Agendas, reports and minutes

A meeting of the Lochaber Area Committee will take place in the Council Chamber, Lochaber House, High Street, Fort William on Tuesday, 26 August 2014 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
Depute Chief Executive/
Director of Corporate Development

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 plac

3. Recess Powers
Cumhachdan Fosaidh

The Committee is asked to note that the recess powers granted by the Council at its meeting on 26 June 2014 did not require to be exercised in relation to the business of the Lochaber Area Committee.

4. Engaging With Police and Fire and Rescue Services at Area Committee        
A’ Com-pàirteachadh le Seirbheisean Poileis agus Smàlaidh is Teasargainn aig Comataidh Sgìreil         

There is circulated Report No LA/22/14 dated 6 August 2014 by the Head of Policy and Reform describing the role of Members in engaging with the new national services for police and fire and rescue. It is provided as context for the Members in considering the first round of performance reports from the national bodies at Area Committee.

The Committee is asked to:-

i. note the requirements on the Council for the engagement and scrutiny of police and fire and rescue services;
ii. note the governance arrangements we have for this purpose through strategic, non-strategic and Area Committees as well as partnership arrangements through community planning and district partnerships;
iii. note that local Members have important engagement and scrutiny roles; but have no role in specifying operational matters or in agreeing resource allocation; and
iv. agree to scrutinise the performance of police and fire and rescue services based on information provide separately for the Area Committee and to make use of the good practice guidance for doing this as set out in Appendix 2.

5. Police – Performance Summary          
Poilis Geàrr-chunntas an Dèanadais

There is circulated Report No LA/23/14 dated 12 August 2014 by the Highland South Area Commander for Police providing a local summary update to Committee Members on progress with reference to the local priorities within the Highland 2014-17 Policing Plan. 

The Committee is invited to scrutinise and discuss the progress report in relation to the 5 Priorities: Road Safety, Alcohol and Drug Abuse/Misuse, Antisocial Behaviour/Disorder, Crimes of Dishonesty and Protecting People.

6. Fire and Rescue Service      
Seirbheis Smàlaidh is Teasairginn

There is circulated Report No LA/24/14 dated 6 August 2014 by the Local Senior Officer for Fire and Rescue setting out the key areas of planned activity and performance identified during Ward consultation sessions in 2013.  In this regard, in separate booklets A & B, there is also circulated:-

i. Area Committee Plan for Lochaber for 2014-15 (Booklet A); and
ii. Lochaber Performance Report (Booklet B).

The Committee is invited to comment and scrutinise both the Plan and Performance Report.

7. UHI - Provision of Further/Higher Education in Lochaber       
OGE – Solar Foghlam Adhartach/Àrd-ìre ann an Loch Abar

Lydia Rohmer, Principal, West Highland College (UHI) will make a presentation on provision of Further and Higher Education in Lochaber.

The Committee is invited to note the presentation.

8. Update on Town Centre Action Plan     
Fios Às Ùr air Plana-gnìomh Meadhan Baile

There is circulated Report No. LA/25/14 dated 14 August 2014 by the Director of Development and Infrastructure updating Members on the feedback from a consultation event aimed at addressing Town Centre Regeneration in Fort William and subsequent progress on the preparation of a Fort William Town Centre Action Plan.  The report sets out a portfolio of preferred projects to increase footfall in the town centre and is intended to assist in applications for funding towards delivering such improvements.

Members are also informed that a draft version of the Fort William Town Centre Action Plan is being prepared reflecting the outcomes of the event.  The report also seeks approval for a draft version of the Town Centre Action Plan to be finalised and published for consultation.  The consultation will enable officers to consider any comments in progressing the Action Plan towards adoption as non-statutory Supplementary Guidance.

The Committee is asked to:-

i. note the shared priorities identified by participants at the Town Centre event;
ii. agree that a draft version of the Fort William Town Centre Action Plan be finalised and published for consultation, based on the structure and format presented at Committee; and
iii. agree that Members and officers work in collaboration with community representatives in delivering the outcomes identified.

9. Capital Projects – Investing in Lochaber      
Prògram a’ Chalpa – In-ionmhas san Loch Abar

There is circulated Report No. LA/26/14 dated 12 August 2014 by the Director of Finance listing the capital projects included in the Council’s capital programme being delivered in the Lochaber area in financial year 2014/15 and the in-year budgets for these projects.

The Committee is invited to note the budgeted capital projects being delivered in the Lochaber area in 2014/15.

10. Communities Panel Development      
Leasachadh Phanail Choimhearsnachdan

There is circulated Report No. LA/27/14 dated 11 August 2014 by the Head of Policy and Reform summarising the approach to developing the Council’s new Communities Panel, with particular reference to the Lochaber Area.

The Committee is invited to:-

i. note the approach to developing the Communities Panel outlined at section 2 of the report; and
ii. consider and suggest additional representative groups to be included in the draft invitation list provided at Appendix 1 to the report.

11. Landfill Community Fund      
Maoin Choimhearsnachdan an Tiodhlacaidh Sgudail

There is circulated Report No. LA/28/14 dated 17 July 2014 by the Director of Community Services inviting Members to approve applications to the Highland Council Landfill Community Fund.

The Committee is invited to approve that the application from Lochaber Fisheries Trust be submitted to ENTRUST for their consideration.

12. Grounds Maintenance Performance Monitoring – Mid Season Update
Sgrùdadh Dèanadais a thaobh Cumail Suas Raointean – Fios às ùr Meadhan Ràithe                                                                                    

There is circulated Report No. LA/29/14 dated 12 August 2014 by the Director of Community Services detailing performance management information of the Grounds Maintenance Services from April to June 2014. 

The Committee is invited to:-

i. scrutinise the performance management and remedial action information provided on the grounds maintenance service set out in the report;
ii. note the management action taken to address the performance issues identified; and
iii. agree to review required service standards at future Ward Business meetings.

13. Maintenance Programme for Roads and Bridges     
Prògram Cumail-suas airson Rathaidean is Drochaidean

There is circulated Report No. LA/30/14 dated 12 August 2014 by the Director of Community Services inviting Members to homologate the decision taken by the Director of Community Services, in consultation with Ward Members, to approve the Maintenance Programmes for Roads and Bridges for the Lochaber  Area for 2014/15.

The Committee is invited to agree to homologate the decision by the Director of Community Services, in consultation with Ward Members, to approve the Maintenance Programmes for Roads and Bridges for the Lochaber Area for 2014/15.

14. Cycling, Walking and Safer Streets Programme      
Prògram Rothaireachd, Coiseachd agus Sràidean nas Sàbhailte

There is circulated Report No. LA/31/14 dated 12 August 2014 by the Director of Community Services inviting Members to approve the projects delivered through the Scottish Government funding for Cycling, Walking and Safer Streets for the Lochaber area, as set out in Appendix 1 to the report.

The Committee is invited to:-

i. approve the Safer Route to Schools Project listed in Appendix 1 to the report; and
ii. note that the Road Safety Unit will continue to work with schools to develop further Safer Route to Schools Projects for future years.

15. Housing Performance Report – 1 April 2014-30 June 2014     
Aithisg Dèanadais a thaobh Taigheadais – 1 Giblean 2013–30 Ògmhios 2014  

There is circulated Report No. LA/32/14 dated 12 August 2014 by the Director of Community Services providing information on how the Housing Section performed in relation to Scottish Social Housing Charter and other performance indicators during the first quarter of 2014/15.

The Committee is invited to scrutinise the information provided on Housing Performance in the period 1 April to 30 June 2014.

16. Minutes  
Geàrr-chunntas

There is circulated, for noting, Minutes of Meeting of the Lochaber Area Committee held on 22 May 2014, which were approved by the Council on 26 June 2014.