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 3 November 2016 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

•    Best Kept War Memorial 2016 – Drumnadrochit

Drumnadrochit War Memorial won the Champion of Champions category by the National Board of Trustees of the Royal British Legion Scotland. 

•    Funding for Ice Plant, Lochinver

Following a successful application to the European Maritime Fisheries Fund, a grant contribution of £300k has been awarded to the Highland Council to construct a modern 15 tonne per day ice plant at Lochinver harbour to replace the existing plant constructed in the 1980s. The new plant will provide larger quantities of higher quality flake ice whilst reducing the Highland Council’s carbon footprint. The ice will be sold to fishing vessels and fish graders to create a financially sustainable service to the industry without incurring revenue costs for the Council.

•    FCC Environment Outstanding Contribution Award

At the recent Scottish Resources Awards, Dr Colin Clark won the FCC Environment Outstanding Contribution Award.  This was in recognition of over 30 years’ experience during which time he had made a significant contribution to the development of waste and resources policy, thinking and practice, including in his roles as Chair of the Waste Management Officers’ Network and a member of the CIWM Scotland Centre Council.   

4.    Revenue Budget Monitoring - 1 April 2016 to 30 September 2016           
Buidseat Teachd-a-steach Sgrùdadh - 1 Giblean 2016 gu 30 Sultain 2016    

There is circulated Report No COM/39/16 dated 20 October 2016 by the Director of Community Services inviting Members to approve the revenue budget monitoring position for the period 1 April 2016 to 30 September 2016.

The Committee is invited to approve the report and the monitoring statements which show the revenue position for the period 1 April 2016 to 30 September 2016 (including the £27m that is disaggregated) and the actions which have been put in place to manage the budget over the remainder of the financial year.

5.    Capital Expenditure Monitoring – 1 April 2016 to 30 September 2016              
Caiteachas Calpa Sgrùdadh - 1 Giblean 2016 gu 30 Sultain 2016          

There is circulated Report No COM/40/16 dated 20 October 2016 by the Director of Community Services inviting Members to approve the capital expenditure monitoring position for the period from 1 April 2016 to 30 September 2016 for both the Community Services element of the Council’s approved capital programme and the HRA capital programme.

The Committee is invited to approve the capital expenditure monitoring position for the period 1 April 2016 to 30 September 2016.

6.    HRA Capital Plan 2017/18          
Prògram Calpa HRA 2017/18

There is circulated Report No COM/41/16 dated 5 October 2016 by the Director of Community Services outlining the resources required to undertake capital investment to the Council’s housing stock and recommending capital investment projects for approval in 2017-18 in line with the approved HRA Capital Plan.

The Committee is invited to approve the HRA Capital Programme 2017-2018.

7.    Review of Arrangements for Grass Cutting      
Cùmhnant Gearradh Feòir
    
There is circulated Report No COM/42/16 dated 11 October 2016 by the Director of Community Services providing information on the Options Appraisal carried out by Community Services on the options for in-house, privatised and mixed service provision of grass cutting in the Highlands.

The Committee is invited to agree that:-

i.    the Director of Community Services establishes an in-house operation that can provide Amenity Services, including grass cutting, throughout the Highlands for Financial Year 2017/18 onwards;
ii.    a revised management structure within Amenity Services is prepared to position the service to respond dynamically, flexibly and positively to changing National, Council and Service priorities; and
iii.    that a new performance management system is identified to improve scrutiny and decision-making for Amenity Services throughout the Highlands.

8.    Workforce Planning Action Plan     
Plana-gnìomh Dealbhadh Sgioba-obrach 
    
There is circulated Report No COM/43/16 dated 30 September 2016 by the Director of Community Services updating Members on progress with implementing actions in the Community Services Workforce Planning Action Plan.

The Committee is invited to note progress made with implementing the Plan.

9.    Community Services Performance Report – 1 July 2016 to 30 September 2016
Aithisg Coileanaidh nan Seirbheisean Coimhearsnachd – 1 Luchar 2016 gu 30 Sultain 2016    
    
There is circulated separately Report No COM/44/16 dated 11 October 2016 by the Director of Community Services providing information on how Community Services performed in relation to performance indicators to 30 September 2016.

The Committee is invited to:-

i.    note the information provided on Community Services performance from 1 April to 30 September 2016; and
ii.    agree to dispose of 58 Foyers Road, Kinlochleven as outlined in paragraph 10.4 of the report.    

10.    Winter Readiness 2016/17     
Deiseil airson a’ Gheamhraidh
    
There is circulated Report No COM/45/16 dated 11 October 2016 by the Director of Community Services providing information on service readiness for the coming winter season.

The Committee is invited to note the contents of the report.

11.    Road Asset Management Plan Version 4     
Prògram Rianachd So-mhaoin Rathaidean 4
    
There is circulated Report No COM/46/16 dated 25 October 2016 by the Director of Community Services presenting the fourth version of the Council’s Road Asset Management Plan for approval, developed through participation in the Society of Chief Officers of Transportation in Scotland (SCOTS) joint project with Scottish Local Authorities and Welsh Unitary Authorities to continue implementation of a common asset management framework for road and bridge infrastructure.

The Committee is invited to approve the fourth version of the Highland Council’s Road Asset Management Plan 2016-2019.

12.    Corran Ferry - Update                 
Aiseag a’ Chorrain - Fios às Ùr

There is circulated Report No COM/47/16 dated 17 October 2016 by the Director of Community Services providing the latest information about the Corran Ferry and follows up on actions and recommendations from the Community Services Committee of 4 February 2016.
 
The Committee is invited to note the latest information with the Corran Ferry and the progress made in following up on previously agreed actions and recommendations.

13.    Electric Vehicle - Cost for Charging     
Carbad Dealain – Cosgais airson Teairrdseadh

There is circulated Report No COM/48/16 dated 11 October 2016 by the Director of Community Services informing Members that the Transport Scotland initiative to install Electric Vehicle Charging points at regular intervals across Scotland is under way and an update is provided on progress in 2016/17 within Highland.  Proposals for recovering costs from drivers have been delayed at national level but are expected to be implemented by March 2017.  To enable the Council to recover its operating costs it is recommended that charges are introduced from April 2017.

The Committee is invited to:-

i.    note the progress made and that Transport Scotland are expected to make proposals for recovery of electricity costs by Councils starting in 2017; and
ii.    approve the introduction of charges for usage of the Council’s electric vehicle chargers as from April 2017 of 15p per Kw/hr with a minimum total fee of £1.50 and that these are introduced for those sites where it is practicable to ensure a reliable level of continuous operation.

14.    Environmental and Amenity Services Enforcement Policy    
Poileasaidh Cur-an-sàs Sheirbheisean Àrainneachd is Goireis

There is circulated Report No COM/49/16 dated 13 October 2016 by the Director of Community Services explaining the Scottish Government's Better Regulation agenda aims to support the growth of Scotland’s economy by eliminating obsolete and inefficient regulation, tackling inconsistencies in regulatory systems and enhancing Scotland's competitiveness. A key focus is championing the five principles of Better Regulation - Proportionate, Consistent, Accountable, Transparent and Targeted.  Environmental and Amenity Services have developed a streamlined enforcement policy for the regulatory functions that they provide to support the Scottish Government’s aims and Members are invited to approve the new streamlined policy. 

The Committee is invited to approve the Environmental and Amenity Services Enforcement Policy as detailed in Appendix 1 of the report.

15.    Licensing of Animal Boarding Establishments     
Ceadachd Ionadan-còmhnaidh Bheathaichean

There is circulated Report No COM/50/16 dated 13 October 2016 by the Director of Community Services explaining that as a result of a number of recent incidents relating to animal welfare licensed by the Council it has highlighted the lack of enforcement options available to the Council in relation to animal welfare and licensing. The Committee is asked to note these and agree that the Committee raise these concerns formally with the Scottish Government.

The Committee is invited to agree that the Committee raise the problems with the legislation formally with the Scottish Government.

16.    Review of the Delivery of the Scottish Housing Quality Standard Programme 
Ath-sgrùdadh air Prògram Inbhean Càileachd Taigheadais na h-Alba     

There is circulated Report No COM/51/16 dated 6 October 2016 by the Director of Community Services providing a summary of the experience of the delivery of the Scottish Housing Quality Standard (SHQS) through the HRA Capital Programme. It also provides information on the investment made to achieve this target and identifies lessons learned.

The Committee is invited to note:-

i.    the achievement in meeting the SHQS; and
ii.    the commitment to ensure effective programme delivery in the future HRA Capital Programme.

17.    Minutes     
Geàrr-chunntas 

The Minutes of the Harbours Management Board of 7 September 2016 are circulated for approval.