Agendas, reports and minutes

Lochaber Committee

Date: Wednesday, 19 February 2020

Agenda: Read the Agenda

 
 
A meeting of the Lochaber Committee will take place in Council Chambers, Council Offices, Charles Kennedy Building, Achintore Road, Fort William on Wednesday 19 February, 2020 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
 
Business
 
1. Interim Chair
 
The Chairman has indicated that he will be late in attending the Meeting and therefore Members are invited to appoint an Interim Chair.
 
2. Apologies for Absence
    Leisgeulan
 
3. 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.
 
4. Fort William 2040
    An Gearasdan 2040 
 
There is circulated Report No. LA/1/20 by the Executive Chief Officer Infrastructure and Environment. 
 
Representatives from Community Councils in Lochaber have been invited to attend the meeting for a question and answer session on this item. 
 
Members are asked to:
 
i. note the comments made through the FW2040 consultation and agree the proposed updates to the FW2040 online document summarised at Appendix 1, specifically:
a) the inclusion of a new Vision theme relating to “A Low Carbon Place”;
b) updates to the FW2040 Masterplan at Appendix 2 and corresponding Delivery Programme at Appendix 3;
c) consider the list of new / aspirational projects listed at Appendix 4;
 
ii.  agree that the updated FW2040 online document should be a material consideration for development management purposes forming an integral part of the West Highland and Islands Local Development Plan Action Programme;
 
iii. in response to the independent evaluation of FW2040 detailed at Appendix 5, agree that the Council’s Executive Chief Officer Infrastructure and Environment and HIE Area Manager jointly write to Scottish Government to seek better spatial coordination of spending by government departments and agencies and to suggest that Fort William be a pilot for such a place based approach to investment;
 
iv. agree that the updated FW2040 material approved by committee as set out above, be incorporated within other illustrative and explanatory material and published as an updated FW2040 online Storymap as soon as practicable;
 
v.  note the intention to continue to monitor and review FW2040 progress as outlined in section 7 below. 
 
5. Police Scotland Local Committee Performance Report
    Aithisg Choileanaidh Comataidh Ionadail Poileas Alba
 
There is circulated Report No LA/2/20 by the Area Commander for Police.
 
Members are invited to note progress made against the objectives set within the Highland and Islands Local Policing Plan 2017-20 Year 3, attached as Annex A to the report, for the period covering 1 April 2019- 31 December 2019.
 
6. Lochaber Local Access Forum – Annual Report
    Fòram Inntrigeadh Ionadail Loch Abar – Aithisg Bhliadhnail
 
There is circulated Report No. LA/3/20 by the Executive Chief Officer Infrastructure and Environment. 
 
Members are asked to note the report.
 
7. Fort William Offices Update
 
There is circulated Report No. LA/4/20 by the Executive Chief Officer Housing and Property.
 
Members are asked to note the report.
 
8. Fort William Active Travel Masterplan Refresh
    Cunntas às Ùr mu Phrìomh Phlana Siubhal Gnìomhach a’ Ghearasdain
 
There is circulated Report No. LA/5/20 by the Executive Chief Officer Infrastructure and Environment. 
 
Members are asked to:
 
i note the contents of this report, in particular the recent policies that identify walking, wheeling and cycling at the top of the sustainable transport hierarchy;
 
ii approve the use of the Fort William Active Travel Masterplan as a material consideration when dealing with development proposals and as a supporting document for funding bids; and
 
iii delegate the Executive Chief Officer Infrastructure and Environment to liaise with other bodies, including Transport Scotland, with a view to identify funding opportunities and a delivery programme to target early improvements across the Fort William active travel network.  
 
9. Town Centre Fund Update
    Cunntas às Ùr mu Mhaoin Meadhan a’ Bhaile
 
Four Lochaber projects received grants from the Town Centre Fund.  All projects are on target to fully commit their allocation by end-March 2020, as follows:
 
Caol Regeneration Company - Caol Co-op car park - public realm improvements - £65,000;
 
Caol Regeneration Company - Thomas Telford Corpach Marina – contribution to professional fees linked to marina project - £77,045;
 
Fort William Marina and Shoreline CIC – Canopy, Cameron Square, Fort William - £30,570;
 
Highland Council - Fort William High Street public realm improvements (priority works – lighting) - £26,352.  This project has been amended from a lighting scheme to delivery of a ‘greener’ High Street by installing trees and renewing street furniture.
 
10. Corran Narrows Options Development Study – Interim Update
      Sgrùdadh Ceangal Stèidhichte Caolas a’ Chorrain – Cunntas san Eadar-àm 
 
There is circulated Report No. LA/6/20 by the Executive Chief Officer Infrastructure & Environment.
 
Members are asked to:
 
i note the contents of this report; and
 
ii delegate the ECO Infrastructure and Environment to: 
 
a. submit the final report to Transport Scotland at the earliest opportunity
b. prepare a future briefing for Ward 21 Members; and 
c. present follow up reports to the Lochaber Area Committee and Economy and Infrastructure Committee.
 
11. Lochaber Area Roads Maintenance Programme 2020-2021
      Prògram Càradh Rathaidean 2020-2021
 
There is circulated Report No. LA/7/20 by the Executive Chief Officer Infrastructure and Environment. 
 
Members are asked to approve the proposed 2020/21 Roads Maintenance Programme for Lochaber Area.
 
12.  20 mph Zones in Lochaber Villages
       Sònaichean 20msu ann am Bailtean Loch Abar
 
There is circulated Report No. LA/8/20 by the Executive Chief Officer Infrastructure and Environment.
 
Members are asked to agree:-
 
i  funding sources for the implementation of any new 20 mph schemes to be sought corporately with an update report to be taken to a future ECI Committee; and
 
ii Community Services to continue to seek funding sources/opportunities for implementation of new schemes.
 
13. Housing Performance Report                                                          
      Aithisg Choileanaidh Taigheadais
 
There is circulated Report No LA/9/20 by the Executive Chief Officer Property & Housing.
 
Members are invited to consider the information provided on housing performance in the period 1 April 2019 to 31 December,2019.
 
14. Housing Revenue Account: Garage Rents 2020/21                      
      Màil Gharaidsean 2020/21
 
There is circulated Report No. LA/10/20 by the Executive Chief Officer Property and Housing. 
 
The Committee is invited to agree a level of rent increase to apply to Lochaber Garages and Garage Sites.
 
15. Minutes                                                                                          
      Geàrr-chunntas
 
There are circulated for information, Minutes of Meeting of the Lochaber Committee held on 6 November, 2019 which were approved by the Council on 9 December, 2019.