21 November 2001

COMHAIRLE NAN EILEAN SIAR

ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES COMMITTEE

Minute of Meeting held in the Council Offices, Stornoway, on Wednesday 21 November 2001 at 9.00am

PRESENT

Mr Angus Nicolson (Chairman)

Mr Ian M Macleod (Vice-Chairman)

Mrs Katie M Mackenzie

Mr Donald I Nicholson

Mr Alexander A MacDonald

Mr Donald M Mackay

Mr Norman A Macdonald

Mrs Morag Munro

Mr Roderick J Murray

Mr Donald Maclean

Mr George Lonie

Mr James L Macarthur

APOLOGIES

Mr Alasdair G Macrae

Mr Finlay Morrison

Tribute: Mr Tom Anderson

The Chairman welcomed Mr Tom Anderson (Scottish Environment Protection Agency) to the meeting and indicated that Mr Anderson would give a presentation on the National Waste Strategy.

MINUTES

Environmental Services

C01.02

71

The Minute of Meeting of 3 October 2001 was approved.

FINANCE

Repairs and Maintenance - Quarterly Expenditure

CH01.04

72

The Director of Technical Services submitted a Report concerning expenditure upon the Repair and Maintenance of properties held on the Environmental Services account up to 30 September 2001.

It was agreed to note the Report

TRADING STANDARDS

Best Value Review - Health and Consumer Services

CH02.01

73*

The Director for Sustainable Communities submitted a Report in respect of the Best Value Review for Health and Consumer Services. The majority of Health and Consumer Services work was constrained by statute in how it could be discharged and the Report indicated that the Service Review should only focus on pest control and consumer and business education where it was considered real choices could be made.

It was agreed to recommend that:

(1) the Health and Consumer Services Best Value Review should be a Service Review; and

(2) the Review would focus only on Pest Control and Consumer and Business Education to determine how these particular areas of service could best be provided.

ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH

SEPA Area Waste Plan and Consultation Document

CH03.01

74*

Mr Tom Anderson, SEPA, was invite to make a presentation on the National Waste Strategy and the Western Isles area plan. The plan was currently out for consultation and Mr Anderson detailed the various options for waste management. Members were offered the opportunity of asking questions of Mr Anderson.

It was agreed to note the presentation by Mr Tom Anderson on SEPA's Area Waste Plan.

It was agreed that, in accordance with the provisions of schedule 7A of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following item on the grounds that exempt information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person other than the Comhairle would be disclosed.

Waste Implementation Plan - Engagement of Consultants

CH03.08

75*

With reference to item 65 of the Minute of Meeting of 3 October 2001 the Director for Sustainable Communities submitted a Report detailing costed proposals from Enviros Aspinwall for the production of the Comhairle's Waste Strategy Implementation Plan.

It was agreed to recommend that:

(1) the proposals received from Enviros Aspinwall for drawing up the Comhairle's Western Isles Waste Strategy Implementation Plan be accepted;

(2) the Director for Sustainable Communities, in consultation with the Chairman and Vice-Chairman, be authorised to take all steps necessary to ensure that the implementation plan is delivered as soon as possible and within budget; and

(3) the brief be expanded to examine the potential for the use of seaweed as a method of enriching the feedstock for anaerobic digestion and also the prospect for use of the heat and gas by-products of the anaerobic digestion to dry seaweed subject to the Director for Sustainable Communities, in consultation with the Chairman and the Vice-Chairman, being satisfied that the implementation plan would be delivered within budget.

Responsibilities in Relation to Land and Ordnance

CH03.06

76

With reference to item 55 of the Minute of Meeting of 29 August 2001 the Director for Sustainable Communities submitted a Report identifying the responsibilities of the various interested parties in relation to the recent uncovering of ordnance at Steinish/Melbost beaches.

It was agreed to note the Report.

Rural Sewerage Schemes - Progress Report

DS65.01

77

The Director for Sustainable Communities submitted a Report detailing progress with the delivery of Rural Sewerage Schemes in the Western Isles. Following reorganisation of the water industry NOSWA was unable to continue with the delivery of the Comhairle's 1992 priority list for the provision of Rural Sewerage Schemes but an alternative approach involving a joint venture between NOSWA and the Comhairle was agreed. The alternative approach involved carrying out a pilot scheme at Seilibost.

It was agreed to note the Report.

Atlantic Frontier Environmental Network

CH03.09.16

78*

The Director of Corporate Services submitted a Report asking Members to consider whether the Comhairle should be represented at the Atlantic Frontier Environmental Network Conference on "Managing the Resources of the Atlantic Margin" which was being held in the Edinburgh Conference Centre on 4^th - 6^th December 2001.

It was agreed to recommend that the Chairman and Vice-Chairman or their nominees, be authorised to represent the Comhairle at the Atlantic Frontier Environmental Network Conference on "Managing the Resources of the Atlantic Margin" at Edinburgh Conference Centre on 4^th - 5^th December 2001.

It was unanimously agreed that, in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 17 of the Scheme of Administration, the Committee determine the above recommendation under delegated powers as the Conference was being held before the next meeting of the Comhairle and on the grounds that the recommendation was not contentious and did not breach a major policy consideration of the Comhairle.

Reports Outstanding - Progress

PR33.01.12

79

The Director of Corporate Services submitted a Report detailing reports outstanding arising from decisions of the Environmental Services Committee.

It was agreed to note the Report.

PRESENT	Mr Angus Nicolson (Chairman)
	Mr Ian M Macleod (Vice-Chairman)
	Mrs Katie M Mackenzie	Mr Donald I Nicholson
	Mr Alexander A MacDonald	Mr Donald M Mackay
	Mr Norman A Macdonald	Mrs Morag Munro
	Mr Roderick J Murray	Mr Donald Maclean
	Mr George Lonie	Mr James L Macarthur

APOLOGIES	Mr Alasdair G Macrae	Mr Finlay Morrison

Tribute: Mr Tom Anderson		The Chairman welcomed Mr Tom Anderson (Scottish Environment Protection Agency) to the meeting and indicated that Mr Anderson would give a presentation on the National Waste Strategy.
		MINUTES
Environmental Services C01.02	71	The Minute of Meeting of 3 October 2001 was approved.
		FINANCE
Repairs and Maintenance - Quarterly Expenditure CH01.04	72	The Director of Technical Services submitted a Report concerning expenditure upon the Repair and Maintenance of properties held on the Environmental Services account up to 30 September 2001. It was agreed to note the Report
		TRADING STANDARDS
Best Value Review - Health and Consumer Services CH02.01	73*	The Director for Sustainable Communities submitted a Report in respect of the Best Value Review for Health and Consumer Services. The majority of Health and Consumer Services work was constrained by statute in how it could be discharged and the Report indicated that the Service Review should only focus on pest control and consumer and business education where it was considered real choices could be made. It was agreed to recommend that: (1) the Health and Consumer Services Best Value Review should be a Service Review; and (2) the Review would focus only on Pest Control and Consumer and Business Education to determine how these particular areas of service could best be provided.
		ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
SEPA Area Waste Plan and Consultation Document CH03.01	74*	Mr Tom Anderson, SEPA, was invite to make a presentation on the National Waste Strategy and the Western Isles area plan. The plan was currently out for consultation and Mr Anderson detailed the various options for waste management. Members were offered the opportunity of asking questions of Mr Anderson. It was agreed to note the presentation by Mr Tom Anderson on SEPA's Area Waste Plan.
		It was agreed that, in accordance with the provisions of schedule 7A of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following item on the grounds that exempt information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person other than the Comhairle would be disclosed.
Waste Implementation Plan - Engagement of Consultants CH03.08	75*	With reference to item 65 of the Minute of Meeting of 3 October 2001 the Director for Sustainable Communities submitted a Report detailing costed proposals from Enviros Aspinwall for the production of the Comhairle's Waste Strategy Implementation Plan. It was agreed to recommend that: (1) the proposals received from Enviros Aspinwall for drawing up the Comhairle's Western Isles Waste Strategy Implementation Plan be accepted; (2) the Director for Sustainable Communities, in consultation with the Chairman and Vice-Chairman, be authorised to take all steps necessary to ensure that the implementation plan is delivered as soon as possible and within budget; and (3) the brief be expanded to examine the potential for the use of seaweed as a method of enriching the feedstock for anaerobic digestion and also the prospect for use of the heat and gas by-products of the anaerobic digestion to dry seaweed subject to the Director for Sustainable Communities, in consultation with the Chairman and the Vice-Chairman, being satisfied that the implementation plan would be delivered within budget.
Responsibilities in Relation to Land and Ordnance CH03.06	76	With reference to item 55 of the Minute of Meeting of 29 August 2001 the Director for Sustainable Communities submitted a Report identifying the responsibilities of the various interested parties in relation to the recent uncovering of ordnance at Steinish/Melbost beaches. It was agreed to note the Report.
Rural Sewerage Schemes - Progress Report DS65.01	77	The Director for Sustainable Communities submitted a Report detailing progress with the delivery of Rural Sewerage Schemes in the Western Isles. Following reorganisation of the water industry NOSWA was unable to continue with the delivery of the Comhairle's 1992 priority list for the provision of Rural Sewerage Schemes but an alternative approach involving a joint venture between NOSWA and the Comhairle was agreed. The alternative approach involved carrying out a pilot scheme at Seilibost. It was agreed to note the Report.
Atlantic Frontier Environmental Network CH03.09.16	78*	The Director of Corporate Services submitted a Report asking Members to consider whether the Comhairle should be represented at the Atlantic Frontier Environmental Network Conference on "Managing the Resources of the Atlantic Margin" which was being held in the Edinburgh Conference Centre on 4^th - 6^th December 2001. It was agreed to recommend that the Chairman and Vice-Chairman or their nominees, be authorised to represent the Comhairle at the Atlantic Frontier Environmental Network Conference on "Managing the Resources of the Atlantic Margin" at Edinburgh Conference Centre on 4^th - 5^th December 2001.
		It was unanimously agreed that, in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 17 of the Scheme of Administration, the Committee determine the above recommendation under delegated powers as the Conference was being held before the next meeting of the Comhairle and on the grounds that the recommendation was not contentious and did not breach a major policy consideration of the Comhairle.
Reports Outstanding - Progress PR33.01.12	79	The Director of Corporate Services submitted a Report detailing reports outstanding arising from decisions of the Environmental Services Committee. It was agreed to note the Report.