Agendas, reports and minutes

A meeting of the Planning, Development and Infrastructure Committee will take place in the Council Chamber, Council Headquarters, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness on Wednesday, 25 January 2017, 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 

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.  Presentation – Historic Environment Scotland
Taisbeanadh – Àrainneachd Eachdraidheil na h-Alba     

A presentation will be given by Dawn McDowell, Deputy Head of Designations (Listing), Historic Environment Scotland and Dara Parsons, Historic Environment Scotland on ‘Assessing Significance’ and ‘Heritage Management’.

4.  Revenue Budget Monitoring Statement to 31 December 2016
Aithris Sgrùdaidh Buidseat Teachd-a-steach gu 31 Dùbhlachd 2016    

There is circulated Report No. PDI/01/17 by the Director of Development and Infrastructure providing information on the revenue monitoring position for the Planning and Development Service for the period to 31 December 2016 and the projected year end position.  

The Committee is asked to approve the report and the attached monitoring statements which show the revenue position for the period 1 April 2016 to 31 December 2016, and the actions which have been put in place to manage the budget over the remainder of the financial year.

5.  Capital Expenditure Monitoring to 31 December 2016
Sgrùdadh Caiteachais Chalpa gu 31 Dùbhlachd 2016    

There is circulated Report No. PDI/02/17 by the Director of Development and Infrastructure inviting Members to approve the capital expenditure monitoring position for the period from 1 April 2016 to 31 December 2016 and to approve the award of the next stage of the SCAPE contract to achieve programme delivery of berthing for the new ferry at Uig.

The Committee is asked to:-

i. approve the capital expenditure monitoring position for the period 1 April 2016 to 31 December 2016; and
ii. approve the award of the next stage of the SCAPE contract to achieve programme delivery of berthing for the new ferry at Uig.

6.  Quarter 3 Performance Review
Ath-bhreithneachadh Dèanadais Cairteil 3    

There is circulated Report No. PDI/03/17 by the Director of Development and Infrastructure advising Members on the delivery of the Development Management, Building Standards, and the Development Plan services for the 3rd Quarter of 2016/17.  The report also seeks homologation of the Council’s response to the Scottish Government’s recent consultation on increasing Building Warrant Fees.

The Committee is asked to note the performance updates across the Development Management, Building Standards and the Development Plans teams and agree:-

i. the approach to be taken to the Consultation on the Review of the Planning System;
ii. the response to Scottish Government on the increase in planning fees; and 
iii. to homologate the Council’s response to the consultation on Building Warrant fees.  

7. Employability Services
Seirbheisean Cosnaidh    

There is circulated Report No PDI/04/17 by the Director of Development and Infrastructure providing an update on activity to 31 December 2016 and delivery of the Employability Team Work Plan.

The Committee is asked to note performance to date and delivery of the Employability Team Work Plan.

8. Business Development
Leasachadh Gnothachais    

There is circulated Report No PDI/05/17 by the Director of Development and Infrastructure providing an update on performance with the Business Development Service for Quarter 3, 2016/17.

The Committee is asked to note performance of the Business Development Service for the third quarter of 2016/17.

9. Inverness and Highland City-Region Deal – Governance Arrangements
Cùmhnant Baile-Roinne Inbhir Nis agus na Gàidhealtachd – Ullachaidhean Riaghlaidh

There is circulated Report No PDI/06/17 by the Director of Development and Infrastructure providing an update on the proposed Inverness and Highland City-Region Deal governance arrangements and in particular invites Members to agree to the request by the UK and Scottish Governments that all funding is routed through the Highland Council.

The Committee is asked to agree the updated governance framework as set out in the report.

10. Science Skills Academy Update    
Fios às Ùr mu Acadamaidh nan Sgilean Saidheans    

There is circulated Report No PDI/07/17 by the Director of Development and Infrastructure providing an update on the Science Skills Academy project in the context of the Inverness and Highland City-Region Deal.

The Committee is asked to note the progress of the Science Skills Academy and the potential for funding through the Inverness and Highland City-Region Deal

11.  2017 Development Plan Newsletter
Cuairt-litir Plana Leasachaidh 2017    

There is circulated Report No PDI/08/17 by the Director of Development and Infrastructure which presents the 2017 Development Plans Newsletter for approval.  This annual publication keeps communities and other stakeholders up to date with how and when they can get involved in preparing and updating Development Plan documents across Highland.

The Committee is asked to:

i. approve the 2017 Development Plans Newsletter at Appendix 1 to the report for publication, and submission to Scottish Ministers as the Council’s 2017 Development Plan Scheme; and
ii. note the timescales for member and community input to documents that may be relevant or of interest to the communities and areas that they cover.

12.  Section 11, Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003: Application for Order to Exempt Land from Access Rights: Gorteneorn, Ardnamurchan    
Earrann 11, Achd Ath-leasachaidh an Fhearainn (Alba) 2003: Iarrtas airson Òrdugh gus Fearann a Shaoradh o Chòirichean Cothruim: An Goirtean Eòrna, Àird nam Murchan

There is circulated Report No PDI/09/17 by the Director of Development and Infrastructure which presents an application to exempt land from access rights, 2.4km2 at Gorteneorn – Ardnamurchan Estate.

The Committee is asked to agree that the draft order contained in Appendix A to the report be made and thereafter forwarded to the Scottish Ministers for confirmation.

13.  A96 Dualling – Response to the Publication of Draft Orders
Dùblachadh A96: Foillseachadh Dhreachd Òrdughan – Freagairt na Comhairle    

There is circulated Report No PDI/10/17 by the Director of Development and Infrastructure providing an update on the A96 Dualling of the 31km section between Inverness and Nairn, including a Nairn Bypass.  A draft response is provided for Committee to consider, and subject to any comments or additions, to approve for submission to Transport Scotland before the deadline of 31 January 2017.

The Committee is asked to:-

i. note the background to the A96 Dualling Scheme, the publication of Draft Orders and the consultation deadline of 31 January 2017;
ii. note that a further report is to be submitted to the Community Services Committee on 15 February 2017;
iii. consider the proposed response to Transport Scotland and provide any comments or additions; and
iv. delegate the Director of Development and Infrastructure to submit the response, including any changes requested by the Committee.                          

14.  Caithness and North Sutherland Regeneration Forum – Minutes    PP. 103-105
Fòram Ath-bheothachaidh Ghallaibh agus Chataibh a Tuath – Geàrr-chunntas    

There is circulated, for noting, minutes of meeting of the Caithness and North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership Advisory Board held on 21 June 2016. 

15.  Minutes
Geàrr-chunntas    

There is circulated separately in Booklet A for noting Minutes of the Planning Applications Committees (PAC) for:-

i. South PAC – 27 September 2016
ii. North PAC – 18 October 2016 
iii. North PAC – 29 November 2016 
iv. South PAC – 13 December 2016 

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

The Committee is asked to resolve that, under Section 50A(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, the public 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 and 9 of Part 1 of Schedule 7A of the Act.

17.  Property Transactions Monitoring Report
Aithisg Sgrùdaidh Ghnothachasan Seilbhe    

There is circulated to Members only Report No. PDI/11/17 by the Director of Development and Infrastructure which provides details of the General Fund and Property Account transactions approved by the Head of Development and Regeneration, and Corporate Property Asset Manager under delegated authority. The report also advises Members on sales concluded and sales targeted for completion within the financial year 2016/17 and the status of sales for 2017/18 onwards.

The Committee is invited to approve the monitoring statements for the General Fund and Property Account transactions approved by the Head of Development and Regeneration and Corporate Property Asset Manager under delegated authority, Budgeted Sales for 2016/17, and Future Years Sales.

18.  Land and Property
Talamh agus Cuid-seilbh    

There is circulated to Members only Report No. PDI/12/17 by the Director of Development and Infrastructure which seeks approval to purchase an area of residential land and to agree to the transfer to the Highland Council of an additional area at nil value to enable the provision of a new primary school.  

The Committee is invited to approve the recommendations set out in the report.

19.  Housing Development Investment
Tasgadh ann an Leasachadh Taigheadais    

There is circulated Report No PDI/13/17 by the Director of Development and Infrastructure seeking approval to purchase land and to offer a loan to a developer, both of which will assist in the delivery of affordable housing in Grantown-on-Spey.

The Committee is asked to approve the recommendations set out in the report.