Agendas, reports and minutes

A meeting of the Sutherland County Committee will take place in the Chamber, Council Offices, Drummuie, Golspie, KW10 6TG, on Tuesday, 9 February 2016, at 10.30 a.m.

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. Appointment of Chair of Sutherland County Committee
Suidheachadh Cathraiche airson Comataidh Siorrachd Chataibh

Nominations are invited for the post of Chair of the Sutherland County Committee.

4. Appointment of Vice Chair of Sutherland County Committee
Suidheachadh Iar-Chathraiche airson Comataidh Siorrachd Chataibh

Nominations are invited for the post of Vice-Chair of the Sutherland County Committee.

5. Localism Action Plan Update                                                                  
Plana-gnìomh Ionadaileachd

There is circulated Report SCC/01/16 dated 28 January 2016  by the Head of Policy and Reform which highlights the new devolved powers for the Committee and the further powers likely to be devolved in 2016.  It provides an up-date of work with partners on local community planning arrangements which Members will be involved in during 2016.

The Committee is invited to note the:_

i.  new powers devolved to the Committee and the planned further devolution of powers subject to Council
    approval in March 2016, and that further changes are likely during 2016; and
ii. work underway with partners to establish community planning arrangements for Sutherland and that they
    will be involved further in this area of work in 2016.

6. Local Committees - Webcasting                                                                                                     
Roghainnean Craoladh-lìn

There is circulated Report No SCC/02/16 dated 28 January 2016 by the Director of Finance which seeks a decision on whether the Sutherland County Committee meetings should be webcast and, if so, the funding source/s of the additional costs that webcasting would incur.
The Committee is invited:-

i.   to note the current service demand for webcasting;
ii.  to decide whether Local Committees should be webcast;
iii. if Members do wish Local Committees to be webcast, to agree the preferred webcasting option;
iv. when the views of all local committees are obtained then where these views are that webcasting is to be
    undertaken, then approval for the capital funding will be submitted to Resources Committee at the earliest
    opportunity; and
v. where Members agree that webcasting is to be undertaken the annual recurring cost of £4,800 is met by
    each Ward Discretionary budget providing £218 per annum.

7. Police – Area Performance Summary                                                
Poileas – Geàrr-chunntas air Coileanadh Sgìreil

There is circulated Report No SCC/03/16 dated 28 January 2016 by the North Highland Area Commander which provides a local summary update to Committee 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 and updates in relation to the 4 Priorities; Road Safety, Substance Abuse/Misuse, Antisocial Behaviour and Public Protection.

8. Request by Community for Speed Limit Reduction from 40 mph to 30 mph on A836 through Edderton
Iarrtas bhon Choimhearsnachd airson lùghdachadh caisg astair bho 40 msu gu 30 msu tro Eadardan                                                              

There is circulated Report No SCC/04/16 dated 21 January 2016 by the Director of Community Services which invites Members to consider a request for a 30 mph speed limit on the A836 through Edderton, with the recommendation from officers to reject the request.  In addition, Members are invited to agree to the introduction of a standardisation/upgrade of 40 mph repeater signs within the existing 40 mph limit.
The Committee is invited to:-

i.   reject a request for a 30 mph Speed Limit on the A836 through Edderton; and, as a result;
ii.  agree to the introduction of a standardisation of 40 mph repeater signs within the 40 mph limit.

9. Cycling, Walking and Safer Streets Update                                       
Fios Às Ùr air Rothaireachd, Coiseachd is Sràidean nas Sàbhailte

There is circulated Report No SCC/05/16 dated 12 January 2016 by the Director of Community Service which invites Members to approve the project delivered through the Scottish Government funding for Cycling, Walking and Safer Streets for the Sutherland County Committee, as set out in Appendix 1.

The Committee is invited to:-

i.  approve the CWSS/SRTS project detailed in Appendix 1; and
ii. note that the Road Safety Unit will continue to work with schools to develop further SRTS Projects for
    future years.

10. Transport Programme                                                                          
Prògram Còmhdhalach

There is circulated Report No SCC/06/16 dated 29 January 2016 by the Director of Community Services which as part of the Council’s Transport Programme, mainstream school transport and public bus service contracts have been retendered in Sutherland. The report presents an update on the outcomes of the retendering process. The report also updates Members on the promotion of the revised timetable for Route 906, Lairg – Helmsdale.

The Committee is invited to note the:-

i.  Sutherland retendering process results;
ii. revision to the Lairg-Helmsdale timetable; and
iii. contractor’s timetable promotion activity.

11. Participatory Budgeting                                                                      
Buidseat Compàirteachaidh

There is circulated Report No SCC/07/16 dated 1 February 2016 by the Head of Policy and Reform which highlights progress in the development of participatory budgeting (PB) in Highland. The report sets PB in the context of the requirements of the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015 particularly the requirements to develop local democratic structures and involve communities in decision-making around resources. It asks Members to consider how PB might be piloted in Sutherland and offers options for doing this. It also asks Members to agree to utilise Scottish Government funding of £15K and consider adding Ward Discretionary funding to this amount to develop the process. 

The Committee is invited to:-

i. consider how PB might be piloted in Sutherland and agree an option for doing this; and
ii. agree to utilise Scottish Government funding of £15K and consider adding Ward Discretionary funding to this amount to develop the process.

12. Carbon CLEVER Community Grant Fund                                         
Sgeama Thabhartasan Coimhearsnachd Càrboin Ciallaich

There is circulated Report No SCC/08/16 dated 25 January 2016 by the Head of Policy and Reform which sets out the applications received for the Carbon CLEVER community grant fund in Sutherland for 2015-16.  It details the background to the Fund, together with a summary of applications, the assessments and funding recommendations.

The Committee is invited to:-

i.  agree the funding recommendations as shown below;

Ref. No.      Applicant Organisation              Recommended Award
11801         Ardgay Public Hall Committee        £658.48
11932         Tongue Village Hall                           £5,852.12
11952         The Embo Trust (Urras Euraboil)    £15,989.40
                                                                   Total      £22,500

ii. note that Ward Discretionary Grant for Ward 1 and Ward 5 may provide an additional source of funding to support the projects further.

13. Dornoch Common Good Funds – Annual Report 2014/15, Q3 Monitoring 2015/16 and Budget Report 2016/17                                                   
Maoin Math Coitcheann Dhòrnaich – Aithisg Bhliadhnail 2014/15, Sgrùdadh Q3 2015/16 agus Aithisg Buidseit 2016/17                       

There is circulated Joint Report No SCC/09/16 dated 26 January 2016 by the Director of Finance and Head of Policy and Reform which invites Members to scrutinise and note both the Dornoch Common Good Annual Report and Accounts for 2014/15 and the monitoring statement to Dec 2015. Members are also asked to approve the Dornoch Common Good Fund Annual Budget for 2016/17 along with five year strategy.

The Committee is invited to:-

i.   note the Dornoch Common Good Fund – Annual Report  and Accounts for 2014/15;
ii.  note the Dornoch Common Good Fund – Third Quarter, 2015/16 Monitoring Report;
iii. approve the Dornoch Common Good Fund – Annual Budget for 2016/17; and
iv. consider the financial strategy outlined.