Agendas, reports and minutes

A meeting of the City of Inverness Area Committee will take place in the Council, Chamber, Town House, Inverness on Thursday, 2 June 2016 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
Depute Chief Executive/
Director of Corporate Development

Business

1. Apologies for Absence    
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. Scottish Fire and Rescue Area Committee Performance Report for 2015/16
Aithisg Coileanaidh Comataidh Sgìreil Smàlaidh agus Teasairginn na h-Alba airson 2015/16

There is circulated Report No CIA/20/16 dated 18 May 2016 by the Local Senior Officer for Highland which provides an update progress against the priorities outlined in the Area Plan for The City of Inverness 2015/16. Priority areas are identified through a range of Intervention, Prevention and Protection activities delivered in partnership to reduce risk to the communities of the City of Inverness. The report also contains previously agreed information and performance as requested by Committee Members.
 
The Committee is invited to comment and scrutinise the attached Area Performance Report.

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

The Committee is asked to resolve that, under Section 50(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 involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 8 & 9 of Part 1 of Schedule 7A of the Act.

5. Webcasting
Craoladh-lìn

At the meeting on 3 March 2016, it was agreed to defer this item to allow a further more detailed and updated report to be brought back to the next meeting on the specific costs of webcasting future meetings of the City of Inverness Area Committee.

In this regard, there is circulated to Members only Report No CIA/21/16 dated 23 May 2016 by the Director of Finance which seeks a decision on whether the City of Inverness Area Committee meetings should be webcast and, if so, the funding source/s of the additional costs that webcasting would incur. 

The Committee is invited to consider the terms of the report as detailed.

6. Taking Forward Local Community Planning
Dealbhadh Coimhearsnachd

There is circulated Report No CIA/22/16 dated 23 May 2016 by the Acting Head of Policy and Reform which considers the discussions held to date around developing local community planning arrangements within the context of the new duties contained within the Empowerment Act but also other local planning responsibilities contained within the Public Bodies (Joint Working) (Scotland) Act 2014 and the Requirements for Community Learning and Development (Scotland) Regulations 2013.  It outlines the options for local partnership geography for Inverness and asks Members to confirm the views of the City Committee on the preferred local partnership geography for the City of Inverness area.

The Committee is invited to:-

i. note the new duties for community planning contained within the Empowerment Act but also other local planning responsibilities contained within the Public Bodies (Joint Working) (Scotland) Act 2014 and the Requirements for Community Learning and Development (Scotland) Regulations 2013; 
ii. consider the options for local partnership geography for Inverness outlined in section 3, and
iii. confirm the views of the City Committee on the preferred local partnership geography for the City of Inverness area.

7. Approaching Inverness Project 
Prìomh Phròiseactan a’ Buntainn ri Meadhan a’ Bhaile

There is circulated Report No CIA/23/16 dated 13 May 2016 by the Director of Development and Infrastructure which provides an update on the Approaching Inverness Project and seeks Members’ approval to proceed with the recommended demonstration projects.

The Committee is invited to agree the demonstration projects as per paragraph 3.1 of the report for implementation and that the draft Strategy should be issued for public comment.  

8. Active Travel – Community Links PLUS Funding Bid Update
Frith-rathad Rothaireachd

There is circulated Report No CIA/24/16 dated 17 May 2016 by the Director of Development and Infrastructure which provides an update to Committee for the Community Links PLUS funding bid for the Inverness City Active Travel Network Project.  

The Committee is invited to:-

i. note the progress so far with the Inverness City Active Travel Network Project bid;
ii. note the consultation responses received at the Cycling Inverness event held at UHI Inverness College;
iii. approve the use of the Cycling Advocacy document to support funding bids towards enhanced cycling and walking infrastructure;
iv. confirm support for the overall aim to double the level of cycling across Inverness by 2020; and
v. confirm support for the Community Links PLUS funding bid, to be submitted by the end of June 2016.

9. Active Travel – Road Traffic Regulation Orders and Temporary Informative Signs 
Foillseachadh Òrdughan Rathaid

There is circulated Report No CIA/25/16 dated 17 May 2016 by the Director of Development and Infrastructure which proposes a series of Road Traffic Regulation Orders to support the development of the Inverness City Active Travel Network at key locations in Inverness.

The Committee is invited to:-

i. approve the preparation and advertising of Draft Road Traffic Regulation Orders for Redetermination (Millburn Road/Academy Street) and One Way with Exemption Order (Cavell Gardens);
ii. note that if objections are received they will be referred back to this Committee for consideration; and
iii. delegate the Head of Planning and Environment, in consultation with Community Services staff and Local Members, to take forward the erection of a series of temporary informative signs (up to 10 signs) across the City Centre. 

10. Grounds Maintenance Performance Monitoring Report – Early Season Update 
Aithisg Sgrùdadh Dèanadais a thaobh Cumail Suas Làraich

There is circulated Report No CIA/26/16 dated 18 May 2016 by the Director of Community Services which provides details of performance management information of the Grounds Maintenance Services for the period 1 April to 18 May 2016.

The Committee is invited to note the performance management and remedial action information provided on the grounds maintenance service and the management action taken to address the performance issues identified.

11. Area Maintenance Programme for Roads and Bridges
Prògram Gleidhidh airson Rathaidean agus Dhrochaidean

There is circulated Report No CIA/27/16 dated 18 May 2016 2016 by the Director of Community Services which invites approval of the Maintenance Programme for Roads and Bridges for the City of Inverness Area for 2016/17.

The Committee is invited to approve the Maintenance Programmes for Roads and Bridges for the City of Inverness Area for 2016/17.

12. Burial Grounds Commutation Fund Work Programme 2016/17
Maoin Co-iomlaid nan Cladhan 2016/17

There is circulated Report No CIA/28/13 dated 17 May 2016 by the Director of Community Services which provides details of the proposed work programme for the City of Inverness and Area burial grounds, to be funded from the Burial Ground Commutation Fund for 2016/17. The report invites Members to approve the list of proposed projects totalling £100,346.

The Committee is invited to note the progress of the 2013-16 Programme, and are invited to approve the proposed work programme for 2016/17 as detailed in Appendix A to the report

13. Housing Performance Report – 1 April 2015 to 31 March 2016
Aithisg Dèanadais a thaobh Taigheadais – 1 Giblean 2015 gu 31 Màrt 2016
    
There is circulated Report No CIA/29/16 dated 18 May 2016 by the Director of Community Services which provides information on how the Housing Section performed in relation to Scottish Social Housing Charter and other performance indicators up to 31 March 2016.

The Committee is invited to scrutinise the information provided on housing performance in the period 1 April 2015 to 31 March 2016.

14. Inverness Common Good Fund
Maoin Math Coitcheann Inbhir Nis

(a) Financial Monitoring
Sgrùdadh Ionmhasail

There is circulated Report No CIA/30/16 dated 19 May 2016 by the Inverness City Area Manager which presents the expenditure monitoring position for the Inverness Common Good Fund as at 30 April 2016 and the projected year end position.

The Committee is invited to consider the financial monitoring report.

(b) Grants and Capital Projects
Pròiseactan Tabhartais agus Calpa

There is circulated Report No CIA/31/16 dated 20 May 2016 by the Inverness City Area Manager which sets out the current applications for grant funding to be determined and the current status of capital projects.

In this connection, there is circulated separately a copy of supporting documentation as Booklet A.

The Committee is invited to consider the applications for funding and scrutinise the current status of capital projects.

(c) Scheme for Winter Payments 2016/17
Molaidhean Sgeama Phàighidhean Geamhraidh 2016/17

There is circulated Joint Report No CIA/32/16 dated 23 May 2016 by the Director of Finance and the Inverness City Area Manager which follows on from the effective revision of the Winter Payment Scheme for 2015/16 and proposes to maintain similar arrangements for the Winter Payments Scheme for 2016/17.

The Committee is invited to agree the following recommendations for the 2016/17 Winter Payment Scheme:- 

i. that criteria utilised for the 2015/16 Scheme as set out in Paragraphs 2.1 to 2.9 should be used as the basis for the 2016/17 Scheme;
ii. that the Scheme be made available to residents in the City of Inverness and the Landward areas of the seven City Wards; and
iii. that a single tier payment of £79 be made to those applicants which satisfy the eligibility criteria for the 2016/17 Scheme.

15. Inverness Festivals Association
Inbhir Nis

The Committee is invited to approve the appointment of Provost Helen Carmichael to the position of Honorary President of Inverness Festivals Association.

16. Community Council Name Change
Comhairlean Coimhearsnachd

Westhill Community Council have made a representation to amend the name of their Community Council to ‘Cradlehall and Westhill’ in order to better reflect the geography and communities that they cover. 

In this regard, local Ward Members have discussed and are supportive of the proposal.

The Committee is invited to agree the name change of Westhill Community Council to ‘Cradlehall and Westhill’ Community Council.

17. Minutes 
Geàrr-chunntas

The following Minutes are circulated for noting or approval as appropriate:-

i. City of Inverness Area Committee held on 3 March 2016 for noting; 
ii. Inverness City Arts Working Group held on 14 April, 28 April and 13 May 2016 for approval;
iii. Events and Festivals Working Group held on 19 April 2016 for approval; and
iv. Inverness Common Good Fund Grants Sub-Committee held on 9 May 2016 for approval.