Appendix 1

Response to Action Points Raised at Tain and Easter Ross Ward Forum on 23 August and 4 October 2007

  • The transfer of resources within TEC Services, in respect of Easter Ross, are still being finalised with posts being identified to transfer across.  TEC Services intends to complete full transfer of any vacant posts within 12 months.  Further updates in relation to this issue will be brought to future Ward Forums.
  • The Work Programmes for Surfacing and Surface Dressing are currently being worked on.  When the proposed programmes are finalised they will be discussed with the Elected Members for Tain and Easter Ross to ensure that resources are being targeted to ensure maximum efficiency and effectiveness for the Ward.  These programmes will then be presented to the Ward Forum for information and discussion.
  • The Winter Maintenance Programme for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross has now been produced – TEC services have advised that as a result of route rationalisation, due to the more efficient use of larger capacity vehicles, savings have been possible. However, operations remain within Highland Council Policy.  This may have the effect that a number of priority 4 routes in the Tain and Easter Ross Ward will not now be treated until after 8.00am.  A copy of the Winter Maintenance Programme is available should anyone wish to look at it.
  • Following the last Tain and Easter Ross Ward Forum the preferred option for signage and road marking at the Delny Level Crossing was passed to TEC Services (Roads and Community Works Manager) who has confirmed that the signs have been ordered and should be received in approximately 3 weeks.  The installation of the signs will then be programmed into TEC Services workload and it is hoped that the signs will be in place before Christmas. The white lining will be completed in the Spring of 2008.
  • During a recent meeting in Tain with the Police and Street Lighting the issue of visibility for cars entering Moss Road from Provost Fergus Drive was raised.  It was agreed by those present that the junction generally is difficult to manoeuvre out of and cutting back the hedge, even diagonally, may give a bit but not much more vision; drivers would still need to be cautious.  The Police advised that they have monitored the speed of cars on Moss Road but found that few vehicles were excessively exceeding the speed limit.
  • The Community Works Officer and Community Works Manager from TEC Services have met recently to consider the issue of trees overhanging paths and intend to write to individual properties asking that the overhang be cut back.