Committees

A meeting of the Planning, Environment and Development Committee will take place in the Council Chamber, Council Headquarters, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness, on Wednesday, 6 November 2013, at 10.30am.

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
Assistant Chief Executive

1. Apologies for Absence
    Liesgeulan

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. Presentation by Skills Development Scotland
    Taisbeanadh le  Leasachadh Sgilean na h-Alba

A presentation will be given by Mr Danny Logue, Operations Director of Skills Development Scotland (SDS), on the delivery of SDS activities in Highland.

4. Revenue Budget Monitoring Statement to September 2013
    Aithris Sgrùdaidh Buidseat Teachd-a-steach gu Sultain 2013

There is circulated Report No. PED-65-13 (30kb pdf) dated 14 October 2013 by the Director of Planning and Development providing information on the revenue monitoring position for the Planning and Development Service for the period to the end of September 2013 and the projected year end position.

The Committee is asked to:

i.  consider and approve the Planning and Development Service monitoring
   report to 30 September 2013; and
ii. agree the management action which has been taken to date.

5. Capital Expenditure Monitoring to September 2013
    Sgrùdadh Chaiteachais Chalpa gu Sultain 2013

There is circulated Report No. PED-66-13 (48kb pdf) dated 22 October 2013 by the Director of Planning and Development outlining the expenditure and income to 30 September 2013 and for the 2013/14 capital programme.  The report also provides an update on the Vacant and Derelict Land Fund (VDLF) programme.

The Committee is asked to:

i.  note the content of the report; and
ii. agree delegated powers to the Director of Planning and Development, in
   consultation with the Chair and Vice Chair of the PED Committee, to agree
   the detail of substitute VDLF projects and submit to the Scottish Government.

6. Regeneration Capital Grant Fund
    Maoin Tabhartais Chalpa airson Ath-nuadhachaidh

At the meeting of the Highland Council held on 27 June 2013, it was agreed to submit a £1,450,000 stage 1 Regeneration Capital Grant Fund application to the Scottish Government by the deadline submission date of 28 June 2013.  Due to the timing of the stage 1 decision announcement and the need for further work, it was not practically possible to bring a report to the meeting of this Committee on 18 September 2013.

Members are therefore asked to homologate the submission of a stage 2 application to the Scottish Government on 14 October 2013, the application having been submitted by the Head of Property Partnerships in consultation with the Director of Planning and Development and the Chair of this Committee.

7. Planning Performance Framework and Quarter 2 Performance Review
    Frèam Dèanadas Dealbhaidh agus Ath-bhreithneachadh Dèanadais Cairteil 2

There is circulated Report No. PED-67-13 (234kb pdf) dated 24 October 2013 by the Director of Planning and Development advising Members on the delivery of the Development Management, Building Standards and Development Plan services for the 2nd Quarter of 2013/14.  The report also updates Committee on progress being made on the Service Improvement commitments which are set out in the Planning Performance Framework, submitted annually to Scottish Government.

The Committee is asked to note the performance updates across the Development Management, Building Standards and Development Plans teams.

8. Business Gateway
    Slighe Gnothachais

There is circulated Report No PED-68-13 (37kb pdf) dated 21 October 2013 by the Director of Planning and Development updating Members on the Business Gateway contract performance year to date 2013/14; and on the integration of Business Gateway within the wider support activity provided by Highland Council.

The Committee is asked to note:

i.  performance for the year to date of the operational year 2013/14; and
ii. the Business Gateway core service, its delivery and the wider business
   support provided.

9. Biodiversity Duty Delivery Plan
    Plana Lìbhrigidh Dleastanas Bith-iomadachd

There is circulated Report No. PED-69-13 (74kb pdf) dated 21 October 2013 by the Director of Planning and Development on progress made towards the Council’s Biodiversity Duty Delivery Plan in 2012-13.  The progress report is attached at Appendix 1 for information.  All five of the key steps identified to ensure that the Council complies with its statutory Biodiversity Duty have been fully or partially delivered.  The appended report will be submitted to the Scottish Government as part of the requirement for public bodies to report on the delivery of their Biodiversity Duty.

The Committee is asked to consider and approve the Highland Council’s Biodiversity Duty Delivery Plan Report 2012-13 as set out in Appendix 1.

10. Planning Scotland’s Seas
      A’ Dealbhadh Chuantan na h-Alba

i. Draft National Marine Plan and Planning Circular

   Dreachd Phlana Mara Nàiseanta agus Cuairtlitir Dealbhaidh

There is circulated Report No. PED-70-13 (151kb pdf) dated 25 October 2013 by the Director of Planning and Development advising that the Scottish Government has consulted on its draft National Marine Plan.  Accompanying the report is a draft planning circular which sets out the relationship between the terrestrial planning system and the marine planning and licensing systems and how integration should work. The Committee is recommended to approve the detailed responses to the consultation documents along the lines indicated.

The Committee is asked to approve the responses to the Draft National Marine Plan and Draft Planning Circular as outlined above and as contained in the completed questionnaire responses in Appendices 1 and 2.

ii. 2013 Possible Nature Conservation Marine Protected Areas Consultation
   Co-chomhairle air Sgìrean Mara a Dh’fhaodadh a Bhith fo Dhìon
   Glèidhteachais Nàdair

There is circulated Report No. PED-71-13 (2882kb pdf) dated 25 October 2013 by the Director of Planning and Development presenting a draft Highland Council response to the Scottish Government consultation on the Planning Scotland’s Seas 2013 - Possible Nature Conservation Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) Consultation. Information is provided in relation to the designated features of each site, the proposed management options and the socio-economic impacts of the designations.  There are 7 sites directly relevant to Highland.  A draft response to the consultation questionnaire is attached at Annex 1 to this report.

The Committee is invited to:

a) note the Scottish Government’s MPA consultation;
b) consider the draft response at Annex 1, and
c) approve the draft response for submission to the Scottish Government with
    any additional comments agreed Members wish to add.

iii. Consultation Response to Draft Offshore Marine Energy Plans
    Dreachd Phlanaichean Mara Roinneil airson Lùth So-ùrachaidh Far-
    cladaich ann an Uisgeachan na h-Alba PP.99-109

There is circulated Report No. PED-72-13 (187kb pdf) dated 25 October 2013 by the Director of Planning and Development presenting the recommended Highland Council response to the Scottish Government consultation on the Draft Sectoral Marine Plans for Offshore Wind, Wave and Tidal in Scottish Waters.  The consultation can be found by clicking here.

Within 28 modified areas of search for the three sectors (wind, wave, tidal), there is one of each most directly relevant to Highland, i.e. one potential wind area in the North West Region, along with one wave and one tidal in the North Region.

The Committee is asked to agree that the draft response to the Draft Sectoral Marine Plans for Offshore Wind, Wave and Tidal in Scottish Waters contained in Appendix B to the report be submitted to the Scottish Government as the Council’s response, by the deadline of 13 November 2013.

11. Scottish Affairs Committee: 432:50 - Towards a Comprehensive
      Land Reform Agenda for Scotland 
      Comataidh Chùisean na h-Alba: 432:50 – A Dh’Ionnsaigh Clàr-
      gnothaich Cuimseach Ath-leasachadh Fearainn airson na h-Alba

There is circulated Report No. PED-73-13 (140kb pdf) dated 18 October 2013 by the Director of Planning and Development introducing the UK Scottish Affairs briefing paper on land reform in Scotland.  The report summarises the briefing note and appends a response already submitted on behalf of the Council.

The Committee is asked to:

i.  note the content and thrust of the SAC briefing note on land reform in Scotland; and
ii. homologate the response already submitted on behalf of the Highland Council.

12. Loch Ness / Inverness Tourism BID proposal
      Sgìre Leasachadh Gnothachais Turasachd Loch Nis/Inbhirnis

There is circulated Report No. PED-74-13 (35kb pdf) dated 24 October 2013 by the Director of Planning and Development offering a formal assessment of the Inverness & Loch Ness Tourism Business Improvement District proposal relative to the Council’s right of veto in accordance with the Planning etc. (Scotland) Act 2006 and the Business Improvement Districts (Scotland) Regulations 2007.

The Committee is asked to:

i.  approve the assessment made in Appendix 1 relative to the Inverness &
   Loch Ness Tourism BID Proposal and agree not to exercise the Council’s right
   of veto, subject to the final BID Proposal not materially affecting the
   assessment made; and
ii. if, upon receipt of the final BID proposal, it is considered that changes have
   been made which affect the assessment made in Appendix 1: agree to
   delegate authority to the Director of Planning and Development in
   consultation with the Chair of PED to seek the necessary amendments to
   the final BID Proposal, failing which a further report be brought back to the
   Council meeting in December 2013.

13. Highland Opportunity Limited
      Cothrom dhan Gàidhealtachd Eta

There is circulated Report No. PED-75-13 (498kb pdf) dated 18 October 2013 by the Director of Planning and Development providing a summary of Highland Opportunity Limited’s activities during the financial year 2012/2013.  In addition, it gives details of the Company’s current performance against the range of targets set for it as part of its contract with the Council to deliver business support to Highland businesses, and highlights key work priorities during the rest of this financial year.

The Committee is asked to:

i.  note the performance of Highland Opportunity Limited and its Subsidiary Companies; and
ii. accept financial statements for year ending 31 March 2013 of Highland
   Opportunity Limited on behalf of the Council.

14. Highland Birchwoods – Report of the Trustees and Audited
      Financial Statements for the Year Ended 28 February 2013 
      Coilltean-beithe na Gàidhealtachd – Aithisg nan Urrasairean agus
      Aithrisean Ionmhasail Sgrùdaichte airson na Bliadhna a’
      Crìochnachadh 28 Gearran 2013

There is circulated Report No PED-76-13 (431kb pdf) dated 18 October 2013 by the Director of Planning and Development introducing the ‘Report of the Trustees and Unaudited Financial Statements for Highland Birchwoods for the financial year to 28th February 2013’. It briefly summarises the organisation’s aims and objectives, and reviews of the past year’s activity and planned future developments.

The Committee is asked to note:

i.  the Financial Statements of Highland Birchwoods to 28 February 2013;
ii. and the organisation’s current restructured position and planned future activity.

15. Beinn Tharsuinn Windfarm Community Ltd
      Coimhearsnachd Tuathanas Gaoithe na Beinne Tarsainn Eta

There is circulated Report No PED-77-13 (161kb pdf) dated 21 October 2013 by the Director of Planning and Development detailing the activities of Beinn Tharsuinn Windfarm Community Limited during the Financial Year 2012/13 and recommending that Members accept the Financial Statement 31 March 2013 on behalf of the Council.

The Committee is asked to:

i.  note the activities of Beinn Tharsuinn Windfarm Community Limited; and
ii. accept, on behalf of Highland Council, the financial of Beinn Tharsuinn
   Windfarm Community Limited for the year ending 31 March 2013.

16.Minutes
     Geàrr-chunntas

There are circulated separately in Booklet A for noting Minutes of the Planning Applications Committees for:-

i. North PAC 13 August 2013
ii. South PAC 20 August 2013
iii. North PAC 17 September 2013