A meeting of Transport, Environmental and Community Services Committee will take place in the Council Chamber, Council Headquarters, Inverness on Thursday 17 August 2006 at 10.30am.
You are invited to attend the meeting and a note of the business to be considered is attached.
Yours faithfully,
Alistair Dodds
Director of Corporate Services
Declarations of Interest – 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.
1. Apologies for Absence
2. Recess Powers
The Committee is asked to note that the recess powers granted by the Council at its meeting on 29 June 2006, have not been exercised in relation to the business of the Transport, Environmental and Community Services Committee.
3. Highland Home Safety Liaison Group – Membership
Following the death of Mrs M A MacLennan a vacancy has arisen on the Highland Home Safety Liaison Group. The Group considers matters relating to improving safety in the home for Highland communities. There is one other Member, Councillor J Ford on the Group.
The Committee is invited to appoint a Member as a representative of the Council to fill this vacancy.
4. Revenue Budget Outturn Report 2005/2006
There is circulated Report No TEC 58/06 by the Director of Transport, Environmental and Community Services which informs Members of the Service outturn for the year ended 31 March 2006. The report highlights that the outturn shows an overspend of £0.635 million (1.2%) out of a net budget of £52.609 million and details of the Service activities are shown in the attached monitoring statement and Appendices.
The Committee is invited to note the report and the attached schedules showing the revenue monitoring position for the year ended 31 March 2006.
5. Revenue Budget Monitoring Report 1 April to 30 June 2006
There is circulated Report No TEC 59/06 by the Director of Transport, Environmental and Community Services which sets out the revenue monitoring position for the period to 30 June 2006 and the projected year end position.
The Committee is invited to note the above information as well as the attached schedules showing the revenue monitoring position for the period to 30 June 2006.
6. Revised Revenue Budget 2006/2007
There is circulated Report No TEC 60/06 by the Director of Transport, Environmental and Community Services which seeks approval for the revised Revenue Budget for financial year 2006/2007.
The Committee is invited to agree the Revised Revenue Budget for 2006/2007 and the proposed distribution by function and Area as outlined at Appendices 1 and 2 of the report.
7. Capital Programme Outturn - 2005/2006
There is circulated Report No TEC 61/06 by the Director of Transport, Environmental and Community Services which summarises the final capital expenditure position for the 2005/06 financial year.
The Committee is invited to note the final capital expenditure position for the year ended 31 March 2006.
8. Capital Expenditure Monitoring – 1 April to 30 June 2006
There is circulated Report No TEC 62/06 by the Director of Transport, Environmental and Community Services which summarises the capital expenditure monitoring position for the period to 30 June 2006 and the projected year end position.
The Committee is invited to note the capital expenditure monitoring position.
9. Updated Service Plan 2006-2009
There is circulated Report No TEC 63/06 by the Director of Transport, Environmental and Community Services which introduces the draft Service Plan 2006 to 2009.
The Committee is invited to approve the Service Plan for 2006 to 2009.
10. Performance Management: Statutory Performance Indicators & Internal Performance Indicators
There is circulated Report No TEC 64/06 by the Director of Transport, Environmental and Community Services which provides details of Transport, Environmental and Community Services’ performance as measured by Statutory Performance Indicators and Internal Performance Indicators, during the financial year 2005/2006 (unaudited).
The Committee is invited to note the performance of Transport, Environmental and Community Services in relation to Service activities that are measured by Statutory Performance Indicators and Internal Performance Indicators.
11. Water Environment (Controlled Activities) Regulations 2005 – Charging Scheme
There is circulated Report No TEC 65/06 by the Director of Transport, Environmental and Community Services which updates Members on the outcome of the consultation by the Scottish Executive on the proposed charging scheme for the authorisation of engineering activities under the Water Environment (Controlled Activities) Regulations 2005 (CAR). Members are invited to note the positive influence of the Council’s response to the consultation in that fewer activities will be regulated than originally proposed by SEPA, however there will still be pressures on the revenue and capital budgets as a result of the implementation of the CAR Scheme of Charges.
The Committee is invited to note:
i. that the Council’s response to the Scottish Executive appears to have had a
positive influence on the list of controlled activities to be regulated; and
ii. that there will be pressures on the revenue and capital budgets depending
on the number and complexity of controlled activities in particular works and
projects.
12. Scottish Road Maintenance Condition Survey – 2005/06
There is circulated Report No TEC 66/06 by the Director of Transport, Environmental and Community Services which updates Members on the results of the Scottish Road Maintenance Condition Survey carried out in 2005/06.
The Committee is invited to note the results of the 2005/06 survey.
13. Award of Public Transport Contracts
There is circulated Report No TEC 67/06 by the Director of Transport, Environmental and Community Services which advises Members on the outcome of the recent tendering exercise for subsidised bus and taxi services for the 5 years from 2007 to 2011.
The Committee is invited to award the contracts for subsidised bus and taxi services in accordance with the recommendations contained in Appendix A to the report.
14. Cycle Infrastructure Projects
There is circulated Report No TEC 68/06 by the Director of Transport, Environmental and Community Services which details the proposals for the allocation of the 2006/2007 capital budget for cycling infrastructure included in the TEC Services Capital Programme.
The Committee is invited to approve the list of cycling infrastructure projects listed in paragraph 2.1 of the report, with phasing into 2007/2008 as detailed in paragraph 2.2 of the report.
15. A851 Broadford to Armadale Road Improvements - Phase 5
There is circulated Report No TEC 69/06 by the Director of Transport, Environmental and Community Services which seeks Members approval for the Award of Tender for the A851 Broadford to Armadale Road Improvement Scheme – Phase 5A Duisdale to Duisdalemore.
The Committee is invited to approve the Award of Tender for Phase 5A (Duisdale to Duisdalemore) of the A851 Broadford to Armadale to contractors R J McLeod Ltd.
16. Update on North of Scotland Strategic Options Review
There is circulated Report No TEC 70/06 by the Director of Transport, Environmental and Community Services informing Members of the work of the North of Scotland Strategic Review (NOSSOR) Group, and gives details to the Committee of a high level action plan which it is proposed to submit to the Scottish Executive’s Scottish Waste Management Review Panel on 25 August 2006.
The Committee is invited to note the progress made to date in relation to NOSSOR and approve the presentation of a high level action plan to the Scottish Executive’s Scottish Waste Management Review Panel on 25 August 2006.
17. Consultation on Regulations of Sunbed Parlours Bill
There is circulated Report No TEC 71/06 by the Director of Transport, Environmental and Community Services which advises Members of the Consultation on the regulation of Sunbed Parlours Bill which is being promoted by Kenneth Macintosh MSP.
The Committee is invited to note the contents of the report and homologate the Councils response to the consultation.
18. Consultation on Welfare of Animals During Transportation
There is circulated Report No TEC 72/06 by the Director of Transport, Environmental and Community Services which updates Members on the Consultation on relation to EU measures relating to welfare of the implications of the amendments and possible derogations that the Scottish Executive European and Rural Affairs Department (SEERAD) can apply.
The Committee is invited to:
i. note the contents of the report; and
ii. homologate the Council’s Response to the Consultation which supports the
proposals for the selected use of derogations in the Welfare of Animals
During Transport Regulations and deferred application of ramp angles of
vehicles.
19. Private Water Supplies
There is circulated Report No TEC 73/06 by the Director of Transport, Environmental and Community Services which outlines the duties placed on the Council from the Private Water Supplies (Scotland) Regulations 2006, the associated proposed charging scheme, and the provisions of the Private Water Supplies (Grants) (Scotland) Regulations.
The Committee is invited to note the contents of the report and agree to the proposed charges set out in Section 3 of the report.
20. Children and Young Persons (Protection from Tobacco) Act 1991
There is circulated Report No TEC 74/06 by the Director of Transport, Environmental and Community Services which summarises that the Council must consider at least every twelve months, a programme of enforcement action under the Children and Young Persons (protection from Tobacco) Act 1991.
The Committee is invited to approve the practical enforcement policy for 2006/2007 in relation to the Children and Young Persons (Protection from Tobacco) Act 1991 as detailed in the recommendations of the report.
21.Taxi/ Private Hire Cars (PHC) Enforcement – 1st Quarter 2006/2007
There is circulated Report No TEC 75/06 by the Director of Transport, Environmental and Community Services which advises Members if the level of pro-active inspections and enforcement activity carried out by Trading Standards during the first quarter of 2006/2007, in respect of Taxi’s and Private Hire Cars (PHCs) licensed by the Council under the terms of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982.
The Committee is invited to note the current level of pro-active inspections and enforcement activity carried out by Trading standards in respect of Taxi’s and PHCs licensed by the Council under the terms of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982.
22. Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 – Licensing of Skin Piercing and Tattooing
There is circulated Report No TEC 76/06 by the Director of Corporate Services which updates Members on the implementation of the licensing requirement for skin piercing and tattooing which was mandatory and came into effect on 1 April 2006. The report highlights the difficulties wit the application of the statutory conditions and recommends that Area Committees and Officers defer determining relevant applications until the outcome of a review of the conditions being undertaken by the Scottish Executive is known.
The Committee is invited to agree that any relevant applications that come before Committees or officers be recommended for deferral pending the Scottish Executive’s review of conditions relating to skin piercing/tattooing.
23. Taxi Fares: Outcome of Consultation
There is circulated Report No TEC 77/06 by the Director of Corporate Services which advises the Committee of the recommendation of the Civic Government Licensing Working Group of 8 August 2006, following its consideration of the responses received to the public advertisement of the proposed revised scale of the maximum fares that can be charged by taxis and private hire cars fitted taxi meters.
The Committee is invited to consider the recommendations of the Civic Government Licensing Group in relation to determining a revised tariff structure for Taxi and private hire cars fitted with taxi meters and approve:
(i) the fare structure as detailed in Appendix 1 to this report; and
(ii) the introduction of any revised tariff being postponed until no earlier than
Monday 18 September 2006.
24. Office of Fair Trading and Local Authority Trading Standards Service – Programme of Joint Action
There is circulated Report No TEC 78/06 by the Director of Transport, Environmental and Community Services which advises Members of the Office if Fair Trading (OFT) programme to shape joint action between the Local Authority Trading Standards Services.
The Committee is invited to:
i. note the contents of the report; and
ii. support the enhanced role of the Office of Fair Trading as Champion of
Trading Standards Service.
25. Minutes
There are circulated for noting or approval as appropriate Minutes of the:-
i. Highland Cylce Forum of 6 June 2006; and
ii. Fishery Harbour Management Board meeting of 22 June 2006 ; and
iii. Civic Government Licensing Working Group of 8 August 2006.