Agendas, reports and minutes

A meeting of the Nairn and Badenoch and Strathspey Area Committee will take place in the Council Chamber, The Court House, High Street, Nairn on Wednesday 10 June 2015 at 10.30 am.

Webcast Notice: This meeting will be filmed and broadcast over the Internet on the Highland Council website and will be archived and available for viewing for 12 months thereafter.

You are invited to attend the meeting and a note of the business to be considered is attached.

Yours faithfully

Michelle Morris
Depute Chief Executive/
Director of Corporate Development

Business

1. Apologies for Absence
    Leisgeulan

2. Declarations of Interest
    Foillseachaidhean Com-pàirt

Members are asked to consider whether they have an interest to declare in relation to any item on the agenda for this meeting. Any Member making a declaration of interest should indicate whether it is a financial or non-financial interest and include some information on the nature of the interest. Advice may be sought from Officers prior to the meeting taking place.

3. Carbon CLEVER Update
    Cunntas às Ùr mu Chàrbon CHIALLACH

There is circulated Report No NBS/09/15 dated 27 May 2015 by the Head of Policy and Reform which provides details on the Carbon CLEVER community grant fund that relates to Nairn and Badenoch and Strathspey, the CORE Nairn project and the installation of solar powered real time bus stop displays in Badenoch and Strathspey.

The Committee is invited to:-

i.  note the application deadline for the Carbon CLEVER community grant fund with respect to Nairn and Badenoch
    and Strathspey and that a future report will be presented to the Area Committee with regards to funding projects;
ii.  note the progress to date with the CORE Nairn project;
iii. note the progress with the installation of solar powered real time bus stop displays in Badenoch and Strathspey;
    and
iv. discuss ideas for actions and projects that could be developed to support a Carbon CLEVER Nairn and Badenoch
    and Strathspey.

4. Update on Nairn Town Centre Action Plan
    Cunntas às Ùr mu Phlana-gnìomh Meadhan Baile Inbhir Narann

Following approval by the Nairn and Badenoch and Strathspey Area Committee officers carried out a consultation on the draft Nairn Town Centre Action Plan (TCAP) up to 15 May 2015.  The draft TCAP sets out details of a range of projects, identified in collaboration with the community, aimed at maximising footfall and delivering town centre regeneration.  The TCAP document is aimed at providing a useful framework for making applications for funding towards town centre improvements.  Potential projects include environmental improvements, making better use of land and buildings and improving access and movement networks.

During the consultation on the draft TCAP officers held a workshop with representatives of the community on 24 March 2015.  The aim of the event was to prioritise projects and investigate the partnership working required – particularly for the projects that could be taken forward by the community – and to identify actions for delivery.  This work also highlighted the potential for community organisations to play an important role in working alongside other partners in taking forward projects and priorities identified.  This prompted an offer from Highlands and Islands Social Enterprise Zone (HISEZ) to facilitate a further event with the community to discuss what steps residents and community groups could take together to deliver improvements for the town centre.  Those in attendance were keen to pursue this opportunity.

The follow-up meeting led by HISEZ was held on 12 May 2015 and was attended by representatives of all three Nairn Community Councils, Nairn Improvement Community Enterprise (NICE) and Nairn Economic Initiative (NEI) as well as Elected Members and residents.  The event looked at ways of developing more effective partnerships to improve the prospects of seeking and securing funding for regeneration.  It highlighted that there was a major opportunity for the various community groups in Nairn to work collaboratively to deliver improvements and these groups are understood to be considering how to put in place the appropriate arrangements for partnership and governance.

In terms of the TCAP document, feedback from the consultation and follow-up events are now being considered and later this year the Nairn and Badenoch and Strathspey Area Committee will be asked to consider a final Nairn Town Centre Action Plan for adoption as non-statutory Supplementary Guidance.

The Committee is invited to note the position.

5. Area Maintenance Programme for Roads and Bridges
    Prògram Cumail Suas Sgìreil airson Rathaidean is Dhrochaidean

There is circulated Report No NBS/10/15 dated 20 May 2015 by the Director of Community Services which invites Members to approve the Maintenance Programmes for Roads and Bridges for the Nairn and Badenoch and Strathspey Area for 2015/16.

The Committee is invited to approve the Maintenance Programmes for Roads and Bridges for the Nairn and Badenoch and Strathspey Area for 2015/16.

6. Housing Performance Report - 1 April 2014 to 31 March 2015
    Aithisg Coileanaidh Taigheadais – 1 Giblean 2014 gu 31 Màrt 2015

There is circulated Report No NBS/11/15 dated 26 May 2015 by the Director of Community Services which provides information on how the Housing Section performed in relation to Scottish Social Housing Charter and other performance indicators during 2014/15.

The Committee is invited to scrutinise the information provided on housing performance in the period 1 April 2014 to 31 March 2015.

7. Housing Revenue Account Capital Programme Update
    Cunntas às Ùr mu Phrògram Calpa Cunntas Teachd-a-steach Taigheadais

There is circulated Report No NBS/12/15 dated 27 May 2015 by the Director of Community Services which provides information on the status of the Housing Revenue Account Capital Projects within the Nairn and Badenoch and Strathspey Area and seeks agreement for the area priorities for additional discretionary Capital spend in 2015/16.

The Committee is invited to:-

i.  note the status of current Capital projects contained in the report and; and
ii. agree the Area priorities for additional discretionary Capital spend in 2015/16.

8. Minutes
    Geàrr-chunntas

There are circulated for noting Minutes of Meeting of the Nairn and Badenoch and Strathspey Area Committee held on 18 March 2015 which were approved by the Council on 14 May 2015.

9. Exclusion of Public
    Às-dùnadh a’ Phobaill

The Committee is invited to resolve that, under Section 50A(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, the public should be excluded from the meeting during discussion of the following item on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 6 and 9 of Part 1 of Schedule 7A of the Act.

10. Nairn Common Good – Former Marine Road Public Conveniences, Nairn 
      Maoin Math Choitcheann Inbhir Narann – Goireasan Poblach Seann Rathad na Mara, Inbhir Narann

There is circulated to Members only joint Report No NBS/13/15 by the Director of Development and Infrastructure and the Inverness City Manager in relation to the former Marine Road toilet block, Nairn.

The Committee is invited to agree the recommendations.