Strategic Committee Reports the Impact on the Tain and Easter Ross Ward

Housing and Social Work Committee – 12 March 2008

  1. Delivering New Care Homes: Site Identification
     
    This report advises Committee Members of the progress being made in identifying suitable sites for the new build care homes and seeks approval to progress to outline planning permission in respect of the suitable identified sites following due consultation.
     
    The sites identified in Tain are:
     
    Chapel Street – further ground surveys need to be undertaken to assess the foundation depths and whether the decontamination carried out in 1992 will comply with current legislation

    Craighill Terrace – that discussion take place with the Planning Service, TEC Services and the housing developers to clarify the costs and timescale of the adjoining developments and for this site to be the reserve site if Chapel Street does not proceed.
     
  2. Highland Common Housing Register Progress Report

    This report provides an update in progress on implementing the Highland Housing Register and seeks approval of the revised Highland Housing Register Allocations Policy.  The recommendations in the report include that the implementation date be moved to 1 May 2008 to maximise the opportunity for applicants to register.
     
  3. Handyperson Scheme

    This report provides an update on the existing handyperson scheme which operates in the Highlands.  In addition, the report proposes how a scheme could be provided within Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch & Strathspey and how the services offered by existing schemes could be extended.  The report also proposes that funding be made available to meet part of the cost of operating services across Highland.


    Education, Culture and Sport Committee – 13 March 2008
     
  4. Healthy Living Centre – Funding Update
     
    This report asks Committee to agree that the Education, Culture and Sport Service continue to act on behalf of the Janny’s House and Healthways in discussions with NHS Highland in order to ensure the speedy allocation of funds for the one year transition funding, pursue longer term funding discussions with NHS Highland colleagues and continue with Big Lottery funding applications on behalf of both Health Living Centres as part of this process.

    Planning, Environment and Development Committee – 19 March 2008
     
  5. Membership of the Planning, Environment and Development Committee

    The Committee noted the agreed change to Committee membership which was that Cllr A Torrance take the place of Provost R Wynd on the Planning, Environment and Development Committee.  It was agreed that Cllr A Torrance become a member of the Inner Moray Firth Ports and Sites Strategy Working Group.
     
  6. Nigg Fabrication Yard – Update

    Officers met with representatives from Highlands and Islands Enterprise and Consultants on 14 March 2008 to discuss the awarding of the contract to prepare the Nigg Master Plan.  The contract has been awarded to Halcrow and Mackay Consultants. Work on the Master Plan is is scheduled for completion in mid July.
     
  7. Highland Fresh Mussels Ltd – Financial Report and Out-turn 2006/2007

    This report presents the financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2007 for Highland Fresh Mussels Ltd.  The report also provides brief details of the activities of Highland Fresh Mussels Ltd. during the current financial year (2007/08).
     

    Transport, Environmental and Community Services Committee – 10 April 2008
     
  8. Additional Funding to Improve Recycling and Landfill Diversion

    This report supports the Administration’s commitment to increase recycling to 40% by 2010 and setting out proposals for allocating the additional £1.662m for recycling identified within the Revenue Budget for 2008/09.

    In the report the Committee is invited to approve the:-
     
    i. extension of the kerbside recycling service by providing five additional refuse collection vehicles and creating 13 operational posts (5 drivers/8 loaders) to carry out a monthly kerbside mixed dry recyclable (paper, card, cans, plastics) collection, similar to a number of schemes already operating in Scotland, to households in rural Highland;
     
    ii. creation of four Waste Awareness Officer posts to assist in getting the waste reduction and recycling message across to communities and
    individuals in the long term, and in the first instance to support the roll out of the rural kerbside service;
     
    iii. provision of recycling facilities for plastic bottles in the main recycling centres at Wick, Thurso, Alness, Inverness, Granish, Nairn, Fort William, Dingwall and Tain;
     
    iv. continued funding of the Social Enterprise Network, which delivers waste diversion services on behalf of the Council, for a further year at the funding level provided through the Strategic Waste Fund in 2007/08.
     
  9. Bulky Uplift Service: Proposed Amendment to Policy

    This report is seeking approval to amend the policy for the bulky uplift service for certain household wastes by removing black bag waste for the list of approved items.  This proposal is designed to reduce the amount of waste going to landfill and to support the Administration’s commitment to increase the amount of waste recycled in the Highlands to 40% by 2010.

    In the report the Committee is invited to agree that:-
      
    i. the policy for the bulky uplift service for certain household wastes be   amended by removing black bag waste, with the consequence that      the bulky uplift service will be limited to household waste which falls into the following categories:-
     
    • any article which cannot fit into the normal domestic bin
    • any article which weighs over 25kg; and
     
    ii. the amended policy be introduced from 1 July 2008 to allow sufficient time to advise the public of the changes.
     
  10. The Fairer Scotland Fund – Developing the Highland Strategy

    This report provides an update on the Fairer Scotland Fund introduced by the Government to help tackle poverty and deprivation in Scotland over the next three financial years, 2008 to 2011.
    The Fairer Scotland Fund builds on previous programmes and refocusin activety in those Highland datazones in the 15% most deprived in Scotland (using the 2004 Scottish Index for Multiple Deprivations).
    Allocation of funding for 2008-9 to specific and qualifying communities for employability and area based services inlcudes £71,000 Fearn Partnership (Datazone Balintore)
    The Committee is asked to approve that work begins to identify activities and services for the reamining qualifying datazones which  inlcudes Milton and Kildary and by engaging with these communities to gear up for the funding available from 2009-10 onwards.
     
  11. CCTV – Extension of Monitoring Contract

    This report seeks approval for renewal of the CCTV Monitoring Contract with Remploy Managed Services Ltd until 31st March 2009 at a cost of £129,461. This includes the CCTV operation in Tain.

    Audit and Scrutiny Committee  - 17 April 2008

    The next Meeting of the Highland Council will be on Thursday 8 May 2008.

    The reports presented to the Strategic Committee can be found on the Highland Council website     www.highland.gov.uk under “Minutes and Agendas”