A meeting of the Transport, Environmental and Community Services Committee will take place in the Council Chamber, Council Headquarters, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness on Thursday 7 November 2013 at 10.30 am.

Webcast Notice: This meeting will be filmed and broadcast over the Internet on the Highland Council website and will be archived and available for viewing for 12 months thereafter.

You are invited to attend the meeting and a note of the business to be considered is attached.

Yours faithfully

Michelle Morris
Assistant Chief Executive

Business

1. Apologies for Absence
Leisgeulan

2. Declarations of Interest
Foillseachaidhean Com-pàirt

Members are asked to consider whether they have an interest to declare in relation to any item on the agenda for this meeting. Any Member making a declaration of interest should indicate whether it is a financial or non-financial interest and include some information on the nature of the interest. Advice may be sought from Officers prior to the meeting taking place.

3. Review of Recycling Point Network  
Ath-sgrùdadh air Lìonra nan Ionadan Ath-chuairteachaidh

There is circulated Report No TEC-75-13 (48kb pdf) dated 25 October 2013 by the Director of Transport, Environmental and Community Services which considers the Council’s Recycling Point Network and invites Members to agree that glass recycling should continue through the Council’s network of recycling points unless there is a legal imperative which requires the method of collection to change, that further work is undertaken to examine the options to change the use of the paper and can banks and that a review of textiles collection is undertaken with a view to contracting out the collection service to realise an income.

The Committee is invited to approve:-

i. that glass recycling should continue through the Council’s network of
    recycling points unless there is a legal imperative which requires the  
    method of collection to change;
ii. that further work is undertaken to examine the options to change the use
    of the paper and can banks, including the costs and benefits, with a report
    on the outcome taken to a future Committee; and
iii. that a review of textiles collection is undertaken, in consultation with our
    Social Enterprise Partners, to explore the options for efficient and effective
    collection of this wastestream, with a report on the outcome taken to a
    future Committee.

4. Statutory Food Waste Collections  
Togail Reachdail Sgudail Bìdh

There is circulated Report No TEC-76-13 (29kb pdf) dated 25 October 2013 by the Director of Transport, Environmental and Community Services inviting Members to note the introduction of statutory food waste collections in Inverness ahead of the date set out in the Waste (Scotland) Regulations 2012 and that the actual tonnages of food waste diverted from landfill will be monitored on a regular basis, together with the ongoing revenue costs associated with the collection service, to establish the overall financial position which will be taken account when setting future budgets.

The Committee is invited to note:-

i. the introduction of statutory food waste collections in Inverness ahead of
    the date set out in the Waste (Scotland) Regulations 2012; and
ii. that the actual tonnages of food waste diverted from landfill will be
    monitored on a regular basis, together with the ongoing revenue costs
    associated with the collection service, to establish the overall financial
    position which will be taken into account when setting future budgets.

5. Cattle and Deer Grids Policy  
Poileasaidh Chliathan Chrodh is Fhiadh

There is circulated Report No TEC-77-13 (44kb pdf) dated 25 October 2013 by the Director of Transport, Environmental and Community Services inviting Members to approve the updated Policy for the installation and maintenance of Cattle and Deer Grids as contained in Appendix A to the report.

The Committee is invited to:-

i. approve the Cattle and Deer Grids Policy as contained in Appendix A of the
    report; and
ii. note that the one-off Maintenance Charge will be increased annually in line
    with inflation, as per the Council Policy.

6. Coastal Flood Warning Schemes – Firth of Lorn/Loch Linnhe and Moray Firth 
Sgeamaichean Rabhaidh Thuiltean Cladaich – An Linne Latharnach/An Linne Dubh agus Linne Mhoireibh

There is circulated Report No TEC-78-13 (52kb pdf) dated 25 October 2013 by the Director of Transport, Environmental and Community Services updating Members of the partnership working undertaken by the Council and SEPA to develop flood warning systems for the Firth of Lorn/Loch Linnhe  and the Moray Firth.  The report also includes information on a new tidal surge model for the Firth of Lorne/Loch Linnhe which went live at the end of October 2013 and an update on the position in relation to the development of a tidal model for the Moray Firth area.

The Committee is invited to:-

i. note the details of the tidal surge model for the Firth of Lorne/Loch Linnhe
    which went live at a Partner Workshop on 30 October 2013, and
ii. approve that the Council continues to work in partnership with SEPA to
    develop a tidal surge model for the Moray Firth area to help develop a
    coastal flood warning scheme for the eastern coastline of the Highland
    area.  Further information on the scope of this model, including any
    resource implications for the Council, will be reported to a future
    Committee.

7. Food Standards Agency Audit of Shellfish Sampling Activities – July 2013  
Sgrùdadh le Buidheann nan Inbhean-bìdh mu Ghnìomhan Samplachaidh air Maorach

There is circulated Report No TEC-79-13 (182kb pdf) dated 25 October 2013 by the Director of Transport, Environmental and Community Services updating Members on the findings of the Food Standards Agency audit carried out in July 2013 of Shellfish Sampling Activities provided by the Environmental Health team.

The Committee is invited to note the Food Standards Agency Audit report and the Action Plan.

8. Appointment of Public Analyst, Food Examiner and Agriculture Analyst 
Cur-an-dreuchd Mion-sgrùdaire Poblach, Rannsachair Bìdh agus Mion-sgrùdaire Àiteachais

There is circulated Report No TEC-80-13 (23kb pdf) dated 25 October 2013 by the Director of Transport, Environmental and Community Services inviting the Committee to appoint and authorise Mr Robert Beattie as Public Analyst, Food Examiner and Agriculture Analyst for the Highland Council and to delegate the powers to appoint under section 27 of the Food Safety Act 1990 to the Environmental Health Manager and the powers to appoint under section 67 of the Agriculture Act 1970 to the Trading Standards Manager.

The Committee is invited to:-

i. appoint and authorise Mr Robert Beattie as Public Analyst, Food Examiner
    and Agriculture Analyst for the Highland Council, and 
ii. agree to recommend to the Council that the Scheme of Delegation is
    amended to delegate the powers to appoint under section 27 of the Food
    Safety Act 1990 to the Environmental Health Manager and the powers to
    appoint under section 67 of the Agriculture Act 1970 to the Trading
    Standards Manager.

9. Highland Consumer Partnership 
Com-pàirteachas Luchd-cleachdaidh na Gàidhealtachd

There is circulated Report No TEC-81-13 (85kb pdf) dated 25 October 2013 by the Director of Transport, Environmental and Community Services inviting Members to support the Highland Consumer Partnership, an initiative which brings together the Council’s Trading Standards team, all eight Highland Citizens Advice Bureaux and Citizen’s Advice Scotland.  The partnership aims to bring the knowledge, powers and experience of all the participants together to achieve a better deal for Highland consumers.

The Committee is invited to support the Highland Consumer Partnership and the continued involvement of Trading Standards in its on-going development.

10. Green Transport Strategy – Update 
Ro-innleachd Còmhdhalach Uaine – Fios às Ùr

There is circulated Report No TEC-82-13 (28kb pdf) dated 25 October 2013 by the Director of Transport, Environmental and Community Services updating Members on the work which is being undertaken in partnership with HITRANS and other key stakeholders to produce a Green Transport Strategy for the Highlands.

The Committee is invited to note progress on the work which is being undertaken in partnership with HITRANS and other key stakeholders to produce a Green Transport Strategy for the Highlands.

11. Transport in Remote Communities – Glenelg Research Project       
Còmhdhail ann an Coimhearsnachdan Iomallach – Pròiseact Rannsachaidh Ghlinn Eilg

There is circulated Report No TEC-83-13 (132kb pdf) dated 25 October 2013 by the Director of Transport, Environmental and Community Services updating Members on the outcome of the Robert Gordon University study into rural transport options for the Glenelg area and inviting Members to approve that a pilot project is taken forward for the area based on the bottom-up option proposed by Robert Gordon University.

The Committee is invited to:-

i. note the contents of the Robert Gordon’s study into rural transport options
    for the Glenelg area; and
ii. approve that a pilot project is taken forward for the area based on the
    bottom–up option proposed by Robert Gordon University.  This project is
    to run for a period of 12 months at which time it will be assessed and
    reviewed.

12. Performance Management: Statutory and Internal Performance Indicators
Rianachd Coileanaidh: Comharran Coileanaidh Reachdail agus air an Taobh A-staigh

There is circulated Report No TEC-84-13 (19kb pdf) dated 25 October 2013 by the Director of Transport, Environmental and Community Services providing details of Transport, Environmental and Community Services performance, as measured by Statutory Performance Indicators and Internal Performance Indicators, for the first quarter of the financial year 2013/14.

The Committee is invited to note the performance of Transport, Environmental and Community Services in relation to Service activities that are measured by Statutory Performance Indicators and Internal Performance Indicators.

13. Storm Damage 14/15 December 2012 – Final Costs 
Milleadh Stoirm 14/15 Dùbhlachd 2012 – Cosgaisean Deireannach

There is circulated Report No TEC-85-13 (43kb pdf) dated 25 October 2013 by the Director of Transport, Environmental and Community Services updating Members on the final costs in relation to the repairs to the damage which occurred to harbours and coastal structures during the storm surge on 14/15 December 2012.

The Committee is invited to note:-

i. note the final cost of works to repair the damage to Council harbour
    facilities and coast defence structures;
ii. note that a further report providing details of the repairs proposed for
    Dunbeath harbour wall will be submitted to the Fisheries Harbours
    Management Board; and
iii.  approve that the Council continues to provide advice and support to
    privately owned facilities which have been affected by the storm surge.

14. Revenue Budget 2013/14 – Monitoring 
Buidseat Teachd-a-steach 2013/14 –Sgrùdadh

There is circulated Report No TEC-86-13 (60kb pdf) dated 25 October 2013 by the Director of Transport, Environmental and Community Services inviting Members to approve the revenue monitoring position for the period 1 April 2013 to 30 September 2013.

The Committee is invited to approve the report and the monitoring statements which show the revenue position for the period 1 April 2013 to 30 September 2013 and the actions which have been put in place to manage the budget over the remainder of the financial year.

15. Capital Expenditure 2013/14 – Monitoring 
Caiteachas Calpa 2013/14 – Sgrùdadh

There is circulated Report No TEC-87-13 (57kb pdf) dated 25 October 2013 by the Director of Transport, Environmental and Community Services inviting Members to approve the capital expenditure monitoring position for the period 1 April 2013 to 30 September 2013.

The Committee is invited to approve the capital expenditure monitoring position for the period 1 April 2013 to 30 September 2013.