Agendas, reports and minutes

A meeting of the Sutherland County Committee will take place remotely on Thursday, 5 November 2020, at 10.30 a.m.

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. Notices of Motion
Brathan Gluasaid 

The following Notice of Motion has been received by the Head of Corporate Governance –

(i) In view of the constraints imposed upon the Highland Council Capital Plan for years to come, and in view of the undeniable need for indoor sporting facilities to support the well-being of pupils attending the Dornoch 3-18 School Campus, the students attending the North Highland College Campus, and the local community in general, that Sutherland Members support in principle the construction of a low-cost Sports Barn, as per the attached (pp.1-3) generic drawings, to be built on a suitable site located appropriately on the School premises.

Signed: Mr J McGillivray Mrs D Mackay

(ii) Sutherland needs to be prepared to meet the demands of next year’s tourist season. The provision of adequate and sufficient waste facilities to support motorhomes has been identified as a priority. The process to develop these is currently uncoordinated, complicated and time consuming. Sutherland County Committee calls on Highland Council to work in partnership with SEPA, Scottish Water, Planning and Funders to develop a co-ordinated resource which can be accessed by our communities in and around NC500.

Signed: Mrs D Mackay Mr J McGillivray    

(iii) Maintaining and improving good mental health has been identified by our communities as a key priority. This has been a particularly difficult year for those dealing with mental health issues, with these exacerbated by COVID, and the related issues including isolation, financial worries and job insecurity. We ask that Sutherland County Committee works with Sutherland Community Partnership to collectively better understand the issues and to enable community based solutions to be developed and implemented.

Signed:    Mrs D Mackay Mr J McGillivray    

(iv) In March COVID restrictions led overnight to a dependency on digitalised services. Arctic Digital Nomads (ADN) is an international collaboration whose objective is to promote its regions as a work destination for people who are not office bound but who can work remotely anywhere.  Sutherland has so much to offer in terms of environment, lifestyle and work/life balance.  We ask that Sutherland County Committee examine the experience of ADN to look at how we can increase our economic diversity and become a destination of choice for individuals and organisations around the world seeking a quality environment in which to live and work.

Signed:    Mrs D Mackay Mr J McGillivray    

4. Police – Area Performance Summary                                               
Poileas – Geàrr-chunntas air Coileanadh Sgìreil

There is circulated Report No SCC/09/20 dated 26 October 2020 by the North Area Commander.

The Committee is invited to note the progress made against the objectives set within the Highland Local Policing Plan:-

i.  2017-20 Year 3, attached as Annex A to the report, for the period covering 1 April 2019- 31 March 2020; and
ii. 2020 – 23 Year 1, attached as Annex B to the report, for the period covering 1 April 2020 – 30 September 2020.

5. Tourism Infrastructure       
Bun-structar Turasachd

There will follow Report No SCC/10/20 by the Executive Chief Officer Infrastructure and Environment.

6. Golspie Associated School Group Overview                                
Sealladh Coitcheann air Buidheann Sgoiltean Co-cheangailte Ghoillspidh

There is circulated Report No SCC/11/20 dated 8 October 2020 by the Executive Chief Officer Education and Learning.

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

7. Sutherland HRA Capital Programme 2021-22
Prògram Calpa HRA Chataibh 2021-22

There is circulated Report No SCC/12/20 dated 21 October 2020 by the Executive Chief Officer Housing and Property.

The Committee is invited to:-

i.   Note the allocation of resources to the Sutherland Area as set out at paragraph 5.7 of the report;
ii.  Note the guideline investment priorities as set out in sections 5.2 and 5.3 of the report; 
iii. Agree the proposed one-year HRA Capital Programme for Sutherland 2021-22 as set out in Appendix 1 to the report;
iv.  Note the position relating the current year HRA Capital Programme; and
v.   Note that updates on the Housing Revenue Account Capital Programme will continue to be provided through ward briefings and at future Area Committees as requested by local Members, in addition to reporting to Housing and Property Committee. 

8. Housing Performance Report – 1 April 2020 to 30 September 2020
Aithisg Coileanaidh Taigheadais – 1 Giblean 2020 to 30 An t-Sultainn 2020

There is circulated Report No SCC/13/20 dated 27 October 2020 by the Executive Chief Officer Housing and Property.

The Committee is invited to scrutinise the information provided on housing performance in the period 1 April 2020 to 30 September 2020.

9. Dornoch Common Good - Annual Report 2019/20, Proposed Budget 2021/22 and Quarter 2 Monitoring Statement 2020/21 PP.40-42
Math Coitcheann Dhòrnaich - Aithisg Bhliadhnail Math Coitcheann Dhòrnaich 2019/20, Buidseat ga Mholadh airson 2021/22 agus Aithris Sgrùdaidh Cairteil 2020/21       

There is circulated Joint Report No SCC/14/20 dated 22 October 2020 by the Executive Chief Officers Communities and Place and Resources and Finance.

The Committee is invited to Consider the position of the Dornoch Common Good Fund, as shown in the Quarter 2 monitoring statement.

10. Minutes                                                            
Geàrr-chunntas

There is circulated for noting Minutes of the Sutherland County Committee held on 24 February 2020 and 9 July 2020, which were approved by the Council on 12 March 2020 and 30 July 2020 respectively.