Minutes of Meeting of the Transport, Environmental and Community Services Committee held in Council Chamber, Council Headquarters, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness on Thursday 1 June 2006 at 10:30 am

 

Present

 

Mr C King, Mr J H Green, Mr G M Smith, Mr W A Mowat, Mr S Mackay, Mrs A M Magee, Mr I Ross, Mr A Rhind, Mr R MacIntyre, Mr E C Mackinnon, Mr B Barclay, Mr J Laing, Mr A M Millar, Mr W Fulton, Mr S J Sheils, Mr J Ford, Mr R Lyon, Mr C Goodman, Mr D R Munro, Mr N A Donald, Mr R Wynd, Mrs L MacDonald, Mr B M S Dunlop, Mr F D S Black, Mr B J Murphy, Mr T MacLennan

 

Non Members

 

Mr D Mackay, Mr T Jackson, Mr A Anderson, Mrs V MacIver, Mr D Briggs, Mrs M Paterson, Mr M Macmillan, Mr D Alston, Mrs I Campbell, Mr J MacDonald, Mrs M Davidson, Mr A Milne, Mr L Fraser, Mr B Clark, Mr N Clark

 

Officials in attendance:

 

Mr N Gillies, Head of Roads and Community Works

Mr S MacNaughton, Head of Transport and Infrastructure

Ms T Snow, Head of Business Support

Mr N MacKenzie, Head of Trading Standards

Dr C Clark, Head of Waste Management

Mr M Mitchell, Finance Manager

Mr C Kemp, Integrated Transport Manager

Mr A Thomson, Head of Environmental Health

Mr A Carson, Principal Environmental Health Officer

Mr A Yates, Principal EHO (Food Safety)

Mr N Maclean, Senior Technician

Mr G Macdonald, Principal Technician

Mrs M Fraser, Senior Administrative Assistant

Mr J Allison, Principal Administrator, Corporate Services

Miss V Rushton, Administrative Assistant, Corporate Services

 

MR C KING in the Chair

 

Business

 

An asterisk in the margin denotes a recommendation to the Council.

All decisions with no marking in the margin are delegated to the Committee.

 

Preliminaries

 

The Chairman took the opportunity to express sympathy on behalf of the Committee on the death of Councillor Margaret MacLennan who had passed away at the end of May. Mrs Maclennan had been a Councillor since 1992, first with the Inverness District Council and then the Highland Council, and was a well respected person who had taken an active roll in her local community. She had been a Member of the TEC Services Committee, being Chairman of the Highland Home Safety Liaison Group for 8 years.

 

Members were informed that following illness the Director of TEC Services, Mrs M McLaughlin, was back at work on a part time basis; however the Head of Roads and Community Works would remain as acting Director.

 

1. Apologies for Absence

 

Apologies for absence had been intimated on behalf of Mr A I MacDonald; Mr J Connell; Ms A MacLean and Mr R Balfour.

 

2. Financial Monitoring

 

The Head of Roads and Community Works reported that the Council’s Financial Information system was being upgraded to a new version of Oracle (11i).  As part of that, development work was being undertaken to provide detailed transaction reporting (DTR). Whilst Oracle 11i was introduced on 3 April 2006, other priorities meant that that the development work on DTR was delayed.  It was nearing completion but was not available for the April round of monitoring required to meet the Committee deadline.  A corporate monitoring report for the period to 31 May 2006 would be provided at the Council Meeting on 29 June and a Near Final report for financial year 2005/06 would be provided to the Resources Committee on 14 June 2006.

 

The Committee NOTED the position.

 

3. Highland Waste Management Update

 

The Head of Waste Management gave a presentation on Highland Waste Management to highlight the growing uncertainty and high costs surrounding the disposal of waste for Highland and what had been done in relation to the issue.

 

Objectives and Current Issues

 

Members were reminded that concerns on global issues such as climate change and resource depletion were growing. Part of the response to address these problems was to tackle waste disposal by reducing waste growth, increasing recycling and reducing the use of landfill sites. Local authorities, with responsibility for waste management were being encouraged to reduce waste or face the penalty of high fines at both a European and national level.

 

Highland had prepared an Area Waste Plan which aimed, by 2020, to have increased recycling, reduced the amount going to a landfill site by almost two-thirds and also invested in Energy from Waste (EFW) plants. Members were reminded that the Council had to date, successfully:

• opened 5 new recycling centres and upgraded existing recycling facilities;
• increased recycling points to nearly 200 as well as operating kerbside collection to nearly 48,500 homes;
• run successful awareness campaigns; and
• already beaten its target of achieving 17.6% recycling in 2006.

However, a number of issues faced Highland regarding the future closure of several landfill sites and the continuing need to increase recycling and composting.

 

In order to assist local authorities in Scotland to meet their own Area Waste Plans, funds totalling £49 million for defined programmes had been made available through the Strategic Waste Fund until 2020.

 

Landfill Allowance Scheme

 

The Landfill Allowance Scheme would operate as a trading scheme for municipal waste, by allocating allowances to each waste disposal authority. The scheme was fully operational in England, where local authorities had to ensure that they held sufficient allowances to cover the actual amount of waste they intend to landfill in any financial year; with permits able to be traded between authorities. This scheme would soon be operational in Scotland.  However, costs for these permits could be up to £150 per tonne, with additional fines should targets not be achieved.

 

North of Scotland Strategic Outline Review (NOSSOR)

 

Members were reminded of the setting up of NOSSOR between Highland, Moray, Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire Councils with the objective of providing the Scottish Executive with a costed option on how the four areas could meet Landfill Directive targets. Their work towards the objective of submitting a single bid, the Strategic Outline Case (SOC), to the Scottish Executive on how to meet Landfill Allowance Targets was summarised. However the need for local solutions, the cost and associated problems of what NOSSOR’s proposals would mean for Highland, was emphasised to Members

 

Members welcomed the presentation and during discussion the following comments were made:

• Waste Management would be the most costly issue facing the Council in future years;
• European countries had approached the question of waste management in a variety of ways over a long period of time but, the UK had been too reliant on land filling waste and not addressing the long term problems of waste production and recycling;
• public awareness needed to be raised as there was an issue of re-education  and what could be done with waste;
• whilst remaining in the NOSSOR group, alternative solutions had to be analysed to provide Highland with options should the SOC be refused;
• it would be beneficial to look at what had been achieved in other countries, such as Denmark, who had successful, integrated systems that treated waste as a valuable resource; and
• there should be a focus on what Highland had achieved on recycling and composting in a very short time.

The Committee NOTED the presentation.

 

4. Portree Landfill Site

 

There had been circulated Report No TEC 4106 by the Director of Transport, Environmental and Community Services which sought approval to build a Waste Transfer Station at Portree Landfill Site as a contingency measure to ensure the continuation of the waste disposal provision in Skye and Lochalsh beyond 31 March 2007.

 

Following concern from Members, it was explained that, at present, it would not be possible to close the landfill site in Portree as there was no alternative waste disposal provision. The proposed plan to build a Waste Transfer Station was a contingency measure, should the planned extension to the existing cell not be completed before 31 March 2007. Members considered that in regard to the waste management presentation given earlier, Portree could be a prime site for a local solution, as part of the Strategic Outline Case of NOSSOR. In response to questions it was explained that the Waste Transfer Station would be situated at Portree as the infrastructure required for its daily operations was already on site. However this did not prevent the possibility of building a similar station on the mainland in the future, and Members would be kept informed of the progress with the site.

 

The Committee:

 

i. AGREED that a Waste Transfer Station be built at Portree Landfill Site as a
   contingency measure to ensure the continuation of the waste disposal
   provision in Skye and Lochalsh beyond 31 March 2007;

ii. APPROVED the cost of building the waste Transfer Station, estimated at
   £500k, being taken from the allocation for Portree Landfill Site as contained
   in the 5 year Capital Programme;

iii. NOTED that a further report would be made to Members once consultants
    had completed the design of the new cell; and

iv. AGREED that the Area Committee would be kept informed of progress
    with the project.

 

5. Waste Management Study: Denmark 22-24 May 2006

 

Members were informed that Councillors B J Murphy and J R Connell had attended a study tour to Denmark, organised by SEPA, to raise awareness in relation to sustainable methods of waste management. The visit had shown how Denmark considered waste a resource, and had a fully integrated Waste Management Plan with local solutions. The visit demonstrated how successful sustainable waste management could be and how other countries in Europe, such as Scotland, could address the issue of waste disposal.

 

The Committee HOMOLOGATED the visit.

 

6. Further Oil Tanker Incident at Kyle of Lochalsh

 

There had been circulated Report No TEC 4206  by the Director of Transport, Environmental and Community Services which advised Members of a incident at Kyle of Lochalsh, on 8 April 2006,  where the Oil Tanker MV “Crescent Connemara” grounded while passing under the Skye Bridge.

 

Following an inspection by divers, the vessel had reported only minor scratches on the hull, and then continued on its route to Milford Haven. There had now been two similar incidents within four months and the Highlands were fortunate that no pollution had occurred. Since the incident the oil company had employed a new Charter Company which, for navigation purposes intended to use an alternative route, around the outside of Skye where possible.

 

During discussion Members indicated that this further incident again highlighted the risk to the surrounding coast line and that improved safety measures for navigating in these stretches of water were required to prevent a further incident. Although the Charter Company had changed, this did not ensure there would be no future groundings in this area. It was considered useful that in addition to the recommendations, the Agencies involved should meet with the Council to discuss how further incidents could be avoided.

 

The Committee AGREED to recommend that the Council that:

 

i. a meeting be held with the appropriate Agencies with a view to introducing
   safety measures for navigating through the Sound of Sleat and the Highland
   Coastline generally, in order to avoid further incidents; and

ii. the owners of the vessel and the Charter Company be approached; and

iii. with a view to getting procedures tightened up so that there would be no
    repeat navigational errors and grounding incidents with this Charter
    Company.

 

7. Efficient Government for a National Management Framework for
    Roads

 

There had been circulated Report No TEC 4306 by the Director of Transport, Environmental and Community Services which sought approval from the Council to support the Stage 2 Efficient Government Fund (EGF) bid for a National Asset Management Framework for Roads, which was being promoted on behalf of all the Scottish Local Authorities by the Society of Chief Officers of Transportation in Scotland (SCOTS).

 

Members were reminded of the Efficient Government Plan, which had been published by the Scottish Executive in 2004 and outlined its strategy for improving the efficiency of the public sector. The EGF had been set up to provide grant support to Councils working in partnership to address issues raised in the Efficient Government Plan.

 

The Committee:-

 

i. AGREED to support the Stage 2 Efficient Government Fund bid for a
   National Asset Management Framework for Roads; and

ii. NOTED that a further report will be brought to Committee once the
   outcome of the Stage 2 bid is known.

 

8. Replacement and Refirbishment of Public Toilets

 

There had been circulated Report No TEC 4406  by the Director of Transport, Environmental and Community Services which sought approval to extend the programme for the replacement/ refurbishment of public toilets approved on 18 August 2005, in line with the allocation in the 5 year Capital Programme.

 

The Committee AGREED:

 

i. the replacement of the public toilets at Viewforth (Fort William) and Golspie
   be progressed as detailed in 3.3 of the report, and that the construction
   works be phased to suit the budget allocation in the Capital Programme;

ii. the refurbishment of the toilets at Castle Wynd continue to be included in
    the programme, however works be not progressed until the long term
    future of the toilets is established; and

iii. Area Committees be asked to submit their priorities for further projects,
     with a further report taken to a future Committee.

 

9. Extension of Car Parking Charges

 

There had been circulated Report No TEC 4506 by the Director of Transport, Environmental and Community Services which considered the introduction of car parking charges in towns and villages where these were not currently applied.

 

The details of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 which set out the legal basis for making Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs) which were required to control and charge for parking were explained. The Council’s Parking Policy provided that charging should only be introduced where a Traffic Management need existed. If parking charges were introduced where there was no traffic management issue, the Council would be liable to pay VAT on the charges levied. Locations for extending car parking charges had to be viable to ensure that the income covered the costs of establishing, maintaining and operating parking control schemes.

 

It was hoped that by undertaking car parking surveys during summer 2006 in the eight locations detailed in the report, it would allow a comprehensive analysis of the situation. Should traffic management problems be identified, a detailed assessment would then be carried out; however, if there was no traffic management issue were found, no further action would be taken.

 

During discussion the following comments were made:

• a survey in Nairn this summer would not give an accurate assessment of  traffic and parking facilities as, during the summer months, it was intended to build a new Community Centre. In addition a local supermarket was planning to extend its parking facilities and therefore a survey should be delayed until this building work had been completed;
• concern was expressed on the effect charging would have in Dingwall, where  the High Street businesses were only recently recovering from the opening of the Tesco supermarket in the area;
• describing the charging scheme in Fort Augustus as “successful” in the report, was considered misleading as the scheme had had negative effects on the local area;
• Alness had active traffic wardens until recently. However when they departed there had been no evidence of traffic management issues in the area;
• similarly, if there were problems with traffic management, it would be visible in the letters pages of local papers, and there was little evidence for this;
• at a time where Services had to identify areas for savings, it was considered an improper use of funds to carry out a survey where Local Members were not aware of any traffic problems
• despite initial opposition, car parking charges had been introduced in areas where there were traffic management issues, such as Fort William, Portree and Aviemore, and had proved successful;
• if the surveys did not identify a problem, then Members would have factual evidence that could be used should the issue be raised in the future; and
• in some areas it was a matter of education as to where people parked in relation to the towns facilities, not an issue of parking spaces.

Following discussion the Chairman, seconded by Mr D R Munro, MOVED that the Committee agree to the recommendations in the report.

 

As a FIRST AMENDMENT Mrs L Macdonald, seconded by Mr W M Fulton, moved that the Committee agree to the recommendations as in the report with the exception that a survey was not carried out in Nairn for approximately 18 Months, until building work on the Community Centre in the town was completed.

 

As a SECOND AMENDMENT, Mr G Smith, seconded by Mr D Millar that moved that carrying out survey work in the areas detailed in the report was not a prudent spend of money and a survey should only be undertaken where local members perceived a traffic management problem.

 

On a vote being taken between the FIRST AMENDMENT and the SECOND AMENDMENT, the FIRST AMENDMENT received 14 votes and the second amendment received 8 votes.

 

The votes cast being as follows:-

 

For the First Amendment:

 

Mr S Mackay, Mrs A L Magee, Mr W J Ross, Mr R MacIntyre, Mr E C Mackinnon, Mr J Laing, Mr W M Fulton, Mr C L Goodman, Mr N A Donald, Mr R Wynd, Mrs L Macdonald, Mr F D S Black, Mr B M S Dunlop, Mr B J Murphy

 

For the  Second Amendment:

 

Mr J H Green, Mr G M Smith, Mr W A Mowat, Mr A Rhind, Mr W Barclay, Mr A M Millar, Mr S J Shiels, Mr R J Lyon

 

On a vote being taken between the MOTION and the FIRST AMENDMENT, the motion received 15 votes and the first amendment received 9 votes and the MOTION was CARRIED.

 

The votes cast being as follows:-

 

For the Motion:

 

Mr G M Smith, Mr W A Mowat, Mr S Mackay, Mr R MacIntyre, Mr E C Mackinnon, Mr J Laing, Mr J Ford, Mr R J Lyon, Mr C L Goodman, Mr D R Munro, Mr N A Donald, Mr R Wynd, Mr C King, Mr T J MacLennan, Mr B J Murphy

 

For the First Amendment:

 

Mr J H Green, Mrs A L Magee, Mr W J Ross, Mr W Barclay, Mr W M Fulton, Mr S J Shiels, Mrs L Macdonald, Mr F D S Black, Mr B M S Dunlop

 

Accordingly, the Committee AGREED that:

 

i. transport consultants be appointed to carry out parking surveys during the
   peak summer months in the following towns, where the population was in
   excess of 5,000:

• Nairn;
• Thurso;
• Wick;
• Alness;
• Dingwall; and

in the following towns:

• Kyle of Lochalsh;
• Drumnadrochit
• Gairloch (Pier);
  

ii. where the initial parking survey identified traffic management problems
    relating to traffic congestion or insufficient parking, a detailed parking
    assessment be carried out to establish the viability of introducing a scheme
    for parking charges as a traffic management issue;

iii. where the initial parking surveys shows that there are no traffic
     management problems relating to traffic congestion or insufficient parking,
     no further action be taken; and

iv. a further report be submitted to the Committee once the initial surveys
     have been completed.

 

10. Consultation on the Implementation of the Railways Act 2005 -
      Provision and Closures and Minor Modifications

 

There had been circulated Report No TEC 4606 by the Director of Transport, Environmental and Community Services which advised Members of the consultation on “The Implementation of the Railways Act 2005 – Provisions on Closures and Minor Modifications.” The consultation closed on 21 April 2006.

 

It was highlighted to Members that the proposed amendments ensured that a railway station could not close without first going through a consultation process and therefore provided greater security against station closures. In response to concern expressed by Members in relation to full Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance (STAG) assessments being carried out, it was explained that such an assessment provided further safety against station closures as all alternative options had to be considered against environmental concerns.

 

The Committee NOTED the contents of the report and HOMOLOGATED the Council’s response to the consultation.

 

11. Consultation on Proposals for a New Approach to Delivering Public
      Transport Infrastructure Developments

 

There had been circulated Report No TEC 4706  by the Director of Transport, Environmental and Community Services which advised Members of the Scottish Executive’s Consultation on “Proposals for a New Approach to Delivering Public Transport Infrastructure Developments”. The consultation closed on 19 May 2006.

 

The Committee NOTED the contents of the report and HOMOLOGATED the Council’s response to the consultation.

 

12. Consultation on Scotland's National Transport Strategy

 

There had been circulated Report No TEC 4806 by the Director of Transport, Environmental and Community Services which informed Members of the consultation issued by the Scottish Executive. The consultation was due to close on 13 July 2006 and Members were asked for any additional comments they would like make on the response.

 

During discussion the following comments were made:

• the consultation looked at model of operations for the whole of Scotland, with no acknowledgement as to the differing needs of urban and rural communities or varying needs within rural and urban areas themselves;
• the balance of spend on new and existing infrastructure could not be a standard equation for Scotland as a whole;
• concessionary fares were only viable when there was infrastructure in place to allow the public to access services;
• comment was required on access to concessionary schemes, for example elderly people not having the resources to make advance bookings for many services;
• concern was expressed over questions which implied there was no need for regeneration in rural areas of Scotland, such as the Highlands, which was felt to be inaccurate as many rural areas also needed sufficient resources for regenerating the local economy;
• there should be no response that promoted the application of ring fenced funding; and
• there was a need to stress that, should there be improvement in transportation networks between Southern parts of Scotland and the rest of the UK, rural areas such as Highland needed to be included when working towards a more integrated transport network.

The Committee AGREED that:

 

i. further detail following the concern expressed by Members be added to the
   consultation;

ii. specific issues relating to the Highlands be emphasised in the response; and

iii. Members submit any further comments to the Head of Transport and
    Infrastructure prior to the submission date of 13 July.

 

13. Consultation on the Revision of the Highway Code

 

There had been circulated Report No TEC 4906 by the Director of Transport, Environmental and Community Services which advised Members of a Consultation on changes to the Highway Code. The consultation closed on 10th May 2006.

 

The Committee NOTED the contents of the report and HOMOLOGATED the Council’s response to the consultation.

 

14. Enforcement of the Ban on Smoking in Enclosed Places

 

There had been circulated Report No TEC 5006 by the Director of Transport, Environmental and Community Services which advised Members of the measures taken to ensure compliance with the ban on smoking in enclosed places and sought approval for the Council’s Smoking Enforcement Policy.

 

Members were informed that the smoking ban had been effectively implemented from the commencement date and that a non-confrontational, educational and supportive approach had been adopted in relation to enforcement and compliance which had proved successful. The Council’s enforcement policy would follow the guidance that had been issued by the Scottish Executive.

 

The Committee NOTED the contents of the report and AGREED the Smoking Enforcement Policy as detailed in Annex 1 of the report.

 

15. Food Safety Service Plan - 2005/2006 and 2006/2007 Targets

 

There had been circulated Report No TEC 5106 by the Director of Transport, Environmental and Community Services which contained the review of the 2005/2006 Food Safety Service Plan and sets targets for the 2006/2007 period.

 

The Committee NOTED the review of the 2005/2006 Food Safety Service Plan and APPROVED the specific targets set for the 2006/2007 period.

 

16.  Formal Identification of Contaminated Land

 

There had been circulated Report No TEC 5206 by the Director of Transport, Environmental and Community Services which sought Members approval to formally identify the land at 25-71 Joss Street, Invergordon as contaminated land.

 

The Committee AGREED to formally identify the land at 25-71 Joss Street, as outlined in Annex 1 of the report, as contaminated land in terms of Part IIA of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 on the basis that soil contamination, within the area of the former gasworks process, presented an unacceptable risk to residents.

 

17. Consultation on Consumer Representation and Redress

 

There had been circulated Report No TEC 5306 by the Director of Transport, Environmental and Community Services on the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) consultation on Consumer Representation and Redress. The consultation had set out a clear vision as to how the current, fragmented range of consumer represented bodies could be brought together as a more coherent consumer advocacy body. Key objectives of the proposals aimed to encourage companies to take responsibility for resolving customer complaints, or to pay for ombudsman related services where the company and consumer could not reach an acceptable solution. The consultation closed on 19 April 2006.

 

The Committee:-

 

i. NOTED the contents of this report; and

ii. HOMOLOGATED the Councils response to the DTI consultation on
    Consumer Representation and Redress.

 

18. Penalty Point System for Licensed and Private Hire Car Operators
      and Drivers

 

Mr N Donald declared a financial interest in this item, item 19 and item 21 as a taxi driver/owner and left the room for all items concerned.

 

There had been circulated Report No TEC 5406  by the Director of Transport, Environmental and Community Services, which advised the Members of the details of the Penalty Point System for Licensed Taxi and Private Hire Car Operators (PHC) and Drivers which Members of the Civic Government Licensing Working Group agreed to recommend be introduced. It was explained to Members that this scheme is separate to what is carried out through the Road Traffic Act, and would be seen as an extension and codification of the existing Trading Standards Enforcement Policy.

 

The Committee NOTED the details of the Penalty Point System for Licensed Taxi and PHC Operators and Drivers.

 

19. Civic Government Licensing - Taxi/Private Hire Car Enforcement

 

There had been circulated Report No TEC 5506 by the Director of Transport, Environmental and Community Services which advised Members of the pro-active inspections and enforcement activity carried out by Trading Standards up until the end of the fourth quarter of 2005/2006, in respect of Taxis and Private Hire Cars (PHCs) licensed by the Council. The report included the names and details of those license holders found to be non-compliant since January 2006.  Members questioned whether vehicles used by voluntary operators when receiving financial support from the Council, where subject to the same level of inspections as taxi and private hire cars.

 

The Committee NOTED the current level of pro-active inspections and enforcement activity carried out by Trading Standards in respect of Taxis and PHCs licensed by the Council under the terms of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 and AGREED that the standards of inspection for vehicles used by voluntary operators and for school transport when receiving financial support from the Council be investigated with a view to similar standards of inspection and safety applying.

 

20. Civic Governement (Scotland) Act 1982 - Review of Conditions
      and Standards for Houses in Multiple Occupation

 

There had been circulated Report No TEC 5606  by the Director of Corporate Services which invited Members to approve the recommendations agreed by the Civic Government Licensing Working Group at its meeting on 11 May 2006 relative to a number of changes to the conditions and standards in respect of the licensing of Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs).

 

The report explained that as part of the ongoing review and evaluation of Civic Government licensing conditions, officers had been considering the continued relevance and applicability of the existing conditions and standards in relation to HMOs and that certain amendments had been proposed largely to reflect revised national guidance.

 

The Committee:-

 

i. APPROVED the proposed changes to the conditions and standards relating
   to HMO licenses as detailed in report; and

ii. AGREED to the implementation of the changes on the basis outline in the
    report.

 

21. Review of Taxi Tariff: Consultation

 

There had been circulated Report No TEC 5706 by the Director of Corporate Services which advised the Committee of the details of the recommendations of the Civic Government Licensing Working Group in relation to revised tariff for taxi fares.

 

The revision to the tariff was as follows:

• tariff 1 incurred a £0.50 increase in the initial fare/flag drop;
• tariff 3 would apply on Boxing day; and
• the soiling charge would increase to a maximum of £60.00.

The Committee was reminded of the statutory duty of the Council to review the Taxi Tariff every 18 months, should the Committee consent to the proposed tariff, the Council would proceed to give Public Notice of its intention by circulating the review process in the Highland Area.

 

The Committee AGREED to the revised tariff and that the revised tariff be advertised in the Press throughout the Highland Area.

 

22. Minutes

 

There were NOTED or APPROVED, as appropriate Minutes of the:

 

i. Civic Government Licensing Working Group of 5 April 2006  subject to the
   concern expressed over transport contracts issued by other Council Services
   not meeting the same standards as licensed taxis in terms of inspections to
   conform with roadworthiness, be raised with these Services (Education,
   Culture and Sport and Social Work);

 

ii. Civic Government Licensing Working Group of 11 May 2006;

 

iii. Fishery Harbours Management Board of 13 April 2006;

 

iv. Waste Strategy Sub Committee of 18 April 2006;

 

v. Highland Home Safety Liasion Group of 25 April 2006;

 

vi. Community Works Working Group of 26 April 2006; and

 

vii. Community Projects Working Group of 26 April 2006.

 

 

The meeting ended at 1:20pm.