Committees

A meeting of the Lochaber Area Committee will take place in the Council Chamber, Lochaber House, High Street, Fort William on Monday, 26 August 2013 at 10.30 am.

Webcast Notice: This meeting will be filmed and broadcast over the Internet on the Highland Council website and will be archived and available for viewing for 12 months thereafter.

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

Yours faithfully

Michelle Morris
Assistant Chief Executive

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.  Election of Leader of the Area
Taghadh Ceannard na Sgìre

Nominations are invited for the post of Leader of the Area who will chair the Lochaber Area Committee.

4.  Scheme of Delegation 
Sgeama Tiomnaidh

Members are reminded that, at its meeting on 27 June 2013, the Highland Council approved a Scheme of Delegation for Area Committees, copies of which will be tabled at the meeting.

The Committee is invited to note the Scheme of Delegation.

5.  Community Planning and Partnership Working in Lochaber
Dealbhadh Coimhearsnachd agus Obair Chom-pàirteach ann an Loch Abar

There is circulated Report No. LA-1-13 (168kb pdf) dated 13 August 2013 by the Corporate Manager which summarises the work of the Lochaber Partnership and asks Members to consider its work in light of the current review of community planning arrangements taking place in Highland.

The Committee is invited to:-

i.  note the achievements of the Lochaber Partnership and the key role it plays
    in community planning in Lochaber;
ii. agree to recommend to the Partnership that the Lochaber Community
    Development Plan is reworked to reflect the emerging themes of the
    Highland Public Services Partnership, with appropriate lead partners
    identified; and
iii. agree to recommend the roll out of micro-development plans to further 
    areas within Lochaber.

6.  Tourism in Lochaber/Lochaber Tourism Business Improvement District Proposal
Turasachd ann an Loch Abar/Sgìre Leasachadh Gnothachais Turasachd Loch Abar

There is circulated Report No. LA-2-13 (634kb pdf) dated 12 August, 2013 by the Director of Planning and Development which outlines the importance of tourism to the Lochaber area and describes the roles played in developing tourism by the Highland Council, other public sector agencies and the tourism industry including describing current proposals to create a Tourism Business Improvement District (BID) to develop tourism in Lochaber. It concludes by considering how the Council’s work can support the growth of tourism in the area.

The Committee is invited to:-

i.  note the value and importance of tourism to the Lochaber economy;
ii.  note public and private sector roles and the partnership working that
    supports tourism development in the area;
iii. note the proposal to develop a Tourism BID for Lochaber and consider how
    local Members might contribute views for inclusion in the report being
    submitted to the Highland Council; and
iv. consider how tourism growth can best be supported by the Area
    Committee, both directly and indirectly through the planning and delivery of
    other Council services.

7.  Employability and Deprived Area Fund
Comas Cosnaidh/Maoin Sgìre Prìomhachais

There is circulated Report No. LA-3-13 (545kb pdf) dated 12 August, 2013 by the Director of Planning and Development which provides a summary of labour market and employment information and a description of Employability Services provision in the area. It also introduces a revised Deprived Area Fund available in the Area for 2014-15.  Members are asked to comment on the Employability information and determine how they want to deliver the Deprived Area Fund from 2014-15.

The Committee is invited to:-

i.  note the information on employment, unemployment and service provision in
    the area;
ii. comment on the provision of employability services in Lochaber;
iii. decide how it wants to approach the distribution of the Priority Area Fund in
    2014-15; and
iv. agree that a report be presented to this Committee in November outlining
    specific proposals for the use of the fund in 2014/15.

8.  Investing in Lochaber Area – Capital Projects 
Tasgadh ann an Loch Abar – Pròiseactan Calpa

There is circulated Report No. LA-4-13 (245kb pdf) dated 13 August 2013 by the Director of Finance which shows the annual budget, expenditure to end of June 2013 and projected year end position for 2013/14 for Lochaber area projects included in the Council’s capital programme.

The Committee is invited to note the capital programme for Lochaber.

9.  Lochaber High School Associated School Group Overview
Sealladh Coitcheann air Buidheann Sgoiltean Co-cheangailte ri Àrd-sgoil Loch Abar

There is circulated Report No. LA-5-13 (611kb pdf) dated 13 August 2013 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport which provides an update of key information in relation to the schools within the Lochaber High School Associated School Group (ASG), and provides useful updated links to further information in relation to these schools.

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

10.  Housing Performance
Aithisg Dèanadais a thaobh Taigheadais

There is circulated Report No. LA-6-13 (160kb pdf) dated 14 August 2013 by the Depute Chief Executive/Director of Housing and Property which advises Members of the new Housing Performance Reporting Framework in place from 1 April 2013. 

The Committee is invited to:-

i.  note the new reporting framework for housing performance as set out in
    Appendix 1 of the report; and
ii. agree that information on performance against the new indicators will be
    presented to Committee at its next meeting.

11.  Maintenance Programme for Road and Bridge Works    (PP 55-63)
Prògram Cumail Suas Structar Rathaidean

There is circulated Report No. LA-7-13 (147kb pdf) dated 12 August 2013 by the Director of Transport, Environmental and Community Services which invites Members to approve the Maintenance Programmes for Resurfacing and Bridge Maintenance for the Lochaber Area for 2013/14 and note the Surface Dressing Programme which was completed earlier this year.

The Committee is invited to approve the Maintenance Programmes for Road Structural Maintenance and Bridge Structural Maintenance for Lochaber Area for 2013/14, and note the Surface Dressing Programme which was completed earlier this year.

12.  Integrated Transport Project Update
Pròiseact Pìolait Còmhdhail Amalaichte

There is circulated Report No. LA-8-13 (183kb pdf) dated 13 August 2013 by the Director of Transport, Environmental and Community Services which updates Members on the Project, being carried out under the governance of the Council’s Corporate Improvement Programme, to examine the options for improving the integration of transport services for health and social care and social inclusion.

The Committee is invited to:-

i.  support the Project, being carried out under the governance of the
    Council’s Corporate Improvement Programme, to examine the options for
    improving the integration of transport services for health and social care and
    social inclusion; and
ii.  note that an application for the Council’s contribution will be made to the 
    Council’s Strategic Change and Development Fund.

13.  Street Naming – New Housing Development in Drumfada Terrace, Fort William 
Ainmeachadh Sràide – Leasachadh Ùr Taigheadais ann an Rathad an Druim Fhada, An Gearasdan

There is circulated Report No. LA-9-13 (130kb pdf) dated 14 August 2013 by the Director of Planning and Development which seeks homologation for a decision by the Community Council, supported by the local Members, to name a development of one house and four flats (at the former Surgery at Drumfada Terrace), as ‘Nevis Mews’.

The Committee is invited to homologate the naming of the development of the old Surgery in Drumfada Terrace as ‘Nevis Mews’.