Agendas, reports and minutes

18.  European Structural Investment Funds 
Regional Development and Social Fund Programmes Scotland 2014-20
Maoineachadh Eòrpach

There had been circulated Report No. HC/13/14 dated 12 June 2014 by the Director of Development and Infrastructure which provided an update on the current state of play regarding the development of the European Regional Development and Social Funds Programmes in Scotland for the 2014-20 programming period. Also included, for homologation, was the response to the Scottish Government consultation on the two Funds which had closed on 16 June.

During a summary of the report, it was confirmed that the Highlands and Islands had been allocated €192m ERDF and ESF for the 2014-20 period. The Council, as part of the Highlands & Islands European Partnership, had sought to ensure that the programmes covering the Transition funds allocated would be developed and delivered within the region and the preferred model for this was an Integrated Territorial Investment. This would provide a means for all the European funds which were relevant to region to be harnessed to develop the region in an integrated manner and to minimise duplication of funding, activity overlap and deliver synergy.

In terms of the Partnership Agreement and Programme Development, the Highlands & Islands European Partnership had sought assurances from the Scottish Government that the regional dimension would not be lost in programme development. In this regard, written assurance had been received from the Deputy First Minister that the Scottish Government was content to accept the principles proposed that the programmes would reflect regional circumstances, be developed and delivered locally, allow funding allocation through a regional decision making body and be delivered by a regional body with clear reporting lines to the Joint Programme Monitoring Committee (on which the Director of Development and Infrastructure would have a place).

To enable the Programmes to be up and running as soon as possible, the Scottish Government wished to submit the Operational Programmes to the European Commission by the end of June (with an expected start date of October) and to this end had launched a ten day consultation period. In this regard, the response from the Council had been attached for homologation as Appendix 2 to the report.

Information on future delivery and the benefits to the Council had also been highlighted within the report.

Decision

The Council:-

(i) NOTED the content of the report and the potential that existed for the Council to gain financially from engaging in the delivery of the Regional Development and Social Fund Programmes;
(ii) AGREED to request a further update as to the implications of the Council being a lead body in the delivery of these EU Funds; and
(iii) AGREED to homologate the response to the recent Scottish Government consultation on the two Funds.

19.  Legacy Plan 2014
Plana Dìleib 2014

Declarations of Interest –

Mr F Parr and Ms J Douglas declared non-financial interests in this item on the grounds of being Directors of High Life Highland but, having applied the test outlined in Paragraphs 5.2 and 5.3 of the Councillors’ Code of Conduct, concluded that their interests did not preclude their involvement in the discussion.

Mr K Gowans declared a non-financial interest in relation to this item on the grounds of being a Director of High Life Highland and on the basis of a family member being an employee of High Life Highland but, having applied the test outlined in Paragraphs 5.2 and 5.3 of the Councillors’ Code of Conduct, concluded that his interest did not preclude his involvement in the discussion.

There had been circulated Report No. HC/14/14 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport which outlined the background to creating a Highland Legacy Plan to fit with the Commonwealth Games and other 2014 events. In this regard, the Council had engaged with High Life Highland to produce the Plan and a draft copy had been circulated for comment and consideration.

During a summary of the report, it was explained that each Local Authority was expected to prepare a 2014 Legacy Plan highlighting the actions, benefits and opportunities which could be delivered in its area from the different initiatives centred on the Commonwealth Games and other national events taking place in the current year. Arrangements had been put in place to ensure that a co-ordinated approach was taken across all Scottish Local Authorities to base Legacy Plans around the four key themes set by the Scottish Government, namely Active (increasing opportunities to take part in sport and physical activity), Connected (cultural and creative opportunities), Sustainable (environmentally responsible, sustainable communities) and Flourishing (increasing economic growth potential).

The Resources Committee had previously agreed to also create a Games Legacy Fund using £100k of Council balances to which eligible organisations could bid into for assistance with a project which would maintain the legacy of the Commonwealth Games and fit with the Legacy Plan. In this regard, it was suggested that this should be modelled on the recent Highland Culture Fund which had a similar total amount and provided grants of up to £5k per application.

Finally, it was proposed that both the Legacy Plan and the Legacy Grants Fund should be formally launched at one of the events during the visit of the Queen’s Baton Relay to the Highland area in July.

Decision

The Council AGREED:-

(i) the Highland Legacy Plan as circulated;
(ii) the basis of the Legacy Grants Fund; and
(iii) the proposal to launch the Plan and the Fund during the forthcoming Queen’s Baton Relay.

20.  Local Government Boundary Commission – Review of Councillor Numbers
Coimisean Chrìochan Riaghaltais Ionadail

There had been circulated Report No. HC/15/14 dated 17 June 2014 by the Chief Executive which confirmed that the Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland had now published its initial proposals for Councillor numbers for each of Scotland’s 32 Councils and for Highland Council it had been proposed that the number of Councillors should reduce from 80 to 72. Comments on the proposals had now been invited over a 12 week period and it was noted that this would conclude on 21 August 2014.

It was advised that Senior Elected Members had met with Commission representatives in March and had indicated at that time that they were generally content with the proposed reduction. However, they were keen to see the proposals implemented in such a way that constituents in those Wards in Highland which had high levels of deprivation were not adversely affected by any reduction in representation which would increase the workload for the remaining Councillors and in this regard the response to the Commission at that time had been attached as an Appendix to the report.

Details of the configuration of Wards would be considered at the next stage of the review.

During discussion, Members raised the following issues:-

• it had previously been recognised that this was on-going process which could potentially both reduce the number of Councillors and instigate changes to the current boundaries and it was suggested that greater importance should perhaps be placed on the latter;
• in terms of the recognition that Wards with high levels of deprivation tended to produce a higher workload for Councillors, it was imperative that this was recognised by the Commission in terms of its deliberations on Ward boundaries as failing to do this would effectively be a disservice to those Councillors in such Wards at present;
• there was a need for the Commission to recognise the geography of and travelling distances within the Highlands, particularly for rural Councillors where 14 hour days were not unusual; and
• many constituents across the Highlands supported the proposed reduction in the number of Councillors. 

Decision

Members NOTED:-

(i) the proposals from the Local Government Boundary Commission and the response from Highland Council; and
(ii) the public consultation process which was currently underway and the opportunity for members of the public and individual Members to make representations on the proposals.

21.  An Comunn Gàidhealach

The Council was advised that a Service Delivery Contract with An Comunn Gàidhealach provided for the Royal National Mod to be held in the Highland area in 2014, 2017 and 2020.

In this regard, the Service Delivery Contract contained the following clause in relation to representation - the Service Provider is required to permit an elected representative from the Purchaser to sit on the Board of the Service Provider’s organisation and participate fully in all discussions and decisions relating to the Royal National Mods taking place in Highland, to provide the elected representative with all relevant Board agendas, papers, reports and minutes, to invite the elected representative to attend and participate in Board-led reviews, evaluations or other appraisals and to invite the elected representative to sit on both the National and Local Organising Committees.

Decision

It was AGREED to appoint Mr Hamish Fraser as the Council representative on An Comunn Gaidhealach as detailed.

22.  Church Representative – Education, Children and Adult Services Committee
Riochdaire Eaglaise – Comataidh Seirbheisean an Fhoghlaim, na Cloinne agus nan Inbheach

It was confirmed that the Council was required, in terms of Section 31 of the Local Government etc (Scotland) Act 1994, to have a minimum of 3 Church representatives on the Education, Children and Adult Services Committee, two of whom were to be appointed on direct nomination (by the Church of Scotland and the Roman Catholic Church) and the third involving discretionary procedures.

In this regard, Dr Alan Fraser had been nominated by the Free Church of Scotland as their new representative to sit on the Committee.

Decision

The Council APPROVED the nomination of Dr Alan Fraser as detailed.

23.  Appointment of Independent Directors to High Life Highland
Cur Stiùirichean an Dreuchd gu High Life na Gàidhealtachd

Declarations of Interest –

Mr F Parr and Ms J Douglas declared non-financial interests in this item on the grounds of being Directors of High Life Highland but, having applied the test outlined in Paragraphs 5.2 and 5.3 of the Councillors’ Code of Conduct, concluded that their interests did not preclude their involvement in the discussion.

Mr K Gowans declared a non-financial interest in relation to this item on the grounds of being a Director of High Life Highland and on the basis of a family member being an employee of High Life Highland but, having applied the test outlined in Paragraphs 5.2 and 5.3 of the Councillors’ Code of Conduct, concluded that his interest did not preclude his involvement in the discussion.

The Council was advised that the High Life Highland Nominations Committee had agreed to recommend that Mr Kenneth Nicol and Mr Laurence Young should be re-appointed as Independent Directors of High Life Highland with effect from the Board’s next Annual General Meeting.

Decision

The Council AGREED the recommendation from the High Life Highland Nominations Committee as detailed.

24.  Proposed Amendment to the Senior Management Structure
Atharrachadh a Thathar a’ Moladh do Structar an Àrd-luchd-stiùiridh

There had been circulated Report No. HC/16/14 dated 11 June 2014 by the Chief Executive which proposed a change to the establishment at a senior level for the vacant post of Head of Community and Democratic Engagement.

Decision

The Council AGREED the change to the Senior Management Structure by deleting the post of Head of Community and Democratic Engagement and replacing it with a Senior Manager post of Community and Democratic Engagement Manager, responsible to the Head of Policy and Reform.

It was also NOTED that:-

(i) the views of Directors and the Ward Management Team had been taken into account in this proposal and further consultation would take place on the implications for staff whose workload might be affected; and
(ii) the post would be advertised externally with a view to recruitment over the summer.

25.  Recess Powers
Cumhachdan Fosaidh

It was AGREED that, during the recess period, powers should be granted to the Chief Executive, Depute Chief Executive/Director of Corporate Development and Directors, in consultation with the Convener, Leader of the Council, Depute Leader of the Council, relevant Chair and the Leader of the Opposition, to deal with issues arising during that time and that a report should be prepared for the first meeting of the Council or relevant Committee following the period where these powers had been exercised.

26.  Deeds Executed
Sgrìobhainnean Lagha a Bhuilicheadh

It was NOTED that a list of deeds and other documents executed on behalf of the Council since the meeting held on 8 May 2014 was available in the Members’ Library and on the Council’s Website.

27.  Exclusion of the Public
Às-dùnadh a’ Phobaill

The Council RESOLVED that, under Section 50A(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, the public should be excluded from the meeting for the following item on the grounds that it involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 6, 8 and 9 of Part 1 of Schedule 7A of the Act.

28.  Schools for the Future Programme
Sgoiltean na h-Alba airson an Ama ri Teachd

There had been circulated to Members only Report No. HC/9/14 dated 18 June 2014 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport.

Decision

The Council AGREED the recommendations as detailed in the report.

The meeting ended at 3.55 pm.