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MINUTES
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Minute of
Meeting of 1 February 2005
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The Minute of Meeting of 1 February 2005 was
approved.
Arising out of consideration of the Minute
the Depute Director of Technical Services advised that a letter had been
received from the Scottish Executive seeking the Comhairle’s views in
relation to the proposed Public Service Obligation for the Glasgow/Barra route.
It was agreed to recommend that it be
delegated to the Director of Technical Services, in consultation with the
Chairman and taking account of the views of Northbay and Castlebay Community
Councils, to respond to the letter received from the Scottish Executive in
relation to the Public Service Obligation for the Glasgow/Barra air service.
The Committee exercised its powers in terms
of Paragraph 17 of the Scheme of Administration in relation to this matter.
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Minute of
Meeting of HITRANS of 11 February 2005
T01.08.22
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2
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The Minute of Meeting of HITRANS of 11
February 2005 was noted.
Arising out of consideration of the Minute
the Director of Technical Services submitted a Report in respect of the draft
Statutory Instrument in relation to the constitution and operation of
Strategic Regional Transport Partnership.
It was agreed to recommend that the
Comhairle seek the support of the MSP and other Island Authorities to make
further representations to the Minister of Transport to retain the current
HITRANS voting system for the proposed Highlands and Islands Regional
Transport Partnership.
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Minute of
Meeting of the Stornoway Town Centre Permit Sub Committee of 16 February 2005
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3
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The Minute of Meeting of the Stornoway Town
Centre Permit Sub-Committee of 16 February 2005 was noted.
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Minute of
Meeting of the Taxi/Private Hire Car Licensing Panel of 4 March 2005
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4
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The Minute of Meeting of the
Taxi/Private Hire Car Licensing Panel of 4 March 2005 was noted.
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Declarations of Interest
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It was noted that all Members had a
potential interest in Item 12 but that their interest was no greater then the
interests of the general public.
Mr Ian M
Macleod declared an non- pecuniary interest in Item 16.
Mr Calum Ian
Graham declared an interest in 21 and left the meeting during consideration
of the matter.
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Roads Revenue Programme
T12.62
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5
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The Director
of Technical Services submitted a Report proposing the detailed Roads Revenue
Programme for 2005/06. The Report stated that it related to the Comhairle’s
continuing maintenance programme which was agreed on a annual basis and
included such items as resurfacing, surface dressing and general repairs –
it took no account of road strengthening. In the event that the road
strengthening programme were to be approved a further £18k would be available
for surfacing and a further Report proposing any additional resurfacing
schemes would be brought to the next available meeting. The Report also
highlighted that, due to unforeseen remedial works and uncertainties in
programming during the year, it may be necessary to make minor amendments to
the programme.
It was agreed to recommend that the
Comhairle approve the Roads Revenue Programme as detailed in the report for
the financial year 2005/2006 on the basis that minor changes may be necessary
at departmental level because of unforeseen remedial works and uncertainties
in the programming and that it be delegated to the Director of Technical
Services, or such other officer as may be nominated by the Chief Executive to
amend the Roads Revenue Programme for 2005/2006 on the basis detailed above.
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Roads Revenue Programme - Unadopted Roads
Allocation Review for 2005/06
T12.62
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6
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The Director of Technical Services submitted
a Report proposing the Unadopted Roads Programme for 2005/06. The Report
stated that the unadopted roads budget of 2005/06 had been allocated to
Harris and Uist. It was further stated that a total sum of £159,593 was
available for this purpose, that Members should contact the Department of
Technical Services if they considered that further roads in their ward met
the criteria and that it may be necessary to check the relevant roads
following the extreme weather conditions in January 2005.
It was
agreed to recommend that the Comhairle agree;
(1)
to the list of unadopted roads detailed
in appendices 4, 5 & 6 to the Report as the approved list for the
2005/2006 financial year subject to any amendments following submissions from
Members;
(2)
to the allocation of £137,593 of
revenue resources to the category B roads as shown in appendix 7 attached to
the Report;
(3)
to the allocation of £5000 of revenue
resources to the category C roads;
(4)
to the allocation of £5000 of revenue
resources to patch the Lewis/Barra category B roads;
(5)
to the allocation of £12000 of revenue
resources to social work access roads; and
(6)
that it be noted that local Members
would have discretion to divert part of the unadopted roads allocation for
their ward to the social work access road category should the individual
Member consider that this would be the most appropriate use of resources
available.
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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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Storm Damage – Programme for Repairs
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7*
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The Director
of Technical Services submitted a Report providing updated information on the
estimated costs of damage caused to the transportation infrastructure by the
extreme weather conditions of 11/12 January 2005. The Report also sought
approval for the appointment of technical assistance to carry out all
necessary survey/design works to enable remedial works to be accurately
costed and thereafter implemented. It was also proposed that affected
communities would be fully consulted and their views taken account of in the
production of priority lists.
It was recommended that the Comhairle:
(1)
note the latest estimates for roads
related infrastructure repairs following the hurricane in January;
(2)
approve the short term appointment of
the former Orkney Islands Council’s chief engineer, John Holmes, to bring
forward a prioritised list of works and that this appointment be not tendered
for in terms of contract regulation 7f due to Mr Holmes’ knowledge and
experience of the issues concerned;
(3)
authorise the Director of Corporate
Services, in consultation with the Director of Technical Services, to appoint
specialist sub-consultants as required to enable fully developed proposals
for the required repair works to be submitted to the Scottish Executive;
(4)
agree that the expenditure to be
incurred in terms of recommendations (2) and (3) be funded initially from
existing departmental revenue budgets with the expectation that these costs
would be capitalised when the final funding package was agreed with the
Scottish Executive at an estimated cost of £50,000; and
(5)
agree that urgent representations
continue to be made to the Scottish Executive in relation to the repair works
to the breakwater at the Eriskay ferry terminal due to the need to have all
the works completed before the onset of the winter weather and that this
issue would be the subject of a report to the next meeting of the Committee.
The Committee exercised its powers
in terms of Paragraph 17 of the Scheme of Administration to this matter.
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Public Transport Fund: Future Priorities
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8
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The Director
of Corporate Services sought and obtained the Chairman’s consent to withdraw
this item.
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Road Strengthening Through the Prudential
Framework
T08.05
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9
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With reference
to Minute of meeting of 1 February 2005 the Director of Technical Services
submitted a Report presenting to Members a list of projects for road
strengthening and regarding. The Report stated that the Comhairle had agreed
in September 2004 to allocate £1 million (funded from balances and prudential
borrowing) to roads strengthening.
The Report
highlighted that the schemes detailed in the Appendix to the Report had been
identified as showing signs of deterioration through ageing and increased
traffic loading and included sections where it was considered that general
maintenance would have little effect on prolonging the life of the network.
It was proposed that the works would commence in Summer 2005.
It was
agreed to defer consideration of this item until the next series of meetings.
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Spinal Route: Future Schemes
T08.01
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10
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Tthe Director
of Technical Services submitted a Report requesting the Comhairle agree a
list of schemes for the future upgrading of the spinal route and that
feasibility work be carried out in relation to these schemes to enable the
Comhairle to take advantage of any future HISTP windfall funding which may be
available at the end of the programme.
Following
consideration by staff in the Technical Services Department the six schemes
which had been selected were as follows:
Ports of Ness
Laxdale Bridge
A section
between Luskentyre Junction and Stocknish turn off
A section
between Clachan and Carinish
A section
between Sniseabhal and Howbeag
East of the
new care Unit at Daliburgh.
It was proposed
that prioritisation of these schemes be undertaken, following the feasibility
work, using the criteria previously agreed for Roads to Communities schemes.
It was noted that reporting back on this matter may be delayed due to work
being carried out in response to extreme weather conclusions in January 2005.
It was
agreed to recommend that the Comhairle agree that:
(1)
the list of schemes detailed in the
Report be further considered for future phasing of the upgrading of the
spinal route; and
(2)
the prioritisation of the list be
undertaken using the criteria previously agreed for Roads to Community
Schemes to enable the Comhairle to take advantage of any future HISTP
windfall funding.
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Stornoway Town Centre Traffic Order
T09.03.69
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11
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With reference
to Item 24 of the Minute of Meeting of 1 February 2005 the Director of
Technical Services submitted a Report updating Members on comments received
in relation to the Stornoway Town Centre Traffic Order which had been
introduced in December 2004.
The Report
detailed representations received from local businesses and residents. The
Report further stated that the Order was experimental and would require to be
reviewed over the next three months. It was suggested that the
representations be considered as part of the review which would be the
subject of a Report to a future meeting of the Committee.
It was agreed to recommend that no
action be taken at this time to amend the Experimental Traffic Regulation
Order covering Stornoway Town Centre and that the business comments received
be considered as part of the review process to be undertaken over the next
three months.
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Parking in Stornoway Town Centre
T09.01.01
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12
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The Director of Technical Services submitted
a Report seeking approval to commence the statutory procedure to introduce
pay and display car parking in Stornoway.
The Report
stated that the demand for car parking in Stornoway continued to rise and
that the Car Park Member Officer Working Group had been considering options
to seek to increase the availability of car parking spaces in Stornoway. It
was indicated in the Report that the number of spaces available for parking
in Stornoway had increased by seventy in recent years.
It was further
indicated that discussions were ongoing in relation to the acquisition/lease
of land for car parking.
It was
agreed to recommend that:
(1)
the statutory procedure be commenced to
introduce pay and display parking covering all of the parking bays in
Perceval Square car park, Stornoway (excluding for the avoidance of doubt the
area known as the Fisherman's car park);
(2)
the provision of additional long stay
car parking be fully investigated including discussion with land owners of
identified sites with particular emphasis on investigation of the
possibility/feasibility of car parking being provided on an
infilled/reclaimed area between No 1 and No 2 piers;
(3)
the initial formal consultation
exercise be undertaken on the basis that it would include a range of parking
charges seeking the views of local groups and businesses on the most
appropriate option; and
(4)
a further report be prepared by the
Director of Technical Services and submitted to the Comhairle detailing the
responses to the formal consultation.
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No 1 Pier Car Park – Provision of Pedestrian
Railings
T09.01
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13
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The Director of Technical Services submitted
a Report in relation to the proposed provision of pedestrian railings between
the public car parking area and the pier face at No 1 pier car park,
Stornoway.
The Report
stated that the No 1 Pier Car Park was leased by the Comhairle from Stornoway
Port Authority on a month to month basis. It was stated in the Report that
Stornoway Port Authority had recently carried out a risk assessment and had
advised the Comhairle that, if the use for parking was to continue, a pedestrian
barrier was required along the open section of No 1 pier.
The Report
indicated the Stornoway Port Authority would undertake works to the existing
section of railings between South Beach wall and the existing steps to
protect the public along this section. The Report further stated that the
railings proposed at No 1 pier would be removable at the conclusion of the
lease.
It was
agreed to recommend
(1)
approval of the provision of a
pedestrian guard rail from the existing step top railings to the security
fence at the end of Maritime Buildings at an estimated cost of £5000; and
(2)
that representations be made to Stornoway Port Authority with a view to determining a means of ensuring sufficient public
access to Stornoway Harbour.
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Winter Maintenance
T08.05.04
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14
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The Director of Technical Services submitted
a Report indicating that the expenditure on Winter Maintenance in the 2004/05
financial year had been £1210k and that the budgetary provision for the same
period was £1328k.
It was agreed to recommend that the
Comhairle note the Report.
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Speed Limit Request – Ceann an Ora to
Tarbert, Harris
T08.05.06
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15
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With reference
to Item 11 of the Minute of Meeting of 7 December 2004 the Director of
Technical Services submitted a Report updating Members on responses received
to the consultation with Harris Community Councils in relation to a proposed
40mph speed limit from Ceann an Ora into Tarbert.
The Report
detailed the responses received from North Harris, South Harris and Scalpay
Community Councils.
It was agreed to recommend that the
Comhairle take no action at this time to implement a speed limit on the A859
between Ceann an Ora and Tarbert.
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Mr Ian M Macleod declared an interest in the
following item.
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Road Safety: Traffic Calming Measures at Newmarket
T08.05.06
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16
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The Director of Technical Services submitted
a Report to bring forward proposals to introduce traffic calming measures
through Newmarket.
The Report stated that the Newmarket Gateway
Project comprised an extensive walkway, an all weather ball court and
significant planting as part of an innovation programme promoted by the
community. Part of this project was to include road safety features at a
main road crossing point adjacent to Bridge Cottages.
The Report further stated that the Gateway
Project had committed £8150 of their own funds to provide two variable
message signs and additional road markings at Bridge Cottages to increase
driver awareness and had requested that the Comhairle supplement these speed
reduction measures.
It was agreed
to recommend that the Comhairle approve the provision of four variable
message speed signs, funded from the capital budget for Cycling, Walking and
Safer Streets, in Newmarket to supplement the Gateway Project Group's works
to increase driver awareness of their actual speed.
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Supply of General Civil Engineering Material
T12.62.04
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17
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With reference
to the April 1998 meeting of the Committee, the Director of Technical
Services submitted a Report seeking approval of a list of suppliers of
General Civil Engineering Materials.
The Report
stated that such materials included precast concrete kerbs, concrete blocks,
cement, cast iron products, perforated plastic pipe and corrugated metal
pipes.
It was
agreed to recommend that the Comhairle approve the undernoted list of
suppliers for general civil engineering materials for the 2005/2006 financial
year:
Colin MacAskill, Stornoway
R Macaskill (Contractors) Limited, Ardhasaig
McGruther & Marshall Limited, Inverness
Burdens, Muir of Ord
K Mackay & Co, Stornoway
Bain Morrison & Co Limited,
Aggregate Industries UK Ltd, Stornoway
MacIain Limited. North Uist
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J MacDonald & Co, Iochdair
E C C Quarries Ltd, Glasgow
Lewis Crofters Ltd, Stornoway
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MacAskill Builders Ltd, Tarbert
Co-Chomunn an Iochdair, Iochdair
D MacDonald & Co, Balivanich
Builder Center, Stornoway
Wavins Industrial Products, Durham
Aqua Pipes Limited, Warwickshire
Builders Mate, Fort William
Big Or Drainage Company, Muir of Ord
Glynwed Brick House, Telford
Angus MacIver (Haulage) Ltd, Stornoway
MacKay Building Supplies, Uig, Skye
Co-Chomunn na Hearadh Ltd, Leverburgh
Grahamston Iron Co, Falkirk
MacArthur Grey Ltd, Elgin
Highland Construction Services Ltd, Muir of Ord
Keyline Builders Merchant, Inverness
MacInnes Bros., Uachdar
Caley Timber, Griminish
Keyline Builders Merchants, Oban
I A & C MacIver Ltd, Stornoway
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Super Imposed Road Markings 2005 – 2006
T12.62
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18
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The Director of Technical Services
submitted a Report seeking approval for the list of tenderers for the annual
contract to provide super imposed road markings.
It was agreed to recommend that the
Comhairle agree that the following contractors be invited to tender for
supplying and laying of superimposed road markings in 2005/2006:
Wilson & Scott
(Highways) Limited
Line Markings Limited
Coupeline Limited
Markon Limited
G&B Road
Markings Limited
Gordon Graham Road
Markings Limited
and that this list be approved as a
select list of contractors in terms of Contract Regulation 8c.
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Programme and Progress
PR33.01.12
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19
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The Director
of Technical Services submitted a Report detailing Programme and Progress in
relation to roads at pre-construction and construction stage.
It was agreed to recommend that the
Comhairle note the Report.
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SEA
TRANSPORT
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Leverburgh
Overnight Berth and Basin Project
T07.02.16
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20
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The Director
of Technical Services submitted a Report seeking approval to allocate
additional funds to the Leverburgh Overnight Berth and Basin project. The
Report indicated that following commencement of the works, concerns had been
expressed about the longer term stability and effectiveness of the proposed
structure and the need for additional shelter.
It was
considered further to carry out further works to stabilise the structure and
provide further shelter. It was proposed in the Report that further works be
carried out as part of the current contract and that additional funds be
sourced as detailed in the Report.
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The
rationale for not submitting the additional works to competitive tender was
outlined in paragraph 4.4 of the Report.
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It was agreed to recommend that :
(1)
the additional works be incorporated
within the remit of the current contract with R J Macleod (Contractors) Ltd
and that the Comhairle agree that the works be not submitted to competitive
tender in terms of Contract Regulation 7f for the reasons outlined in the
Report and
(2)
the additional funds required to
stabilise and further extend the existing breakwater at Leverburgh Pier,
£160,000, be sourced from additional prudential borrowing, £95,000, and the
Transportation Piers 2004/2005 Revenue Budget, £65,000.
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ROAD TRANSPORT
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Mr Calum I
Graham declared an interest in the following item and left the meeting during
consideration of the matter.
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Fares in Respect of Taxi/Private Hire Car
Licensing
T01.18
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21
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With reference
to Item 26 of the Minute of Meeting of 1 February 2005 the Director of
Corporate Services submitted a Report requesting that the Comhairle review
the current band of fares for taxi and private hire car licensing (where
appropriate) in the Western Isles.
The Report
detailed that in had been highlighted at the last meeting of the Committee
that the proposed 2.5% increase previously agreed as the basis for
consultation would result in an increase of £0.04 for all journeys and would
not apply proportionally to journeys.
It was
agreed to recommend that the Comhairle
(1)
agree that Option 3 as detailed on page 123 of
the Report be adopted in terms of Section 17 of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982;
(2)
agree to ongoing consultation with the
Western Isles Taxi and Private Hire Car Association as the representative
body of Local Taxi and Private Hire Car Licensing Community and the placing
of an advertisement in the Stornoway Gazette giving details of the
Comhairle's proposal to review its maximum rates of fares in respect of taxi
and private hire car licensing (where the private hire cars are fitted with
taxi meters), and
(3)
note that the matter required to be
referred back to the Comhairle in the event that further representations were
received and agree that the matter be not referred back to the Comhairle in
the event that no further representations are received.
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It was recommended that, under the terms of
Section 50A(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, the public,
including the press, be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the
following Items on the grounds that exempt information as defined in
Paragraph 6 of Part 1 of Schedule 7A of the said Act would be disclosed,
namely, information relating to the financial or business affairs of any
particular person, other than the Comhairle
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Taxi and Private Car Hire Vehicle
Inspections – Barra
T01.18
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22
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The Director
of Corporate Services submitted a Report requesting that Members determine
whether taxi and private hire car vehicles in the Isle of Barra require to
pass an annual vehicle fitness test and, if not, to seek the Comhairle’s
approval to discontinue the licensing of taxis and private hire cars in
Barra.
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It was agreed to recommend that:
(1)
the Comhairle require taxi and private
hire car vehicles in Barra and Vatersay to pass an annual vehicle test in
Benbecula on the basis that operators would be required to pay the prevailing
charge of £50 applicable throughout the Western Isles and not be required to
pay ferry fares between Benbecula and Barra subject to clarification being
obtained to the satisfaction of the Director of Corporate Services in
relation to the applicable law in relation to MOTs; and
(2)
in the event that clarification of the
issue detailed in recommendation (a) above cannot be obtained to the
satisfaction of the Director of Corporate Services that the Comhairle do not
continue to license taxi and private hire car vehicles in Barra and Vatersay.
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PERFORMANCE
MONITORING
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Reports Outstanding
PR33.01.12
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23
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The Director of Corporate Services submitted
a Report detailing Reports Outstanding from decisions of the Transportation
Committee.
It was
agreed to recommend that the Comhairle note the Report.
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