years and no Community Grants have been made. Based on the reserves as at March 2017, the amount sought is 24% of The Common Good Fund Reserves.   The options for Members to consider are:-

1. approval of the full £61,000 request over the 3 year period on the assumption that the benefits likely to be obtained for the community outweigh the impact on the Tain Common Good Fund;
2. partial approval of the request by, for example, agreeing the first year’s funding with a review required before additional funding is awarded;
3. deferral to allow further information to be sought e.g. a business plan, funding targets and more information on how the project will link with other groups; or
4. refusal given the impact on the Tain Common Good Fund’s Usable Reserves.

Members are asked to note that should they approve the use of reserves their recommendation will be referred to the Council for a decision as a starred item