• Agenda
  

Minutes of Meeting of the Transport, Environmental and Community Services Committee held in the Council Chambers, Council Headquarters, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness on Thursday 28 September 2006  at 10:30am.

 

 

Mr C King in the Chair

 

Preliminaries

 

1.           Apologies for Absence

 

Apologies for absence had been intimated on behalf of Mr A MacDonald; Mr J Connell; Mr B Barclay; Mr A Millar; Mr W Fulton; Mr J Shiels; Mr D Munro; Mr R Wynd and Mr T MacLennan.

 

2.            Good News

Members were informed of the recent opening of the new ferry terminals serving the Small Isles and Inverie. The Chairman congratulated the project team for the successful completion of what had been a challenging project.  The Committee also noted that the tenders for the new ferry terminal at Raasay were due to be returned by the end of this year.

 

3.           Presentation – Bridges

 

The Chief Structural Engineer gave a presentation to Members on recent projects that had been undertaken to upgrade and replace a number of bridges along with proposals for future projects. Details were given of the twenty projects; eleven of which had been completed within the capital programme and nine had been replaced through Road Improvement Funding.  The need to continue forward planning was emphasised and this required funding to be identified in the Capital Programme for preliminary design, including site investigation.

 

During discussion Members NOTED the work that had been achieved in the last three years and commented that preparatory work for future projects should be undertaken if at all possible to allow the continuation of the programme. 

 

The Committee NOTED the presentation.

 

4.           Revenue Budget Monitoring Report – 1 April to 31 August 2006

 

There had been circulated Report No TEC 79/06 by the Acting Director of Transport, Environmental and Community Services which set out the revenue monitoring position for the period 1 April to 31 August 2006, and the projected year end position.

 

The Committee NOTED the information contained in the report and the attached schedules which showed the revenue monitoring position for the period.

 

5.           Capital Expenditure Monitoring – 1 April to 31 August 2006

 

There had been circulated Report No TEC 80/06 by the Acting Director of Transport, Environmental and Community Services which summarised the capital expenditure monitoring position for the period 1 April to 31 August 2006, and the projected year end position.

 

It was highlighted to Members that, while at present, the estimated outturns for expenditure and income showed a balanced programme for 2006/2007, this was likely to be revised following the consideration of the capital programme at the meeting of the Committee on 16 November 2006.

 

The Committee NOTED the capital expenditure monitoring position.

 

6.           Award of Contract for Allt an t-Strathain Bridge

 

There had been circulated Report No TEC 81/06 by the Acting Director of Transport, Environmental and Community Services which sought approval for the Award of Contract for the Allt an t-Stathain Bridge. The report detailed that the estimated allowance for the bridge replacement in the Capital Programme is £390,000. However, based on the lowest tender the overall budget price for the work was £493,313.43, which would be managed by the re-phasing of other projects.

 

The Committee AGREED to approve an Award of Contract for the Allt an t-Stathain Bridge to R J MacLeod (Contractors) Ltd.

 

7.           Performance Management: Statutory Performance Indicators & Internal Performance Indicators 

 

There had been circulated Report No TEC 82/06  by the Acting Director of Transport, Environmental and Community Services which provided details of the Service’s performance, as measured by Statutory Performance Indicators and Internal Performance Indicators, during the first quarter of financial year 2006/07.

 

Members were informed that as the report detailed the results from the first quarter, there were no major concerns at present. It was highlighted that the drop in the performance figure for grounds maintenance was due to the effects of the reduction in non-essential overtime and Members’ attention was drawn to the new indicators.

 

The Committee NOTED the performance of Transport, Environmental and Community Services in relation to Service activities that were measured by Statutory Performance Indicators and Internal Performance Indicators

 

8.            Continued Funding for 20MPH around Schools, Cycling, Walking and Safer Streets and a School Travel Co-ordinator beyond March 2008

There had been circulated Report No TEC 83/06 by the Acting Director of Transport, Environmental and Community Services which outlined the Scottish Executive’s current funding stream for 20 mph speed limits around schools, Cycling Walking and Safer Streets and provision of a School Travel Co-ordinator, and for which no assurance had been received confirming the funds would continue after the current conclusion of the programme in March 2008.

 

During discussion the following comments were made:

 

·        it would be prudent to seek assurances that funding would continue after 2008 and accordingly a letter should be sent to the Scottish Executive;

·        it was estimated that after March 2008, 20% of schools in the Highlands would still require 20mph speed limits to be implemented;

·        priorities in each area were allocated by the Area Roads and Community Works Manager according to local requirements;

·        due to the delay on guidance from the Scottish Executive, fewer 20mph limits had been put on unrestricted roads and there was a greater need to put speed limits on such roads; and

·        there was an agreed protocol involving all local authorities regarding the procedure for reducing speed limits, dependant on the location of the road.

 

The Committee AGREED to support the proposal to write to the Scottish Executive seeking an assurance that the funding for 20 mph speed limits around schools, Cycling Walker Safer Streets and a School Travel Co-ordinator would continue beyond March 2008 and in the event of no further funds being allocated, to prioritise 20mph limits at schools on un-restricted roads.

 

9.           Network Rail Consultation on the Scotland Route Utilisation Strategy

 

There had been circulated Report No TEC 84/06 by the Acting Director of Transport, Environmental and Community Services which proposed a response to the “Route Utilisation Strategy – Draft for Consultation” document recently published by Network Rail.

 

Members felt there was a need to stress the disappointment felt over the lack of consideration given to Highland routes in the consultation as well as a need to highlight inaccuracies regarding Highland contained in the document. It was explained to Members that there had been a separate “Room for Growth” study undertaken by HITRANS and its partners and the findings would be incorporated into the consultation response. Members welcomed the “Room for Growth” study and commentated that it was necessary to promote the economic importance of investment in the Highland railway network and its rail links to central Scotland and Aberdeen.

 

The Committee AGREED:

 

(i)         the Council’s formal response to the Network Rail “Route Utilisation Strategy” incorporated the points identified in paragraph 4.1 of the report along with the points raised by Members during discussion and also key outputs from the “Room for Growth” Study;

(ii)       that the response stress the disappointment over the lack of consideration given to routes in, to and from Highland and highlight any inaccuracies Highland within the consultation document; and

(iii)      that the final response be submitted by the Acting Director in consultation with the Chairman and Depute Chairman for Transport once the  HITRANS and Highland Rail Partnership views were known and the final “Room for Growth” study was concluded.

 

10.       Shared Services – Civil Engineering Design Consultancy 

 

There had been circulated Report No TEC 85/06 by the Acting Director of Transport, Environmental and Community Services which sought approval to enter into formal discussions with the local authorities in the HITRANS area to explore the possibility of setting up a Civil Engineering Design Consultancy Partnership within the Highlands and Islands.

 

Members stressed the need to retain such expertise in the Highlands and the Committee AGREED:

 

(i)         to give the Head of Transport and Infrastructure authority to enter into formal discussions with representatives for the Local Authorities in the HITRANS area to develop a Framework Agreement for a formal partnership in relation to civil engineering design and associated services; and

(ii)       that once the Framework Agreement had been developed, a report be submitted to the Committee seeking approval for the detailed proposals.

 

11.       Update on North of Scotland Strategic Options Review

 

There had been circulated Report No TEC TEC 86/06  by the Acting Director of Transport, Environmental and Community Services which updated Members on the progress of the North of Scotland Strategic Options Review (NOSSOR) group.

 

Members were reminded of the NOSSOR’s progress to date and of the details of the meeting with the Scottish Executive Review Panel on 25 August 2006, where Highland and Moray had presented a high level action plan to explore options for sustainable waste management solutions covering both Council areas. Aberdeenshire and Aberdeen City had felt that they were not in a position to present a review at the time of meeting with the Scottish Executive. However all groups still awaited information from the Scottish Executive who were developing a simplified, financial model.  

 

The Committee NOTED the progress made to date and AGREED to support the work being carried out by the Head of Waste Management, in conjunction with Moray Council to develop further proposals for joint waste management solutions for Highland and Moray Councils.

 

12.       The Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006

 

There had been circulated Report No TEC 87/06 by the Acting Director of Transport, Environmental and Community Services which updated members on the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 which received Royal Assent on 11 July 2006, and the possible implications for the Council.

 

The Committee AGREED to approve additions to the Scheme of Delegation and Administration to Officers as follows:-

 

(iii)      the delegation of powers to Animal Health Officers and Environmental Health Officers to carry out enforcement duties in terms of Part 2 of the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006;

(iv)     the delegation of powers to the Senior Animal Health Officer (in consultation with the Head of Environmental Health) to instigate summary proceedings under Section 44 (animal fighting offences) and Section 46 (all other offences) of the Animal Health and welfare (Scotland) Act 2006; and

(v)       that the Animal Health Section of Environmental Health be renamed the “Animal Health and Welfare Section”.

 

13.       Public Access to Information about Radioactive Sources and Mobile Radioactive Apparatus

 

There had been circulated Report No TEC 88/06  by the Acting Director of Transport, Environmental and Community Services informing Members of the Scottish Executive’s Direction regarding Public Register information held by the Highland Council in terms of the Radioactive Substances Act 1993 and which explained that, in the interest of national security, local authorities would no longer receive information from SEPA regarding new applications and were therefore asked to ensure any such information was removed from public record.

 

The Committee NOTED the Scottish Executive Direction and AGREED that information regarding application and registrations under the Radioactive Substances Act 1993 be removed from public inspection.

 

14.       Food Safety Awards

 

There had been circulated Report No TEC 89/06 by the Acting Director of Transport, Environmental and Community Services which updated Members on the implementation of the Eatsafe Hygiene awards and reported on the introduction of a new healthy living award.

 

Details of the two schemes were highlighted to Members and they were informed of the success of the following businesses which had received the Eatsafe Hygiene Award:

 

·        Caffe Cino based at LivingWell Inverness Premier health club in Inshes Retail Park, Inverness;

·        The Abernethy Trust, Nethybridge;

·        Glen Hotel, Newtonmore;

·        Hilton Coylumbridge Hotel;

·        Rolls Royce Vulcan, Dounreay; and

·        Harbour Lites, Gairloch.

 

The Healthliving award had been launched by the Scottish Consumer Council and the Scottish Executive in August 2006, and hoped to build on the success of the former Scottish healthy choice award. The Chest, Heart and Stroke Coffee Shop, Inverness was one of only five businesses in Scotland to have received the Healthyliving award to date.

 

The Committee NOTED the progress of the Eatsafe awards and the introduction of the new Healthyliving awards and AGREED:

 

(i)         the continued involvement of Environmental Health with the Eatsafe award; and

(ii)       the proposed involvement with the new Healthyliving awards.

 

15.       Consultation on Changes to Food Safety Monitoring

 

There had been circulated Report No TEC 90/06  by the Acting Director of Transport, Environmental and Community Services which advised members of a consultation issued by the Food Standards Agency on the monitoring of Food Safety work carried out by local authorities.  The key proposals introduced new outcome measures for assessing the impact of local authority food safety work and simplified the overall reporting process.

 

The Committee NOTED the key proposals to change the monitoring system and APPROVED the Council’s response to the Consultation as detailed in the report.

 

16.       Petroleum Consolidation Act 1928 – Revision of Petroleum Licence Conditions

 

There had been circulated Report No TEC 91/06  by the Acting Director of Transport, Environmental and Community Services which asked members to review and adopt the revised Licence Conditions which applied to Petrol Filling Station Operators. The new conditions simplified the obligations placed on licence holders and reduced the duplication from the application of any other Health and Safety legislation and therefore did not place any additional burdens on licensees.

 

The Committee AGREED to adopt the revised Petrol Licence Conditions as appended to the report and to their subsequent issue to all Petrol Filling Stations with immediate effect for any new licences and with effect from 1 January 2007 for all existing licences.

 

17.       Taxi Fares: Representation on Revised Scheme of Maximum Charges

 

Mr N Donald declared a financial interest in this item as a taxi driver/owner and left the room.

 

At its meeting on 17 August 2006, the Committee approved a revised scale of maximum fares that could be charged by taxis and private hire cars fitted with taxi meters. An appeal against the revised scale had been submitted to the Traffic Commissioner by certain Operators and a response on behalf of the Council had been prepared.

 

The Committee NOTED that the revised fares could not be introduced until the Traffic

Commissioner had dealt with the appeal.

 

18.       Minutes

 

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

 

(iii)      HITRANS meeting of 5 May, 2 June, 7 July, 4 August, all 2006;

(iv)     Waste Strategy Sub Committee of 29 August 2006;

(v)       Community Works Working Group of 30 August 2006;

(vi)     Community Projects Working Group of 30 August 2006; and

(vii)    Highland Cycle Forum of 5 September 2006.

 

The meeting closed at 11:40am.