Agendas, reports and minutes

 

A meeting of the Skye, Ross and Cromarty Area Committee will take place in the Council Chamber, Council Offices, High Street, Dingwall, on Wednesday, 4 February 2015, 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 place.  

3.  Police – Area Performance Summary 
Poilis – Geàrr-chunntas an Dèanadais Sgìreil

There is circulated Report No SRC/001/15 dated 22 January 2015 by the Area Commander for Police which updates Members on progress with reference to the local priorities within the Highland 2014-2017 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. 

4.  Fire and Rescue Service  
Seirbheis Smàlaidh is Teasairginn  

There is circulated Report No SRC/002/15 dated 22 January 2015 by the Local Senior Officer for Fire and Rescue setting out, in a separate booklet:  

i.      Area Committee Plan for Skye, Ross and Cromarty for 2014-15 (previously circulated); and

ii.    Performance Report for Skye, Ross and Cromarty for the period June-November 2014, together with an overview of performance figures for years 2010/11-2013/14 (separate booklet).  

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

5.  Associated School Group Overviews 
Sealladh Coitcheann air Buidheann Sgoiltean Co-cheangailte

a)    Invergordon Academy Associated School Group Overview

There is circulated Report No SRC/003/15 (pp 13 - 19) dated 22 January 2015 by the Director of Care and Learning which provides an update of key information in relation to the schools within the Invergordon Academy Associated School Group (ASG) and provides useful links to further information in relation to these schools.

The Committee is invited to scrutinise and note the content of the report.

b)  Plockton High School Associated School Group Overview

There is circulated Report No SRC/004/15 (pp 21 - 32) dated 18 January 2015 by the Director of Care and Learning which provides an update of key information in relation to the schools within the Plockton High School Associated School Group (ASG) and provides useful links to further information in relation to these schools.

The Committee is invited to scrutinise and note the content of the report.

6.  Common Good Funds
Maoin Maith Choitchinn

There are circulated Reports Nos SRC/005/15 – SRC/009/15 dated 22 January 2015 by the Head of Policy and Reform which provide information on the following Common Good Funds:-

a.    Cromarty Common Good Fund SRC/005/15
b.    Dingwall Common Good Fund SRC/006/15
c.    Fortrose and Rosemarkie Common Good Fund SRC/007/15
d.    Invergordon Common Good Fund SRC/008/15
e.    Tain Common Good Fund SRC/009/15  

The Committee is invited to note the updated information provided in relation to each Fund.  

7.  Youth Work Funding and Ward Discretionary Funding 
Maoineachadh Obair-òigridh agus Maoineachadh fo Ùghdarras Uàird

There is circulated Report No SRC/010/15 dated 15 January 2015 by the Head of Policy and Reform which invites Members to approve awards of £9,500 youth work funding and £7,165 Ward Discretionary Funding to support the cost of the Tain and District Youth Café YMCA’s Youth and Community Worker, subject to the youth café’s match funding applications also being successful.  Committee approval is sought because in total the funding requested is above £10,000.  The report also provides detail about the activities of the Tain and District Youth Café and the Youth and Community Worker post which delivers much of the program.   

The Committee is invited to approve awards of £9,500 Youth Work funding and £7,165 Ward Discretionary Funding  to support the cost of the Tain and District Youth Café YMCA’s Youth and Community Worker, subject to the Youth café’s match funding applications also being successful.  

8.  Housing Performance Report  
Aithisg Dèanadais a thaobh Taigheadais  

There is circulated Report No SRC/011/15 dated 23 January 2015 by the Director of Community Services which provides Members with information on how the Housing Section performed in relation to the Scottish Social Housing Charter and other performance indicators during the first nine months of 2014/15.  

The Committee is invited to scrutinise the information provided on housing performance in the period 1 April to 31 December 2014.  

9.  Council Emergency Response to recent Storms and Electricity Outage
Freagairt Èiginn na Comhairle ri linn Stoirmean is Cion Dealain o Chionn Ghoirid  

There is circulated Report No SRC/012/15 dated 22 January 2015 by the Head of Policy and Reform which  provides information on the Council’s involvement and reaction to the recent storm and power outages affecting large areas across Skye, Ross and Cromarty.  

The Committee is invited to comment on the Emergency Response during the power outage and are asked to consider how best to communicate issues and services to affected communities during future incidents.  

10.  Deprived Area Funds   
Maoin Sgìre Bhochd

There is circulated Report No SRC/013/15 dated 15 January 2015 by the Director of Development and Infrastructure which makes recommendations on the distribution of the Deprived Area Funds to the Area Committee.  The Deprived Area Fund Application closing date was 9 January 2015.  

The Committee is invited to:  

a)    note the use of the Deprived Area Fund in 2014-15 as shown in Appendix 1; 
b)    approve the 2015-16 grant awards as listed in the Report; and 
c)    agree that decisions on the remainder of the Funds in 2015-16 be delegated to the Director of Development and Infrastructure following consultation with the Chair of the Area Committee and appropriate Ward Members. 

11. Countryside Ranger Role
Dreuchd agus Taisbeanadh nam Maor-dùthcha 

There is circulated Report No SRC/014/15 dated 9 January 2015 by the Director of Development and Infrastructure which summarises the events programme delivered by the Council’s Countryside Rangers during 2014/15 and the resources allocated to the activities. The report also presents the activities proposed within Skye, Ross and Cromarty for the financial year 2015/16.

The Committee is invited to:  

(a)  note the content of the report, including highlights of the work of the Countryside Rangers in Skye, Ross and Cromarty during 2014/15, and;
(b)  consider and approve the proposed priorities and activities programme for the 2015-16 financial year.

12.  Minutes
Geàrr-chunntas  

There are circulated for noting Minutes of the Skye, Ross and Cromarty Area Committee held on 19 November 2014, which were approved by the Council on 18 December 2014.