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, 22 April 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. Highlands and Islands Enterprise - Digital Highland Presentation
Iomairt na Gàidhealtachd is nan Eilean – Taisbeanadh Gàidhealtachd Dhidseatach

A presentation will be given on Digital Highland at the meeting by Stuart Robertson, Director of Digital Highlands and Islands, Highlands and Islands Enterprise.

4. North Tourism Initiative
Iomairt Turasachd a Tuath

There is circulated Report No SRC/015/15 dated 9 April 2015 by the Director of Development and Infrastructure updating Members on the Council’s work to develop tourism in the Skye and Ross and Cromarty areas. This includes detailing work with the North Highland Initiative which provides some strategic context to accompany the presentation being given to the committee by Mr Tom Campbell of the North Highland Initiative on their work to develop tourism in the Northern Highlands. These activities all support the Council’s programme commitment “Working with the Scottish Government, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and private sector partners, the Council will maximise the tourism potential of the Highland area.”

The Committee is invited to:  

i. note the presentation given by the North Highland Initiative;

ii. note the approach that has been taken by the Council to develop tourism including entering into service delivery contracts with destination organisations and;

iii. consider how tourism growth can best be supported by the Area Committee, both directly and indirectly through the planning and delivery of other Council services. 

5. Landfill Communities Fund
Aithisg Dèanadais a thaobh Taigheadais

There is circulated Report No SRC/016/15 dated 16 March 2015 by the Director of Community Services on an application to the Highland Council Landfill Communities Fund.

The Committee are invited to approve for the Council’s interest the application as detailed in the Appendix to the Report.

6. Area Maintenance Programme for Roads and Bridges
Prògram Càraidh Sgìreil airson Rathaidean is Dhrochaidean

There is circulated Report No SRC/017/15 dated 8 April 2015 by the Director of Community Services on the maintenance programmes for roads and bridges for the Skye, Ross and Cromarty Area 2015/16.  

The Committee is invited to approve the Maintenance Programmes for Roads and Bridges for Skye, Ross and Cromarty Area 2015/16 listed in Appendix 2 and 3 of the Report.  

7. Proposed Traffic Calming Feature, West Road, Muir of Ord
Feart Socrachadh Trafaig a Thathar a’ Moladh, Rathad an Iar, Am Blàr Dubh

There is circulated Report No SRC/018/15 dated 22 April 2015 by the Director of Community Services informing members of the objection to this application.

The Committee is asked to approve the introduction of 1 No build-out on the West Road, Muir of Ord.

8. Common Good Funds
Maoin Maith Choitchinn

There are circulated Reports Nos SRC/019/15 – SRC/023/15 dated 2, 7 and 10 April 2015 by the Head of Policy and Reform which provide information on the following Common Good Funds:-

a. Cromarty Common Good Fund SRC/019/15 
b. Dingwall Common Good Fund SRC/020/15
c. Fortrose and Rosemarkie Common Good Fund SRC/021/15
d. Invergordon Common Good Fund SRC/022/15
e. Tain Common Good Fund SRC/023/15 

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

9. Street Naming – New Housing Developments
Ainmeachadh Sràide – Leasachaidhean Ùra Taigheadais

There is circulated Report Nos SRC/024/15 – SRC/025/15 dated 31 March and 2 April 2015 by the Head of Policy and Reform concerning the creation of addresses, following consultation with the respective Community Councils and local Members, for new housing developments at Alness and Balmacara.

The Committee is invited to:-

i. approve the naming of the new street in Alness as Wallace Ross Place SRC/024/15;

ii. homologate the naming of the new development in Balmacara as “The Dairy” SRC/025/15;

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

a) Fortrose Academy Associated School Group Overview

There is circulated Report No SRC/026/15 (pp 59 - 67) dated 9 April 2015 by the Director of Care and Learning which provides an update of key information in relation to the schools within the Fortrose 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) Gairloch High School Associated School Group Overview 

There is circulated Report No. SRC/027/15 dated 8 April 2015 by the Director of Care and Learning which provides an update of key information in relation to the schools within the Gairloch 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. 

11. Wester Ross Biosphere Project
Pròiseact Biosphere Rois an Iar

There is circulated Report No SRC/028/15 dated 2 April 2015 by the Head of Policy and Reform on the progress towards the submission of an application to UNESCO to renew the designation of the Beinn Eighe Biosphere Reserve. Current UNESCO guidelines require a larger area, including substantial population and following consultation with communities, the proposal is to include the western portion of Ward 6, creating the Wester Ross Biosphere.

The Committee is invited to agree that the Council should sign an application to UNESCO, to designate an area of Ward 6 as a Biosphere.

12. Presentation on the Findings of the Commission on Strengthening Local Democracy
Taisbeanadh de Thoraidhean a’ Choimisein airson Deamocrasaidh Ionadail a Neartachadh

A presentation will be made by Rory Mair on the findings of the Commission on Strengthening Local Democracy.

13. Minutes  
Geàrr-chunntas 

There are circulated for noting Minutes of the Skye, Ross and Cromarty Area Committee held on 4 February 2015, which were approved by the Council on 12 February 2015.