Agendas, reports and minutes

Community Services Committee

Date: Thursday, 28 April 2016

Agenda: Read the Agenda

A meeting of the Community Services Committee will take place in the Council Chamber, Council Headquarters, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness on Thursday 28 April 2016 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
Depute Chief Executive/
Director of Corporate Development 

Business

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. Good News
Naidheachdan Matha

The cremators at the Kilvean Crematorium (Inverness) were due for replacement following the identification of significant repairs required to the plant and more frequent demands on the service for accommodating larger remains, requiring the openings to be enlarged. The inefficiency of the plant was also an issue, the reliance on expensive electricity required replacing which would also achieve savings both financially and environmentally.  Budgetary approval for £500,000 for replacement of the Cremators was secured in the 2015/16 Capital Programme. 

The Project, which started in the Autumn 2015, is due for completion on 24 April.  It has been a complex project due to the requirement to keep one of the cremators operational at all times”.

4. Proposed Amendments to Service Structure below Head of Service 
Atharrachaidhean a Thathar a’ Moladh do Structar Seirbheis

There is circulated Report No COM/13/16 dated 15 April 2016 by the Director of Community Services seeking approval to amend the Service Structure below the new four Heads of Service level and should be read in conjunction with the previous report on this subject to Community Service on 4 February 2016.

The Committee is invited to agree:-

i. the structure below Heads of Service, as outlined in Appendices 1-4 of the report; and
ii. the deletion and creation of posts, as outlined in Appendix 5 of the report. 

5. Local Statutory Performance Indicators 2014/15
Comharran Coileanaidh Reachdail Ionadail 2014/15
Following the report presented at Highland Council on 10 March 2016 detailing the Local Statutory Performance Indicators (SPIs) 2014/15, there is circulated Report No COM/14/16 dated 17 March 2016 by the Director of Community Services which provides specific information on Community Services performance indicators.

The Committee is invited to note and comment on the out-turn of SPIs for 2014/15 and, where relevant, to their national benchmark position.

6. Community Services Performance Report – 1 April 2015 to 31 December 2015
Aithisg Coileanaidh nan Seirbheisean Coimhearsnachd - 1 Giblean 2015 gu 31 An Dùbhlachd 2015 

There is circulated Report No COM/15/16 dated 11 April 2016 by the Director of Community Services which provides information on how Community Services performed in relation to performance indicators to 31 December 2015.

The Committee is invited to note the information provided on Community Services performance from 1 April to 31 December 2015.

7. Roads Collaboration Programme - Update
Co-obrachadh nan Rathaidean a Tuath – Cunntas às Ùr
There is circulated Report No COM/16/16 dated 13 April 2016 by the Director of Community Services which provides an update on the ongoing development of the Northern Roads Collaboration Forum.  Members are asked to note the minutes of the most recent meeting of the Forum including the election of its first Chair and Vice Chair.

The Committee is invited to note:-

i. that Cllr Allan Henderson has been elected as the first Chair of the Northern Roads Collaboration Forum and that Cllr David Aitchison of Aberdeenshire Council is elected as Vice Chair; and
ii. the minute of the 2nd meeting of the Forum on 3 March 2016 as detailed in Appendix 1 of the report and, in particular, the actions agreed and reproduced in paragraph 2.4 of the report.

8. Scottish Road Maintenance Condition Survey 2015
Suirbhidh Staid Càraidh Rathaidean na h-Alba 2015

There is circulated Report No COM/17/16 dated 15 April 2016 by the Director of Community Services which updates Members on the annual results from the Scottish Road Condition Survey for 2015.

The Committee is invited to note the results of the Scottish Road Maintenance Condition Survey for 2015.

9. Distribution of Road Maintenance Budget – 2016/17 
Riarachadh Buidseat Càraidh Rathaidean – 2016/17

There is circulated Report No COM/18/16 dated 15 April 2016 by the Director of Community Services which invites Members to approve the distribution of the Road Maintenance Budget for 2016/17 between the eight Local Committee Areas.

The Committee is invited to approve the distribution of the Road Maintenance Budget for 2016/17 between the Local Committee areas on the basis of need, the details of which are contained in Appendix 1 of the report.

10. Update on Homelessness Initiatives 
Fios as Ùr mu Iomairtean Dìth Dachaigh

There is circulated Report No COM/19/16 dated 18 April 2016 by the Director of Community Services which provides an update on the following initiatives which aim to improve the lives of homeless people in Highland:-
  • the Temporary Accommodation Re-provisioning Project;
  • the Housing Support Service; and
  • the Housing Options Service
This report also provides an update on the impacts of Welfare Reform changes on how temporary accommodation is provided in Highland and some of the challenges this presents in relation to affordability for clients, as well as proposing a strategy to meet these challenges.   The report also presents a draft Housing Options policy for approval.

The Committee is invited to:-

i. note progress on the Temporary Accommodation Re-provisioning Project;
ii. note the challenges presented by the Welfare Reform agenda on the current model of temporary accommodation provision;
iii. agree that the Council should move to a model where the majority of temporary accommodation is provided in Council owned HRA properties, with a rent structure that is affordable within the welfare benefits system with a small number of units sourced at affordable rates from the private sector to allow emergency cover and flexibility of approach;
iv. note progress on the re-tendering of the Housing Support Service;
v. approve the Housing Options Policy and Standards as detailed in Appendix 2 of the report; and
vi. note that a further report on temporary accommodation costs and charges will be provided to Committee in August.

11. Tenant Satisfaction Survey
Suirbhidh Luchd-màil Taigheadais

There is circulated Report No COM/20/16 dated 18 April 2016 by the Director of Community Services which summarises the findings of a comprehensive satisfaction survey undertaken earlier this year.

The Committee is invited to note the results of the Tenant Survey.

12. Public Convenience Strategy and Review of Highland Comfort Scheme
Ro-innleachd Ghoireasan Poblach a’ gabhail a-steach Sgeama Cofhurtachd na Gàidhealtachd

There is circulated Report No COM/21/16 dated 13 April 2016 by the Director of Community Services which updates Members on progress in securing the agreed savings from the public conveniences budget and how this to be applied.  It also invites Members to approve recommendations for a strategy to deliver agreed savings, modifications to the Highland Comfort scheme and that Local Committees take decisions on where secure payment facilities should be installed.  

The Committee is invited to agree:-

i. the strategy to deliver the agreed savings for 2016/17;
ii. that the terms of the Highland Comfort scheme are amended to broaden the payment range to facilitate increased up-take; 
iii. that the payment for using public conveniences is 50p; and
iv. that secure payment facilities be installed where practicable and with agreement of Local Committees. 

13. Scottish Shared Scientific Services Proposals
Molaidhean a thaobh Seirbheisean Co-roinnte Saidheans na h-Alba

There is circulated Report No COM/22/16 dated 20 March 2016 by the Director of Community Services which details proposals for the creation of the Scottish Shared Scientific Services and invites Members to agree in principle to further preparatory actions being undertaken.  

The Committee is invited to agree in principle to the following actions being undertaken by the Scottish Shared Scientific Services Project Board:-

i. determining the full financial impact on each local authority partner;
ii. developing a detailed Business Plan for the new service;
iii. drafting and concluding all necessary legal agreements; and
iv. continuing consultation with relevant staff, Trades Unions, and other stakeholders.

14. Benchmarking of the Winter Service and Winter Policy Review
Bun-tomhas air Ath-sgrùdadh Seirbheis a’ Gheamhraidh agus Poileasaidh a’ Gheamhraidh

There is circulated Report No COM/23/16 dated 15 April 2016 by the Director of Community Services which presents the results of a benchmarking exercise which compares the principal activities and resources of Highland Council’s winter service with other rural authorities in Scotland and makes recommendation on some changes to the policy aimed at improving the service.

The Committee is invited to:-

i. note the outcomes from the benchmarking survey; 
ii. note the operational changes at sections 5.6, 8.4 and 13.6 in the report;
iii. agree that future contracts for school transport services include the requirement that vehicles be fitted with all weather (mud and snow) tyres; and
iv. approve the updated winter policy (Appendix A) and in particular:
  • a change to the winter period within the policy from 14 October to 14 April each year; and
  • the removal of the term “school bus route” from the policy and to introduce a preferred route system for school transport vehicles.
15. Minutes
Geàrr-chunntas 

There are circulated, for approval, Minutes of the Harbours Management Board of 26 February 2016.