Agendas, reports and minutes

 

A meeting of the Highland Council will be held in the Council Chamber, Council Headquarters, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness on Thursday, 18 December 2014 at 10.35am.

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.  Calling of the Roll and Apologies for Absence
Gairm a’ Chlàir agus 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.  Confirmation of Minutes
Daingneachadh a’ Gheàrr-chunntais

There are submitted for confirmation as a correct record the Minutes of Meeting of the Council held on 30 October 2014 as contained in the Volume which has been circulated separately.

4.  Minutes of Meetings of Committees
Geàrr-chunntasan Choinneamhan Chomataidhean

There are submitted for confirmation as correct records, for information as regards delegated business and for approval as appropriate, the Minutes of Meetings of Committees contained in Volume circulated separately as undernoted:-

Planning, Development & Infrastructure Committee, 5 November
Community Services Committee, 6 November
Education, Children and Adult Services Committee, 12 November
Gaelic Implementation Group, 13 November
Pensions Committee, 14 November
Skye, Ross & Cromarty Area Committee, 19 November
Audit & Scrutiny Committee, 20 November
Lochaber Area Committee, 25 November
Resources Committee, 26 November
City of Inverness Area Committee, 2 December
Community Safety, Public Engagement and Equalities Committee, 3 December
Nairn & Badenoch & Strathspey Area Committee, 4 December
Caithness & Sutherland Area Committee, 9 December

5.  Highland and Western Isles Valuation Joint Board
Co-Bhòrd Luachaidh na Gàidhealtachd is nan Eilean Siar

There is circulated for information Minute of Meeting of the Highlands and Western Isles Valuation Joint Board held on 11 September 2014.

6.  Customer Services Board
Bòrd Sheirbheisean Luchd-ceannach

There is circulated for information Minute of Meeting of the Customer Services Board held on 11 November and 16 December 2014.

7.  Community Challenge Fund Applications Panel
Maoin Dùbhlain Coimhearsnachd – Geàrr-chunntas Coinneimh

There are circulated for approval Minutes of Meetings of the Community Challenge Fund Applications Panel held on 22 October and 26 November 2014.

8.  Membership of Strategic Committees, etc
Ballrachd air Comataidhean Ro-innleachdail, msaa

Council Membership -

The Council is advised that the following Members have confirmed that they have formed the Highland Alliance – Mr D Millar, Mr T MacLennan, Mr M Rattray and Mr A Baxter.

In this regard, the political make-up of the Council is now as follows –

Independent – 34/SNP – 21/Lib Dem – 12/Labour – 8/Highland Alliance – 4/
Independent Nationalist - 1

The formula in respect of the number of places on Strategic Committee is now 10/6/3/2/1 and revised Committee membership tables will follow for approval.

Leader of the Opposition –

The Council is asked to agree that the role of Leader of the Opposition should be shared by Mrs C Wilson and Ms J Douglas and that appropriate arrangements be put in place to ensure that Members, Officers and Partners understand how the responsibilities of the role are to be split and that the necessary practical arrangements are put in place to ensure no impact on political balance and representation and the proper conduct of Council business.

In this regard, it is confirmed that there are no implications for the Council in terms of remuneration for the post.

9.  Question Time
Àm Ceiste

The following Questions have been received by the Depute Chief Executive/Director of Corporate Development in terms of Standing Order 42 –

Mr D Millar

To the Leader of the Council

“Post Offices on Skye are being threatened with being downgraded by Post Office Ltd which will have serious implications to the viability of all Offices but especially small rural ones as the Postmasters are being faced with substantial reductions to their core funding and loss of services if they are forced to become for example a Post Office local instead of a Community Office.

As I am sure this is also happening in all part of Highland, will the Council Leader lead a campaign on behalf of the Council to protect Post Offices and maintain the services that they presently provide to communities and write immediately to Post Office Ltd asking for a meeting to discuss a solution?”

The response is circulated.

Mr Millar will be entitled to ask a supplementary question which will be answered by the Leader of the Council.

Ms J Douglas

To the Chair of the Resources Committee

“Can I please have a list of all the annual costs of each Area Committee, including, but not limited to, travel for both Officers and Members, advertising, venue hire, refreshments, webcasting support and the extra £8413 pay enhancement per Area Leader?”

The response is circulated.

Ms Douglas will be entitled to ask a supplementary question which will be answered by the Chair of the Resources Committee.

10.  Notices of Motion
Brathan Gluasaid

The following Notices of Motion have been received in accordance with Standing Order 10.1 –

“The Independent Group believes it is time that Highland Council ends the unsustainable and damaging Council Tax freeze. This has resulted in 7 years of detrimental cuts to frontline services in the Highlands.

We propose that the Highland Council agree to a 5% rise in Council Tax which will mean approximately a £1 per week increase for Band C properties and this income should be used to protect frontline services”.

Signed: Mrs C Wilson Ms J Douglas Mr M Reiss Mrs H Carmichael Mr G Ross Mrs M Paterson Miss J Campbell Mrs I Campbell Dr A Sinclair Mr N Donald Mrs M Davidson Mr B Fernie

“That the Highland Council agrees to replace Councillor Drew Millar as a Director of High Life Highland and therefore terminates his appointment as a Director and, in accordance with the agreed procedures, will seek expressions of interest from all Councillors in filling the vacancy”.

Signed: Dr D Alston Mr A Christie

11.  Revenue Budget and Council Tax 2015/16
Buidseat Teach-a-steach agus Cis Comhairle 2015/16

There is circulated Report No. HC/36/14 dated 9 December 2014 by the Director of Finance which sets out information relating to the Revenue Budget for 2015/16 to allow the Council to formally agree the Revenue Budget and Council Tax for the forthcoming financial year.

In this regard, Booklet A (Summary of Savings Proposals) and Booklet B (Detailed Templates for individual Saving Proposals) are circulated separately.

The Council is asked to:-

(a) agree a Council Tax freeze for 2015/16 with the Council Tax at Band D for the year being £1,163;
(b) agree the savings proposals highlighted in Booklet A;
(c) agree the Revenue Budget for 2015/16 of £570.388m;
(d) agree to accept the Scottish Government settlement package in respect of the Council Tax freeze;
(e) note the initial budget outlook for Years 2016/17, 2017/18 and 2018/19; and
(f) note the reserves and balances strategy as set out in Annex 2 to the report.

12.  Report to Members and the Controller of Audit on the 2013/14 Audit of Highland Council
Aithisg do Bhuill agus do Rianadair an Sgrùdaidh a thaobh Sgrùdadh 2013/14 Chomhairle na Gàidhealtachd

There is circulated Report No. HC/37/14 dated 17 November 2014 by the Director of Finance which introduces the External Audit Report to Members in respect of the Final Accounts for the financial year ended 31 March 2014.

In this regard, the External Audit Report has been circulated separately.

Members are asked to note the External Auditors Report for the year ended 31 March 2014, the completed Action Plan incorporating the Council’s response and the Audited Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2014.

13.  The Port of Nigg Harbour Revision Order 201[X]
Ath-sgrùdadh Caladh Neig

There is circulated Report No. HC/38/14 dated 9 December 2014 by the Director of Development and Infrastructure which advises that Global Energy Nigg Ltd has applied to the Scottish Government for a Harbour Revision Order in respect of the Port of Nigg which would create a second statutory harbour authority within the Cromarty Firth. As a statutory consultee, the Council has the opportunity to submit representations on the Harbour Revision Order.

The Council is asked to:-

i. consider the terms, potential implications of and issues linked to the proposed Port of Nigg;
ii. agree to submit an objection to The Port of Nigg Harbour Revision Order 201[X]; and
iii. facilitate discussions with the Port of Cromarty Firth and Global Energy Nigg Ltd with a view to agreeing joint objectives for securing ongoing sustainable development and enhanced opportunities within the Cromarty Firth.

14.  Highland Armed Forces Community Covenant Update
Cunnradh nan Seann Ghaisgeach

There is circulated Report No. HC/39/14 dated 5 December 2014 by the Head of Policy and Reform which outlines the work carried out by the partners to the Highland Armed Forces Community Covenant in the last twelve months and sets out future priorities.

The Council is asked to welcome the work of the Highland Armed Forces Community Covenant Partnership undertaken to date and endorse the future priorities outlined at Section 4 of the report.

15.  UK Parliamentary General Election – Thursday 7 May 2015
Taghadh Coitcheann Pàrlamaid na RA – Diardaoin 7 Màrt 2015

There is circulated Report No. HC/40/14 dated 5 December 2014 by the Returning Officer which advises of the impact that Election Administration for the forthcoming UK Parliamentary General Election, scheduled to take place on Thursday 7 May 2015, will have on the work of the Council and explains the statutory framework which governs the conduct at this Election.

The Council is asked to agree the terms of the report as circulated.

16.  Election Poster Policy
Postairean Taghaidh

There is circulated Report No. HC/41/14 dated 5 December 2014 by the Director of Community Services which provides the information requested at the last meeting in relation to the policy on the display of Election Posters.

The Council is asked to note the terms of the report as circulated.

17. Appointment - Convention of Scottish Local Authorities - Resources and Capacity Executive Group
Cur an Dreuchd – Co-chruinneachadh Ùghdarrasan Ionadail na h-Alba – Buidheann-gnìomh Stòrasan is Chomasan

Members are advised that issues in relation to the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (CoSLA) Resources and Capacity Executive Group sit within the remit of the Resources Committee.

The Council is therefore asked to agree that Ms M Smith should replace Mr G Phillips on this Executive Group.

18.  Appointment – Inverness Prison Visiting Committee
Cur an Dreuchd – Comataidh Thadhalan Prìosain Inbhir Nis

Members are advised that Mr C Macaulay has resigned as a member of the Inverness Prison Visiting Committee.

The Council is therefore asked to appoint 1 Member to the Inverness Prison Visiting Committee as detailed.

19.  Deeds Executed
Sgrìobhainnean Lagha a Bhuilicheadh

Members are asked to note that a list of deeds and other documents executed on behalf of the Council since the meeting held on 30 October 2014 is available in the Members’ Library and on the Council’s Website.

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

The Council is asked to resolve that, under Section 50A(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, the public should be excluded from the meeting for the following items on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 6, 8 & 9 of Part 1 of Schedule 7A of the Act.

21.  Freedom of the Highlands
Saorsa na Gàidhealtachd

There is circulated to Members only Report No. HC/42/14 dated 11 November 2014 by the Head of Policy and Reform which invites Members to consider conferring the Freedom of Highlands.

The Council is asked to agree the recommendation as detailed.

22.  Town House Works Programme and Refurbishment of 1-5, Church Street, Inverness – Inverness Common Good Fund
Ath-leasachadh 1-5 Sràid na h-Eaglaise

There is circulated to Members only Joint Report No. HC/43/14 dated 19 November 2014 by the Director of Development and Infrastructure, Director of Finance and the Inverness City Manager on the Town House Works Programme and Refurbishment of 1-5 Church Street, Inverness.

The Council is asked to agree the recommendations as detailed.