Agendas, reports and minutes

A hybrid meeting of the Sutherland County Committee will take place in the Chamber, Council Offices, Drummuie, Golspie on Tuesday 31 October 2023 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/Transparency Statement
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 provide some information on the nature of the interest and leave the meeting at the appropriate time.  Advice may be sought from officers prior to the meeting taking place.

3.Scottish Fire and Rescue Local Performance Report
Aithisg Dèanadais Ionadail Seirbheis Smàlaidh is Teasairginn na h-Alba

There is circulated Report No SCC/17/23 by the Local Senior Officer for Highland.

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

4. Education HMI Update – Sutherland
Tongue Primary and Nursery Class
Cunntas às Ùr Luchd-sgrùdaidh an Rìgh airson Foghlaim – Cataibh
Bun-Sgoil agus Clas Sgoil-Àraich Thunga

There is circulated Report No SCC/18/23 by the Executive Chief Officer Education and Learning. 

The Committee is invited to note the key strengths and next steps for Tongue Primary School and Nursery Class as reported by Education Scotland on 6 June 2023. 

5. Review of Winter Gritting Route Priorities in Lochinver Area
Ath-sgrùdadh air Prìomhachasan Slighe airson Sailleadh Geamhraidh ann an Sgìre Loch an Inbhir

There is circulated Report No SCC/19/23 by the Executive Chief Officer Infrastructure, Environment and Economy. 

The Committee is invited to:

i. note the impact of increasing “Secondary” route priorities for the delivery of the winter service to “Other” routes and pre-treatment routes;

ii. note the additional plant and labour resource required to deliver the increase in Secondary routes as detailed in Section 9 of this report;

iii. note that following extensive review of winter maintenance operations, it is not possible to re-prioritise the classification of a section of the C1003 Lochinver to Inverkirkaig road to secondary route status, in view of the impacts on other routes, and the resource implications as highlighted in the report; and

iv. agree the reprioritisation of the U1053 Achmelvich Road from “Secondary” to “Other” in order to comply with the Winter Service Policy. PP.

6. Old Caithness Road, Helmsdale – One Way Traffic Regulation Order
Seann Rathad Ghallaibh, Bun Ilidh – Òrdugh Riaghladh Trafaig Aon Slighe 

There is circulated Report No SCC/20/23 by the Executive Chief Officer Infrastructure, Environment and Economy.

The Committee is invited to:

i. note the background to the proposed One-Way System Traffic Regulation Order and the representations received;

ii. consider the objections made to “The Highland Council (C1019 Old Caithness Road), Helmsdale (One Way), Traffic Regulation Order 2022”;

iii. subject to i) and ii) above approve the making of the One-Way System Traffic Regulation Order; and

iv. note the intention to monitor the area after the introduction of the One-Way System including commissioning a traffic survey to determine effectiveness of the new road layout. 

7. Sutherland HRA Capital Programme Update and 23-27
Programme
Prògram Calpa HRA 2023-2027

There is circulated Report No SCC/21/23 by the Executive Chief Officer Housing and Property.

The Committee is invited to:-

i. note the summary update on the HRA Capital Programme at section 5 of the report;

ii. note the HRA Capital resources identified for Sutherland area at 6.7;

iii. agree the proposed investment priorities in the HRA Capital Programme for Sutherland 2023-27 as set out in Appendix 1;

iv. note that updates on the Housing Revenue Account Capital Programme will continue to be provided through ward briefings and at future Local Committees as requested by local Members, in addition to reporting to Housing and Property Committee. PP.

8. Dornoch Common Good Quarterly Monitoring Report
Aithisg Sgrùdaidh Ràitheil Math Coitcheann Dhòrnaich

There is circulated Report No SCC/22/23 by the Executive Chief Officer Communities and Place and Head of Corporate Finance.

The Committee is invited to: 

i. note the position of Dornoch Common Good fund at the end of the second quarter FY 23/24; and

ii note the update on current Dornoch Common Good issues.

9. Ward Discretionary Awards
Duaisean fo Ùghdarras Uàird

The Committee is asked to note that the following North, West and Central Sutherland Ward Discretionary Budget applications have been approved since 1 April 2023: 

Lairg Community Council - Lairg Bird Hide upgrade £2,000.00

Sutherland Women's Football Club - Transport Funds £800.00 

Farr Youth Development – High Life Highland - Day Trip to Durness £240.00      

The Sutherland Community Partnership - Community Learning Exchange £500.00          

Kyle of Sutherland Development Trust - Kyle Feeds £1,000.00       

Lairg & District Community Initiative - Replace Flag Pole £500.00         

North West Training Centre - Learning Programme 23-24 £1,750.00 

TYKES - Programme of Residential Respite £1,240.00 

Farr Edge 2000 - Continue Service £2,500.00 

The Committee is asked to note that the following East Sutherland and Edderton Ward Discretionary Budget applications have been approved since 1 April 2023: 

Clyne Heritage Society – Aultcraggie Roundhouses Archaeological Excavation £500.00 

Dornoch Bowling Club – Victorian Benches £700.00 

East Sutherland Camera Club – Highland Challenge 2023 £600.00 

Sutherland Women's Football Club - Transport Funds £800.00 

Go Golspie - Caretaker Post £500.00 

The Sutherland Community Partnership - Community Learning Exchange £500.00 

Dornoch Academy - Edinburgh Book Festival Literacy Trip £1,175.00 

The Embo Trust - Old School Reset £600.00 

HLH Dornoch Youth Services Summer Activity Programme £1,000.00 

Tykes - Programme of Respite Residential £3,000.00

10. Minutes
Geàrr-chunntas

There is circulated for noting Minutes of the Sutherland County Committee held on 8 August 2023, which were approved by the Council on 14 September 2023.