Minutes of Meeting of the Transport, Environmental and Community Services Committee held in the Council Chamber, Council Headquarters, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness on Thursday 16 August 2007 at 10.30 am.
Present:
Mr R Pedersen, Mr G Farlow, Mr R Rowantree, Mr J Rosie, Mr D Bremner, Mr R Coghill, Mr J McGillivray, Mr I Ross, Mr R Greene, Mrs J Urquhart, Ms M Smith, Mr R Durham, Mr A Rhind, Mrs A MacLean, Mr A Henderson, Mr A Graham, Mr P Corbett, Mr N Donald, Mr F Parr, Mr I Brown, Mr A Park, Mr S Black, Mr B Murphy
Non-Members also present:
Mr G Smith, Mrs I Campbell, Dr D Alston, Mrs I McCallum, Mr D Millar, Mrs P Munro, Mr D Kerr
In attendance:
Mr N Gillies, Director of Transport, Environmental and Community Services
Ms T Snow, Head of Business Support
Mr A Thomson, Head of Environmental Health and Trading Standards
Mr R Guest, Head of Roads and Community Works
Mr S MacNaughton, Head of Transport and Infrastructure
Dr C Clark, Head of Waste Management
Mr M Mitchell, Finance Manager
Mr A Yates, Principal Environmental Health Officer
Mr J Allison, Principal Administrator, Chief Executive’s Office
Miss M Murray, Administrative Assistant, Chief Executive’s Office
Mr R Pedersen 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
1. Apologies
An apology for absence was intimated on behalf of Mr J Laing.
2. Recess Powers
The Committee NOTED that the Recess Powers granted by the Council at its meeting on 28 June 2007 were exercised in relation to funding allocated to specific schools from the Cycling, Walking and Safer Streets Programme.
3. Scheme of Delegation
There was circulated and NOTED an extract of the Scheme of Delegation and Administration showing the functions delegated to the Transport, Environmental and Community Services Committee.
4. Establishment of Working Groups and Boards (Report No TEC-37-07)
The Committee AGREED:-
i. that the following Working Groups/Boards be established, the membership
based on the formula set out in the report:-
Resources Monitoring Working Group
Independent (3)
Mr J McGillivray
Mr A Rhind
Mr J Rosie
Liberal Democrat (2)
Mr R Durham
Mr I Ross
SNP (2)
Mr R Pedersen
Ms M Smith
Labour (1)
Mr B Murphy
Civic Government Licensing Working Group
Independent (3)
Mr R Coghill
Mr P Corbett
Mr N Donald
Liberal Democrat (2)
Mr A Black
Mrs A MacLean
SNP (2)
Mr I Brown
Mr R Pedersen
Labour (1)
Mr F Parr
Fishery Harbours Management Board
Independent (3)
Mr R Greene
Mr A Henderson
Mr J Laing
Liberal Democrat (2)
Mr R Durham
Mr R Rowantree
SNP (2)
Mr G Farlow
Mr R Pedersen
Labour (1)
Mr B Murphy
ii. a) that the Highland Council participate in the Tanker Traffic in the Minch
Working Party, the membership based on the formula set out in the
report as follows:-
Independent (2)
Mr R Greene
Mr J Laing
Liberal Democrat (1)
Mr A Graham
SNP (1)
Mr R Pedersen
Labour (0)
b) to appoint Mr D Bremner (SNP) to the Tanker Traffic in the Minch Working
Part until a review of the need for a joint Working Party with Orkney Islands
Council had been considered in light of navigation in and through the
Pentland Firth;
* c) to recommend to the Council that Dr M Foxley (Liberal Democrat) be
appointed to the Tanker Traffic in the Minch Working Party
iii. that the Chairman and Vice Chairman be appointed to represent the Council
on the Home Safety Liaison Committee, a Special Meeting be called to
consider its future and, subject to agreement from other Members, the
Committee be wound up in terms of its constitution on the basis that its
functions would be included in the new community safety partnership
arrangements.
5. Appointment of Representatives to Outside Bodies
i. Scottish Accident Prevention Council
The Committee AGREED the following nominations:-
- Home Safety Committee: Mr P Corbett (Independent)
- Road Safety Committee: Mr G Farlow (SNP)
- Water and Leisure Safety Committee: Mr R Greene (Independent)
ii. HITRANS Tier 1 Ferry Users Consultation Groups
The Committee AGREED:-
a) the following appointments:-
- Argyll Group: Dr M Foxley (Liberal Democrat)
- Lochaber and Skye Group: Mr A Henderson (Independent), Mr J Laing (Independent) and Mr R Pedersen (SNP)
- Hebrides Group: Mr J Laing (Independent); and
b) that the Board of HITRANS be asked to take account of any overlap in the
topics to be discussed by the Argyll and Lochaber and Skye Groups.
iii. The Highland Area Waste Group
The Committee AGREED:-
a) the following appointments:-
Independent (2)
Mr J Laing
Mr A Rhind
Liberal Democrat (1)
Mr I Ross
SNP (1)
Mr R Pedersen
Labour (0)
b) that the Highland Area Waste Group be asked to include Mr B Murphy in
the Council’s membership; and
c) that the Highland Area Waste Group be asked to consider the appointment
of substitutes for the Council’s representatives.
5A. Additional Item: Appointment to Tourism Project Group
The Committee AGREED to appoint the Vice Chairman.
6. Revenue Budget Outturn 2006/07
There was circulated Report No TEC-38-07 by the Director of Transport, Environmental and Community Services which informed Members of the Service outturn for the year ended 31 March 2007 and highlighted that the outturn showed an overspend of £0.008m out of a net budget of £54.072m.
The Committee:-
i. NOTED the report and the monitoring statements which showed the
revenue position for the year ended 31 March 2007; and
ii. AGREED to investigate if the recently announced study on Road Equivalent
Tariffs (RET) charges on inter-island ferries would apply to ferries to remote
peninsulas such as the Corran Ferry.
7. Revenue Budget Monitoring 2007/08
There was circulated Report No TEC-39-07 by the Director of Transport, Environmental and Community Services which set out the revenue monitoring position for the period 1 April to 30 June 2007. The report highlighted that there were no major issues or variances and that, based on the financial performance to date, it was predicted that the budget as a whole would be balanced at the end of the financial year.
The Committee NOTED the report and the monitoring statements which showed the revenue position for the period to 30 June 2007.
8. Capital Programme Outturn 2006/07
There was circulated Report No TEC-40-07 by the Director of Transport, Environmental and Community Services which set out the final capital expenditure position for the financial year 2006/07. The report highlighted that the final outturns for expenditure and income were £25.007m and £8.905m respectively leading to an underspend of £0.164m which would be carried forward to the 2007/08 Capital Programme.
The Committee NOTED the final capital expenditure position for the year ended 31 March 2007.
9. Capital Expenditure Monitoring – 1 April to 30 June 2007
There was circulated Report No TEC-41-07 by the Director of Transport, Environmental and Community Services which summarised the capital expenditure monitoring position for the period 1 April to 30 June 2007 and highlighted that the projected outturns for expenditure and income were £18.544m and £5.179m respectively leading to a balanced Capital Programme for 2007/08.
The Committee:-
a) NOTED:-
i. the capital expenditure monitoring position; and
ii. the delay in the start of the Raasay Ferry Terminal and the restoration of
Portree Landfill Site; and
b) APPROVED the proposal to bring forward the start of the final phase of
the A851 Broadford to Armadale road improvement to avoid an underspend
in 2007/08.
10. Storm Damage 2006 - Update
There was circulated Report No TEC-42-07 by the Director of Transport, Environmental and Community Services which updated Members on progress in dealing with the damage to flood defences and the road infrastructure following the extreme flooding event in October 2006, and which sought approval to make a further request for financial assistance to the Scottish Executive to complete outstanding works.
The Committee:-
i. NOTED that £5.092m of expenditure had been incurred or legally committed by 31 July 2007;
ii. AGREED that the Council submit a further request for financial assistance to The Scottish Executive for £1,668,366 to fund fully the works which had been committed and to complete the outstanding works, including repairs to community assets;
iii. NOTED that areas of minor damage to the road infrastructure would be dealt with through routine maintenance works;
iv. AGREED that the replacement of the Thurso Bridge be expedited;
v. AGREED that the Director of Transport, Environmental and Community Services notify the relevant Ward Manager by 23 August 2007 of the anticipated completion date for the replacement of Quebec Bridge, Glen Aldie, Tain; and
vi. AGREED that the maintenance of roadside ditches and drains be reviewed to ensure that they were being maintained to the required standard.
11. Revision to Staffing Structure
Following the implementation of the changes to the management structure which were approved by the Transport, Environmental and Community Services Committee on 16 November 2006, there was circulated Report No TEC-43-07 by the Director of Transport, Environmental and Community Services which set out proposals for the operational staffing structures in relation to Environmental Health, Waste Management, Roads and Community works and Street Lighting.
The Director explained the revised structures, the process involved in their implementation and their relation to the revised operational areas.
The Committee:-
i. APPROVED the recommendations as set out in the report; and
ii. AGREED:-
a) to keep the revised staffing structure under review to ensure that it met
the needs of the Service; and
b) that a request for budget information relating to the new operational Areas
and Multi-Member wards be referred to the Director of Finance.
12. Waste Management Strategy
There was circulated Report No TEC-44-07 by the Director of Transport, Environmental and Community Services which set out proposals for developing the Council’s Waste Management Strategy and supported the Administration’s commitment to work to meet the Landfill Allowance Trading Scheme targets to limit the amount of biodegradable waste going to landfill by 2009/2010.
The Head of Waste Management explained the discussions taking place with the Scottish Executive on funding to extend recycling to further areas of the Highlands and methods of treatment such as Waste to Energy.
The Committee AGREED to:-
i. take the following actions to avoid penalties under the Landfill Allowance
Trading Scheme:-
- continue to develop the Strategic Outline Case for waste management with Moray Council
- develop a waste management strategy for the West Zone, including the option for small Energy from Waste Plant(s); and
ii. extend the current contractual arrangements for the disposal of waste with
the following companies for one year to March 2009, subject to a
satisfactory outcome of negotiations on price with each company:-
- Stoneyhill Waste Management, Peterhead (Inner Moray Firth)
- Lochiel Logistics, Duisky Landfill, Duisky (Lochaber)
- Oran, Carron Landfill, Falkirk (Skye)
13. Community Sector Waste Group Review of 2006/07 and Way
Forward
There was circulated Report No TEC-45-07 by the Director of Transport, Environmental and Community Services which reviewed the performance of the Community Sector Waste Groups in receipt of Strategic Waste Funds (SWF) in 2006/07 and sought approval to submit further applications to The Scottish Executive to enable the sector to deliver services on behalf of the Council beyond 2008.
The Committee:-
i. NOTED the progress made by the Council’s social enterprise partners to
date; and
ii. APPROVED a submission of continuation bids from current providers and
new bids to The Scottish Executive for funding through the Strategic
Waste Fund.
14. Inverness Trunk Link Road – Timetable for Design and Construction
There was circulated Report No TEC-46-07 by the Directors of Transport, Environmental and Community Services and Planning and Development which advised Members of the timetable for the design and construction of the Inverness Trunk Link Road and supported the Administration’s commitment to work with the Scottish Government and HITRANS to secure funding for the Inverness Trunk Link Road, linking the A96 at Smithton to the A9 at Inshes through to the A82 at Torvean, with a target completion of the whole project by 2015.
The Committee NOTED the timetable for the design and construction of the Trunk Link Road.
15. HITRANS and European Funding – Locally Significant Roads
There was circulated Report No TEC-47-07 by the Director of Transport, Environmental and Community Services which advised Members of potential funding which might be available through HITRANS and through the new European Programme and which made recommendations for particular projects to be developed and taken forward for construction in 2008/09.
The Committee AGREED that:-
i. projects be worked up on the following routes in order that they were
ready for submission to the European fund by September 2007, subject to
these projects not requiring any statutory approvals and the availability of
immediate land entry.
- B8007 – Salen to Kilchoan
- A896 – Kinlochewe to Lochcarron
- A855 – Portree to Staffin; and
ii. powers be delegated to the Director of Transport, Environmental and
Community Services in consultation with the Chairman of the Transport,
Environmental and Community Services Committee, to determine the detail
and extent of the above projects which would be subject to the availability
of funding from external sources.
16. Local Transport Strategy
There was circulated Report No TEC-48-07 by the Director of Transport, Environmental and Community Services outlining the process and indicating timescales for consultation and production of the Council’s Local Transport Strategy.
The Committee:-
i. NOTED the proposed timescales for the production of the Council’s Local Transport Strategy; and
ii. APPROVED the proposed consultation arrangements for the Local Transport Strategy as set out in the report.
17. Road Traffic Order Procedure
There was circulated Report No TEC-49-07 by the Director of Transport, Environmental and Community Services which set out proposals for a revised Road Traffic Order Procedure and recommended that for routine Road Traffic Orders, where there were no objections, powers to make permanent Road Traffic Orders be delegated to the Director of Transport, Environmental and Community (TEC) Services. Where objections were received, or in any case where the Director of TEC Services decided that the matter should be referred for decision to the TEC Services Committee, or speed limits, where the proposals did not comply with the Council’s policy, the powers to make the permanent Road Traffic order be reserved to the TEC Services Committee.
The Committee AGREED:-
* i. to recommend to the Council the approval of the Highland Council Traffic
Order Procedure 2007 as set out in the report; and
ii. that the Director of Transport, Environmental and Community Services
investigate any outstanding Road Traffic Orders approved by former Area
Committees but not yet implemented, particularly in Ross and Cromarty.
18. Asset Management
There was circulated Report No TEC-50-07 by the Director of Transport, Environmental and Community Services which advised Members of the proposal by the Society of Chief Officers of Transportation in Scotland (SCOTS) to work with all 32 Scottish Local Authorities to develop an asset management system for the road and bridge infrastructure.
The Committee AGREED:-
i. to support the proposal by the Society of Chief Officers of Transportation in
Scotland (SCOTS) to work with all 32 Scottish Local Authorities to develop
an asset management system for the road and bridge infrastructure;
ii. to the appointment of Glasgow City Council as Lead Authority; and
iii. the funding of £15,000 (maximum) for 2007/08, with funding for future
years agreed between participating authorities.
19. Sewers for Scotland and SUDS – A Consultation
There was circulated Report No TEC-51-07 by the Director of Transport, Environmental and Community Services which provided details of responses submitted as a result of a) the consultation by Scottish Water on the Sewers for Scotland 2 technical manual; and b) the consultation by The Scottish Executive on Water, Sewerage and Drainage Infrastructure: Construction Standards and Vesting Conditions.
The Committee AGREED to homologate the responses made to both of the above consultation documents.
20. Appointment of Chief Inspector of Weights and Measures
The Director of Transport, Environmental and Community Services explained that the Highland Council was designated as a local weights and measures authority for the purposes of the Weights and Measures Act 1985 and Section 72 of the Act required the local authority to appoint a Chief Inspector of Weights and Measures and a Deputy Chief Inspector of Weights and Measures with both being required to hold a statutory certificate of qualification issued under Section 73 of the Act. He asked the Committee to recommend that the Council make formal appointments to the posts.
* The Committee AGREED to recommend to the Council that the following statutory appointments be made:-
i. Chief Inspector of Weights and Measures: Robert Jones, Principal Trading
Standards Officer
ii. Deputy Chief Inspector of Weights and Measures: Gordon Robb, Principal
Trading Standards Officer.
21. Outcome of the Peer Review of Highland Council’s Trading
Standards Unit
There was circulated Report No TEC-52-07 by the Director of Transport, Environmental and Community Services which advised Members of the outcome of the Peer Review process undertaken in relation to the Council’s Trading Standards Unit and which sought Committee approval of the Improvement Plan.
The Committee NOTED the contents of the Peer Review Team’s report and APPROVED the Improvement Plan.
22. The Private Water Supplies (Scotland) Regulations 2006 and The
Private Water Supplies (Grants) (Scotland) Regulations 2006
There was circulated Report No TEC-53-07 by the Director of Transport, Environmental and Community Services which sought the Committee’s agreement of a procedure for the award of enhanced grants to eligible persons to improve a private water supply.
The Committee:-
i. APPROVED the procedure for dealing with applications for Enhanced Private Water Supply Grants as detailed in the report; and
ii. AGREED that applications for Enhanced Private Water Supply Grants be dealt with by the Resource Monitoring Working Group.
23. Review of Food Service Plan for 2006/07 and Food Service Plan
Targets for 2007/08
There was circulated Report No TEC-54-07 Director of Transport, Environmental and Community Services which contained the review of the 2006/07 Food Safety Service Plan and set targets for 2007/08.
The Committee:-
i. NOTED the review of the 2006/07 Food Safety Service Plan; and
ii. APPROVED the specific targets set for 2007/08.
24. Communicable Diseases Procedure
There was circulated Report No TEC-55-07 by the Director of Transport, Environmental and Community Services which updated the Committee on procedures for dealing with foodborne, waterborne or other communicable disease incidents requiring the co-ordination of the Council’s resources outwith Environmental Health.
The Committee APPROVED the Communicable Disease Incident Response Procedure.
25. Minutes
There were circulated and NOTED the minutes of HITRANS held on 22 June 2007.
The meeting ended at 12.55 pm.