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MINUTES
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Minute of
Meeting of 3 November 2004
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1
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The Minute of
Meeting of 3 November 2004 was approved subject to the deletion of
recommendation 11(2) with the following being substituted therefor:
"(2) agreed to
include the road to Scarp Jetty, Hushinish on the list of unadopted roads,
subject to assessment by Technical Services staff.”
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Declarations
of Interest
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2
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Mrs Annie
Macdonald declared an interest and left the Meeting during consideration of
Item 18.
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FINANCE
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Feasibility Studies
for Future Transport Projects
T01
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3
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The Director of Technical Services submitted
a Report seeking approval to carry out feasibility work to facilitate future
major capital projects. The Report provided details of proposed schemes and
the relevant Project Evaluation Report was appended to the Report.
It was agreed to recommend that:
(1) £120k be transferred to the Capital
Programme to enable feasibility work to progress the Lochmaddy Pier –
Structural and Feasibility Studies, Alternative Energy Generation for the
Sound of Harris and Options for Future Phasing of Upgrading of the Spinal
Route schemes on the basis that, in the event that it appeared that the level
of match funding available to progress these projects was not sufficient to
allow the feasibility studies in relation to the five projects identified at
para. 2.2 of the Report to be completed within the current capital programme,
the Director of Technical Services would advise the Comhairle as soon as
possible and enable the Comhairle to determine the best means of expending
the Comhairle’s contribution; and
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(2)
the Director of Technical Services
bring a Report to the next Meeting seeking to prioritise a list of six
schemes, spread across the Western Isles in order to take advantage of any
potential windfall funding through HISTP.
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TRANSPORT
POLICY
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Consultation on Scotland’s Transport Future Proposals for Statutory Regional Transport Partnerships
T01
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4
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With reference
to item 5 of the Minute of Meeting of 2 September 2004 the Director of
Technical Services submitted a Report in respect of the consultation document
“Scotland’s Transport Future: Proposals for Statutory Regional Transport
Partnerships”. The Report commented on the main issues within the
consultation document and outlined a proposed response from the Comhairle.
It was
agreed to recommend that the Comhairle approve Appendix 3 as the basis of the
Comhairle's response to the White Paper on Scotland's Transport Future.
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FERRY
SERVICES
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Visit to Aran Islands
T06.03
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5
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The Director
of Technical Services submitted a Report concerning an invitation from the
Irish Government to visit the Aran Isles, Galway. The visit would offer an
opportunity to discuss the development of infrastructure in a similar area to
the Western Isles.
It was agreed to recommend that the
Comhairle agree that the Chairman of Transportation, or his nominee,
accompany the Director of Technical Services and the Harbourmaster who had
been given an invitation to visit the Aran islands.
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Catering
Facilities: Aird Mhòr Terminal, Barra
T06.01
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6
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The Director
of Technical Services submitted a Report in relation to the catering
facilities at Aird Mhòr Terminal, Barra. A number of informal interests in
operating a catering facility at the Aird Mhòr Ferry Terminal had been
expressed but no detailed submissions had been received. The Report proposed
that the Comhairle should advertise in the local press seeking formal
interest in running a catering facility at the terminal.
It was
agreed to recommend that offers be sought from interested parties to run a
catering facility within the existing ferry terminal building at Aird Mhor,
Barra.
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MCA Research
Proposal – Development of a Protocol for the Treatment of Oily Waste
CH03.06
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7
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The Director
of Technical Services submitted a Report concerning a request for a
contribution to a research project to consider options for the treatment and
disposal of oily waste. The Report indicated that there were few UK landfill sites capable of dealing with oily special waste and the Marine Coastguard
Association was proposing to undertake a research project to develop a
protocol for the treatment and disposal of oily waste. It was estimated that
the total cost of the project would be £35k with the Comhairle contributing
up to maximum of £2k towards the project.
It was
agreed to recommend that the Comhairle agree to contribute up to a maximum of
£2k to the MCA Research Project Development of a Protocol for the Treatment
of Oily Waste.
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ROADS
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Programme
and Progress
T08.01
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8
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The Director
of Technical Services submitted a Programme and Progress Report in respect of
Road Schemes.
It was agreed to recommend that the
Comhairle note the Report.
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Manor
Roundabout Proposals
T09.05
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9
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With reference
to item 18 of the Minute of Meeting of 26 November 2003 the Director of
Technical Services submitted a Report detailing Consultants’ evaluation of
options for traffic flows at the Manor Roundabout. The Report highlighted
the existing traffic flows and outlined the options which had been examined.
The creation of a second lane coming from Laxdale would bring a potential
improvement which could assist traffic flow without any effect on other
traffic at peak or other times of the day.
It was
agreed to recommend that the Comhairle agree that the option to alter the
Laxdale approach to the roundabout at Manor by providing a two lane approach
should be developed in detail in order to establish costs, following which
the required PER should be brought forward for approval.
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20mph
Speed Limits at Schools and Schools Traffic Management Budgets
T08.05.06
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10
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With reference
to item 20 of the Minute of Meeting of 3 November 2004 the Director of
Technical Services submitted a Report providing information regarding the
implementation of 20mph speed limits at all schools in the Western Isles.
Details of the existing speed limits outside each school were provided in the
Appendix and details of the available finance were provided in the Report.
The cost of 20mph speed signs at all Schools was also shown, together with
the spend to date under these budget headings.
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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11
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The Director of Technical Services submitted
a Report in relation to a petition received from local residents seeking a
speed limit on the A859 from Ceann an Ora to Tarbert, Isle of Harris. The
Report indicated that a speed limit on this stretch of road would not comply
with the Comhairle's current Speed Limit Policy as the majority of properties
on the section of road were, in general, three hundred metres apart and could
not therefore constitute a village in terms of the Policy.
It was agreed to recommend that the
Comhairle defer consideration of this item until the next series of Meetings.
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ROAD
SERVICES
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Consultation on
Seat Belt Wearing in Buses
T05.01
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12
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The Director
of Technical Services submitted a Report in respect of the European Directive
extending compulsory seatbelt wearing to all passengers aged three years and
above seated in buses and coaches where restraints were provided. The
Department of Transport was currently consulting on the amendment to the
Motor Vehicles (Wearing Of Seatbelts) Regulations 1993 required to comply
with the European Directive and the proposed response from the Comhairle was
detailed in the Report.
It was agreed to recommend that the
Comhairle welcome the move to improve safety on buses and a formal response
be made to the Department for Transport’s consultation as detailed in the
Appendix to the Report.
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PIERS
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Health and Safety
at Comhairle Piers
T07.02
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13
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The Director
of Technical Services submitted a Report detailing the Comhairle's
responsibility with regard to Health and Safety at its pier facilities. The
most challenging aspect of safety at piers was controlling the user element,
due to the piers being unmanned and the nature of the activity that was
undertaken by the majority of users. The Report detailed the improvements
which could be achieved within current resources and which would reduce risk.
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It was
agreed to recommend that the Comhairle:
(1) note the Report ; and
(2) authorise the Director of Technical
Services to submit a Report to a future Meeting detailing proposals to
improve health and safety at Comhairle piers.
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Schedule
of Rates and Dues at Comhairle Piers and Harbours 2005/06
T07.02
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14
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The Director
of Technical Services submitted a Report detailing the proposed schedule of
rates and dues at Comhairle transportation and fishery piers for 2005/06.
It was
agreed to recommend that the Comhairle approve the proposed Schedule of Rates
and Dues appended to the Report, being the scale of charges to be applied to
the Comhairle's various piers and harbours with effect from 1 April 2005,
subject to consideration of the financial model in the Revenue Estimates
process.
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PERFORMANCE
MONITORING
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Reports
Outstanding: Progress
PR33.01.12
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15
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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.
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ADDITIONAL
ITEMS
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HIAL
Charges
T04.01
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16
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The Director
of Technical Services submitted a Report detailing Highlands and Islands
Airports Ltd’s proposed charges and security recoveries for 2005/06.
It was
agreed to recommend that the Comhairle:
(1) note the changes to HIAL's airport
charges;and
(2) authorise the Director of Technical
Services to make representations in relation to the Distance Related Rebate
in terms of the impact on the Inter-Island PSO services.
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Christmas
Arrangements for Highland Airways
T04.02
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17
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The Director
of Technical Services submitted a Report detailing a request from Highland
Airways to reduce its service on the Inter-Island Air Service over the
Christmas period.
It was agreed to recommend that the
Comhairle approve Highland Airways' proposed Christmas arrangements, subject
to the appropriate reduction in subsidy being agreed and Royal Mail being
satisfied with the arrangements.
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Mrs Annie
Macdonald declared an interest and left the Meeting during consideration of
the following Item.
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Stornoway Town Centre Permit Sub-Committee
T01.21
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18
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The Director of Technical Services submitted
a Report indicating that Mr Angus Campbell had tendered his resignation as a
member of the Stornoway Town Centre Permit Sub-Committee. The Committee was
invited to appoint a Member to fill the vacancy.
It was agreed to appoint Mr Murdo
Macleod to the Stornoway Town Centre Permit Sub-Committee.
Arising
from consideration of this Item, it was agreed that the Director of Technical
Services would submit a Report to the next Meeting reviewing the operation of
the Stornoway Town Centre Traffic Order.
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