Men0010

COMHAIRLE NAN EILEAN SIAR

ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES COMMITTEE

Minute of Meeting held in the Council Offices, Stornoway, on Wednesday 4 October 2000 at 9.00 am

PRESENT

Mr Donald I Nicholson (Chairman)

Mr Angus Nicolson (Vice-Chairman)

Mrs Katie M Mackenzie

Mr Finlay Morrison

Mr Alexander A Macdonald

Mr Donald M Mackay

Mr Ian M Macleod

Mrs Morag Munro

Mr Roderick J Murray

Mr Donald Maclean

Mr George Lonie

Mr James L Macarthur

Mr Alasdair G Macrae

MINUTES

Environmental Services

CH01.02

75

The Minute of Meeting of 30 August 2000 was approved.

ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH

Monitoring and Audit of Enforcement Functions

CH03.01

76*

The Acting Director of Environmental Services submitted a Report detailing the implications of proposals by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) to monitor and audit the Comhairle's arrangements for food law enforcement. The FSA intend to implement a monitoring and audit scheme on 1 April 2001 and the Comhairle would be expected to develop and implement 16 policies and procedures in time for the audit process to be undertaken. The Report further indicated that, in a similar approach, the Health and Safety Executive Local Authority Unit had launched a protocol for inter-authority auditing of local authorities management of health and safety enforcement. The framework was designed to help local authorities assure themselves that they were making an effective contribution to health and safety enforcement and would help identify good and best practice and promote consistency of enforcement between local authorities.

It was agreed to recommend that:

(1) the development and implementation of all the policies and procedures required by the Food Standards Agency in its monitoring and audit accountability framework be incorporated into the Environmental Services Department Business Plan for the current financial year; and

(2) addressing the requirements for the HELA protocol for inter authority auditing of local authorities management of health and safety enforcement be incorporated into the Environmental Services Departmental Business Plan for 2001/2002.

Proposed Future Allocation of Landfill Tax Credits

CH03.08

77

The Chairman sought and obtained the Committee's approval to withdraw this item from the Meeting.

Diversion Targets for Biodegradable Waste from Landfill

CH03.08

78*

With reference to item 64 of the Minute of Meeting of 30 August 2000 the Acting Director of Environmental Services submitted a report concerning the local waste strategy being developed by SEPA. The Report identified the expected diversion targets for biodegradable waste from landfill as a result of the EC Directive on landfill. Following the production of the local waste strategy it was intended that consultants be employed to draw up proposals for the precise plant and equipment required to deliver the waste diversion targets. The Report further detailed the Comhairle's proposed contribution to the plan.

It was agreed to recommend approval of the processes and indicative target tonnages for the various waste processing routes as set out in the Report, to be used as the basis for the Comhairle's contribution to the development of the local waste area strategy being co-ordinated and drafted by SEPA.

Response to Proposed National Scrapie Plan

CH03.03.05

79*

The Acting Director of Environmental Services submitted a Report concerning the consultation document issued by the Scottish Executive Rural Affairs Department on phase one of proposals to launch a national scrapie plan in the UK. The proposals would entail genetically testing rams to ascertain their inherited level of resistance to scrapie and eventually using these resistant rams to eliminate the disease from flocks. The Report outlined the effects, possible drawbacks and costs of the proposals and outlined the particular concerns for the Western Isles that should be taken into consideration.

It was agreed to recommend that the Acting Director of Environmental Services be authorised to respond to the consultation paper on a national scrapie plan along the terms detailed in the Report.

Rural Sewerage Schemes - An Alternative Strategy

DS65.01

80*

The Acting Director of Environmental Services submitted a Report concerning proposals to enter into a co-operative venture with NOSWA, SEPA and WIE to upgrade sewerage provision in rural areas. Consideration had been given to looking for alternative ways, through co-operative planning principles, to bring forward the programme for provision of rural sewerage schemes. The local NOSWA office had undertaken preparatory work to put together proposals for tackling two innovative pilot projects in Harris. The proposals would involve the communities, the Comhairle, NOSWA, SEPA and WIE working co-operatively to bring about sustainable and more cost effective solutions to the health and environmental problems caused by inadequate septic tank systems.

It was agreed to recommend that:

(1) the application for additional funding made to the Highlands and Islands Special Programme for the cost of employment of a Sewerage Scheme Administrator and for the subsequent cost of alternative sewerage schemes be noted; and

(2) the Comhairle contribute to the funding of the post of Sewerage Scheme Administrator and to the cost of upgrading individual septic tanks in those areas which were not possible to connect to group septic tanks practicably and at reasonable cost by the provision of an environmental grant to the proposed co-ordinating agency.

PERFORMANCE MONITORING

Reports Outstanding: Progress

PR33.01.12

81

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

It was agreed to note the Report.

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

		MINUTES
Environmental Services CH01.02	75	The Minute of Meeting of 30 August 2000 was approved.
		ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
Monitoring and Audit of Enforcement Functions CH03.01	76*	The Acting Director of Environmental Services submitted a Report detailing the implications of proposals by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) to monitor and audit the Comhairle's arrangements for food law enforcement. The FSA intend to implement a monitoring and audit scheme on 1 April 2001 and the Comhairle would be expected to develop and implement 16 policies and procedures in time for the audit process to be undertaken. The Report further indicated that, in a similar approach, the Health and Safety Executive Local Authority Unit had launched a protocol for inter-authority auditing of local authorities management of health and safety enforcement. The framework was designed to help local authorities assure themselves that they were making an effective contribution to health and safety enforcement and would help identify good and best practice and promote consistency of enforcement between local authorities.
		It was agreed to recommend that: (1) the development and implementation of all the policies and procedures required by the Food Standards Agency in its monitoring and audit accountability framework be incorporated into the Environmental Services Department Business Plan for the current financial year; and (2) addressing the requirements for the HELA protocol for inter authority auditing of local authorities management of health and safety enforcement be incorporated into the Environmental Services Departmental Business Plan for 2001/2002.
Proposed Future Allocation of Landfill Tax Credits CH03.08	77	The Chairman sought and obtained the Committee's approval to withdraw this item from the Meeting.
Diversion Targets for Biodegradable Waste from Landfill CH03.08	78*	With reference to item 64 of the Minute of Meeting of 30 August 2000 the Acting Director of Environmental Services submitted a report concerning the local waste strategy being developed by SEPA. The Report identified the expected diversion targets for biodegradable waste from landfill as a result of the EC Directive on landfill. Following the production of the local waste strategy it was intended that consultants be employed to draw up proposals for the precise plant and equipment required to deliver the waste diversion targets. The Report further detailed the Comhairle's proposed contribution to the plan.
		It was agreed to recommend approval of the processes and indicative target tonnages for the various waste processing routes as set out in the Report, to be used as the basis for the Comhairle's contribution to the development of the local waste area strategy being co-ordinated and drafted by SEPA.
Response to Proposed National Scrapie Plan CH03.03.05	79*	The Acting Director of Environmental Services submitted a Report concerning the consultation document issued by the Scottish Executive Rural Affairs Department on phase one of proposals to launch a national scrapie plan in the UK. The proposals would entail genetically testing rams to ascertain their inherited level of resistance to scrapie and eventually using these resistant rams to eliminate the disease from flocks. The Report outlined the effects, possible drawbacks and costs of the proposals and outlined the particular concerns for the Western Isles that should be taken into consideration.
		It was agreed to recommend that the Acting Director of Environmental Services be authorised to respond to the consultation paper on a national scrapie plan along the terms detailed in the Report.
Rural Sewerage Schemes - An Alternative Strategy DS65.01	80*	The Acting Director of Environmental Services submitted a Report concerning proposals to enter into a co-operative venture with NOSWA, SEPA and WIE to upgrade sewerage provision in rural areas. Consideration had been given to looking for alternative ways, through co-operative planning principles, to bring forward the programme for provision of rural sewerage schemes. The local NOSWA office had undertaken preparatory work to put together proposals for tackling two innovative pilot projects in Harris. The proposals would involve the communities, the Comhairle, NOSWA, SEPA and WIE working co-operatively to bring about sustainable and more cost effective solutions to the health and environmental problems caused by inadequate septic tank systems.
		It was agreed to recommend that: (1) the application for additional funding made to the Highlands and Islands Special Programme for the cost of employment of a Sewerage Scheme Administrator and for the subsequent cost of alternative sewerage schemes be noted; and (2) the Comhairle contribute to the funding of the post of Sewerage Scheme Administrator and to the cost of upgrading individual septic tanks in those areas which were not possible to connect to group septic tanks practicably and at reasonable cost by the provision of an environmental grant to the proposed co-ordinating agency.