Agendas, reports and minutes

A meeting of the Community Services Committee will take place in the Council Chamber, Council Headquarters, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness on Thursday 5 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

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.  Good News
Naidheachdan Matha

4.  Revenue Budget 2014/15 – Monitoring
Buidseat Teachd-a-steach 2014/15 – Sgrùdadh

There is circulated Report No COM/1/15 dated 27 January 2015 by the Director of Community Services inviting Members to approve the revenue budget monitoring position for the period 1 April 2014 to 31 December 2014.

The Committee is invited to approve the report and the monitoring statements which show the revenue position for the period 1 April 2014 to 31 December 2014 and the actions which have been put in place to manage the budget over the remainder of the financial year.

5.  Capital Expenditure 2014/15 – Monitoring
Caiteachas Calpa 2014/15 – Sgrùdadh

There is circulated Report No COM/2/15 dated 26 January 2015 by the Director of Community Services inviting Members to approve the capital expenditure monitoring position for the period 1 April 2014 to 31 December 2014, the land purchase for the new Nairn Cemetery and both the HRA capital expenditure monitoring position for 1 April 2014 to 31 December 2014 and the programme for 2015/16.

The Committee is invited to approve:-

i. the capital expenditure monitoring position for the period 1 April 2014 to 31 December 2014;
ii. the land purchase cost of £120,000 for the new Nairn Cemetery extension;
iii. the HRA Capital Programme budget of £52.236m for 2015/16, comprising £31.336m for the mainstream programme and £22.9m for Council house building; and
iv. note that a 5 year HRA capital spending programme with detailed funding implication will be presented to a future meeting of the Committee.

6.  Housing Revenue Account Estimates 2015/16
Tuairmsean Cunntas Teachd-a-steach Taigheadais 2015/16

There is circulated Report No COM/3/15 dated 23 January 2015 by the Director of Community Services which presents draft Housing Revenue Account estimates for 2015/16 together with recommendations on the level of increase to be applied to council house rents, other rents and service charges.

The Committee is invited to:-

i. agree a 1% increase for council house rents for 2015/16;
ii. agree that this percentage increase (1%) is applied to hostel rents, Gypsy/Traveller site pitches, garage and garage site rents;
iii. agree that there should be no increase in sheltered housing warden charges in 2015/16;
iv. agree that other service charges, including those for caretaking and CCTV are increased by 1% in 2015/16;
v. note that rents for leased property should increase as stipulated in existing contracts; and
vi. agree that the estimated HRA surplus of £4.0m in 2015/16 be applied as Capital from Current Revenue to fund HRA capital investment.

7.  Update on Homelessness Initiatives
Fios as Ùr mu Iomairtean Dìth Dachaigh

There is circulated Report No COM/4/15 dated 23 January 2015 by the Director of Community Services which updates Members on homelessness services and initiatives including the Temporary Accommodation Re-provisioning Project, housing support services for homeless clients and consultation on future arrangements for delivering homeless services.

The Committee is invited to:-

i. note the progress of the Temporary Accommodation Re-provisioning Project;
ii. note the action being taken to implement new arrangements to achieve agreed budget savings on housing support services; and
iii. agree to develop detailed proposals for changes to operational arrangements for delivering homelessness services based on the following principles:-

• the service should focus on a person’s needs;
• prevention and homelessness assessment should be integrated rather than treated as separate functions/activities;
• each client should have a single “case officer” who would deal with them from start to finish;
• we should aim to offer help and advice as early as possible; and
• we should identify and provide housing support services to service users.

8.  Communication and Engagement with Communities
Conaltradh agus Ceangal le Coimhearsnachdan

There is circulated Report No COM/5/15 dated 22 January 2015 by the Director of Community Services which informs and updates Members on outcomes from the round of Evening Forums completed in December 2014 and how the key outcomes will be delivered going forward.

The Committee is invited to note the outcomes from the round of Community Services Evening Forums and how these outcomes link to Workforce Planning and structural changes at area level.

9.  Community Services Performance Report – 1 April to 31 December 2014
Aithisg Coileanaidh nan Seirbheisean Coimhearsnachd – 1 Giblean gu 31 Dùbhlachd 2014

There is circulated Report No COM/6/15 dated 20 January 2015 by the Director of Community Services which provides information on how the Housing Section performed in relation to Scottish Social Housing Charter and other performance indicators during the first nine months of 2014/15.   The report also proposes further performance reporting on a range of functions which will be brought to the next meeting of the Committee.

The Committee is invited to note:-

i. the information provided on housing performance from 1 April to 31 December 2014; and
ii. the additional performance information that will be reported to the next Community Services Committee.

10.  Roads Innovation Fund
Maoin Ùr-ghnàthachaidh Rathaidean

There is circulated Report No COM/7/15 dated 26 January 2015 by the Director of Community Services which invites the Committee to note progress against the Action Plan and to homologate the decision to reallocate some of the funding.  The report also provides a summary assessment of the outcomes of the trial of the road recycling options and provides a strategy for deploying these techniques.

The Committee is invited to:-

i. note progress against the Action Plan;
ii. homologate reallocation of the fund between actions as mentioned in paragraph 1.2 and detailed in Appendix A of the report;
iii. note the intention to purchase the “zipper” road cycling machine from capital which has successfully completed the trial; and
iv. note that any underspend (estimated £310k) will be carried forward into 2015/16 to allow completion of the trials.

11.  Scottish Roads Maintenance Condition Survey 2014 Results 
Toraidhean Suirbhidh Staid Rathaidean na h-Alba 2014

There is circulated Report No COM/8/15 dated 19 January 2015 by the Director of Community Services which updates the Committee on the results from the Scottish Road Condition Survey for 2014-15, together with the figure for the road maintenance backlog on the Scottish Local Authority road network.

The Committee is invited to note the results of the Scottish Road Maintenance Condition Survey for 2014-15.

12.  Distribution of Road Maintenance Budget – 2015/16
Riarachadh Buidseat Cumail Suas Rathaid – 2015/16

There is circulated Report No COM/9/15 dated 19 January 2015 by the Director of Community Services which invites Members to approve the distribution of the Roads Maintenance Budget for 2015/16 between the four Community Services Operational Areas.

The Committee is invited to:-

i. approve the distribution of the Road Maintenance Budget for 2015/16 between the four Operational Areas on the basis of need, as detailed in Appendix A of the report;
ii. agree to delegate the adjustment of the Winter Maintenance budget mentioned in 2.2 of the report, to the Director of Community Services in consultation with the Chair and Vice Chair of the Community Services Committee; and
iii. approve the change to a 2 year cycle for the principal surfacing activities of surfacing dressing and re-surfacing.

13.  Transport Programme
Prògram Còmhdhalach

There is circulated Report No COM/10/15 dated 27 January 2015 by the Director of Community Services which informs Members of the three principal focal areas for accomplishing savings within the transport programme, early savings progress and key 2015 activities.

The Committee is invited to:-

i. note the focus of the transport programme and early-stage progress;
ii. note and support the principal activities intended for 2015; and
iii. agree that funding to community transport groups for 2015-16 is rolled forward for one year only on the basis of the 2014-15 awards.

14.  Corran Ferry
Aiseag a’ Chorrain

There is circulated Report No COM/11/15 dated 26 January 2015 by the Director of Community Services which provides an update on the Corran Ferry situation.  A 4% per annum increase in fares is recommended in each of the next 3 years based on working towards a break even operating position by 2017/18.

The Committee is invited to:-

i. agree that the option to transfer the operation of the ferry to Transport Scotland is given no further consideration;
ii. approve a 4% per annum increase in Corran Ferry fares from 1 April 2015;
iii. note that the annual increases of 4% are likely to be required for the following two years (16/17 and 17/18);
iv. agree that any requirement to consider increases beyond 4% be brought back to the Committee for immediate consideration; and
v. note the information provided on long term strategy.

15.  Strategic Timber Transport Scheme Bids
Iarrtasan airson Sgeama Ro-innleachdail Còmhdhail Fiodha

There is circulated Report No COM/12/15 dated 19 January 2015 by the Director of Community Services which updates the Committee on recent bids to the Strategic Timber Transport Fund.  The report invites the Committee to note that representations have been made, and are ongoing, to the Scottish Government and Minister, through the Forestry Commission Scotland and the National Timber Transport Forum for the Scottish Government, to continue the funding of the Strategic Timber Transport Fund beyond March 2016.

The Committee is invited to note:-

i. the success of recent applications for funding to the Strategic Timber Transport Fund in securing £1.055m of grant funding; and
ii. that representation has been made, through the Forestry Commission Scotland, to the Timber Transport Forum for the Scottish Government to continue the funding of the Strategic Timber Transport Scheme Fund beyond March 2016.

16.  Social Enterprise Funding
Maoineachadh Iomairt Shòisealta

There is circulated Report No COM/13/15 dated 27 January 2015 by the Director of Community Services which invites Members to approve the funding arrangement to the Council’s social enterprise partners for the year 2015/16 and 2016/17.

The Committee is invited to approve the review of Social Enterprise activities and funding mechanisms during 2015/16.

17.  Joint Health Protection Plan
Co-Phlana Dìon Slàinte

There is circulated Report No COM/14/15 dated 27 January 2015 by the Director of Community Services which invites Members to approve the next version of the Joint Health Protection Plan and a review of the previous plan. The statutory plan is developed jointly by the Highland Council, Argyll and Bute Council and NHS Highland.

The Committee is invited to approve:-

i. the review of the Joint Health Protection Plan 2012-2014; and
ii. the Joint Health Protection Plan 2015-2017.

18.  MinutesGeàrr-chunntas

There are circulated, for approval, Minutes of the Harbours Management Board of 15 January 2015.

19.  Exclusion of The Public
Às-dùnadh a’ Phobaill

The Committee is asked to resolve that, under Section 50A(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, the public be excluded from the meeting during discussion of the following item on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 1 of Part 1 of Schedule 7A of the Act.

20.  Workforce Planning and Review of Structures
Dealbhadh Luchd-obrach agus Ath-sgrùdadh air Structaran

There is circulated to Members only Report No COM/15/15 dated 23 January 2015 by the Director of Community Services which informs and updates Members on progress with Workforce Planning within the Service.

The Committee is invited to agree the recommendations as set out in the report.