Agendas, reports and minutes

A meeting of the Caithness Committee will take place in Wick Town Hall, Bridge Street, Wick, KW1 4AJ on Friday 16 June 2017 at 10.00am.

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 

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. Appointment of Chair of Caithness Committee
Cur Cathraiche Chomataidh Ghallaibh an Dreuchd

Nominations are invited for the position of Chair of the Caithness Committee.

4. Caithness Civic Leader
Cur Ceannard Catharra Ghallaibh an Dreuchd

Nominations are invited for the position of Civic Leader for Caithness.

5. Member Appointments
Cur Bhall an Dreuchd

i. Caithness and North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership – Advisory Board
Com-pàirteachas Ath-bheothachaidh Ghallaibh agus Chataibh a Tuath – Bòrd Comhairleachaidh

The Committee is asked to appoint 3 Members to serve on the Caithness and North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership Advisory Board. In this regard, it is confirmed that 2 Members should come from the Caithness Wards and 1 Member from the North West Sutherland Ward.

The Committee is therefore asked to appoint 2 Members as detailed.

ii. Dounreay Stakeholders Group
Buidheann Luchd-ùidh Dhùnrath

The primary purpose of the Dounreay Stakeholder Group is to be the main interface between the community, the site operator at Dounreay and the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) in areas such as programme delivery, safety, environment and security and to play an important role in the economic regeneration of the area. It is part of a network of site stakeholder groups across the United Kingdom with each site group represented at meetings of a national stakeholder group set up by the NDA.
The Council is required to appoint 4 Members to the Dounreay Stakeholders Group comprising 3 Members from the Caithness area and 1 Member from the Sutherland area.

The Committee is therefore asked to appoint 3 Members as detailed

iii. Caithness Horizons
Fàirean Ghallaibh

Caithness Horizons is a company limited by guarantee with membership drawn from Highland Council, the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority and the Thurso Heritage Society.

The Committee is asked to appoint 2 Members to serve as Directors of Caithness Horizons. 

iv. Caithness & North Sutherland Fund 
Maoin Ghallaibh & Chataibh a Tuath

The Caithness & North Sutherland Fund was established by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority and Dounreay Site Restoration Ltd to distribute funding to community organisations for projects that will increase the attractiveness of Caithness and North Sutherland as a place to live, work and invest with particular emphasis on achieving environment, social, culture and infrastructure improvements. The Fund requires 3 Members to be appointed – 2 Members from the Caithness Wards and 1 Member from the North West & Central Sutherland Ward.

The Committee is therefore asked to appoint 2 Members as detailed.

v. Caithness Citizen’s Advice Bureau – Board
Biùro Comhairleachaidh Pobaill Ghallaibh – Bòrd

The Committee is asked to appoint 1 Member to serve as a Director of Caithness Citizens’ Advice Bureau. 

vi. Caithness Local Access Forum
Fòram Cothrom Ionadail Ghallaibh

The Council has a statutory duty under Section 25 of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 to establish Local Access Forums for its area. There are currently six Local Access Forums in the Highland area which advise on matters in relation to the exercise of access rights, the existence of delineation of rights of way or the drawing up and adoption of the Core Path Plan. In addition, they also offer and give assistance to parties in terms of the resolution of any disputes in this respect.

The Committee is asked to appoint 2 Members to the Caithness Local Access Forum.

6. Scottish Fire and Rescue Local Performance Report 2016-17                                  
Aithisg Dèanadais Sgìreil na Seirbheis Smàlaidh is Teasairginn 2016-17  

There is circulated Report No CC/08/17 dated 28 May 2017 by the Local Senior Officer for Highland. 

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

7. Caithness and Sutherland Amended Core Paths Plan                      
Ath-sgrùdadh air Plana Phrìomh Cheuman

There is circulated Report No CC/09/17 dated 1 June 2017 by the Director of Development and Infrastructure.  

The Committee is invited to approve the Caithness area of the Caithness and Sutherland Amended Core Paths Plan to be published for formal consultation.

8. Thurso Associated School Group Overview                                     
Sealladh Coitcheann air Buidheann Sgoiltean Co-cheangailte

There is circulated Report No CC/10/17 dated 2 June 2017 by the Director of Care and Learning.

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

9. Housing Performance Report - 1 April 2016 to 31 March 2017                                                                       Aithisg Dèanadais a thaobh Taigheadais – 1 Giblean 2016 gu 31 Màrt 2017

There is circulated Report No CC/11/17 dated 26 May 2017 by the Director of Community Services. 

The Committee is invited to scrutinise the information provided on housing performance in the period 1 April 2016 to 31 March 2017.

10. Minutes                                                                                           
Geàrr-chunntas

There are circulated for noting Minutes of the Caithness Committee held on 17 February 2017, which were approved by the Council on 9 March 2017.