2006.EAS.167
THE FIFE COUNCIL - EAST FIFE AREA SERVICES COMMITTEE - CUPAR.
6th September, 2006.
2.00 p.m. - 4.40 p.m.
PRESENT:
Councillors Donald N. Lothian (Chair), Tim Brett, Peter C. Douglas, Eleanor
E. Gunstone, Ewen Jardine, Jane Ann Liston, Loretta Mordi, Elizabeth
Riches, William Sangster, Mike Scott-Hayward and Marilyn Whitehead.
ATTENDING:
Jim Findlay, Head of Local Services; Steve Grimmond, Head of Community
Services, Joe Fitzpatrick, Senior Manager, Community Learning and
Development, Iain Whitelaw, Senior Manager, Cultural Services, David
Maiden, Service Manager, Active Fife and Jennifer Small, Sports
Development Co-ordinator, Community Services; Roy Stewart, Regulation
Manager, Environmental Services; Donald Duff, Customer Contact
Manager, Customer Relations Management; Kevin Sayer, Local Services
Support Manager, Local Services Network; Marion Kay, Team Leader
(Interventions Team), Finance and Asset Management; Colin Stirling, Lead
Officer, Traffic Management Unit (East), Transportation Services; Mike
Melville, Team Leader (Administration), Andrew Ferguson, Team Leader
(Administration) and William Welsh, Committee Administrator, Law and
Administration.
APOLOGIES
FOR ABSENCE: Councillors Andrew D. Arbuckle, John A. Bell, Sheila R. Black, Margaret C.
Kennedy, Frances M. Melville and Margaret F. Taylor.
483.
DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Councillor Riches declared an interest in Paragraph 498 - East Fife Leader +
Programme.
484.
MINUTES
The Committee considered the following Minutes:(a)
East Fife Area Services Committee of 14th June, 2006.
Decision
The Committee approved the Minute as a correct record.
(b)
Anstruther Town Centre Working Group of 30th March, 1st June and
13th July, 2006.
Decision
The Committee approved the Minutes.
(c)
Cupar Town Centre Working Group of 22nd May, 2006.
Decision
The Committee approved the Minute.
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(d)
St. Andrews Members Liaison Group of 5th June and 7th August, 2006.
Decision
The Committee approved the Minutes.
(e)
East Fife Area Common Good Sub-Committee of 14th June and 9th
August, 2006.
Decision
The Committee approved the Minutes.
(f)
East Fife Area Regulation Sub-Committee of 4th July, 2006.
Decision
The Committee approved the Minute.
485.
COMMUNITY SERVICES - RESTRUCTURE
The Chair welcomed to the meeting Steve Grimmond, Head of Community Services
who thereafter gave a presentation on the restructure of his Service. He introduced
to the Committee two of his Senior Managers, namely Joe Fitzpatrick and Iain
Whitelaw. Mr. Grimmond informed the Committee that his approach when looking at
the Service was to move from a matrix to a functional structure and that it was his
intention that there would be local accountability. The restructure of the Service was
still going forward and would take account of the savings identified during the budget
process. Mr. Grimmond thereafter answered a number of questions put to him by
Councillors.
Decision
The Committee noted the presentation and the Chair thanked Messrs. Grimmond,
Fitzpatrick and Whitelaw for their attendance.
Councillors Jane Ann Liston and Tim Brett joined the meeting during consideration of
the above item.
486.
ACTIVE FIFE AND THE SPORT AND ACTIVE RECREATION STRATEGY
The Chair welcomed to the Committee David Maiden, Service Manager, Active Fife
and Jennifer Small, Sports Development Co-ordinator, Community Services. They
gave a presentation on “Active Fife” , a partnership initiative to promote, facilitate and
deliver opportunities to allow all people from Fife to lead a healthy lifestyle. The
presentation also covered aspects of Sports Development, Fife’s Sport and Active
Recreation Strategy and Sport Tayside and Fife. Mr Maiden and Ms Small thereafter
answered questions put to them from Councillors.
Decision
The Committee noted the presentation and the Chair thanked Mr Maiden and Ms
Small for their attendance.
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487.
BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION MONITORING REPORT
Previous Minute Ref. Para. 467 of 2006.EAS.160
The Committee considered a joint report dated 23rd August, 2006 by the Heads of
Finance and Asset Management and Local Services detailing the performance of
Housing and Council Tax Benefits administration for the first quarter of the current
financial year. The report detailed processing performance in the first quarter
compared to last year together with the targets for 2006/07 previously agreed by the
Committee. The report concluded that there had been an overall improvement in
performance both in processing timescales and throughput and work was ongoing to
maintain this trend so that, by the final quarter, performance would be in line with the
national standards.
Decision
The Committee agreed –
488.
(1)
to note the benefits processing performance in the first quarter of the current
financial year, and
(2)
that this, along with the impact of the Electronic Document Management
software system, continue to be monitored through the remainder of the
financial year.
REVISION OF CUSTOMER CONTACT STRATEGY
The Committee considered a report dated 21st July, 2006 by the Customer Contact
Manager indicating that the Council’s existing Customer Contact Strategy was
currently under review, and advising of progress made in developing a new Strategy
which would set out an initial three year framework for delivering improved customer
service. The views and comments of the Area Services Committees were being
sought on the revised Strategy, would be presented to the Policy and Resources
Committee on 30th November, 2006. Donald Duff, Customer Contact Manager
answered a number of questions put to him by Councillors.
Decision
The Committee supported the approach being adopted in respect of the revised
Strategy including the proposed actions and measures outlined in the report. The
Chair thanked Donald Duff for his attendance.
489.
AUTOMATIC MONITOR, BONNYGATE, CUPAR
Previous Minute Ref. Para. 366 of 2005.EAS.123
The Committee considered a report by Roy Stewart, Regulation Manager,
Environmental Services informing members of the recently installed air quality
automatic monitor at Bonnygate, Cupar for the purpose of assessing the relevant
road vehicle pollutants at this busy road location. The “real-time” data obtained would
provide more accurate and reliable readings for nitrogen dioxide as well as PM10
particles. The relevant data had recently been analysed and presented in the
updating and screening assessment report submitted to the Scottish Executive and
SEPA.
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Decision
The Committee noted the content of the report and requested a further report on air
quality to be submitted following the next annual report submitted to the Scottish
Executive and SEPA in 2007.
490.
UPDATE ON USES OF THE POWER TO ADVANCE WELL-BEING
The Committee considered a report dated 9th August, 2006 by the Head of Law and
Administration on current uses of the Power to Advance Well-Being, particularly uses
of the power to remedy local environmental difficulties. Uses of the Power to
Advance Well-Being were being authorised by the relevant Head of Service, acting in
conjunction with the Head of Law and Administration. A budget of £80,000 per
annum had been set aside in years 2004/05, 2005/06 and 2006/07 to “pump prime”
projects using the Power. The report advised that a register of uses of the Power to
Advance Well-Being was now maintained by the Law and Administration Service.
Andrew Ferguson, Team Leader (Administration) answered a number of questions
put to him by Councillors.
Decision
The Committee noted the terms of the report and the Chair thanked Mr. Ferguson for
his attendance.
Councillor Tim Brett left the meeting during the above item.
491.
RECOMMENDED LOCAL HOLIDAY DATES 2007 - EAST AREA
The Committee considered a report dated 28th June, 2006 by the Head of Law and
Administration seeking approval of the recommended local holiday dates for the
former Royal Burghs within East Fife Area as detailed in the appendix to the report.
Motion
Councillor William Sangster, seconded by Councillor Eleanor E. Gunstone moved
that the local holiday dates detailed in the appendix to the report be approved.
Amendment
Councillor Jane Ann Liston, seconded by Councillor Marilyn Whitehead moved that
the local holiday dates as detailed in the appendix to the report be approved with the
exception of the local holiday dates for St. Andrews pending discussions between the
St. Andrews Merchants Association and the St. Andrews Community Council to take
place on the date for the May Day holiday
Vote
Amendment
Motion
-
4 votes
5 votes
Decision
The Committee approved the recommended local holiday dates for the former Royal
Burghs within the East Fife Area as detailed in the appendix to the report.
492./
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492.
FALKLAND COMMON GOOD FUND - FALKLAND VILLAGE HALL
The Committee considered a report dated 10th August, 2006 by the Head of Law and
Administration requesting the Committee to consider the recommendation of the
Common Good Sub-Committee that a grant of £5,000 be made to the Falkland
Village Hall towards the upgrade and refit of toilets in the hall.
Decision
The Committee approved the recommendation of the Common Good Sub-Committee
that a grant of £5,000 be made to the Falkland Village Hall.
493.
TOM MORRIS DRIVE, ST. ANDREWS - PROPOSED WAITING RESTRICTIONS
The Committee considered a report dated August, 2006 by the Head of
Transportation Services seeking approval to promote a Traffic Regulation Order for
the implementation of waiting restrictions on Tom Morris Drive, St. Andrews.
Decision
The Committee agreed to approve the promotion of a Traffic Regulation Order to
introduce waiting restrictions on Tom Morris Drive as detailed on Drawing
TO/E/06/016 within six months.
Councillor Tim Brett re-entered the meeting during the above item.
494.
EAST PORT, FALKLAND - PROPOSED WAITING RESTRICTIONS
The Committee considered a report dated August, 2006 by the Head of
Transportation Services seeking approval to promote a Traffic Regulation Order for
the implementation and amendments of waiting restrictions on the East Port and High
Street, Falkland.
Decision
The Committee, in noting that the Head of Transportation Services would review the
existing seasonal restrictions, approved the promotion of a Traffic Regulation Order to
amend waiting restrictions on East Port and High Street, Falkland as detailed on
Drawing TO/E/06/028 within six months.
Councillors Tim Brett and Marilyn Whitehead left the meeting following consideration
of the above item.
495.
BISHOPGATE, CUPAR - PROPOSED EXTENSION OF WAITING RESTRICTIONS
The Committee considered a report dated August, 2006 by the Head of
Transportation Services seeking approval to promote a Traffic Regulation Order for
the extension of waiting restrictions on Bishopgate, Cupar.
Decision/
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Decision
The Committee agreed to approve the promotion of a Traffic Regulation Order to
extend the waiting restrictions on Bishopgate, Cupar as detailed on Drawing
TO/E/06/029 within six months.
Councillor William Sangster left the meeting following consideration of the above
item.
496.
COMMUNITY GRANTS SCHEMES AND OTHER NON-RECURRING GRANTS
2005/06
The Committee considered a report dated 24th July, 2006 by the Head of Policy and
Organisational Development providing a summary of the awards made to voluntary
organisations during 2005/06 under delegated powers. These awards were made
under 15 different grant categories managed by Services across the Council.
Decision
The Committee noted the contents of the report in relation to the awards made by the
Community Grants Schemes under delegated powers.
497.
LOCAL ACTION FUND
The Committee considered a joint report dated 16th August, 2006 by the Chief
Constable and Head of Policy and Organisational Development outlining the status of
the Local Action fund within East Fife from April, 2006. The Scottish Executive had
established the fund to stimulate youth diversion schemes aimed at all young people
with the aim to reduce incidents of youth offending, to offer positive healthy leisure
activities to young people and to reduce community concerns about youth crime. The
report highlighted a number of projects currently running in East Fife funded by the
Local Action Fund in 2006/07.
Decision
The Committee noted the content of the report.
498.
EAST FIFE LEADER + PROGRAMME - UPDATE AS AT AUGUST, 2006
Councillor Riches declared an interest as a trader who traded at the Cupar Farmers’
Market which was a recipient of a grant from the Programme.
The Committee considered a report by the Head of Policy and Organisational
Development updating the Committee on the East Fife Leader + Programme, a
European Community Initiative which assisted new and experimental approaches to
local rural development. The report highlighted the 34 projects which had been
approved by the East Fife Local Action Group. To date 89% of East Fife’s allocation
had been committed with £86,931 remaining to be allocated by the end of December,
2006.
Decision
The Committee noted the content of the report.
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