COMHAIRLE NAN EILEAN SIAR

TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE

Minute of Meeting held in the Council Offices, Stornoway, on Tuesday 30 August 2005 at 11.00am.

PRESENT	Mr Donald Manford (Chairman)
	Mr Ronald J Mackinnon (Vice-Chairman)
	Mr John Mackay
	Mr Roderick Morrison	Mr Angus Campbell
	Mr Alex A MacDonald	Mr Donald J Macsween
	Mr Norman A Macdonald	Mr Alexander M Mackintosh
	Mr Angus M Graham	Mr Donald Macdonald
	Mr Malcolm J Graham	Mr Donald Maclean
	Mr Neil Campbell	Mr Martin C Taylor

Welcome: Mr Tavish Scott		The Chairman welcomed Mr Tavish Scott MSP, Minister for Transport to the meeting.
		MINUTES
Minute of Meeting of 14 June 2005	1	The Chairman sought and obtained the Committee’s approval to withdraw this item.
Minute of Meeting of 16 August 2005	2	The Minute of Meeting of 16 August 2005 was approved.
Minute of Meeting of HITRANS of 10 June 2005	3	The Minute of Meeting of HITRANS of 10 June 2005 was noted.
Minute of Meeting of HITRANS of 12 August 2005	4	The Minute of Meeting of HITRANS of 12 August 2005 was noted.
Declaration of Interest	5	Mr Donald Macdonald declared an interest and left the Meeting during consideration of Item 13. Mr Alex A MacDonald declared an interest and left the Meeting during consideration of Item 22

FINANCE

General Fund Revenue Monitoring 1 April 2005 – 30 June 2005

PR100.03

With reference to item 4 of the Minute of Meeting of 14 June 2005 the Director of Finance submitted a Report detailing the Comhairle's Forecast Revenue Outturn for 2005/2006. A summary of the financial performance to the end of June 2005 was appended to the Report and it was indicated that the forecast outturn at the end of the first quarter showed a net saving of £472k.

It was agreed to recommend that the recommendations in the Report be approved insofar as the Committee’s interest were concerned namely that;

(1) the Report be noted;

(2) the 2004/2005 Social Work overspend of £135k be funded from balances;

(3) the Director of Social Work be required, in consultation with the Director of Finance, to bring forward a detailed analysis of the Social Work budgets and performance to the October meeting of the Social Work Committee to enable the Committee to consider options for controlling the Social Work budget;

(4) £70k be added to the match funding for the OFTTI Project should the HISTP bid be successful; and

(5) the use of the 2004/2005 Ionmhas carry forward for external audit fees be approved.

General Fund Capital Monitoring 1 April 2005 – 30 June 2005

PR100.03

With reference to item 5 of the Minute of Meeting of 14 June 2005 the Director of Finance submitted a Report which provided an update on the progress of the Capital Programme as at 30 June 2005. It was indicated in the Report that in 2005/06 Prudential Borrowing of £488k had been approved to date and a breakdown of this was detailed at Appendix 1 to the Report.

It was agreed to recommend approval of the recommendations detailed in the Report insofar as the Committee’s interests were concerned namely that:

(1) the Revised Programme for 2005/2006 be approved;

(2) it be noted that the Director of Finance was developing an improved system for monitoring; and

(3) Directors be required to highlight to the Comhairle, as part of the second quarter monitoring, any anticipated difficulties in delivering projects.

Proposed Efficiency Savings

PR100.01

The Director of Finance submitted a Report which sought approval of the proposals submitted as part of the initial efficiencies exercise for 2005/06 and subsequent years. Details of efficiency savings identified from 2005/06 onwards by most Departments were detailed at Appendix A to the Report. It was indicated that savings of £280k in 2005/06 and a recurring saving of £463k were created as a result of the efficiency savings identified by Departments.

It was agreed to recommend that the Efficiency Savings detailed in Appendix 1 to the Report be approved, insofar as the Committee’s interests were concerned.

Use of 2004/2005 Year End Surplus

PR110.01

The Director of Technical Services submitted a Report detailing the planned use of revenue funding totalling £152,260 carried forward from 2004/05. The Report indicated that the carry forward equated to 1.7% of the total controllable revenue budget and proposals for the expenditure were detailed.

It was agreed to recommend that the Comhairle approve the allocation of revenue funds carried forward from the financial year 2004/05 insofar as the interests of the Committee were concerned.

AIR SERVICES

Royal Mail Services for the Western Isles

T04.02

The Director of Technical Services submitted a Report detailing proposals from the Royal Mail to overhaul its mail services in the Western Isles. The Report indicated that mail to and from the Western Isles would no longer be routed via Glasgow but would go through Inverness on a dedicated mail flight. The Report further stated that, by replacing its current reliance on scheduled flights with an additional chartered flight from Benbecula, Royal Mail would be able to increase the volume of mail flown from the Southern Isles.

It was agreed to recommend that the Comhairle

(1) note the Report; and

(2) authorise the Director of Technical Services to arrange a meeting with interested parties with a view to improving the delivery of newspapers to the Southern Isles.

INFRASTRUCTURE

Programme & Progress – Roads

PR33.01.12

The Director of Technical Services submitted a Programme and Progress Report in respect of road schemes.

It was agreed to recommend that the Report be noted.

Storm Damage Response – Update

T02

The Director of Technical Services submitted a Report detailing the initial contribution made by the Scottish Executive towards the Storm Damage Response Programme which had been developed following the hurricane force storms of January 2005.

It was agreed to recommend that the Comhairle:

(1) note the details of the initial contribution to be made by the Scottish Executive but continue to seek confirmation regarding the funding of the remaining repair and betterment projects, civil contingency measures and coastal zone management initiatives all as included in the Comhairle's submission to the Executive of June 2005;

(2) authorise the Director of Technical Services to identify, assess and pursue any further funding opportunities, including the potential availability of funding from the Scottish Executive through the provisions of the Coast Protection Act 1949, enabling the provision of appropriate coastal defence and flood prevention measures and, notwithstanding the foregoing generality, to authorise the Director of Technical Services to make urgent representations to the Scottish Executive to seek further funding to commission any necessary Coastal Protection Scheme or Schemes to enable a bid to be made for capital funding from the £89 million of resources allocated by the Scottish Executive towards local authorities’ flood prevention and coast protection schemes under the Coast Protection Act 1949 and that, given the exceptional nature of the weather conditions experienced in Na h-Eileanan an Iar earlier in the year, the Scottish Executive be requested to allocate further funding to the Comhairle to meet the 20% contribution payable by the Comhairle towards such a Coast Protection Scheme;

(3) approve the Select List of Contractors set out in Table 2 of the Report for the repair works to the Ceann a’Gharaidh Breakwater; and

(4) subject to final agreement with the Scottish Executive, approve the further programme of repair works set out in Table 3 of the Report totalling £600k.

It was agreed that the public, including the press, be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following item on the grounds that exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 6 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 and information relating to any terms proposed or to be proposed by or to the Comhairle under any particular contract for the acquisition of property or the supply of goods or services.

Mr Donald Macdonald declared an interest and left the Meeting during consideration of the following item.

Surface Dressing 2006 –2008

T12.62.02

With reference to item 1 of the Minute of Meeting of 8 March 2002 the Director of Technical Services submitted a Report in relation to the Surface Dressing Contract for Lewis, Harris, the Uists and Barra. The contract had been awarded to the Commercial Operations Unit and the current contract arrangements have ensured continuity of personnel and an improvement to the quality of surface dressing. The Report further stated that the contract incorporated a provision of two one year extensions for 2006/07 and 2007/08 and that the price submitted by the Commercial Operations Unit represented good value for the Comhairle.

It was agreed to recommend that the Comhairle extend the existing contract for Surface Dressing in Lewis, Harris, Uist and Barra for a further period of one year from April 2006 until March 2007 and that any adjustment of price be based on the Contract Price Variation Clause.

Speed Limits on Main Roads and Minor Roads in the Western Isles

T08.05.06

The Director of Technical Services submitted a Report in relation to the Comhairle's policy on speed limits on main and minor roads. The policy had been set up to try to rationalise speed limits throughout island roads and generally used two limits – 40mph on main roads through villages and 30mph on village side roads. The Report indicated that an increasing number of requests for speed limits were being received and the Comhairle could now implement four areas a year from the list of requests received following assessment and prioritisation. Any speed limit being introduced must have the support of the police who were responsible for enforcement.

It was agreed to recommend that the Comhairle:

(1) implement the following Speed Limits in 2005/06:

(a) Lochganvich Village 40mph

(b) Carloway Main Road and Village Roads 40 mph and 30mph respectively

(c) Ardhasaig Village 40mph

(d) Point Area – Main Roads 40mph, Village Minor Roads 30mph.

(2) authorise the Director of Technical Services to examine the provision of speed limits on Scalpay in terms of the relevant legal provisions.

Road Safety: 20mph Speed Limits at Schools

T08.01

With reference to item 14 of the Minute of Meeting of 14 June 2005 the Director of Technical Services submitted a Report detailing progress with the installation of 20mph speed limits at fourteen schools throughout the Western Isles. It was stated in the Report that work was progressing well at each of the sites but Hydro connections were still required at some. All fourteen speed limits would be completed and operational by early September and would provide road safety benefits at these schools.

It was agreed to recommend that the Comhairle note the Report.

Roads to Communities (Habost to Kershader) - Project Evaluation Report

T08.01

With reference to item 10 of the Minute of Meeting of 3 November 2004 the Director of Technical Services submitted a Report seeking the inclusion of the B8060 Habost to Kershader Road Improvement Project within the Capital Programme 2004/08. The Scheme was the highest priority project within the Comhairle's Road to Communities Programme and would lead to the improvement of 2.2 kilometres of road at an estimated cost of £1.5million. An application for funding assistance through the Highlands and Islands Special Transitional Programme would be made in respect of the Project.

It was agreed to recommend that the Comhairle approve the inclusion of the B8060 Habost – Kershader Road Improvement project in the 2004-08 Capital Programme.

Arnish Point Industrial Estate – Adoption of Access Road

T08.01

The Director of Technical Services submitted a Report in relation to a request from Western Isles Enterprise for the Comhairle to adopt the Arnish Point Industrial Estate Access Road. Western Isles Enterprise were proposing to upgrade the access road and discussions would be held in relation to the design and construction of the road and the satisfactory resolution of land ownership issues.

It was agreed to recommend that, subject to the agreement of detailed terms and conditions with Western Isles Enterprise which would be the subject of a further report to the Committee, the Comhairle agree, in principle, to the adoption of the upgraded access road to the Arnish Road Industrial Estate.

Winter Maintenance – Ice Cast System Upgrade

T08.05.04

The Director of Technical Services submitted a Report in relation to the Comhairle's weather prediction system which provided continuous weather data for use in winter maintenance operations. It was proposed that the ten Ice Cast Stations would be upgraded and brought up to modern standards. The Report further proposed that a site be set up with a web-cam at the Clisham in order to report on the state of the road and to give a visual image of conditions during periods of severe weather.

It was agreed to recommend that the Comhairle agree:

(1) to the upgrading of the Vaisala Ice Cast Stations over a period of up to ten years at an average cost of £15k per site and that the supplies and works be procured from Vaisala TMI in terms of Contract Regulation 7(f) and not be competitively tendered due to their specialist nature and the success of the specific equipment at the sites where it currently operates; and

(2) that an infill station with a web-cam be installed on the Clisham near Maaruig road end at an estimated cost of £11k and that the supplies and works be procured in terms of Contract Regulation 7(f) and not be competitively tendered due to their specialist nature.

Township Heritage Initiative – Public Realm Proposals – Stornoway

DS61.08.02

The Director for Sustainable Communities submitted a Report in relation to the Township Heritage Initiative. Phase 2 of the Initiative would involve resurfacing the narrows area in Stornoway Town Centre to include a substantial area of footpath fronting Cromwell Street through to South Beach. The Report further indicated that the Comhairle would have to identify funding from within current capital resources for resurfacing of the area.

It was agreed to recommend to the Comhairle that the Director of Technical Services be authorised to approve the proposals as detailed in the Report, in consultation with the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of Transportation Committee, after consideration of the project by the Sustainable Development and Environmental Services Committees and that;

(1) the public realm projects at the castle walls and the ‘narrows’/Cromwell Street be agreed as part of the Stage Two submission to the Heritage Lottery Fund for Stornoway Townscape Heritage Initiative (THI); and

(2) in the event that the stage two bid is approved by the Heritage Lottery Find, the Comhairle would consider provision of the required funding of £30,000 from road maintenance budgets, the unallocated portion of the footways capital budget and any other appropriate budgets.

		ROAD TRANSPORT
Public Transport Project – Future Priorities T01.19	20	The Director of Technical Services submitted a Report detailing a priority list of projects which could be progressed through funding available from the Scottish Executive for public transport projects. The proposed works included priorities from earlier lists, funding to enable bus stop poles and flags to be acquired and erected at some locations in the interests of road safety and a joint proposal with Cal Mac and Highland, Argyll and Bute and North Ayrshire Councils to jointly fund a number of variable message signs which would advise motorists of service delays, disruption etc on Cal Mac Services. It was agreed to recommend that the Comhairle approve the project costs and priority list of public transport schemes as shown in the Appendix to the Report.
Stornoway Pay and Display – Formal Consultation Update T09.05	21	With reference to item 12 of the Minute of Meeting of 14 June 2005 the Director of Technical Services submitted a Report in relation to the formal consultation process relating to the proposed introduction of pay and display parking in Perceval Square car park. A total of three objections had been received and meetings would be held with objectors to discuss their concerns in more detail. If the objections were sustained a hearing would be arranged, chaired by an independent Reporter from the Scottish Executive Inquiry Reporter’s Unit. It was agreed to recommend to the Comhairle that: (1) the responses to the formal consultation process be noted; and (2) in the event objections were sustained following meetings with the Director of Technical Services, that the Director of Technical Services be authorised to arrange a Hearing on the matter.
		FERRY SERVICES
		Mr Alex A MacDonald declared an interest and left the Meeting during consideration of the following item.
Ferry Fare Mechanisms Seminar T06.01	22	The Director of Technical Services submitted a Report detailing the outcome of the Seminar held in relation to the Alternative Ferry Fares Mechanism Study and the Pilot Scheme to reduce commercial fares on the Sounds of Harris and Barra crossings. The Report highlighted the main conclusions in each of the Studies and highlighted the outcome of the Seminar.
		It was agreed to recommend that the Comhairle note the outcome of the Ferry Fares Seminar and authorise the Director of Technical Services, in consultation with the Alternative Ferry Fares Mechanism Member/Officer Working Group, to continue to pursue the implementation of the findings of the Ferry Fares Mechanism and Sounds of Harris and Barra Pilot Studies.
		PERFORMANCE MONITORING
Reports Outstanding: Progress PR33.01.12	23	The Director of Corporate Services submitted a Report detailing Reports Outstanding arising from decisions of the Committee. It was agreed to recommend that the Comhairle note the Report.
		ADDITIONAL ITEM
		The Chairman ruled that, in accordance with the provisions of Section 50(B)4 of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 as amended, the following items be considered as a matter of urgency in order to allow the Comhairle to take a view on the matter.
Isle of Lewis Access Panel	24	The Minute of Meeting of the Lewis and Harris Access Panel of 22 August 2005 was noted. The Chairman ruled that, in accordance with the provisions of Section 50(B)4 of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 as amended, the following item be considered as a matter of urgency in order to allow the Minister for Transport to address the Committee.
Meeting with Minster for Transport	25	The Chairman welcomed Mr Tavish Scott MSP, Minister for Transport to the meeting. Mr Scott was invited to address the Committee and Members were afforded the opportunity of asking questions of Mr Scott. It was agreed to recommend that the Comhairle note the discussion with Mr Tavish Scott MSP, Minister for Transport.