Agendas, reports and minutes

16. Election Poster Policy
Postairean Taghaidh

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

During discussion, Members raised the following issues:-

• this report had been requested in light of the excessive number of posters which had been displayed during the Pre-Referendum period and in this regard reference was made to West Dunbartonshire Council who had now banned the display of election posters on Council owned property; Highland Council were now one of only eight Scottish Councils who permitted the display of election posters;
• statistics from East Lothian Council had shown that there had been no effect on voter turnout before and after 2009 when election posters had been banned by that Council;
• Transport Scotland had a zero tolerance policy on advertisements on all trunk roads and footpaths within their remit on the basis that they could be a distraction to drivers;
• the display of election posters was only permitted during Pre-Election periods and were taken down quickly thereafter and it was therefore considered that this was not a major problem for the area;
• election posters represented an opportunity for new political parties and candidates to raise their profiles and removing this right could be seen as a form of censorship;
• there was evidence to suggest that election posters had a positive influence on voter turnout and this should be encouraged.

Thereafter, Mrs I McCallum, seconded by Mr L Fraser, MOVED that the policy be changed to prohibit the display of election posters on Council property in future.

As an AMENDMENT, Mr B Gormley, seconded by Mr G Farlow, moved that the Council should continue with the current policy.

On a vote being taken, the MOTION received 21 votes and the AMENDMENT received 36 votes, with two abstentions, and the AMENDMENT was therefore CARRIED, the votes having been cast as follows:-

For the Motion:

Balfour, R; Barclay, J; Campbell, I; Campbell, J; Douglas, J; Finlayson, M; Fraser, H; Fraser, L; Gordon, J; Gray, J; Greene, R; MacDonald, N; MacLean, A; McAllister, E; McCallum, I; Munro, L; Murphy, B; Paterson, M; Rhind, A; Sinclair, A; Stone, J

For the Amendment:

Alston, D; Baxter, A; Brown, I; Caddick, C; Christie, A; Clark, B; Duffy, A; Fallows, D; Farlow, G; Fernie, B; Ford, J; Fraser, C; Gormley, B; Gowans, K; Graham; A; Green, M; Henderson, A; Hendry, D; Kerr, D; Laird, R; Lobban, B; MacDonald, L; Mackay, D (W5); Mackenzie, G; MacLennan, T; MacLeod, K; Parr, F; Phillips, G; Prag, T; Rattray, M; Renwick, I; Rimell, G; Ross, G (W14); Slater, J; Smith, M; Thompson, B

Abstentions:

Reiss, M; Robertson, F

Decision

The Council AGREED to continue with the current policy in relation to the display of Election Posters as detailed.

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

It was advised that issues in relation to the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (CoSLA) Resources and Capacity Executive Group sat within the remit of the Resources Committee and it was therefore suggested that Ms M Smith, as Chair of the Resources Committee, should replace Mr G Phillips on this Group.

Decision

The Council AGREED that Ms M Smith, as Chair of the Resources Committee, should be appointed to the CoSLA Resources and Capacity Executive Group as detailed.

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

It was advised that Mr C Macaulay had now resigned from the Inverness Prison Visiting Committee. In this regard, the Council was now required to appoint a Member to fill the current vacancy.

Decision

The Council AGREED to appoint Mr L Fraser to the Inverness Prison Visiting Committee as detailed.

19. 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 30 October 2014 was available in the Members’ Library and on the Council’s Website.

20. 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 items on the grounds that they involved 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

Declarations of Interest

Mr J Ford declared a non-financial interest in this item on the grounds of being a veteran of the Royal Air Force 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 to Members only Report No. HC/42/14 dated 11 November 2014 by the Head of Policy and Reform which invited Members to consider conferring the Freedom of Highlands on the Royal Regiment of Scotland.

Decision

The Council AGREED to confer the Freedom of the Highlands on the Royal Regiment of Scotland and noted that a Ceremony in this regard would be held at a later date.

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 had been 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 (which had been Starred Items from the City of Inverness Area Committee – Item 4 within this Minute refers). .

Decision

The Council AGREED the recommendations from the City of Inverness Area Committee as detailed within the report (and as highlighted at Item 4 within this Minute).

The meeting ended at 5.07pm.

APPENDIX 1

Declarations of Interest – Item 11

The following Members declared Non-Financial interests in relation to Item 11 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 and voting (on the basis that they would leave the room should there be any detailed discussion on the specific item in which they had declared an interest):-

Dr D Alston - Trustee of Cromarty Court House Museum
Mr A Baxter - Director of Ardnamurchan Lighthouse Trust, Director of Nevis Partnership, Board Member West Highland Museum and children attending Lochaber Music School.
Mr I Brown - Director of Highland Opportunity Ltd
Mrs I Campbell - Member of Inverinate Hall Committee and Strathpeffer Pavilion Board
Miss J Campbell - Director of Spectrum Centre Board, Director of Women’s Aid Inverness, Member of Merkinch Community Centre Management Committee and Member of Merkinch Enterprise Management Committee
Mrs H Carmichael - Trustee of Inverness Leisure
Mr A Christie - General Manager of Inverness and Badenoch and Strathspey Citizen’s Advice Bureau, Director of Highlands Small Communities Housing Trust, Director of Highlands and Islands Society for Blind People, Director of Highland 3rdSector Interface and parent of child in a Highland school
Dr I Cockburn - Board Member of Ullapool Museum
Ms J Douglas - Director of High Life Highland Ltd, Director of Inverness Women’s Aid, Member of the Girl Guiding Association of Scotland and an Advisor to the Board of Grantown-on-Spey YMCA
Mr A Duffy - Director of Inverness Leisure and Member of Charleston Academy Community Complex Management Committee
Mr D Fallows - Chair of Highland Opportunity Ltd
Mr G Farlow - Director of North West Sutherland Citizen’s Advice Bureau
Mr B Fernie - Director of Highland Opportunity Ltd, Director of Laurandy Day-Care Centre, Director of Homestart Caithness and Director of HI-Scot Credit Union
Mr J Ford - Director of Highland Opportunity Ltd
Mr H Fraser - Director of Skye and Lochalsh Council for Voluntary Organisations
Mr B Gormley - Council’s Advisor to Lochaber Citizen’s Advice Bureau, Director of Lochaber Housing Association and family member employed in the Care and Learning Service
Mr K Gowans - Director of High Life Highland and Director of Eden Court Theatre
Mr A Graham - President of Inverness Sea Cadets and Member of Charleston Academy Community Complex
Mr J Gray - Board Member of Inverness Leisure
Mr M Green - Board Member of Nairn Citizen’s Advice Bureau and Nairn Community and Arts Centre
Mr R Greene - Board Member of Poolewe Swimming Pool
Mr D Kerr – Board Member of James Cameron Centre Service Review Group, Board Member of Inverness City Heritage Trust and Board Member of Highland Buildings Preservation Trust
Mr R Laird - Chair of Merkinch Partnership, Chair of James Cameron Centre Service Review Group and Director of Spectrum Centre Board of Management
Mr B Lobban - Director of Highland Opportunity Ltd and Advisor to the Board of Grantown-on-Spey Museum
Mrs L MacDonald - Director of Highland Opportunity Ltd and Nairn Community Centre
Mrs D Mackay - Director of Voluntary Groups in Sutherland, Director of East Sutherland Citizen’s Advice Bureau and Director of New Futures Sutherland
Mr W MacKay - Director of Caithness Citizen’s Advice Bureau and Director of Caithness Horizons
Mr G MacKenzie - Board Member of Puffin Pool, Dingwall and Strathpeffer Pavilion Association
Ms A MacLean - Director of Ross-shire Women’s Aid, Board Member of Ross and Cromarty Citizen’s Advice Bureau and family members employed in Highland Schools
Mr T MacLennan - Director of Highland Opportunity Ltd and Chair of Lochaber Care and Repair
Mr K MacLeod - Director of Highland Buildings Preservation Trust and Merkinch Enterprise
Mrs B McAllister - Vice-Chair of Inverness Area Sports Council and Board Member of Dalneigh Community Centre Management, Spectrum Community Centre and the Cameron Centre
Mr B Murphy - Board Member of Lochaber Housing Association and Lochaber Care and Repair
Mr F Parr - Director of High Life Highland Ltd
Mrs M Paterson - Member of the Board of the Puffin Pool, the Highland Football Academy and Blas
Mr G Phillips - Director of East Sutherland Citizen’s Advice Bureau
Mr T Prag - Vice Chair of Highland Opportunity Ltd and Member of Eden Court Theatre Board
Mr I Renwick - Director of Portree Citizens Advice Bureau
Mrs F Robertson - parent of child at Tain Royal Academy and Vice-Chair of Tain Royal Academy Parent Council
Mr G Ross - Member of Charleston Academy Community Complex Management Committee, James Cameron Centre Service Review Group, Highland Football Academy Board and Treasurer of Highland Disability Sport
Mr R Saxon - Chairman of Homeaid Caithness and Sutherland, Chairman of Thurso Youth Club and Director of Eden Court
Dr A Sinclair - Member of Management Board of Lochalsh and Skye Housing Association and Chair of Kyle Village Hall
Mrs G Sinclair - Chair of Inverness Women’s Aid
Mrs J Slater - Director of Eden Court Theatre
Ms M Smith - Director and Company Secretary of Albyn Housing Society and Director of Gateway Highland Homeless Trust
Mr J Stone – Director of Highland Opportunity Ltd
Mr H Wood - Director of Inverness Leisure and family member employed by High Life Highland

The following Members declared Financial Interests in relation to Item 11 and confirmed that if there was any specific discussion in relation to specific lines within the budget proposals on the following issues (in which they had either a personal or family connection) they would leave the room:-

I Brown – Employee of NHS Highland
Ms J Douglas – Children in receipt of school meals and holding of school let through the Girl Guiding Association
A Duffy – Council House tenant
G Farlow – Council House tenant
K Gowans – Family member employed by High Life Highland
D Kerr - Council House tenant
Mr W Mackay – Family member employed by High Life Highland
Mr M Reiss – Children in receipt of school meals
Ms G Ross – Family member employed by the Care and Learning Service