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The Chairman
referred to the successful campaign to have tolls removed from the Skye Bridge and congratulated all concerned. He then highlighted the high level of dues
being levied by Highland Council at Uig Pier, Isle of Skye.
It was
agreed to recommend that representations be made to Highland Council
regarding the removal of the 11% surcharge on dues at Uig Pier.
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The Chairman
referred to a Consultation Document which had recently been issued by
Highlands and Islands Enterprise relating to “the direction of economic and
community development in the Highlands and Islands”. He indicated that the
deadline for responses was prior to the next series of meetings and suggested
a mechanism for submission of a response on the basis that the details would be
reported to the next meeting of the Committee.
It was agreed to recommend that it be
delegated to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Chairman of the
Policy and Resources Committee and the Chairman of the Sustainable
Development Committee and the Director for Sustainable Communities to
formulate a response on behalf of the Comhairle on the Consultation Document
issued by Highlands and Islands Enterprise relating to “the direction of
economic and community development in the Highlands and Islands”.
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The Chairman
highlighted that it was anticipated that here may be a requirement in the
near future to respond to documents and statements in relation to Gaelic
Broadcasting from the Scottish Executive and for the Department for Culture,
Media and Sport and suggested a mechanism to deal with this eventuality.
It was
agreed to recommend that, in the event that a response in relation to Gaelic
Broadcasting required to be submitted between Committee meetings, it be
delegated to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Convener and Vice
Chair of the Committee, to formulate a response and report to the next
meeting of the Committee.
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MINUTES
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Minute of
Meeting of 10 December 2004
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1
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The Minute of
Meeting of 10 December 2004 was approved, subject to the deletion of
the words “subject to the Comhairle securing FIFG funding” at Item 38 (2).
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Declaration
of Interest
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2
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The Chairman
declared an interest in Items 20 and 43 and left the meeting during
consideration of these matters.
Mrs Morag
Munro declared an interest in Items 16 and 37 and left the meeting during
consideration of these matters.
Mr Alex A Macdonald, Mr Norman L Macdonald,
Mr John Mackay and Mr Donald Maclean declared an interest in Item 18 and left
the meeting during consideration of the matter.
Mr Archie
Campbell declared an interest in Items 4 and 28 and left the meeting during
consideration of these matters.
Mr Neil
Campbell declared an interest in Items 12 and 28 and left the meeting during
consideration of these matters.
Mr Norman M
Macleod declared an interest in Items 4, 28 and 31 and left the meeting
during consideration of these matters.
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Minute of
Meeting of Human Resources Sub-Committee of
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3
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The Minute of
Meeting of the Human Resources Sub-Committee of 4 February 2005 was noted
and the recommendations at item 5, 7 and 16 were approved.
The Minute of
Meeting of the Human Resources Sub-Committee of 9 February 2005 was noted and
the recommendations at items 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the Minute were approved.
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Mr Norman M
Macleod and Mr Archie Campbell declared an interest in the following item 4
and left the meeting during consideration of the matter.
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Minute of
Meeting of Housing Stock Transfer Sub-Committee
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4
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The Minute of
Meeting of the Housing Stock Transfer Sub-Committee of 14 December 2004 was approved.
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Minute of
Meeting of ICT Sub-Committee of 9 February 2005
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5
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The Minute of
Meeting of the ICT Sub-Committee of 9 February 2005 was approved.
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FINANCE
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General
Fund Capital Monitoring: 1 April 2004 – 31 December 2004
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6
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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 in the Report insofar as the Committee’s interests were
concerned.
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Revenue
Monitoring: 1 April 2004 – 31 December 2004
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7
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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 in so far as the Committee’s interests were concerned.
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Revenue
Estimates 2005/2006
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8
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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.
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Treasury
Policy Statement
PR120.06
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9
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The Acting
Director of Finance submitted a Report detailing the proposed Policy
Statement setting out the Comhairle’s approach to all treasury operations. A
Treasury Policy Statement which had been approved by the Comhairle on 19
February 2002 was appended to the Report. As there had been no changes to
the Comhairle’s approach to treasury operations since then it was suggested
in the Report that the terms of the Policy remained valid.
It was agreed to recommend that the
Treasury Policy detailed at Appendix A to the Report be continued for
2005/06.
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Treasury
Management Statement
PR120.06
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10
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The Acting
Director of Finance submitted a Report proposing a borrowing and investment
strategy and policies for adoption in 2005/2006. The legislative framework
and code of practice requirements in relation to adoption of a Treasury
Management Strategy were outlined in the Report.
It was agreed to recommend that:
(1) the strategy options identified in
Paragraph 8 of the Report be noted;
(2) the total variable rate funds borrowed
do not exceed 40% of Loans Pool Debt;
(3) the existing policy permitting
borrowing in anticipation of requirement outlined in paragraph 9.4 of the
Report be continued;
(4)
the institutions to which the Director
of Finance may lend be those detailed at Appendix A to the Report;
(5) the maximum that may be lent to any
approved institution be £5million unless it is a Building Society on the
approved list other than the top two in which case the maximum would be
£1million; and
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(6) the time limit for investing in credit
rated institutions be 364 days and 6 months for an approved building society
not in the top two.
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Prudential
Indicators
PR43.06
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11
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The Acting
Director of Finance submitted a Report concerning the Prudential Indicators
for 2005-2008.
It was agreed to recommend that the
Prudential Indicators set out in the Report be approved for the 2005/06
financial year and that the two subsequent financial years be noted as
planning assumptions.
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Mr Neil Campbell declared an interest in the
following item 12 and left the meeting during consideration of the matter.
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Banking
Services 2005- 2008
PR120.04
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12
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The Acting
Director of Finance submitted a Report advising Members of the Banking
Services tender process. The Report indicated that the Royal Bank of Scotland had been appointed for the period from 1 June 2005 to 31 May 2008 with an option
to the Comhairle to extend for a further two years.
It was
agreed to recommend that the Report be noted.
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Use of
2003/04 Year End Surplus
PR110.01
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13
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The Director
of Technical Services submitted a Report concerning the planned use of
revenue funds carried forward from 2003/04. It was indicated in the Report
that the total surplus carried forward from 2003/04 within the Technical
Services Department totalled £176,423 which equated to 2% of the controllable
budget. A breakdown of the planned use of the underspend was detailed
in the Report.
It was
agreed to recommend that the allocation of revenue funds carried forward from
the financial year 2003/04 be approved.
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Consultation
on Local Taxation in Scotland
PR110.03.01
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14
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The Acting
Director of Finance submitted a Report regarding a response to the
Consultation Document on Local Taxation in Scotland. A summary of the main
points of the Consultation Document were outlined in the Appendix to the
Report.
It was agreed to recommend that:
(1) this matter be considered at the
Special Comhairle Meeting during February 2005 to consider a tender award;
(2) a detailed briefing note be circulated
to all Members regarding this matter;
(3) the IRIV Initial Response be
circulated to all Members; and
(4) the view of the Scottish Executive’s
Economic Development Department regarding personal taxation be circulated to
all Members.
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Allocation
of Existing Balances in Relation to Access Funding, Childcare and Sure Start
E01.02.06
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15
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The Director of Education submitted a Report
concerning the allocation of funding held within balances in relation to
pre-school provision and access. The background to the matter was outlined
and details of resources committed and provided for 2004/2005 were appended
to the Report.
It was agreed to recommend, insofar as
the Committee’s interests were concerned, that:
(1) the carry forward to the next
financial year of the 2004/2005 reserved funding of £84,000 held in balances
for Child Care/Sure Start funding be approved;
(2)
the additional funding of £329,000 for
2005/2006 being held in reserves to be released upon approval of the
Integrated Early Years Strategy be approved; and
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(3) the release of the additional £57,000
accessibility funding allocated in 2004/05, as detailed in Appendix B to the
Report, by the Scottish Executive to the Department of Education in order to
develop access provision be approved.
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Mrs Morag
Munro declared an interest in the following item 16 and left the meeting
during consideration of the matter.
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Remission
of Rates for Charitable Organisations
PR110.03.01
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16
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The Acting
Director of Finance submitted a Report concerning the current position
regarding remission of rates. The Report provided details of the present
situation regarding remission of rates and indicated that on 30 January 2000
the Comhairle had agreed to grant discretionary relief for a period of 5
years of 20% to organisations qualifying for mandatory relief and 100% to non
profit making organisations as defined in the Report and that the Director of
Finance be delegated powers to remit the rates in respect of new applications
and to revoke any remission where any organisation no longer qualifies.
It was agreed to recommend that:
(1) the organisations currently being
granted discretionary rates relief be granted relief until 27 April 2005
provided that they continue to qualify; and
(2) the Acting Director of Finance be
granted delegated powers to remit the rates of organisations within the terms
of the legislation in respect of new applications and to revoke any granting
of remission where the circumstances have changed to the extent that any
organisation no longer qualifies in the period up to 27 April 2005.
Arising out of consideration of this
matter it was agreed to recommend that the Acting Director of Finance would
provide a list of Organisations currently receiving rate relief to the next
meeting of the Committee when the terms of the Report would be reconsidered.
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Recommendations
for Write-Offs of Certain Council Tax, Sundry Debt and NDR Debts
PR110.03.01
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17
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With reference
to item 6 of the Minute of Meeting of 16 December 2004 the Director of
Finance submitted a Report which itemised and recommended that certain debts
in excess of £1,000 be written off in the current financial year 2004/05. It
was indicated in the Report that the Scheme of Delegation allowed the
Director of Finance to write off sums outstanding to the Comhairle of up to
£1,000 and that the writing off of sums in excess of £1,000 required
Comhairle approval.
It was agreed to recommend that the
debts itemised in Appendix A be written off.
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Mr Alex A
Macdonald, Mr Norman L Macdonald, Mr John Mackay and Mr Donald Maclean
declared an interest in the following item and left the meeting during
consideration of the matter.
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Council
Tax on Second and Long Term Empty Homes
PR100.03.01
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18
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The Acting
Director of Finance submitted a Report seeking approval to implement the
decision taken, in principle, by the Committee of 9 September 2004 to levy
the maximum 90% Council Tax charge on second homes and long term empty
properties. It was indicated in the Report that with effect from 1 April
2005 Local Authorities will have the power to vary the Council Tax discount on
second homes and long term empty properties by between 50% and 100%, subject
to some mandatory exclusions and the additional revenue raised will be
retained locally and used to provide new build affordable housing.
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It was
agreed to recommend that:
(1) a 90% Council Tax charge be levied on
all domestic properties which are not the sole or main residence of any
person with the exception of the mandatory exclusions, as set out in the
legislation; and
(2) a further Report be submitted
regarding the use of the additional income generated from these charges when
the final outcome of the representations currently being made was known.
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Extreme
Weather Conditions – 11/12 January 2005 – Update
DS62
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19
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The Chief Executive submitted a Report to
enable the Comhairle to consider the way forward following the extreme
weather conditions experienced on 11/12 January 2005. The Report gave
details of damage to Comhairle properties and stated that the Comhairle was
working with other agencies in relation to the wider economic impact. The
Report further stated that a Working Group comprising Convener,
Vice-Convener, Chairman of Sustainable Development, Chairman of Education and
Children’s Services and Chairman of Transportation had been established to
work with Management Team in relation to the preparation of a case to the
Scottish Executive and to identify issues of principle requiring discussion
with the Scottish Executive.
The Report indicated that a claim had been
submitted by the Comhairle under the Bellwin scheme and that an emergency
meeting of the Community Planning Partnership was being sought. It was also
stated in the Report that it was hoped that an early meeting would be
arranged between the Convener and Vice-Convener and the First Minister and
Cathy Jamieson MSP.
The Chairman referred to a Briefing Note on
Coastal Defences and Flooding: Issues, Roles and Responsibilities which had
been circulated to Members.
It was agreed to recommend that:
(1) the establishment of the Working Group
referred to in paragraph 2.11 of the Report be homologated; and
(2) the progress in the production of a
case to the Scottish Executive be noted.
Arising out of consideration of this matter it was agreed to
recommend that:
(1) a Report be submitted to an early future meeting of the
appropriate Committee in relation to the issues identified in the DOE
document which gave details of predicted coastal erosion for the next 40
years from 1996 and that the document be circulated to all Members;
(2) a definition of the word “flooding” as regards
insurance purposes be provided; and
(3) the Director of Corporate Services be
authorised to contact other local authorities who had been in a similar
position regarding all possible sources of financial assistance available to
the Comhairle and early warning systems.
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The Chairman declared an interest in the
following item 20 and left the meeting during consideration of the matter.
Mr Alexander A MacDonald chaired the meeting during consideration of the
item.
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CAPITAL PROGRAMME 2004-2008
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Highlands
and Islands Special Transitional Programme: Community Halls Scheme
PR81.01
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20
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The Director
for Sustainable Communities submitted a Report proposing the utilisation of
existing Village Hall Match Funding provision within the Capital Programme
2004/08 to facilitate the drawing down of a further £200k over three years
from the HISTP Programme. In order to achieve this, authorisation was sought
to associate the match funding for village halls within the Capital Programme
with the proposed HISTP application but the Comhairle's £50k allocation would
continue to be committed on a year by year basis against the Scottish
Executive’s Rural Challenge Local Capital Grants Scheme.
It was agreed to recommend that, for
the purposes of the proposed bid to the Highlands and Islands Special
Transitional Programme (HISTP), the £200k contained in the Comhairle’s
current Capital Programme for 2004-2008 for ‘Match Funding for Village Halls’
be matched with the proposed HISTP bid in order to draw down additional
funding of £200k from ERDF.
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Woodland
Nursery Provision PER
DS40.05
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21
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The Director
for Sustainable Communities submitted a Report in relation to proposals to
establish a tree nursery to provide a facility where stock could be produced
and maintained for use in Comhairle projects such as road upgrading. The
facility would also allow for the delivery of skills training in
agro-forestry and tree management as well as community capacity building
programmes.
It was agreed to recommend that the project
“Woodland Nursery Provision” be included in the Capital Programme 2004-08 in
line with the Project Evaluation Report at Appendix 1 to the Report.
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Economic
Development: New Building Programme
DS40.01.02
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22
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The Director
for Sustainable Communities submitted a Report in relation to the Comhairle's
portfolio of sites and premises which were leased to a wide variety of small
and medium sized enterprises in order to encourage business start-ups and
expansions. In an effort to meet demand to support island businesses a
priority list had been developed to provide suitable premises for new or
expanding businesses which would include new buildings in Castlebay,
Balivanich and Leverburgh. The Report indicated that the first proposal for
an application to HISTP was for a Unit at Castlebay, Isle of Barra.
Discussions had been held with prospective tenants and the building had been
planned to suit their respective needs.
It was agreed to recommend that:
(1) the Project Evaluation
Report for business unit provision (Appendix 1 to the Report) be included in
the Capital Programme 2004/08;
(2) a new development unit of
approximately 140m2 be built on the new Castlebay Development
Estate at a total cost of approximately £235,000; and
(3) an application be made to HISTP for
£94,000 for the new Castlebay Development Estate.
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greenSPACE
PER
DS61.01
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23
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The Director
of Technical Service submitted a Report in relation to the GreenSpace
Project. The basic principle of the Project was to bridge the gap between
energy demand and renewable energy supply in the design of new and existing
buildings. The Project outcome would be a powerful suite of simulation tools
and would assist building designers to integrate renewable energy systems and
rational use of energy technologies into every stage of the building
lifecycle. A summary of the feasibility study in relation to the project was
detailed in the Report.
It was agreed to recommend that the
project be approved for inclusion in the 2004/08 Capital Programme in line with
the Project Evaluation Report in Appendix 2 to the Report.
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It was agreed
that the public, including the press, be excluded from the meeting during
consideration of item 24 below on the grounds that exempt information as
defined in Paragraph 6 of Schedule 7A of the Local Government (Scotland) Act
1973 would be disclosed, namely, information relating to the financial or
business affairs of any particular person, other than the Comhairle.
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Acquisition
of Vehicles and Plant
CB012
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24
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The Director of Corporate Services submitted
a Report seeking approval for the acquisition of vehicles and plant. It was
indicated in the Report that several vehicles and items of plant had reached
the end of their useful economic life. The Report further identified various
options for funding the vehicles and plant referred to in the Report, taking
account of the new Prudential Regime, which governed the Comhairle’s Budget
for Capital Expenditure.
It was agreed to recommend that:
(1) the purchase of the vehicles detailed
in Appendix 1 to the Report by the Director of Corporate Services through the
Prudential Framework be funded by the COU revenue budgets;
(2) two second hand JCB diggers and a
vehicle brake tester as detailed in Appendices 2 and 3 of the Report be purchased
through the Prudential Framework be funded by COU revenue budgets; and
(3) it be noted that a Report would be
submitted to a future meeting on the Committee in relation to replacement
within the prudential framework of the vehicle wash at Marybank Depot; and
(4) the Report referred to at paragraph
24(3) above would detail the history in relation to the vehicle wash and the
allocation and expenditure of funds in relation to the abortive Vehicle
Inspectorate building.
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It was agreed
that the public, including the press, be excluded from the meeting during
consideration of item 25 below on the grounds that exempt information as
defined in Paragraph 8 of Schedule 7A of the Local Government (Scotland) Act
1973 would be disclosed, namely information relating to the amount of any
expenditure proposed to be incurred by the Comhairle under any particular
contract for the acquisition of property or the supply of goods or services.
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South
Uist Care Development: Tender
SW01
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25
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With reference
to item 7 of the Minute of Meeting of 16 June 2004 the Director of Social
Work submitted a Report concerning a variant to the outline Social Work
Capital Programme for 2004 – 2008 to accommodate additional costs for the
South Uist Care Development and seeking authority to negotiate with the
lowest tenderer to achieve savings to come within the capital allocation for
the development.
It was
agreed to recommend that:
(1) negotiations take place with the
lowest tenderer for the South Uist Care Development to the cost level set out
in the appendix to the Report by the Director of Social Work and that the
tender be accepted at that level subject to confirmation of capital funding
by NHS Western Isles, Communities Scotland and completion of land purchase;
and
(2) the balance of funding required be
funded as capital funded from current revenue by using the revenue budget set
aside in the Comhairle’s accounts for the Commercial Operations Unit as the
aspirations of the Commercial Operations Unit could be met by prudential borrowing
and that the outline Social Work Capital Programme for 2004 – 2008 not be
varied.
Arising out
of consideration of this matter it was agreed to recommend that the Director
of Social Work would submit a Report to the next meeting of the Social Work
Committee detailing a timetable for Social Work projects on the Capital
Programme and the development of these projects.
It was
further agreed to recommend that the Director of Social Work be authorised to
establish how the Comhairle could make representations and feed into the
discussion process being carried out by the Advisory Board regarding Care in
the Community.
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HOUSING
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Housing
Revenue Account Capital Programme 2004/05: Progress Report
PR110.01
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26
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The Head of Housing Services submitted a
Report concerning the Housing Revenue Account Capital Programme for 2004/05.
The Report gave information on expenditure associated with the programme
which had been set within the prudential framework for borrowing together
with 25% of capital receipts from house sales. It was further stated in the
Report that the Housing Capital Programme for 2004/05 was based on Year 1 of
the current three year Housing Financial Plan 2004/05 – 2006/07 which had
been approved by the Comhairle in February 2004.
It was
agreed to recommend that:
(1) the Housing Capital Programme for
2004/05 be revised as detailed at Appendix 1 to take account of project
variations; and
(2) the expenditure profile shown at
Appendix 2 be noted.
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Housing
Revenue Account 2005/2006
PR110.05
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27
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The Head of
Housing Services and the Acting Director of Finance submitted a Joint Report
concerning the Housing Revenue Account estimates for 2005/2006. The
background to the matter, details of rental level and budgetary provision and
the proposed consultation regarding the rent setting strategy were outlined
in the Report.
It was agreed to recommend that:
(1) the Housing Revenue Account Estimates
for the financial year 2005-06 as shown at Appendix 1 be approved;
(2) an average rent increase of £1.60 per
week (3.5%) be applied giving an average weekly rent of £47.21 for 2005/06;
(3) £150,000 Capital Funded from Current
Revenue be drawn from Housing Revenue Account Repairs and Renewals Reserves
to be applied to “spend to save” projects to be undertaken in 2005/06, but
that this provision be suspended until the full impact of the storm of 11/12
January 2005 on the Comhairle'’ housing stock is assessed and quantified; and
(4) a further Report be submitted to the
next meeting of the Housing Committee and the Policy and Resources Committee
in order that appropriate financial arrangements can be established.
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Mr Archie Campbell, Mr Neil Campbell and Mr
Norman M Macleod declared an interest in the following item and left the
meeting during consideration of the matter.
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Stock
Transfer Project Plan
H01.18
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28
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The Chief Executive submitted a Report
detailing the proposed timescale to ballot for the stock transfer process.
It was indicated in the Report that, following consultation with the main
stakeholders in the transfer process, it was proposed that the ballot of
tenants takes place in July 2005. The proposed stock transfer timetable was
appended to the Report.
It was
agreed to recommend that the formal consultation with tenants take place in
accordance with the timetable detailed in paragraph 6.1 of the Report by the
Chief Executive, subject to the conditions previously agreed by the Comhairle
and subject to approval of Hebridean Housing Partnership’s Business Plan, at
the next meeting of the Policy and Resources Committee and approval of the
Business Case by the Minister for Communities not later than 20 May 2005.
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BUILDINGS
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Capital
Works: Programme and Progress
PR33.01.12
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29
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With reference
to item 18 of the Minute of Meeting of 16 December 2004 the Director of
Technical Services submitted a Report concerning programme and progress in
respect of properties held on the Policy and Resources account.
It was agreed to recommend that the
Report be noted.
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It was agreed
that the public, including the press, be excluded from the meeting during
consideration of item 30 below on the grounds that exempt information as
defined in Paragraph 8 of Schedule 7A of the Local Government (Scotland) Act
1973, as amended, would be disclosed, namely information relating to the
amount of any expenditure proposed to be incurred by the Comhairle under any
particular contract for the acquisition of property or the supply of goods or
services.
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Public
Private Partnership: Programme of Work to April 2005
E01
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30
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With reference
to item 19 of the Minute of Meeting of 16 December 2004 the Director of
Education submitted a Report seeking approval for a programme of work to
April 2005 and homologation of the commissioning of legal advisers for the
period up to 30 April 2005, to provide the necessary advice and documentation
to meet the Scottish Executive’s requirements for this phase of the Schools
Public Private Partnership Project. It was indicated in the Report that the
Comhairle was required to meet the costs of legal, technical and financial
advice.
It was agreed to recommend that:
(1) the Chief Executive’s actions in
accepting the estimate of £10k from Shepherd and Wedderburn for PPP services
as detailed in Section 5 of the Report be homologated; and
(2) the programme of work and estimated
costs for Price Waterhouse Coopers and Turner and Townsend for the period 1
December 2004 to 30 April 2005 be agreed.
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Mr Norman M
Macleod declared an interest in the following item and left the meeting
during consideration of the matter.
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It was agreed
that the public, including the press, be excluded from the meeting during
consideration of item 31 below on the grounds that exempt information as
defined in Paragraph 6 of Schedule 7A of the Local Government (Scotland) Act
1973, as amended, would be disclosed, namely, information relating to the
financial or business affairs of any particular person, other than the
Comhairle.
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Sale of Haldane Hostel Site, Stornoway
E02.27.03
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31
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With reference
to Item 24 of the Minute of Meeting of 9 September 2004 the Head of Housing
Services submitted a Report detailing progress on the sale of the Haldane
Hostel Site. It was indicated in the Report that following the announcement
of Regeneration Funding in December 2004 by the Scottish Executive, a meeting
had been held with Scottish Executive staff on 26 January 2005 when proposals
to progress the demolition of the buildings on the site had been discussed.
A copy of a letter from David Nicol, Area Director, Communities Scotland
dated 4 February 2005 was circulated to Members.
It was
agreed to recommend that:
(1) the offer of Regeneration Grant
Funding of site clearance costs at the Haldane Hostel site by Communities Scotland be accepted;
(2) the tender to clear the Haldane Hostel
site be accepted;
(3) the site be sold at nil value to
Muirneag Housing Association, subject to the consent of Scottish Ministers
being obtained;
(4) the sale be conditional on the
Comhairle having 50% nomination rights for tenancies granted on the site; and
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(5) it be delegated to the Head of
Housing Services, in conjunction with the Director of Corporate Services, to
complete the sale of the Haldane Hostel Site.
Arising out of consideration of this
matter it was agreed to recommend that the Head of Housing Services be
authorised to make representations to Muirneag Housing Association regarding
the design of the building and the desire of the Comhairle that the view of
the local community are taken into consideration when developing this site.
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It was agreed
that the public, including the press, be excluded from the meeting during
consideration of item 38 below on the grounds that exempt information as
defined in Paragraphs 6, 8 and 9 of Schedule 7A of the Local Government
(Scotland) Act 1973 would be disclosed, namely, information relating to the
financial or business affairs of any particular person, other than the
Comhairle. information relating to the amount of any expenditure proposed to
be incurred by the Comhairle under any particular contract for the
acquisition of property or the supply of goods or services 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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Ionad
Spors Leodhais
AL02.20
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32
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The Director of Technical Services submitted
a Report detailing the latest position in relation to the estimated Final
Account for Ionad Spòrs Leòdhais project.
It was
agreed to recommend that the Report be noted.
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APPOINTMENT OF CONSULTANTS
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Appointment
of Consultants: Biodiversity Action Plans
DS61.01
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33
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The Director
for Sustainable Communities submitted a Report in relation to the production
of a local Biodiversity Action Plan for the Western Isles which was being
developed by the Comhairle in partnership with other agencies and
organisations. The first phase of action plans had been formally launched in
May 2004 and the second phase of five habitat and species draft action plans
had been produced for consultation with the aim to launch in May 2005.
Public consultation was being proposed to finalise the second phase of action
plans and to encourage participation in the implementation of the plans. The
Report indicated that, given the timescale for undertaking the consultation,
Natural Capital should be appointed to undertake the first phase of
consultation.
It was agreed to recommend that the
appointment of Consultants, Natural Capital, to undertake a public
consultation exercise on the second phase of draft Habitat and Species Action
Plans be approved.
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Stornoway
Townscape Heritage Initiative: Appointment of Consultants
DS40.01.18
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34
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With reference
to item 13 of the Minute of Meeting of 16 December 2004 the Director for
Sustainable Communities submitted a Report seeking approval to invite tenders
for Stage 2 development work for the Townscape Heritage Initiative from the
list of Consultants appended to the Report. It was indicated in the Report
that the list of consultants had been drawn up based on experience of the
recent tendering processes for Lews Castle and Stornoway Town Hall as these were projects that related directly to the aims of the Townscape Heritage
Initiative and the skills required would be similar. Suggested assessment
criteria and weightings were also appended to the Report.
It was
agreed to recommend that:
(1) the Director of Corporate Services,
in consultation with the Director for Sustainable Communities, be authorised
to invite tenders for the Townscape Heritage Initiative stage 2 work, from
the Consultants listed in Appendix 1 in terms of Contract Regulation 8c; and
(2) it be delegated to the Director of
Corporate Services, in consultation with the Director for Sustainable
Communities, to appoint consultants according to the criteria and weightings
outlined in Appendix 2 to the Report.
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Arising out
of consideration of this item it was agreed to recommend that the Director
for Sustainable Communities would determine the owner of copyright of the
recent Study on Stornoway Town Centre Regeneration.
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CONTRACTUAL
MATTERS
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It was agreed
that the public, including the press, be excluded from the meeting during
consideration of item 35 below on the grounds that exempt information as
defined in Paragraph 8 of Schedule 7A of the Local Government (Scotland) Act
1973, as amended, would be disclosed, namely information relating to the
amount of any expenditure proposed to be incurred by the Comhairle under any
particular contract for the acquisition of property or the supply of goods or
services.
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Borve
(Berneray) Sewerage – Award of Contract
CH03.01.37
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35
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With reference
to item 43 of the Minute of Meeting of 10 November 2004 the Director of
Technical Services submitted a Report seeking approval for a proposed
procurement route and for the award of the Borve (Berneray) Sewerage Scheme.
It was indicated in the Report that a partnership involving the Comhairle,
SEPA and Scottish Water was established with the intention of delivering a
programme of first time sewerage schemes in rural areas in the Western
Isles. Details of the current funding package totalling £673k were given in
the Appendix to the Report.
It was agreed to recommend that:
(1) the proposed procurement route for
Borve (Berneray) and Tolsta Chaolais Sewerage Schemes be approved; and
(2) the award of the contract for Borve
(Berneray) Sewerage to MacIain (North Uist) Ltd for the sum of £164,130.25 be
approved.
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Oil Spill
Contingency Plan
CH03.06
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36
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The Director
of Technical Services submitted a Report detailing the staffing levels
required to implement the Oil Spill Plan. It was indicated in the Report
that in terms of the Comhairle’s contingency plan, guidance must be provided
as to what equipment and personnel was at the disposal of the Shoreline
Response Centre. In order to provide an immediate response the Report
recommended that the Director of Technical Services’ delegation be extended
to cover this area during the implementation of the Oil Spill Plan.
It was
agreed to recommend, in so far as the Committee’s interests were concerned,
that the following paragraph be added to the Director of Technical Services’
delegation in the Scheme of Delegation:
“During the implementation of the Oil Spill
Contingency Plan:
(a) to recruit employees, including
specialist operatives without the necessity of compliance with the
Comhairle’s normal recruitment procedures on the basis that any such
appointment will be reported to the Human Resources Sub-Committee at the
earliest opportunity and that the rate of pay for Operatives engaged by the
Comhairle directly be linked in with the appropriate NJC rate of pay; and
(b) to engage Sub-Contractors and hire
vehicles, plant and equipment at rates to be negotiated without the necessity
of compliance with the Comhairle’s Contract Regulations on the basis that any
such arrangements will be reported to the Policy and Resources Committee at
the earliest opportunity.”
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Mrs Morag Munro declared an interest in the
following item 37 and left the meeting during consideration of the matter.
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It was agreed
that the public, including the press, be excluded from the meeting during
consideration of item 37 below on the grounds that exempt information as
defined in Paragraph 6 of Schedule 7A of the Local Government (Scotland) Act
1973 would be disclosed, namely, information relating to the financial or
business affairs of any particular person, other than the Comhairle.
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Money
Advice Services – Additional Funding
PR41
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37
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The Director
for Sustainable Communities submitted a Report detailing the provision of
additional funding of £60k per annum from the Scottish Executive for money
advice services, to help frontline money advisers cope with the anticipated
demand for the new Debt Arrangement Scheme. It was indicated in the Report
that the additional funding would be provided from 2005/2006 to 2007/2008.
It was agreed to recommend that:
(1) the Western Isles Citizens’ Advice
Service be invited to submit proposals on how the additional £60k funding for
money advice services should be utilised to ensure that the existing money
advice project could comprehensively cover the Western Isles for a one year
period and that a review of performance and outputs would be carried out at
the conclusion of one year and that these proposals should detail plans for
co-operation and co-ordination with Western Isles Credit Union; and
(2) the Director of Corporate Services,
in consultation with the Vice-Convener, be granted delegated powers to adopt
these proposals should they prove acceptable.
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HUMAN RESOURCES
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It was agreed
that the public, including the press, be excluded from the meeting during
consideration of item 38 below on the grounds that exempt information as
defined in Paragraphs 1 and 8 of Schedule 7A of the Local Government
(Scotland) Act 1973, as amended, would be disclosed, namely information
relating to a particular employee, former employee or applicant to become an
employee of, or a particular office holder or former office holder, or
applicant to become an office holder under the Comhairle and information
relating to the amount of any expenditure proposed to be incurred by the
Comhairle under any particular contract for the acquisition of property or
the supply of goods or services.
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Appointment
of Chief Executive
M01.06
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38
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With reference to item 26 of the Minute of
Meeting of 16 December 2004 the Human Resources Sub-Committee submitted a
Report outlining the initial stages of the recruitment process for the post
of Chief Executive and making recommendations in relation to the nature of
the appointment and the appointment process.
It was agreed to recommend that:
(1) the Contract of the new Chief
Executive be on a permanent basis;
(2) the 10% supplement on the basic
salary rate be not continued;
(3) specialist advice, rather than consultants,
be obtained at an appropriate stage of the recruitment process;
(4) a presentation on the Western
Isles be arranged for the evening before the interviews followed by a buffet
reception in the Members’ dining room, to which all Members, candidates and
candidates’ partners would be invited; and
(5) the artwork for the advertisement
would promote positive views of the islands, be i |