Committees

A meeting of the Caithness and Sutherland Area Committee will take place in Assembly Rooms, Sinclair Terrace, Wick, KW1 5AB on Monday, 18 November 2013 at 10.30 a.m.

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
Assistant Chief Executive

1. Apologies for Absence
    Liesgeulan

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. Highland Tourism Action Plan and Presentation from North
    Highland Initiative
    Plana-gnìomh Turasachd na Gàidhealtachd agus Taisbeanadh bho
    Iomairt na Gàidhealtachd a Tuath

There is circulated Report No. CS-35-13 (23kb pdf) dated 6 November 2013 by the Director of Planning and Development which updates Members on the development of a Highland Tourism Action Plan which is currently being undertaken by the Highland Tourism Partnership and the Council’s work with the North Highland Initiative.  The report provides some strategic context to accompany the presentation being given by Mr Tom Campbell, Chief Executive of the North Highland Initiative, on their work to develop tourism in the Caithness and Sutherland area.  The activities incorporated in the Highland Tourism Action Plan and those undertaken by the North Highland Initiative support the Council’s commitment “Working with the Scottish Government, Highlands & Islands Enterprise and private sector partners, the Council will maximise the tourism potential of the Highland area”.

The Committee is invited to note that the Council has entered into a Service Delivery Agreement with the North Highland Initiative to assist their work to develop tourism in the Caithness and Sutherland area.

4. North Highland Onshore Vision – Action Plan Update
    Plana-gnìomh Lèirsinn Air-cladaich na Gàidhealtachd a Tuath –
    Cunntas Bliadhnail

There is circulated Report No. CS-36-13 (138kb pdf) dated 7 November 2013 by the Director of Planning and Development which advises that the purpose of the North Highland Onshore Vision is to identify key land use planning actions which will help to support the growth of the marine renewables sector in North Highland.  As part of this, the Highland Council agreed a 10 point action plan in May 2011 which was developed in consultation with a variety of stakeholders.  The action plan sets out a framework for delivering support for the sector by providing actions, together with timescales, the lead agency and some of the other key partners involved.

An annual update, setting out revised actions, was agreed by the Caithness and Sutherland Area Committee in November 2012.  The purpose of this report is to provide an update on the progress made during 2013 and asks Members to agree the revised version of the Action Plan for the coming year.

The Committee is invited to:-

i.   note the progress made to deliver the actions which are set out in the
    Action Plan over the past 12 months;
ii.  agree the revised Action Plan which sets out updated targets and
    timescales for the coming year; and
iii. agree that a further report be presented to this Committee in February
    2014 on draft contents for the Main Issues Report.

5. Golspie Recycling and Environmental Action Network (GREAN)
    Lìonra Gnìomh Ath-chuairteachaidh is Àrainneachd Ghoillspidh

Following the closure of GREAN on Friday 30 August, the multi-agency PACE initiative (Partnership for Continuing Employment) was activated and a support session for the affected staff was held in Golspie on Friday 6 September 2013.  The Council was represented at this session by the Employability and Money Advice teams and follow-up support is being provided by the Council and partners to the individuals affected.

As GREAN went into Liquidation, a liquidator has been appointed, has concluded that no parts of the business are a going concern and therefore will be attempting to realise the value of the assets (mainly vehicles) of the business to distribute amongst the creditors.  That process is ongoing.

The only Highland Council asset affected by the closure of GREAN is the Golspie Community Garden, which GREAN leased from the Council.  The Council is in discussions with a local community group who have indicated an interest in taking over the community garden.  The Council is also meeting with Highlands and Islands Enterprise at director level to discuss enhanced support for social enterprises and community development in east and central Sutherland, to include the work and support around Shin Falls and Kyle of Sutherland.

6. Winter Maintenance Plan 2013/14
    Plana Cumail Suas a’ Gheamhraidh 2013/14

There is circulated Report No. CS-37-13 (102kb pdf) dated 31 October 2013 by the Director of Transport, Environmental and Community Services which invites Members to approve the Winter Maintenance Plan for the Caithness and Sutherland area for 2013/14.

The Committee is invited to approve the Winter Maintenance Plan for the Caithness and Sutherland area as contained in Appendix B to the report.

7. Deprived Area Fund 2014-17
    Maoin Sgìrean Bochda 2014-17

There is circulated Report No. CS-38-13 (33kb pdf) dated 24 October 2013 by the Director of Planning and Development which describes the revised Deprived Area Fund criteria and discusses the implications for the Area. Members are invited to agree the process for reviewing current activity and preparing a further Report on the use of the Fund in 2014-15.

The Committee is invited to:-

i.   note the provision of £13,500 under delegated powers to Ormlie
    Community Association to help run a Young Mothers group in Wick;
ii.  note the information on employment, unemployment and service provision
    in the area; and
iii. agree that applications to the Fund be invited by 6 January 2014 and that
    these are considered by Council Officers and Partners to draw up an Area
    based strategy for the use of the Funds to be brought to the Area
    Committee at its February 2014 meeting.

8. Wick High School Associated School Group Overview
    Sealladh Coitcheann air Buidhnean Sgoiltean Co-cheangailte Inbhir Ùige

There is circulated Report No. CS-39-13 (135kb pdf) dated 6 November 2013 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport which provides an update of key information in relation to the schools within the Wick High School Associated School Group (ASG), and provides useful updated links to further information in relation to these schools.

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

9. Education Scotland Reports – 1 January 2013 to 1 October 2013
    Sgrùdaidhean le Foghlam Alba

There is circulated Report No. CS-40-13 (48kb pdf) dated 18 October 2013 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport which provides details on Education Scotland’s inspections of Rogart, Bower and Halkirk Primary Schools during the period 1 January 2013 to 1 October 2013 for Members’ scrutiny and monitoring.

The Committee is invited to scrutinise and monitor Education Scotland reports through this report.

10. Housing and Property Service Performance Report – 1 April 2013
      to 30 September 2013
      Aithisg Dèanadais Seirbheis an Taigheadais is na Seilbhe

There is circulated Report No. CS-41-13 (41kb pdf) dated 7 November 2013 by the Interim Director of Housing and Property which provides information on how the Housing and Property Service performed in relation to Scottish Social Housing Charter and other performance indicators during the first two quarters of 2013/2014.

The Committee is invited to scrutinise the information provided on housing performance in the period 1 April 2013 to 30 September 2013.

11. Cycling, Walking and Safer Streets Programme
      Rothaireachd, Coiseachd, Sràidean nas Sàbhailte

There is circulated Report No. CS-42-13 (29kb pdf) dated 1 November 2013 by the Director of Transport, Environmental and Community Services which invites Members to approve the project delivered through the Scottish Government funding for Cycling, Walking and Safer Streets for the Caithness and Sutherland area, as set out in Appendix 1 to the report.

The Committee is invited to approve the Safer Routes to School Project as listed in Appendix 1 to the report.

12. U1306 Portnacon Pier Road – Partial Deletion
      Rathad Cidhe Phort nan Con U1306 – Pàirt Dhubhadh Às

There is circulated Report No. CS-43-13 (18kb pdf) dated 31 October 2013 by the Director of Transport, Environmental and Community Services which invites Members to approve the deletion of the last 226m (from the seaward end) of the U1306 Portnacon Pier Road from the List of Adopted Roads.

The Committee is invited to approve the deletion of the last 226m (from the seaward end) of the U1306 Portnacon Pier Road from the List of Adopted Roads.

13. Dornoch Common Good Fund – Quarterly Monitoring Report to 2013/14 
      Maoin Maith Choitchinn Dhòrnaich – Aithisg Sgrùdaidh Ràitheil gu 2013/14

There is circulated Report No. CS-44-13 (19kb pdf) dated 5 November 2013 by the Corporate Manager which requests Members to note the status of the Dornoch Common Good Fund as at 30 September 2013.

The Committee is invited to note the position of the Dornoch Common Good Fund as at 30 September 2013.

14. Caithness and Sutherland Women’s Aid
      Cobhair Bhoireannach Ghallaibh is Chataibh

There is circulated Report No. CS-45-13 (60kb pdf) dated 7 November 2013 by the Director of Health and Social Care which provides Members with an overview of the governance framework of Caithness and Sutherland Women’s Aid.  Members are invited to note the close work that has taken place and the funding and monitoring arrangements in place.

The Committee is invited to note:-

i.  the report provided by Caithness and Sutherland Women’s Aid; and
ii. the close working that has been undertaken to secure the long-term viability
   of Caithness and Sutherland Women’s Aid and the services it provides.

15. Minutes
      Geàrr-chunntas

There are circulated for noting Minutes of Meeting of the Caithness and Sutherland Area Committee held on 19 August 2013.