|
|
|
MINUTES
|
|
Minute of
Meeting of 9 December 2004
|
1
|
The Minute of
Meeting of 9 December 2004 was approved.
|
|
Minutes of Meetings of Waste Strategy
Implementation Sub-Committee of 26 November 2004and 21 December 2004
|
2
|
The Minutes of
Meetings of the Waste Strategy Implementation Sub-Committee of 26 November
and 21 December 2004 were noted.
|
|
Declaration of Interest
|
3
|
There were no
declarations of interest.
|
|
|
|
FINANCE
|
|
Third Quarter Revenue Monitoring 2004/05
PR110.05
|
|
The Acting
Director of Finance submitted a Report detailing the Comhairle’s Forecast
Revenue Outturn for 2004/05 at the end of the third quarter. A summary of
the financial performance to the end of December 2004 was appended to the
Report.
It was
agreed to recommend that the Report be noted, insofar as the Committee’s
interests were concerned.
|
|
Third Quarter Capital Monitoring
2004/2005
PR110.03
|
5
|
The Acting
Director of Finance submitted a Report concerning progress in the 2004/05
Capital Programme as at 31 December 2004.
It was
agreed to recommend approval of the recommendations detailed in the Report,
insofar as the Committee’s interests were concerned.
|
|
Revenue Estimates 2005/2006
|
6
|
The Acting Director of Finance submitted the
Draft Revenue Estimates for 2005/06.
It was agreed to recommend approval of
the Draft Revenue Estimates 2005/2006, insofar as the Committee’s interests
were concerned.
|
|
|
|
PLANNING APPLICATIONS
|
|
Site Visit to Holm, Isle of Lewis
|
7(a)
|
The Chairman
outlined the arrangements for the site visit in connection with the
application for the erection of a holiday cottage and a new byre at 2 Holm,
Isle of Lewis.
The Committee
visited the proposed site for erection of a holiday cottage and a new byre at
2 Holm, Isle of Lewis.
The Chairman
invited Mr Alastair Banks, Head of Development Services to address the
meeting and answer Members’ questions in relation to the site.
Mr Banks
responded to Members’ questions.
|
|
Erect Holiday Cottage and New Byre at 2
Holm, Isle of Lewis
DS21.01
|
7(b)
|
With reference
to item 9 of the Minute of Meeting of 9 December 2004 the Director for
Sustainable Communities submitted a Report concerning an application for
planning permission for the erection of a holiday cottage and new byre at 2
Holm, Isle of Lewis. The Report gave background information, commented on
the application and indicated that representations had been received.
The Chairman,
seconded by Mr Norman A MacDonald moved approval of the recommendation
detailed in the Report by the Director for Sustainable Communities.
Mrs Morag Munro, seconded by Mr Ronald J
Mackinnon, moved as an amendment that the application be deferred until the
applicant had completed a risk assessment in relation to the proposed
development and that a further Report be submitted by the Director for
Sustainable Communities to a future meeting of the Committee, on this
application, on the basis that this Report should include the risk
assessment.
On the matter being put to the vote the
amendment received the majority of votes cast and it was agreed to recommend
accordingly.
|
|
Replace Existing Roofs on Extensions to
House at 28 Lewis Street, Stornoway
DS21.01
|
8
|
The Director for Sustainable Communities
submitted a Report concerning an application for planning permission for the
replacement of existing roofs on extensions to the house at 28 Lewis Street, Stornoway, Isle of Lewis. The Report gave background information,
commented on the application and indicated that representations had been
received.
It was agreed to recommend that the
Director for Sustainable Communities be authorised to grant planning
permission for the replacement of existing roofs on extensions to the house
at 28 Lewis Street, Stornoway, Isle of Lewis, subject to the
conditions shown in Appendix 1 to the Report.
|
|
Redevelopment of Former School and Upgrading of Schoolhouse to Family Dwelling at Keose, Isle of Lewis
DS21.01
|
9
|
The Director for Sustainable Communities
submitted a Report concerning an application for planning permission for the
re-development of the former school and the upgrading of the former
schoolhouse to a family dwelling at Keose, Isle of Lewis. It was intimated in
the Report that as the applicant was an Officer in the Development Control
Section of the Sustainable Communities Department the application had been
referred to the Cohairle for consideration.
It was
agreed to recommend that the Director for Sustainable Communities be
authorised to grant planning permission for the re-development of the former
school and the upgrading of the former schoolhouse to a family dwelling at
Keose, Isle of Lewis, subject to the conditions shown in Appendix 1 to the
Report.
|
|
Burying of Fish Morts at Kyles, Paible,
North Uist
DS21.01
|
10
|
The Director for Sustainable Communities
submitted a Report concerning an application for planning permission for the
burying of fish morts at Kyles Paible, North Uist. The Report gave background
information, commented on the application and indicated that representations
had been received.
It was
agreed to recommend that the Director for Sustainable Communities be
authorised to grant planning permission for the burying of fish morts at Kyles Paible, North Uist, subject to the conditions shown in
Appendix 1 to the Report.
|
|
|
|
ENVIRONMENT
|
|
Allocation of Environmental Improvement
Grants for 2005/06
H10
|
11
|
The Director for Sustainable Communities
submitted a Report concerning the allocation of funds from the Action by
Communities on their Environment (ACE) Challenge Fund for 2005/06 and
Communities Scotland Private Sector Housing Grants for community led
Environmental Improvement Projects.
It was stated
in the Report that in light of the over-subscription for ACE Challenge Funds
it was proposed to supplement the funding available to projects under the
scheme by use of the base element of the Private Sector Housing Grant, which
had been identified for environmental improvements in the sum of £150,000 and
that by using Private Sector Housing Grant in this way, it would be possible
to avoid having to reject any high quality projects submitted under the ACE
Challenge Fund.
The Report
detailed the proposed allocation of funding from ACE and private sector
housing grant funds for 2005/06.
|
|
|
|
It was
agreed to recommend that, insofar as the Committee’s interests were
concerned, subject to the production of satisfactory evidence of matching
funding and obtaining all necessary statutory consents, where appropriate:
(1)
the Housing Committee approve
allocations from the Private Sector Housing Grant as outlined in column F of
Appendix 1 to the Report ; and
(2)
the Environmental Services Committee
approve allocations from the ACE Challenge Grant as outlined in column E of
Appendix 1 to the Report.
|
|
Additional Funding for Remediation of
Contaminated Land
CH03.14
|
12
|
The Director for Sustainable Communities
submitted a Report intimating that the Scottish Executive had granted an
additional £150,000 for the remediation and subsequent development of a
former landfill site in the centre of Castlebay, Isle of Barra. It was stated
in the Report that the additional grant–aid had been made available to the
Comhairle in light of the fact that site investigation commissioned by the
Comhairle had identified the need for remediation works to be undertaken in
order to bring the land into beneficial use.
It was
agreed to recommend that the Comhairle note the granting of an additional
£150,000 for the remediation and subsequent development of the former
landfill site in Castlebay.
|
|
|
|
COASTAL
PROTECTION
|
|
UK and Scottish
Climate Change Programme Reviews: Consultation
CH03.01
|
13
|
The Director
of Technical Services submitted a Report detailing a proposed response to the
consultations currently being undertaken by the Government and the Scottish
Executive on climate change programmes. These programmes were to be
significant contributions to the global response to climate change and sought
to set out strategic, far-reaching packages of policies and measures across
all centre of the economy. The Report highlighted the UK and Scottish climate change programmes.
It was
agreed to recommend, insofar as the Committee’s interests were concerned,
that the Comhairle approve that Appendix 3 in the Report, together with the
comments made by Members and including the basis of the recent article in
Holyrood magazine, should form the basis of a common Comhairle response to
both DEFRA and the Scottish Executive Environment Group.
|
|
Remote Sensing of Soft Coasts Project
DS60.01
|
14
|
The Director
of Technical Services submitted a Report in relation to the Remote Sensing of
Soft Coasts project. Concerns about climate change and rises in sea levels
had increased the awareness of the necessity for accurate planning and
monitoring of coastlines and low lying inland areas. The aim of the Remote
Sensing of Soft Coasts project was to gather baseline data which could then
be used with in-house Geographic Information Systems to assist with development
planning, identifying vulnerable areas and mapping. The Report further
indicated that the project was being led by Scottish Natural Heritage who had
invited the Comhairle, along with others, to support and partly fund the
initiative.
It was
agreed to recommend, insofar as the Committee’s interests were concerned,
that the Comhairle be a project partner and approve funding of up to £15k to
project costs as per paragraph 1.2 of the Report.
|
|
|
|
CONSUMER
PROTECTION
|
|
Licensing of Fireworks Suppliers
CH04.12
|
15
|
The Director for Sustainable Communities
submitted a Report in relation to the implications for the Comhairle of the
Fireworks (Scotland) Regulations 2004. The Report stated that the
Regulations introduced a curfew on the night-time use of fireworks and
further controls on the sale of fireworks outwith the traditional firework
celebration periods of Guy Fawkes, New Year, Chinese New Year and Diwali.
It was
agreed to recommend, insofar as the Committee’s interests were concerned,
that the Comhairle's Scheme of Delegation be amended to permit:
(1)
the Director for Sustainable
Communities to determine applications, and carry out the enforcement function
contained within Regulation 9 of the Fireworks (Scotland) Regulations 2004;
and
|
|
|
|
(2)
the Director of Corporate Services to
determine applications for a dispensation under Regulation 4 of the Fireworks
(Scotland) Regulations 2004.
It was further agreed to recommend that
the Director for Sustainable Communities be requested to submit a Report to a
future meeting of the Committee outlining options in relation to the
restriction of the sale of fireworks from shop premises in the Western Isles.
|
|
|
|
RELATED
MATTERS
|
|
Fees for Large Windfarm Applications
DS21.01
|
16
|
The Director for Sustainable Communities
submitted a Report appending the proposed response to the Consultation Paper
from the Scottish Executive concerning the Fees Payable by Applicants for
Consent Under the Electricity (Applications for Consent) (Scotland)
Regulations 1990. The Report referred to the submissions made by the
Comhairle to Allan Wilson MSP, Deputy Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong
Learning in connection with the level of fees payable by applicants for large
Windfarm Applications and highlighted that the Scottish Executive’s proposals
made no provision for retrospective payments, to the Comhairle, for the Lewis
WindPower and the Beinn Mhor applications, that had already been submitted.
It was agreed to recommend that the consultation response at
Appendix 5 to the Report should form the basis of the response to the
Scottish Executive from the Comhairle.
It was
further agreed to recommend that the Comhairle should seek retrospective
payment in respect of relevant fees under the Electricity (Application for
Consent) (Scotland) Regulations 1990, in the event that the Comhairle were
not to be granted the special financial allocation sought for determining
large windfarm applications already submitted.
|
|
Oil Pollution Exercise and Draft Oil
Spill Contingency Plan
CH03.06
|
17
|
The Director of Technical Services submitted
a Report intimating that the Marine Coastguard Agency proposed to test the
National Contingency Plan for Oil Pollution Response in Stornoway on 22 and
23 February 2005. It was intimated in the Report that the draft Revised Oil
Spill Contingency Plan, which had been made available to Members, would be
finalised following the proposed exercise and submitted to the Comhairle for
approval. It was indicated that financial provision for the proposed
exercise could be identified from within the budget for the Traffic Routing
Study, in light of confirmation from The Highland Council that it would fund
part of the Traffic Routing Study.
It was
agreed to recommend:
(1)
approval of the Comhairle hosting the
exercise to test the National Contingency Plan for Oil Pollution in Stornoway
on 22 and 23 February 2005;
(2)
that the Comhairle’s draft Revised Oil
Spill Contingency Plan be submitted to Committee for approval following the
exercise; and
(3)
that the balance of funding available
from the Traffic Routing Study for Minch and West of Hebrides, as detailed in
the Report, be used to cover the cost of the exercise and associated issues.
|
|
Tanker Traffic in the Minches PSSA
Designation
DS61.01
|
18
|
The Director
of Technical Services submitted a Report concerning the proposal, approved by
the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), to designate part of Western
European Waters including the Minches and West of Hebrides as a Particularly
Sensitive Sea Area (PSSA). It was emphasised in the Report that the PSSA was
a sea area requiring special protection through action by the IMO because of
its significance for recognised ecological, socio-economic or scientific
reasons and which may be vulnerable to damage by international maritime
activities. It was stated in the Report that the designation was likely to
strengthen the case for control and routing of vessels through the Minches
and West of Hebrides. It was further stated in the Report that the only
protective measure, which the IMO proposed, at this point, was to prohibit
the carriage of heavy grades of oil in vessels of more than 600 DWT, except
in double hull tankers and that for some tankers this provision would only
apply from 2008.
It was
agreed to recommend that the Report be noted.
It was
further agreed to recommend that the Director of Technical Services be
requested to submit a Report to the Committee, if appropriate, in connection
with the Highland Council Campaign concerning the Crown Estate Commission and
the Seabed.
|
|
Site Use of Nicolson Lewis Sports Centre
AL06.01.40
|
19
|
With reference
to item 10 of Minute of Meeting of the Arts and Leisure Committee 1 February
2004 the Director for Sustainable Communities submitted a Report
concerning the site restoration of the campus following the demolition of the
Nicolson Lewis Sport Centre.
It was
agreed to recommend, insofar as the Committee’s interests were concerned,
that:
(1)
the Arts and Leisure Committee approve
the development of the campus surrounding the Nicolson Lewis Sports Centre as
outlined in Appendix 1 of the Report, subject to the necessary funding being
approved by the Comhairle;
(2)
the Environmental Services Committee
approve expenditure of £60,000 from ACE capital funds towards the
environmental improvements; and
(3)
the Policy and Resources Committee
approve the expenditure on the Project Evaluation Report for a skate park on
the site.
|
|
|
|
PERFORMANCE
MONITORING
|
|
Reports Outstanding: Progress
PR33.01.12
|
20
|
The Director
of Corporate Services submitted a Report concerning Reports Outstanding
arising from decisions of the Committee.
It was agreed to recommend that the
Report be noted.
|
|
|
|
ADDITIONAL
ITEMS
The Chairman
ruled that in accordance with the provision of Section 50(B) 4 of the Local
Government (Scotland) Act 1973 as amended the following four items be
considered as a matter of urgency in order to allow the Committee to take a
view on these matters.
|
|
Coastal Erosion at Seilibost
DS60.01
|
21
|
With
reference to item 16 of the Minute of Meeting of the Education and Children’s
Services Committee of 2 February 2005 the Director of Technical Services
submitted a Report concerning the extent of coastal movement along the
coastline at Seilibost School following recent storms.
It was agreed to recommend, insofar as
the Committee’s interests were concerned, that the Report be noted.
|
|
Coastal Erosion at Lionacleit
DS60.01
|
22
|
With reference
to item 19 of the Minute of Meeting of the Education and Children’s Services
Committee of 2 February 2005 the Director of Technical Services submitted a
Report concerning the extent of coastal erosion along the coastline south and
east of Lionacleit School.
It was agreed to recommend, insofar as
the Committee’s interests were concerned, that the Report be noted.
|
|
Erect House at 3 Leurbost, Isle of Lewis
|
23
|
The Director for Sustainable Communities
submitted a Report concerning an application for planning permission for the
erection of a house at 3 Leurbost, Isle of Lewis. The Report gave background
information, commented on the application and indicated that representations
had been received
It was agreed to recommend that,
subject to the receipt of satisfactory amended plans that improved the
appearance and setting of the proposed house to the satisfaction of the
Director for Sustainable Communities, the application be approved, subject to
conditions to be determined by the Director for Sustainable Communities.
|
|
Erect House 10 Aird Tong, Isle of Lewis
DS21.01
|
24
|
The Director
for Sustainable Communities submitted a Report concerning an application for
planning permission for the erection of a house at 10 Aird Tong, Isle of
Lewis. The Report gave background information, commented on the application
and indicated that representations had been received.
It was
agreed to recommend that the application be approved subject to the
conditions shown in Appendix 1 to the Report.
|