TR9710

TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE

Minute of Meeting held in the Council Offices, Stornoway, on Wednesday 1 October 1997 at 11.00 am

PRESENT

Mr Alexander A Macdonald (Chairman)

Mr Donald Macdonald (Vice-Chairman)

Mr Donald A Mackay

Mr Donald M Mackay

Mr Norman A Macdonald

Mr Norman Macdonald

Mr George Lonie

Mr Donald Maclean

Mr Donald H M Maciver

Mr Colin Campbell

Mr Finlay Morrison

Capt Roderick Mackinnon

APOLOGIES

Mr Iain Macsween

MINUTES

Transportation T02.01

94

The Minute of Meeting of 20 August 1997 was approved.

FINANCE

Budget Strategy 1998/99: Initial Considerations

PR110.03.23

95*

The Director of Finance submitted a Report detailing the Budget Strategy for 1998/99 and a supplementary Report on the Change of Social Work Grant Aided Expenditure (GAE). The Report reviewed the main factors influencing the 1998/99 Budget and indicated provisional Cash Planning Limits for planning purposes. The supplementary Report indicated changes in the calculation of GAE, mainly in respect of Social Work services for the care of the elderly. The current position was that there was a shortfall, assuming a 9.5% Council Tax rise, of £1,226,739. Of this £301,900 can be found by savings brought forward. This leaves £924,839 to be found as savings in 1998/99. In addition it was intended that Heads of Service would submit proposals for 1% of savings for growth totalling £316,494. This makes a total of £1,241,333 of savings to be identified.

The figures for the Transportation Committee are for Savings to be found of £245,381 plus 1% savings for growth items of £64,314 making a total savings of £309,695.

It was agreed to recommend that:

(1) the provisional Cash Planning Limits (CPLs) for 1998/99 set out in Appendix A to the Supplementary Report on Social Work Grant Aided Expenditure (GAE) be approved, subject to any virements arising from any future review of Committee and Departmental functions and structures;

(2) Heads of Service be required to identify and report on savings in their controllable budgets to bring 1998/99 budgets within CPLs and for these savings to be considered by the Service Committees and the Finance Sub-Committee Working Party;

(3) Heads of Service be required to identify potential savings of 1% of controllable budgets over and above those required to get to the CPL;

(4) Heads of Service, who wish to bid for growth, be required to identify the savings matching the growth bid, with no guarantee that the savings identified would be earmarked for their own growth bid; and

(5) the Council seek an urgent meeting with the Minister of State for Scotland to discuss change in the Social Work GAE including the implications for services.

AIR TRANSPORT

British Regional Airlines: Winter Timetables

T04.02.03

96*

With reference to item 66 of the Minute of Meeting of 11 June 1997 the Director of Technical Services submitted a Report concerning the proposed Winter Timetable for British Regional Airlines routes.

It was agreed to recommend that the proposed Winter Timetable for British Regional Airlines be approved

The Chairman ruled in terms of Standing Order 8 that the following item be considered as a matter of urgency in order that representations may be made at the earliest opportunity.

Proposed Air Passenger Duty Increase

T04.02.11

97*

The Director of Technical Services submitted a Report concerning the way forward of the proposed air passenger duty increase following the response from The Scottish Office.

It was recommended that the Director of Technical Services make further representations to the Government regarding the proposed increase in air passenger duty and, in particular, that the matter be raised with the Minister of State for Transport on his visit to the Western Isles on 21 October 1997.

Inter-Island Air Service

T04.02.03

98*

The Director of Administration and Legal Services and the Director of Technical Services submitted a joint Report concerning the expiry of the Inter-island Air Service Contract in August 1998. It was indicated that the public service obligation procedures necessary to enable the Council to go out to tender for the service required to be initiated.

It was agreed to recommend that the Director of Technical Services initiate the necessary procedures to enable a public service obligation to be in place and tenders sought for the Inter-Island Air Service for the period September 1998 to August 2001.

ROADS

Programme and Progress

T08.01

99

The Director of Technical Services submitted the Capital Works Programme and Progress Report for Road Schemes.

It was agreed to note the Report.

Super Imposed Road Markings

T08.05.12

100*

The Director of Technical Services submitted a Report concerning the current situation with regard to the super-imposed road markings programme for 1997/98. A summary was given of the current situation.

It was agreed to recommend that the situation with regard to Line Markings Limited be noted and that a further report be submitted by the Director of Technical Services giving consideration to upgrading the DSO line marking machine.

Cattle Grid - Eishken Road

T08.05.23

101*

The Director of Technical Services submitted a Report concerning the installation of a cattle grid on an adopted road. The Eishken Estate had applied for permission to install the cattle grid.

It was agreed to recommend that the installation of a cattle grid to a specification acceptable to the Director of Technical Services on the Eishken Road be authorised.

Secondment of Staff to Berneray Causeway

T06.02

102*

The Director of Technical Services submitted a Report detailing proposals to enable a member of the Council's Technical Services Department to be seconded to the Consulting Engineers responsible for the supervision of the Contract at Berneray. The Report indicated that a locally resident graduate Civil Engineer had been employed within the Technical Services Consultancy since completing his studies in June of last year with this employment being on a temporary contract for the duration of the summer months due to end in October. The proposed appointment of a graduate Engineer for the duration of the Berneray Causeway Project would be of no additional cost to the Contract as the costs had been included within the overall Project Budget.

It was agreed to recommend that the Chief Executive implement the temporary appointment of a graduate Engineer currently a student within the Technical Services Department, specifically for the purposes of working on the contract to construct a new causeway to Berneray, for the duration of that contract.

SEA TRANSPORT

Caledonian MacBrayne Limited: Carriage of Livestock

T06.01.07

103*

The Director of Technical Services submitted a Report concerning the current position in terms of the carriage of sheep in floats on board Caledonian MacBrayne Limited vessels. A summary was given of the current position.

It was agreed to recommend that further representations be made by the Director of Technical Services to The Scottish Office regarding the difficulties which the recent regulations concerning carriage of livestock were creating particularly in relation to four tier floats following consultation with the relevant unions, crofting interests and Caledonian MacBrayne Limited.

Caledonian MacBrayne Limited: Summer Timetables 1998

T06.01.22

104*

The Director of Technical Service submitted a Report giving an update on the representation regarding the hours of work regulations and the impact on Caledonian MacBrayne Limited summer timetables. A summary was given of the representations and the responses.

It was agreed to recommend that representations be made by the Director of Technical Services to the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions and Marine Safety Agency and that Union representation be sought at the meeting with the Marine Safety Agency.

RELATED MATTERS

Outstanding Action: Progress Report

T01.01.04

105

The Director of Administration and Legal Services submitted a Report detailing the outstanding action arising from the Transportation Committee since May 1994.

It was agreed to note the Report

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PRESENT	Mr Alexander A Macdonald (Chairman)
	Mr Donald Macdonald (Vice-Chairman)
	Mr Donald A Mackay	Mr Donald M Mackay
	Mr Norman A Macdonald	Mr Norman Macdonald
	Mr George Lonie	Mr Donald Maclean
	Mr Donald H M Maciver	Mr Colin Campbell
	Mr Finlay Morrison	Capt Roderick Mackinnon

APOLOGIES	Mr Iain Macsween

		MINUTES
Transportation T02.01	94	The Minute of Meeting of 20 August 1997 was approved.
		FINANCE
Budget Strategy 1998/99: Initial Considerations PR110.03.23	95*	The Director of Finance submitted a Report detailing the Budget Strategy for 1998/99 and a supplementary Report on the Change of Social Work Grant Aided Expenditure (GAE). The Report reviewed the main factors influencing the 1998/99 Budget and indicated provisional Cash Planning Limits for planning purposes. The supplementary Report indicated changes in the calculation of GAE, mainly in respect of Social Work services for the care of the elderly. The current position was that there was a shortfall, assuming a 9.5% Council Tax rise, of £1,226,739. Of this £301,900 can be found by savings brought forward. This leaves £924,839 to be found as savings in 1998/99. In addition it was intended that Heads of Service would submit proposals for 1% of savings for growth totalling £316,494. This makes a total of £1,241,333 of savings to be identified. The figures for the Transportation Committee are for Savings to be found of £245,381 plus 1% savings for growth items of £64,314 making a total savings of £309,695. It was agreed to recommend that: (1) the provisional Cash Planning Limits (CPLs) for 1998/99 set out in Appendix A to the Supplementary Report on Social Work Grant Aided Expenditure (GAE) be approved, subject to any virements arising from any future review of Committee and Departmental functions and structures;
		(2) Heads of Service be required to identify and report on savings in their controllable budgets to bring 1998/99 budgets within CPLs and for these savings to be considered by the Service Committees and the Finance Sub-Committee Working Party;
		(3) Heads of Service be required to identify potential savings of 1% of controllable budgets over and above those required to get to the CPL;
		(4) Heads of Service, who wish to bid for growth, be required to identify the savings matching the growth bid, with no guarantee that the savings identified would be earmarked for their own growth bid; and
		(5) the Council seek an urgent meeting with the Minister of State for Scotland to discuss change in the Social Work GAE including the implications for services.
		AIR TRANSPORT
British Regional Airlines: Winter Timetables T04.02.03	96*	With reference to item 66 of the Minute of Meeting of 11 June 1997 the Director of Technical Services submitted a Report concerning the proposed Winter Timetable for British Regional Airlines routes. It was agreed to recommend that the proposed Winter Timetable for British Regional Airlines be approved
		The Chairman ruled in terms of Standing Order 8 that the following item be considered as a matter of urgency in order that representations may be made at the earliest opportunity.
Proposed Air Passenger Duty Increase T04.02.11	97*	The Director of Technical Services submitted a Report concerning the way forward of the proposed air passenger duty increase following the response from The Scottish Office.
		It was recommended that the Director of Technical Services make further representations to the Government regarding the proposed increase in air passenger duty and, in particular, that the matter be raised with the Minister of State for Transport on his visit to the Western Isles on 21 October 1997.
Inter-Island Air Service T04.02.03	98*	The Director of Administration and Legal Services and the Director of Technical Services submitted a joint Report concerning the expiry of the Inter-island Air Service Contract in August 1998. It was indicated that the public service obligation procedures necessary to enable the Council to go out to tender for the service required to be initiated.
		It was agreed to recommend that the Director of Technical Services initiate the necessary procedures to enable a public service obligation to be in place and tenders sought for the Inter-Island Air Service for the period September 1998 to August 2001.
		ROADS
Programme and Progress T08.01	99	The Director of Technical Services submitted the Capital Works Programme and Progress Report for Road Schemes.
		It was agreed to note the Report.
Super Imposed Road Markings T08.05.12	100*	The Director of Technical Services submitted a Report concerning the current situation with regard to the super-imposed road markings programme for 1997/98. A summary was given of the current situation.
		It was agreed to recommend that the situation with regard to Line Markings Limited be noted and that a further report be submitted by the Director of Technical Services giving consideration to upgrading the DSO line marking machine.
Cattle Grid - Eishken Road T08.05.23	101*	The Director of Technical Services submitted a Report concerning the installation of a cattle grid on an adopted road. The Eishken Estate had applied for permission to install the cattle grid.
		It was agreed to recommend that the installation of a cattle grid to a specification acceptable to the Director of Technical Services on the Eishken Road be authorised.
Secondment of Staff to Berneray Causeway T06.02	102*	The Director of Technical Services submitted a Report detailing proposals to enable a member of the Council's Technical Services Department to be seconded to the Consulting Engineers responsible for the supervision of the Contract at Berneray. The Report indicated that a locally resident graduate Civil Engineer had been employed within the Technical Services Consultancy since completing his studies in June of last year with this employment being on a temporary contract for the duration of the summer months due to end in October. The proposed appointment of a graduate Engineer for the duration of the Berneray Causeway Project would be of no additional cost to the Contract as the costs had been included within the overall Project Budget.
		It was agreed to recommend that the Chief Executive implement the temporary appointment of a graduate Engineer currently a student within the Technical Services Department, specifically for the purposes of working on the contract to construct a new causeway to Berneray, for the duration of that contract.
		SEA TRANSPORT
Caledonian MacBrayne Limited: Carriage of Livestock T06.01.07	103*	The Director of Technical Services submitted a Report concerning the current position in terms of the carriage of sheep in floats on board Caledonian MacBrayne Limited vessels. A summary was given of the current position. It was agreed to recommend that further representations be made by the Director of Technical Services to The Scottish Office regarding the difficulties which the recent regulations concerning carriage of livestock were creating particularly in relation to four tier floats following consultation with the relevant unions, crofting interests and Caledonian MacBrayne Limited.
Caledonian MacBrayne Limited: Summer Timetables 1998 T06.01.22	104*	The Director of Technical Service submitted a Report giving an update on the representation regarding the hours of work regulations and the impact on Caledonian MacBrayne Limited summer timetables. A summary was given of the representations and the responses. It was agreed to recommend that representations be made by the Director of Technical Services to the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions and Marine Safety Agency and that Union representation be sought at the meeting with the Marine Safety Agency.
		RELATED MATTERS
Outstanding Action: Progress Report T01.01.04	105	The Director of Administration and Legal Services submitted a Report detailing the outstanding action arising from the Transportation Committee since May 1994. It was agreed to note the Report
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