Agendas, reports and minutes

A meeting of the Caithness Committee will take place in Wick Town Hall, Bridge Street, Wick, KW1 4AJ on Wednesday 15 May 2019 at 10.00am.

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.

3. Scottish Fire and Rescue Local Performance Report                                                   
Aithisg Dèanadais Sgìreil na Seirbheis Smàlaidh is Teasairginn 

There is circulated Report No CC/06/19 dated 3 May 2019 by the Local Senior Officer for Highland.

The Committee is invited to comment on and scrutinise the attached Area Performance Report.

4. Area Priorities - Caithness: The Energy County                              
Prìomhachasan Sgìreil – Gallaibh: Siorrachd an Lùtha

There is circulated Report No CC/07/19 dated 29 April 2019 by the Acting Head of Policy.

The Committee is invited to:-

i. consider and approve “Caithness: The Energy County”, the local strategic priorities for Caithness, including the stated priorities for the next 12 months;
ii. agree to promote these with the wider Council membership and as part of the Council’s Programme 2017-22 Local Voices, Highland Choices;
iii. note that there will be opportunity through the Caithness Community Partnership and engagement with partner agencies, community bodies and communities to consider wider shared priorities over the Council’s term; and
iv. note that further work will be done in 2019 to identify how the local priorities agreed can be supported by staff and any other Council resources. This will include considering how best to measure progress. Some priorities are already well aligned to the Council’s Programme.

5. Thurso Associated School Group Overview                                     
Sealladh Coitcheann air Buidheann Sgoiltean Co-cheangailte
 
There is circulated Report No CC/08/19 dated 3 May 2019 by the Director of Care and Learning.

The Committee is invited to scrutinise and note the content of the report.

6. Caithness & Sutherland Town Centre Strategy Supplementary Guidance                                      
Ro-innleachd Meadhan Baile Ghallaibh agus Chataibh                   

There is circulated Report No CC/09/19 dated 2 May 2019 by the Director of Development and Infrastructure.

The Committee is invited to:-

i. approve the Draft Caithness and Sutherland Town Centre Strategy Supplementary Guidance at Appendix 1 for the purposes of public consultation;

ii. authorise officers to make minor presentational changes prior to publication, in consultation with and agreement from the chairs of the Area Committees;

iii. agree the approach to public consultation as set out in section 5 of this report; and

iv. note that issues raised in comments received on the draft Strategy will be reported back to the two relevant Area Committees for their consideration, together with possible amendments to the Strategy prior to completion of procedures leading to its adoption as statutory Supplementary Guidance.

7. 20mph Speed Limit Implementation Wick                                       
Cur an Gnìomh Casg Astair 20msu ann an Inbhir Ùige

There is circulated Report No CC/10/19 dated 13 May 2019 by the Director of Community Services.

The Committee is invited to:-

i. note the background to the proposed 20mph speed limit order for Wick, in particular the collision history, and the representations received;

ii. approve the making of the Road Traffic Regulation Order (RTRO); and

iii. note the intention to carry out after speed counts to determine effectiveness of the new reduced speed limit.

8. Road Structural Maintenance Report 2019/20                               
Càradh Structarail Rathaidean 2019/20

There is circulated Report No CC/11/19 dated 2 May 2019 by the Director of Community Services.
The Committee is invited to approve the proposed prioritised Roads Structural Maintenance Programme 2019/20 for the Caithness Area.

9. Christmas Lighting and Decorations                                             
Solais agus Sgeadachaidhean Nollaige

There is circulated Report No CC/12/19 dated 29 April 2019 by the Director of Community Services.

The Committee is invited to:-

i. note that the Council has previously removed the £35,000 budget for the delivery of Christmas lighting;

ii. liaise with local Community Councils and/or Community Groups where communities wish to deliver Christmas lighting and decorations; and

iii. note that Health & Safety and general guidance will be published for communities to enable the safe erection of Christmas lighting and decorations in the future.

10. Housing Performance Report - 1 April 2018 to 31 March 2019        
Aithisg Dèanadais a thaobh Taigheadais - 1 Giblean 2018 to 31 Am Mart 2019                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

There is circulated Report No CC/13/19 dated 3 May 2019 by the Director of Community Services.

The Committee is invited to scrutinise the information provided on housing performance in the period 1 April 2018 to 31 March 2019.

11. Minutes                                                                                                                                                                                                
Geàrr-chunntas

There are circulated for noting Minutes of the Caithness Committee held on 20 February 2019, which were approved by the Council on 7 March 2019.