Response to Action Points Raised at Tain and Easter Ross Ward Forum on 23 August, 4 October, 22 November 2007 and 31 January 2008

  • Staff resources within TEC Services are still progressing with posts currently advertised for permanent operatives for the Tain and Easter Ross area. 
     
  • The Work Programmes for Surfacing and Surface Dressing are still being worked on and it is anticipated that these will be ready by end of March beginning April 2008.    When the proposed programmes are finalised they will be discussed with the Elected Members for Tain and Easter Ross and taken to a future Ward Forum for information. 
     
  • The Community Works Officer and Community Works Manager are currently working on a list of properties where there are branches overhanging footpaths with a view to writing to the residents within the next two weeks.
     
  • Network Rail have agreed that the Level Crossing Manager will approach the properties that border the Delny Level Crossing to ask whether they will consider cutting back the hedging.  The additional signs have been received and should be installed within the next month.  The rumble strips will be provided in April/May when the machinery and manpower is available.
     
  • Feedback in relation to the meeting that took place in Milton has now been received from the representative from Albyn Housing Society who have confirmed that the walkabout was a constructive exercise, and a good opportunity to meet Community Council members.  Several issues were raised during the walkabout mostly regarding gardens in poor condition. Without going into the specifics, action has been taken with the aim of improving the situation. Some of the garden issues were on-going and efforts continue with these.
     
    Albyn Housing Society’s Housing Office  reported that he was pleased that there did not appear to be any major issues affecting the village and the Albyn managed properties.
     
    Kilmuir and Logie Easter Community Council have been provided with an update of the information received.
     
  • The Members leaflet has been amended to include some of the suggestions made at the Ward Forum on 31 January 2008.  The leaflet will be discussed further at the Ward Forum on 6 March 2008 and will then be distributed to communities.
     
  • The question relating to the disposal of scrap metal was raised with the TEC Services who have confirmed that there are substantial costs associated with the handling and recycling of the scrap from their site which are offset by the income received. At the present time the income covers just under 66% of the transfer costs only and excludes the management / admin / operator costs associated with running the facility.  As the quality of the scrap collected is pretty poor this is reflected in the price paid which is currently £23 per tonne. If there is a down turn in the scrap market then the income will reduce but the transport costs if anything will probably continue to increase. 
     
  • TEC Services have provided information in relation to the revised opening times of the Recycling Centre and the question relating the hours of operation during the summer months.  TEC Services confirmed that the new opening hours for the site has meant that throughout the year they are the same. Although there may be a perception that the hours during the summer months have been reduced (as they did open until 8.00pm two nights per week), in reality the site is open for more hours than previously as it is open all day Saturday when before it mainly closed at 1.00pm (apart from Nov to March when the site was open 9.30 to 3.30 Tues to Sat). The site operative also advised that during these late evening opening hours there were sometimes as few as half a dozen householders coming in to use the site between 6.00pm and 8.00pm. The revised hours have slightly increased the previous revenue costs but it was felt that the equalised hours throughout the year removed the confusion created before when the opening hours varied from season to season. They also give more members of the public the opportunity to access the site as it was previously mainly closed on a Saturday afternoon when more people would have been able to use it. There is no more funding available to extend the hours any further.
     
  • The discussion relating to the reclassification of the harbours has been rescheduled from the Harbour and Fishery Boards Meeting to be held on 28 February 2008 to the meeting of the Board on 28 May 2008 to address some of the concerns, further consult and to consider the representations.  TEC Services Harbours Manager will attend a future Ward Forum if required.