Committees

A meeting of the Skye, Ross and Cromarty Area Committee will take place in the Council Chamber, Council Offices, High Street, Dingwall, on Wednesday, 11 December 2013, at 2.00 p.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
    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. Election of Leader of the Area
    Taghadh Ceannard na Sgìre

Nominations will be sought at the meeting for the post of Leader of the Area who will chair the Skye, Ross and Cromarty Area Committee.

4. Scheme of Delegation 
    Sgeama Tiomnaidh

Members are reminded that, at its meeting on 27 June 2013, the Highland Council approved a Scheme of Delegation for Area Committees, copies of which will be tabled at the meeting.

The Committee is invited to note the Scheme of Delegation.

5. Investing in Skye, Ross and Cromarty – Capital Projects
    Tasgadh ann Sgìre an Eilein Sgitheanaich, Rois is Chromba –
    Pròiseactan Calpa

There is circulated Report No. SRC-01-13 (54kb pdf) dated 16 October 2013 by the Director of Finance which shows the annual budget, expenditure to end of August 2013 and projected year end position for 2013/14, for projects in the Council’s capital programme being delivered in the Skye, Ross and Cromarty area.

The Committee is invited to consider the report.

6. Maintenance Programme for Road and Bridge Works
    Prògram Cumail Suas Obraichean Rathaidean is Dhrochaidean

There is circulated Report No. SRC-02-13 (139kb pdf) dated 30 September 2013 by the Director of Transport, Environmental and Community Services which invites Members to approve the Maintenance Programmes for Resurfacing and Bridge Maintenance for the Skye, Ross and Cromarty area for 2013/14, and to note the Surface Dressing programme which was completed earlier this year.

The Committee is invited to:-

i. approve the Maintenance Programmes for Road Structural Maintenance and
   Bridge Structural Maintenance for the Skye, Ross and Cromarty area for
   2013/14; and
ii. note the Surface Dressing Programme which was completed earlier this year.

7. Winter Maintenance Plan for 2013/14
    Prògram Gleidhidh a’ Gheamhraidh airson 2013/14

There is circulated Report No. SRC-03-13 (206kb pdf) dated 30 September 2013 by the Director of Transport, Environmental and Community Services which invites Members to approve the Winter Maintenance Plan for the Skye, Ross and Cromarty area for 2013/14.

The Committee is invited to approve the Winter Maintenance Plans for the Skye, Ross and Cromarty area for 2013/14 as contained in Appendix B to the report.

8. Community Planning and Partnership Working in Skye, Ross and
    Cromarty
    Dealbhadh Coimhearsnachd agus Obair Chom-pàirteach san Eilean
    Sgitheanach, Rois is Cromba

There is circulated Report No. SRC-04-13 (33kb pdf) dated 15 October 2013 by the Corporate Manager which summarises the work of key partnerships in Skye and Ross & Cromarty and asks Members to consider their work in light of the current review of community planning arrangements taking place in Highland.

The Committee is invited to:-

i. note the contribution of the key partnership groups as outlined in the
   report; and
ii. agree that the work of these partnerships is kept under review to reflect
   the emerging themes of the Highland Public Services Performance Board.

9. Employability and Deprived Area Fund
    Comas Cosnaidh agus Maoin Sgìre Fo-leasaichte

There is circulated Report No. SRC-05-13 (137kb pdf) dated 14 October 2013 by the Director of Planning and Development which provides summaries of employment and labour market information and a brief description of Employability Services provision in the Area.  The report also introduces the revised Deprived Area Fund criteria and the implications for the Area.

The Committee is invited to:-

i. note the information on employment, unemployment and service provision in
   the area; and
ii. agree that applications to the Deprived Area Fund be invited by 2 January
   2014 and that these are considered by Council Officers and Partners to draw
   up Area-based strategy for the use of the Funds, to be brought to the Area
   Committee at the first meeting in 2014.

10. Proposed Traffic Calming Feature on Millbank Road, Munlochy
      Moladh airson Trafaig a Shocrachadh air Rathad Bruach na Muilne,
      Poll Lochaidh

There is circulated Report No. SRC-06-13 (1221kb pdf) dated 15 October 2013 by the Director of Transport, Environmental and Community Services which invites Members to approve the introduction of a series of build outs forming a traffic calming feature on Millbank Road, Munlochy.  There are 16 unresolved objections to this proposal.  In this connection, Appendix 3 to the report, setting out supporting documentation, is circulated as Booklet A.

The Committee is invited to approve the proposed build outs forming a traffic calming feature on Millbank Road, Munlochy.

11. Proposed Changes to Waiting Restrictions Fortrose
      Atharrachaidhean air am Moladh a thaobh Cuibhreachaidhean
      Feitheimh, A’ Chananaich

There is circulated Report No. SRC-07-13 (588kb pdf) dated 15 October 2013 by the Director of Transport, Environmental and Community Services which invites Members to approve the proposed changes to waiting restrictions on the High Street, Fortrose and the re-instatement of waiting restrictions on St. Andrews Walk, Fortrose.  There are two unresolved objections to this proposal.

The Committee is invited to approve the proposed changes to waiting restrictions in accordance with the Draft Road Traffic Order entitled ‘The Highland Council (Various Streets, Fortrose) (Waiting Restrictions and On Street Parking Places) Order 2013’.

12. 20 mph Speed Limit and Traffic Calming in Plockton
      Casg-astair 20 msu agus Socrachadh Trafaig sa Phloc

There is circulated Report No. SRC-08-13 (1158kb pdf) dated 10 October 2013 by the Director of Transport, Environmental and Community Services which invites Members to approve the Draft Road Traffic Order entitled “The Highland Council 9plockton) (20MPH and 30MPH Speed Limit) Order 2013” and Traffic Calming measures on the C1221 Erbusaig-Plockton Road (Plockton Railway Bridge), to which there has been one objection.

The Committee is invited to:-

i. approve the Draft Road Traffice Order entitled ‘The Highland Council
   (Plockton) (20MPH and 30 MPH Speed Limit) Order 2013’; and
ii. approve Traffic Calming on the C1221 Erbusaig-Plocton Road.

13. Cycling, Walking and Safer Streets Programme
      Prògram Rothaireachd, Coiseachd agus Sràidean nas Sàbhailte

There is circulated Report No. SRC-09-13 (43kb pdf) dated 10 October 2013 by the Director of Transport, Environmental and Community Services which invites Members to approve the projects delivered through the Scottish Government funding for Cycling, Walking and Safer Streets, for the Skye, Ross and Cromarty area, as set out in Appendix 1 to the report.

The Committee is invited to:-

i. approve the Safer Routes to School Projects as listed in Appendix 1 to the
   report; and
ii. note that the Road Safety Team will continue to work with schools to
   develop further Safer Routes to School Projects for future years.

14. Lamington Policy Assessment and Capacity Study
      Measadh Poileasaidh agus Sgrùdadh Comas-làimhseachaidh
      Lamington

There is circulated Report No SRC-10-13 (712kb pdf) dated 14 October 2013 by the Director of Planning and Development which considers the outcomes of work undertaken to assess remaining capacity for housing development within the Lamington area, and feedback from Kilmuir and Logie Easter Community Council and local residents at a meeting to discuss the draft study on 9 October 2013.  Informed by these discussions, the finalised Lamington Policy Assessment and Capacity Study is intended to provide more detailed policy guidance to assist in the determination of planning applications within the area defined in the study.

The Committee is invited to:-

i. note the summary of issues raised by the Tain and Easter Ross Community
   Council and the Council’s proposed response as set out in the committee
   report and Appendix 1 to it;
ii. agree the Lamington Policy Assessment and Capacity Study: Planning
   Guidance Note as set out in Appendix 2 to the report as non-statutory
   guidance; and
iii. acknowledge that, as the settled view of the Council, the Lamington Policy
   Assessment and Capacity Study: Planning Guidance Note, as approved, will
   be treated as a material planning consideration for development
   management purposes as of 28 October 2013.

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

a) Invergordon Academy Associated School Group Overview

There is circulated Report No. SCR-11-13 (158kb pdf) dated 16 October 2013 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport, which provides an update of key information in relation to the schools within the Invergordon 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) Portree High School Associated School Group Overview

There is circulated Report No. SRC-12-13 (305kb pdf) dated 14 October 2013 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport, which provides an update of key information in relation to the schools within the Portree 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.

16. Common Good Funds
      Maoin Maith Choitchinn

There is circulated Report No. SRC/13/13 dated 15 October 2013 by the Corporate Manager which outlines the Income and Expenditure Account and Balance Sheet for financial year 2012/13 and the 2013/14 Second Quarter Monitoring Report for the following Common Good Funds:-

a. Invergordon Common Good Fund SRC-13-13 (37kb pdf)
b. Tain Common Good Fund SRC-13-13 (54kb pdf)

The Committee is invited to note in relation to each Fund:-

i. the Income and Expenditure Account and Balance for 2012/13; and
ii. the Second Quarter 2013/14 Monitoring Report.

17.  Housing Performance Report
       Aithisg Dèanadais a thaobh Taigheadais

There is circulated Report No. SRC-14-13 (72kb pdf) dated 27 November 2013 by the Director of Housing and Property which provides Members with information on how the Housing and Property Service performed in relation to the Scottish Social Housing Charter and other performance indicators during the first two quarters of 2013/14.

The Committee is asked to note the information provided on housing performance in the period from 1 April 2013 to 30 September 2013.

18.  Street Naming - New Housing Developments at
        Fodderty and Braes of Conon 
        Ainmeachadh Sràide – Leasachaidhean Ùra Taigheadais aig
Fodhraitidh agus Bruthaichean Chonainn

There is circulated Report No. SRC-15-13 (22kb pdf) dated 28 November 2013 by the Corporate Manager concerning the creation of addresses, following consultation with the respective Community Councils and local Members, for new housing developments at Fodderty and Braes of Conon.

The Committee is asked to:

i. approve the naming of the development at the Former Fodderty School as
    “Old School Court”; and   
ii. homologate the setting of a local trees, shrubs, etc., theme for the naming
    of streets in the Braes of Conon development, and the naming of the
    three initial streets as Thistle Road, Cherry Drive and Willow Court.

19.  Town Centre Regeneration Fund - Tain
       Maoin Ath-nuadhachaidh Meadhain Baile – Baile Dhubhthaich

There is circulated Report No. SRC-16-13 (39kb pdf) dated 02 December 2013 by the Director of Planning and Development which provides Members with an update on a proposal submitted to the Scottish Government for consideration for funding towards a design workshop (or “Charrette”) aimed at delivering regeneration in and around Tain Town Centre.  This opportunity is part of the Scottish Government’s Charrette Mainstreaming Programme and follows the recent publication of a review of Scotland’s town centres, and subsequent Town Centre Action Plan.

The Committee is asked to agree the submission of a proposal to Scottish Government for funding towards a design workshop (“charrette”) aimed at delivering regeneration in and around Tain Town Centre.