Agendas, reports and minutes

A meeting of the Nairnshire Committee will take place in the Chamber, The Court House, High Street, Nairn on Wednesday 27 January 2016 at 10.30 am.

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. Appointment of Chair
    Suidheachadh de Chathraiche

2. Apologies for Absence
    Leisgeulan

3. 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.

4. Localism Action Plan Update
    Plana Gnìomh Ionadaileachd

There is circulated Report N/01/16 dated 15 January 2016 by the Head of Policy and Reform which highlights the new devolved powers for the Committee and the further powers likely to be devolved in 2016.  It provides an update on work with partners on local community planning arrangements which Members will be involved in during 2016.

The Committee is invited to note:-

i. the powers devolved to the Committee, the planned further devolution of powers, subject to Council approval in March 2016, and that further changes are likely during 2016; and
ii. the work underway with partners to establish community planning arrangements for Nairnshire and that Members will be involved further in this area of work in 2016.

5. Local Committees – Webcasting
    Comataidhean Ionadail – Craoladh-lìn

There is circulated Report No N/02/16 dated by the Director of Finance which seeks a decision on whether Nairnshire Committee meetings should be webcasted and, if so, the funding source(s) of the additional costs that webcasting would incur.

The Committee is invited to:-

i. note the current service demand for webcasting;
ii. decide whether Local Committees should be webcasted;
iii. agree the preferred webcasting option if Members do wish Nairnshire Committees to be webcasted;
iv. note that when the views of all local committees are obtained, where these views are that webcasting is to be undertaken, approval for the capital funding will be submitted to the Resources Committee at the earliest opportunity; and
v. where Members agree that webcasting is to be undertaken, agree that the annual recurring cost of £4,800 is met by each Ward Discretionary budget providing  £218 per annum.

6. Police – Area Performance Summary
    Poileas – Geàrr-chunntas air Coileanadh Sgìreil

There is circulated Report No N/03/16 dated 18 January 2016 by the South Highland Area Commander which provides a local summary update on progress with reference to the local priorities within the Highland 2014-2017 Policing Plan.

The Committee is invited to scrutinise and discuss the progress report and updates in relation to the four priorities - Road Safety; Drug Dealing and Misuse; Antisocial Behaviour; and Dishonesty.

7. Nairn South Masterplan – Supplementary Guidance Update
    Prìomh Phlana Inbhir Narann a Deas – Fios às Ùr mu Stiùireadh Leasachail

There is circulated Report No N/04/16 dated 18 January 2016 by the Director of Development and Infrastructure which sets out progress on the preparation of a revised draft masterplan for Nairn South and seeks agreement for the next steps towards its publication.  The need for a new Nairn South Masterplan follows the recommendations of the Examination Report to the Inner Moray Firth Local Development Plan.

The Committee is invited to:-

i. agree to the preparation of a draft Nairn South Masterplan for public consultation, timescales to be agreed with Nairnshire Committee Members prior to the consultation;
ii. note the update on progress with the assessment of transport issues; and
iii. agree that Council officials continue to liaise with Council Members, the community and landowner and developer interests in the preparation and delivery of a draft Nairn South Masterplan for public consultation.

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

There is circulated Report No N/05/16 dated 13 January 2016 by the Director of Community Services which provides information on the status of the Housing Revenue Account capital projects for 2015/16 and 2016/17 within the Nairnshire Area.

The Committee is invited to note the current position of the capital projects for 2015/16 and 2016/17.

9. Participatory Budgeting
    Buidseat Compàirteachaidh

There is circulated Report No N/06/16 dated 15 January 2016 by the Head of Policy and Reform which provides an update on the plans to carry out a participatory budgeting event for Nairnshire.  The report sets participatory budgeting in the context of The Community Empowerment Act, particularly the requirements to develop local democratic structures and involve communities in decision-making around resources.

Members having previously agreed to test participatory budgeting in Nairn using £20k of the Ward Discretionary Budget, the Committee is invited to:-

i. agree that the further £5k available to support the event from the Scottish Government be used; and
ii. note the progress being made with the organising group and that the event to involve local people is scheduled for 12 March 2016.

10. Nairn Common Good Fund - Expenditure and Governance Update Report 
      Maoin Math Choitcheann Inbhir Narann – Aithisg às Ùr mu Chaiteachas agus Riaghladh

There is circulated Report No N/07/16 dated 15 January 2016 by the Director of Finance and the Inverness City Area Manager which provides an update on progress made on the development of an Investment Strategy for the Nairn Common Good Fund (NCGF).  It explains that, in March 2014, a report was presented to the Nairn and Badenoch and Strathspey Area Committee on:-

• current governance arrangements;
• anticipated income (primarily from tenancy rentals); and
• expenditure by the Council for services rendered in support of the NCGF and how these services should be supported.

The report also details options to consider for the investment of cash reserves and asks Members to note the position of the NCGF as shown in the Quarter 3 Monitoring Statement.

The Committee is invited to:-

i. note the financial information contained within the report and appendices;
ii. agree the most viable option for investing the available cash balances of the Nairn Common Good Fund and instruct the Director of Finance to take the necessary steps to implement; and
iii. agree that update reports continue to be brought before the Committee.