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Welcome:
Mr Alex Healey
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The Chairman welcomed Mr Alex Healey to his
first Meeting of the Committee following his appointment as Renewable Energy
Officer.
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MINUTES
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Sustainable
Development Committee
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1
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The Minute of
Meeting of 20 April 2005 was approved.
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Fisheries
Joint Consultative Committee of 27 May 2005
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2
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The Minute of
Meeting of the Fisheries Joint Consultative Committee of 27 May 2005 was noted.
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Declaration
of Interest
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3
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Mr Norman L
Macdonald declared an interest and left the Meeting during consideration of
item 11.
Mr Angus
Campbell declared an interest and left the Meeting during consideration of
item 13.
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FINANCE
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General Fund
Revenue Monitoring 1 April 2004 – 31 March 2005
PR110.08
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4
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With reference
to item 3 of the Minute of Meeting of 2 February 2005 the Director of Finance
submitted a Report detailing the revenue out-turn for 2004/2005 and seeking
approval of Departmental carry forwards. A summary of the Comhairle’s
out-turn for 2004/2005 was appended to the Report.
It was
agreed to recommend that the Comhairle:
(1)
note the Report insofar as the
Committee’s interests were concerned; and
(2)
approve the carry forward of budgets
detailed in the Report insofar as the Committee’s interests were concerned.
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General Fund
Capital Monitoring 1 April 2004 – 31 March 2005
PR100.01
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5
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The Director
of Finance submitted a Report detailing the final out-turn of the Capital
Programme for 2004/05 as at 31 March 2005. The Report also sought approval
for the revised capital programme for 2005/06 incorporating the slippage and
acceleration from 2004/05.
It was
agreed to recommend that the Comhairle:
(1)
note the Final Capital Expenditure
Report insofar as the Committee’s interests were concerned; and
(2)
approve the revised Capital Programme
2005/06 insofar as the Committee’s interests were concerned.
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BUSINESS
PLANS
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Departmental Business Plans Monitoring
Report 1 April 2004 – 31 March 2005
SS02.04
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6
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The Chief
Executive submitted a Report which sought approval of the Departmental
Business Plans Monitoring Reports for the period 1 April 2004 – 31 March
2005. Summaries highlighting the key performance issues for all Departments
were detailed in the appendices to the Report.
It was
agreed to recommend, insofar as the Committee’s interests were concerned,
that:
(1)
the performance of departments in
relation to their Departmental Business Plans be noted; and
(2)
where tasks are uncompleted, further
monitoring information will be provided as part of the 2005/06 process.
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PRESENTATION
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Hydrogen Energy Technologies
DS40
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7
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Mr Panos
Coroyannakis, Islenet Manager addressed the Committee in relation to Hydrogen
Energy Technologies and the work of Islenet. Members were afforded the
opportunity to ask questions of Mr Coroyannakis.
It was
agreed to recommend that the Comhairle note the Report.
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Energy Innovation Zone Hydrogen Project
Concepts
DS61.18
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8
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The Director
of Technical Services submitted a Report indicating that the Outer Hebrides had been designated as an Energy Innovation Zone and the Community Planning
Partnership had set out a vision for alternative and renewable energy in the
Creating Communities of the Future Strategic Plan, including the initial
implementation of a hydrogen strategy. The Report detailed a series of
hydrogen project concepts for establishing an Outer Hebrides Hydrogen Supply
Chain and Hydrogen Park demonstrating Hydrogen Technologies as a solution to
local problems.
It was agreed to recommend that the
Comhairle endorse the proposed project concepts for development into modular
project proposals by the Director of Technical Services and the Director for
Sustainable Communities, in partnership with HEB-REP and other stakeholders.
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It was agreed
that, under the terms of Section 50A(4) of the Local Government (Scotland)
Act 1973, the public, including the press, be excluded from the Meeting
during consideration of the following item on the grounds that exempt
information as defined in Paragraphs 6 and 9 of Part 1 of Schedule 7A of the
Act would be disclosed, namely, information relating to the financial or
business affairs of any person other than the Comhairle and any terms
proposed or to be proposed by or to the Comhairle in the course of
negotiations for a contract for the acquisition or disposal of property or
the supply of goods or services.
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Wind Demonstration Project
DS61.19
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9*
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With reference
to item 9 of the Minute of Meeting of 21 April 2004 the Director of Technical
Services submitted a Report detailing proposals for the Comhairle to purchase
and install two second hand wind turbines for demonstration purposes.
Following an assessment by Technical Services staff it had been concluded
that one larger, second hand turbine located at the Creed Business Park would
be a more appropriate and cost effective solution.
It was
agreed to recommend that the Comhairle approve the purchase of a single
Vestas V29 turbine in place of the previously approved two Vesta V17 turbines
and, subject to the agreement of the relevant interested parties, that it be
located at the Creed Business Park.
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BIODIVERSITY
AND COUNTRYSIDE
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Western Isles Woodland Initiative
DS40.02
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10
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The Director
for Sustainable Communities submitted a Report in relation to the Western
Isles Woodland Strategy which had been formally launched in January 2004.
The Report stated that a Woodlands Project Officer had been appointed to
oversee implementation of the Woodlands Strategy Objectives and to encourage
uptake of the location premium grant for the establishment of woodlands in
the Western Isles. The Report detailed the achievements from Year 1 of the
Strategy and outlined targets for Year 2.
It was
agreed to recommend that the Comhairle:
(1)
note the content of the first annual
Monitoring Report of the Woodland Strategy; and
(2)
agree the targets for Year 2 as set out
in paragraph 6.2 of the Report.
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DEVELOPMENT
PLAN
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Mr Norman L
Macdonald declared an interest and left the Meeting during consideration of
item 11.
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Finalised Western Isles Local Plan
DS24.01
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11
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The Director for Sustainable Communities
submitted a Report seeking approval of the finalised draft Western Isles
Local Plan which would conform with the Strategic Western Isles Structure
Plan and which would provide detailed land use policy guidance for developers
and the assessment of planning applications. The draft Local Plan would
provide a framework for assessing development that aimed to be clear,
consistent yet sufficiently flexible to meet Sustainable Development
priorities.
It was
agreed to recommend that the Comhairle:
(1)
approve the draft Finalised Local Plan
as set out in Appendix 1 to the Report as a basis for consultation subject
to;
(a)
clarification of conservation
initiatives in policy LP/RM1;
(b)
LP/RM2 being amended to indicate that
Archaeologically Sensitive Area referred to Stornoway;
(c)
LP/HCL2 being amended to indicate that
rural housing developments below 15 units would be subject to consultation
with the Housing Department with regard to affordability thresholds;
(d)
Consideration of highlighting infill
potential in LP/STY5;
(e)
The housing development sites in LP/HCL
Proposal 1 at the former Macrae Hostel and Gibson Hostel becoming 100% affordable
housing;
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(f)
Appendix 1, RM4 being amended to refer
to commercial peat extraction;
(g)
Deletion of the reference to hilltop
and ridge locations in Appendix 2 para (i);
(h)
the Chief Executive, in consultation
with the Car Park Member/Officer Working Group, being authorised to make such
amendments to Appendix 3: Car Parking Provision as deemed appropriate prior
to the publication of the finalised plan; and
(2)
authorise the Director for Sustainable
Communities to complete the publication of the Finalised Local Plan,
undertake statutory consultation and report back any suggested modifications
to the Local Plan arising from the consultation.
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Stornoway Regeneration
DS40.84
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12
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With reference
to item 4 of the Minute of Meeting of 4 December 2004 the Director for
Sustainable Communities submitted a Report updating the Committee on the work
of the Stornoway Regeneration Group. The Group had contributed to improving
the co-ordination of discussion and activity which impacted upon the physical
environment in and around Stornoway. The Report detailed a Stornoway
Regeneration: Vision, Objectives and Actions document which would play a
supporting role to the island wide Local Plan and could be seen as a step
towards implementing part of the Creating Communities of the Future Strategy
so far as Stornoway was concerned.
It was
agreed to recommend that the Comhairle:
(1)
note the activities of the Stornoway
Regeneration Group; and
(2)
endorse the Stornoway Regeneration
document presented at Appendix 1 to the Report.
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ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT
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Mr Angus
Campbell declared an interest and left the Meeting during consideration of
the following item.
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Cannery Road Property
DS41.63
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13
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The Director for Sustainable Communities
submitted a Report in relation to a request from Isles FM to purchase land
owned by the Comhairle at Cannery Road, Stornoway for the purpose of building
a new radio studio. The site was currently under used, brought no benefit to
the Comhairle and could be better utilised for other economic purposes
thereby helping to improve the environmental impact on the surrounding area.
It was
agreed to recommend that the Comhairle offer the site at Cannery Road,
Stornoway for sale or lease for an economic purpose and consider the Isles FM
request in the context of other offers received.
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It was agreed
that, under the terms of Section 50A(4) of the Local Government (Scotland)
Act 1973, the public, including the press, be excluded from the Meeting
during consideration of items 14 and 15 on the grounds that exempt information
as defined in Paragraph 6 of Part 1 of Schedule 7A of the Act would be
disclosed, namely, information relating to the financial or business affairs
of any person other than the Comhairle would be disclosed.
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Castlebay Factory, Unit B
DS41.05
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14*
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The Director
for Sustainable Communities submitted a Report in relation to a request from
the current tenant of Unit B, Castlebay Factory to assign the lease.
It was
agreed to recommend that the Comhairle agree to assign the lease for Unit B,
Castlebay Factory to Mrs Joyce Lennox, on terms and conditions to be agreed
by the Director for Sustainable Communities and the Director of Corporate
Services.
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Parkend Industrial Estate, Plots
4 & 5
DS41
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15*
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The Director
for Sustainable Communities submitted a Report detailing a request by the
existing tenant to purchase Plots 4 and 5 at Parkend Industrial Estate in
order to consolidate and expand their future business plans.
It was
agreed to recommend that the Comhairle offer Plots 4 and 5 Parkend Industrial
Estate for sale to the existing tenant at the current market valuation per
the Valuation Office and on terms and conditions to be agreed by the Director
of Corporate Services, in consultation with the Director for Sustainable
Communities.
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COMMUNITY
SUPPORT
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Community Initiated Projects
DS40.01.18
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16
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The Director
for Sustainable Communities submitted a Report in relation to a request for a
grant under the Comhairle's Community Initiated Project Scheme from the
Bridge Community Centre in order to develop a dedicated area for community
activity within the multi-use premises proposed by the Bridge Project.
It was
agreed to recommend that the Comhairle approve funding of £20,000 to Bridge
Community Centre from the Community Initiated Projects Scheme, subject to
evidence of all necessary match funding being confirmed.
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East Camp Balivanich Redevelopment
Project Evaluation Report
DS40.01.02
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17
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With reference
to item to item 43 of the Minute of Meeting of the Policy and Resources
Committee of 10 February 2005 the Director for Sustainable Communities
submitted a Report seeking approval for the award of a grant of £60k to the
East Camp Balivanich Trust. The Report stated that the Trust aimed to
redevelop the disused East Camp RAF Base in Balivanich into a Social Economy/Enterprise
Park for use by the community and the voluntary sector. The Report further
indicated that the project was included in the list of bids submitted by the
Comhairle to the Highlands and Islands Special Transitional Programme who had
approved the funding application.
It was
agreed to recommend that the Comhairle approve the inclusion of the grant for
£60,000 to the East Camp Trust, as detailed in the Project Evaluation Report
at Appendix 1 to the Report, in the Capital Programme 2004/08.
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CROFTING
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Consultation Response – Draft Crofting
Reform Bill
DS40.02
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18
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With reference
to item 27 of the Minute of Meeting of 20 April 2005 the Director for
Sustainable Communities submitted a Report detailing the response submitted
by the Comhairle in relation to the draft Crofting Reform (Scotland) Bill.
It was
agreed to recommend that the Comhairle note the response to the draft
Crofting Reform (Scotland) Bill.
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Consultation Response – New Cattle
Improvement Scheme
DS40.02
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19
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The Director
for Sustainable Communities submitted a Report in relation to the
consultation from the Scottish Executive on the proposed new Crofters Cattle
Quality Improvement Scheme. The Report detailed the content of the
consultation document and outlined a proposed response from the Comhairle.
It was
agreed to recommend to the Comhairle that the Director for Sustainable
Communities be authorised to respond to the consultation on the proposed new
Crofters Cattle Quality Improvement Scheme on behalf of the Comhairle as the
deadline for responding to the consultation fell before the next series of
Meetings.
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Uist Greylag Goose Management Committee
DS40.02
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20
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The Clerk sought and obtained the Chairman’s
permission to withdraw this item.
Arising
from consideration of this matter it was agreed that the Director for
Sustainable Communities would submit a report on Greylag Goose Management in
Lewis and Harris to the next Meeting of the Comhairle.
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FISHING AND
AQUACULTURE
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Strategic Framework for Inshore Fisheries
DS40.04.14
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21
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The Director
for Sustainable Communities submitted a Report in relation to the Scottish
Executive’s new Policy and Proposals for the Management of Scottish Inshore
Fisheries. The Report indicated that a key feature of the proposed system
was the co-management of the six mile area by Local Fisheries Management
Groups involving the Scottish Executive, the Scottish Inshore Fisheries
Advisory Group and a Network of Inshore Fishery Groups. The proposed system
would include a Local Fisheries Management Group for the Western Isles Area.
It was indicated that the Report had been considered by the Fisheries Joint
Consultative Committee.
It was
agreed to recommend that the Comhairle:
(1)
consider the proposals in the SEERAD
Framework Document on the Strategic Framework of Inshore Fisheries; and
(2)
note that the composition and funding
of a Local Fisheries Management Group for the Western Isles would be
considered at a future Meeting.
Arising out
of consideration of this item it was agreed that the Fisheries and Crofting
Joint Consultative Committees would meet on a quarterly basis.
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Fisheries and Marine Resources
Development Programme 2005/06
DS40.04.49
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22
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The Director
for Sustainable Communities submitted a Report seeking approval of a
programme of development and funding support for Fisheries and Marine
Resource Initiatives in the Western Isles in 2005/06. It was indicated that
the Report had been considered by the Fisheries Joint Consultative Committee.
It was
agreed to recommend that the Comhairle approve:
(1)
the Fisheries and Marine Resources
Development Programme proposals for 2005/06 as outlined in the Report; and
(2)
the specific grants to partner
organisations as detailed in Table 1 of the Report.
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PERFORMANCE
MONITORING
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Reports Outstanding
PR33.01.12
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23
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The Director
of Corporate Services submitted a Report detailing Reports outstanding
arising from decisions of the Committee.
It was
agreed to note the Report.
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ADDITIONAL
ITEM
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The Chairman ruled that in accordance with
the provisions of Section 50 (B) 4 of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 as amended the following item be considered as a matter of urgency in
order to allow the Comhairle to take a view on the matter.
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Kallin Harbour Ice Plant
T07.02.23
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24
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The Director for Sustainable Communities
submitted a Report in relation to the proposed provision of an ice plant at Kallin Harbour. The Comhairle had commissioned consultants to examine the case for
providing and ice plant at Kallin and the Report had concluded that a plant
of an appropriate size would be economically viable and potentially
profitable. The Report further indicated that the potential revenue from ice
sales would off set associated operational and borrowing costs and the
Comhairle's match funding contribution could be made from prudential
borrowing. It was indicated that the Report had been considered by the
Fisheries Joint Consultative Committee.
It was
agreed to recommend that the Comhairle:
(1)
approve the provision of an Ice Plant
at Kallin Harbour, as detailed in the Report, subject to receipt of external
grant funding towards the estimated project cost of £196K, to the
satisfaction of the Director of Finance;
(2)
homologate the action taken by the
Director for Sustainable Communities in submitting the FIFG application; and
(3)
authorise the Director for Sustainable
Communities, in conjunction with the Director of Finance, to enter into
prudential borrowing for the balance of the funding for the purpose of
procuring an Ice Plant at Kallin harbour.
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