02.08.01

COMHAIRLE NAN EILEAN SIAR

TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE

Minute of Meeting held in the Council Offices, Stornoway, on Thursday 2 August 2001 at 12 noon.

PRESENT

Mr Norman A Macdonald (Chairman)

Mr Donald Manford (Vice-Chairman)

Mr Alasdair G Macrae

Mr Alexander A Macdonald

Mr Angus Campbell

Mr Malcolm J Graham

Mr Donald Macdonald

Mr Roderick Murray

Mr Donald Maclean

Mr Angus Nicolson

Mr Ronald J Mackinnon

APOLOGIES

Mr Angus M Graham

Mr Donald M Mackay

Tribute: Mr Donald M Mackay

The Chairman referred to Mr Donald M Mackay, elected Member for the Pairc Electoral Division, who was in hospital and on behalf of the Committee wished Mr Mackay a speedy recovery.

SEA TRANSPORT

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 defined in Standing Order 26(h), namely, that 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 would be disclosed.

Sound of Barra Ferry Infrastructure

T06.02

77*

The Director of Technical Services submitted a Report indicating that the Highlands and Islands Partnership Programme had approved the Sound of Barra Ferry Infrastructure project on the basis of a 35% grant rate which left a shortfall of £140k. The Comhairle had a Highlands and Islands Strategic Partnership Programme Contingency Fund which could cover the shortfall and the Minister of Transport had confirmed that any Comhairle resources used on the Sound of Barra Ferry Infrastructure Project would count towards the Comhairle's contribution to the Public Transport Fund bid being prepared for the remaining elements of the Sound of Barra Project.

It was agreed to recommend that:

(1) the Comhairle agree to fund the £140k shortfall on the Sound of Barra Ferry Infrastructure Project from the Comhairle's Highlands and Islands Special Transitional Programme Contingency Fund; and

(2) the Director of Technical Services be authorised to approach WIE/HIE to ask them to increase their contribution to the Public Transport Fund bid.

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 defined in Standing Order 26(h), namely, that 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 would be disclosed.

AIR TRANSPORT

Inter-Island Air Services

T04.02.03

78*

The Director of Corporate Services and the Director of Technical Services submitted a Joint Report detailing the tenders received for the operation of the Stornoway/Benbecula and Benbecula/Barra sectors of the Inter-islands air service. The lowest tender for the Stornoway/Benbecula route was from Highland Airways Ltd and the lowest tender for the Benbecula/Barra route was from Loganair Ltd.

It was agreed to recommend that, subject to there being no comment from other member states in relation to these services in terms of EC Regulation 2408/92 by 31 August 2001 and to confirmation being obtained from the Western Isles Health Board that a Jetstream 31 met their needs it was recommended that:

(1) the Director of Corporate Services be authorised to accept;

(i) the tender from Highland Airways Ltd for the operation of the Stornoway/Benbecula route at a price of £175k in respect of the first year and subject to confirmation of a parent company guarantee; and

(ii) the tender from Loganair Ltd for the Benbecula/Barra route at a price of £107,616 in respect of the first year; and

(2) the Director of Corporate Services be authorised to accept the option proposed by Highland Airways Ltd for the Stornoway/Benbecula route which maximised the stay in Uist and Stornoway for passengers whilst maintaining as many as possible of the onward connections and that it be delegated to the Director of Technical Services to negotiate the details with Highland Airways Ltd.

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PRESENT	Mr Norman A Macdonald (Chairman)
	Mr Donald Manford (Vice-Chairman)	Mr Alasdair G Macrae
	Mr Alexander A Macdonald	Mr Angus Campbell
	Mr Malcolm J Graham	Mr Donald Macdonald
	Mr Roderick Murray	Mr Donald Maclean
	Mr Angus Nicolson	Mr Ronald J Mackinnon

APOLOGIES	Mr Angus M Graham	Mr Donald M Mackay

Tribute: Mr Donald M Mackay		The Chairman referred to Mr Donald M Mackay, elected Member for the Pairc Electoral Division, who was in hospital and on behalf of the Committee wished Mr Mackay a speedy recovery.
		SEA TRANSPORT
		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 defined in Standing Order 26(h), namely, that 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 would be disclosed.
Sound of Barra Ferry Infrastructure T06.02	77*	The Director of Technical Services submitted a Report indicating that the Highlands and Islands Partnership Programme had approved the Sound of Barra Ferry Infrastructure project on the basis of a 35% grant rate which left a shortfall of £140k. The Comhairle had a Highlands and Islands Strategic Partnership Programme Contingency Fund which could cover the shortfall and the Minister of Transport had confirmed that any Comhairle resources used on the Sound of Barra Ferry Infrastructure Project would count towards the Comhairle's contribution to the Public Transport Fund bid being prepared for the remaining elements of the Sound of Barra Project. It was agreed to recommend that: (1) the Comhairle agree to fund the £140k shortfall on the Sound of Barra Ferry Infrastructure Project from the Comhairle's Highlands and Islands Special Transitional Programme Contingency Fund; and (2) the Director of Technical Services be authorised to approach WIE/HIE to ask them to increase their contribution to the Public Transport Fund bid.
		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 defined in Standing Order 26(h), namely, that 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 would be disclosed.
		AIR TRANSPORT
Inter-Island Air Services T04.02.03	78*	The Director of Corporate Services and the Director of Technical Services submitted a Joint Report detailing the tenders received for the operation of the Stornoway/Benbecula and Benbecula/Barra sectors of the Inter-islands air service. The lowest tender for the Stornoway/Benbecula route was from Highland Airways Ltd and the lowest tender for the Benbecula/Barra route was from Loganair Ltd. It was agreed to recommend that, subject to there being no comment from other member states in relation to these services in terms of EC Regulation 2408/92 by 31 August 2001 and to confirmation being obtained from the Western Isles Health Board that a Jetstream 31 met their needs it was recommended that: (1) the Director of Corporate Services be authorised to accept; (i) the tender from Highland Airways Ltd for the operation of the Stornoway/Benbecula route at a price of £175k in respect of the first year and subject to confirmation of a parent company guarantee; and (ii) the tender from Loganair Ltd for the Benbecula/Barra route at a price of £107,616 in respect of the first year; and (2) the Director of Corporate Services be authorised to accept the option proposed by Highland Airways Ltd for the Stornoway/Benbecula route which maximised the stay in Uist and Stornoway for passengers whilst maintaining as many as possible of the onward connections and that it be delegated to the Director of Technical Services to negotiate the details with Highland Airways Ltd.
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