Agendas, reports and minutes

A meeting of the Highland Council will be held in the Council Chamber, Council Headquarters, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness on Thursday, 14 December 2017 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,

Stewart Fraser
Head of Corporate Governance 

BUSINESS

1. Calling of the Roll and Apologies for Absence
A’ 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 26 October 2017 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:-

*Ross & Cromarty Committee, 31 October 
*Environment, Development & Infrastructure Committee, 8 November
Badenoch & Strathspey Area Committee, 14 November
Corporate Resources Committee, 15 November
Caithness Committee, 21 November
Audit & Scrutiny Committee, 23 November
*Sutherland County Committee, 29 November
*City of Inverness Area Committee, 30 November
People Committee, 6 December
Nairnshire Committee, 7 December
Isle of Skye & Raasay Committee, 11 December 

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

There are circulated for noting Minutes of Meeting of the Valuation Joint Board held on 22 September 2017 (approved by the Board on 24 November 2017).

6. Community Planning Board
Bòrd Dealbhadh Coimhearsnachd

There are circulated for noting Minutes of Meeting of the Community Planning Board held on 28 June 2017 (approved by the Board on 4 October 2017).

7. Recruitment Panel – Depute Chief Executive 
Pannal Fastaidh – Iar-Ard-Oifigear

There are circulated for noting Minutes of Meeting of the Recruitment Panel – Depute Chief Executive – held on Wednesday, 1 November 2017.

8. Membership of Committees, etc
Ballarachd Chomataidhean, msaa

Members are advised that Mr C MacLeod has confirmed that he is now to be non-aligned. On that basis, the political make-up of the Council is now as follows:-

Independent – 30/SNP – 20/Scottish Conservatives – 10/Liberal Democrat – 9/Labour – 3/Green Party – 1/Non-Aligned – 1

The formula in respect of the number of places on Strategic Committees remains as 10/7/4/3/1.  

The Council is also asked to agree the following – 

Corporate Resources Committee – Mrs L MacDonald to replace Mr C MacLeod
Environment, Development & Infrastructure Committee – Ms K Currie to replace 
Mr C MacLeod
Valuation Joint Board – Substitute Member – Mr D MacKay
North Planning Applications Committee – Substitute Member – Mrs P Munro (Ward 6)
South Planning Applications Committee – Substitute Members – Mr J Bruce (Ward 20) and Mr B Allan (Ward 21)

Items 9 and 10 (below) will be considered at 2.00pm.

9. Question Time 
Am Ceiste

The following Questions have been received by the Head of Corporate Governance in terms of Standing Order 42 – 

(i) Mr C Smith

To the Leader of the Council 

“What engagements have you and your Administration had with Her Majesty’s Government and the Devolved Scottish Administration since the last full Council?”

The response is circulated.

Mr Smith will be entitled to ask a supplementary question which will be answered by the Leader.

(ii) Mr G Cruickshank

To the Chair of the Corporate Resources Committee

“It was recently highlighted that this Council is being charged £55,000 to upgrade Internet Explorer on its computers. That amount of money is equivalent to two full time salaries for a whole year. 

Can I ask how such an extortionate charge for free software has arisen so early in the new IT contract and how many more scenarios like this can we expect to see for the remainder of this contract?”

The response is circulated.

Mr Cruickshank will be entitled to ask a supplementary question which will be answered by the Chair of the Corporate Resources Committee.

(iii) Mrs I MacKenzie

To the Chair of the People Committee 

“Between the 2015/16 and 2016/17 years, the number of FTE equivalent of ASN teachers declined from 293.6 to 198.6. I have been told there was a change in the recording that year to exclude the approximately 40 teachers working in special schools, now only to count the ASN teachers in mainstream schools, however, this is still a significant reduction. Can you tell me the reasons for staff leaving and the number of staff recorded within each category?”

The response is circulated.

Mrs MacKenzie will be entitled to ask a supplementary question which will be answered by the Chair of the People Committee.

(iv) Mr S Mackie

To the Leader of the Council 

“Following the announcement by Visit Scotland to close over a third of their staffed locations within two years, can you outline what your Administration is doing to provide resilience in the Highland's tourism economy and provide certainty for those working in the sector in Thurso, Durness, Drumnadrochit and Fort Augustus whose offices are earmarked for closure?”

The response is circulated.

Mr Mackie will be entitled to ask a supplementary question which will be answered by the Leader.

(v) Ms M Smith

To the Leader of the Council

“What has been done to review and strengthen the Council’s internal procedures in respect of Sexual Harassment in the Workplace, ensuring that people can raise concerns directly and in confidence to an appointed person or person(s), who will be available and approachable by anyone wishing to make a confidential complaint?”

The response is circulated.

Ms Smith will be entitled to ask a supplementary question which will be answered by the Leader.

(vi)    Ms K Currie

To the Chair of the Environment, Development & Infrastructure Committee

“What involvement have you had in the working map for the UNESCO designation in Sutherland?”

The response is circulated.

Ms Currie will be entitled to ask a supplementary question which will be answered by the Chair of the Environment, Development & Infrastructure Committee.

(vii) Mrs G Campbell Sinclair

To the Chair of the Corporate Resources Committee

“Could you please provide me with a list of posts, noting grades and department, of where the Council engages Agency workers?”

The response is circulated.

Mrs Campbell Sinclair will be entitled to ask a supplementary question will be answered by the Chair of the Corporate Resources Committee. 

(viii) Mr R MacWilliam

To the Leader of the Council 

“What guidance or training has specifically been given to Highland Council employees to ensure that they deal efficiently and sensitively with citizens who engage with the Council’s services as a result of bereavement?”

The response is circulated.

Mr MacWilliam will be entitled to ask a supplementary question which will be answered by the Leader.   

10. Notices of Motion  
Brathan Gluasaid

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

(i)“There is continuing interest in the investment in and construction of small scale Hydro schemes yet many never get past the planning stage. Thousands of pounds are spent only to find that access to the grid is denied or what is offered is insufficient for the idea to become a viable reality.

Innovative projects could be connected to the scheme to directly address issues of employment or alleviate fuel poverty.

The Council is asked to encourage these enterprises to find ways to use the power generated by local schemes in their local communities.”

Signed: Mrs T Robertson, Mr J Gray, Mr B Lobban, Mrs M Davidson

(ii)This Council expresses its concern at the proposed merger of the British Transport Police (BTP) with Police Scotland. Since its inception, the new force has been fraught with difficulties, it is clear there are an abundance of issues at the core which still need addressed, the very last event it needs to handle right now is further expansion of its remit by absorbing the BTP. 

A report from Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland (HMICS) criticised the plans for showing no ‘due diligence’ and that the ambitions are ‘wholly political’. A recent case of a vulnerable woman boarding a train in Preston, subsequently being met by BTP officers in Glasgow only stresses the need for a single, specialist and cross border force.

The Highland Council resolves that the Leader of the Council will write to the Cabinet Secretary for Justice to express these concerns and to urge a rethink.

Signed: Mr A Jarvie, Mr A Sinclair

(iii)‘The Highland Council welcomes the proposal by the Scottish Government to establish a national not-for-profit energy company; believes that Highland customers do not always experience the benefits of the energy produced in our communities; and therefore agrees to make the case for the proposed company to be based in the Highlands.’

Signed: Mr R Laird, Dr I Cockburn

(iv)‘The Highland Council believes that loans from offshore trusts should be treated as income in the hands of any and all UK recipients and therefore calls upon the UK Government to change the law to enable this.’

Signed: Mr D Louden, Dr I Cockburn

(v)The Highland Council recognises the global interest in Universal Basic Income as an alternative to complex systems of benefit support and will approach the Scottish Government with a proposal to pilot a UBI scheme in the Highlands. 

Signed: Mr R MacWilliam, Ms K Currie 

11. Local Fire & Rescue Plan for Highland
Plana Smalaidh & Teasairginn Ionadail

There is circulated Report No. HC/46/17 dated 5 December 2017 by the Deputy Assistant Chief Officer John MacDonald.

In this regard, the Plan will be circulated separately.

The Council is asked to approve the new Local Fire & Rescue Plan for Highland as circulated.

12. Budget Update
Cunntas as Ur mun Bhuidseat

There is circulated Report No. HC/47/17 dated 4 December 2017 by the Depute Chief Executive/Director of Corporate Resources.

The Council is asked to note that there are no changes to the anticipated budget gap at this time.

The Council is also asked to note the progress to date in tackling the budget gap. 

13.Redesign of Highland Council – Progress Report
Ath-dhealbhadh Chomhairle na Gaidhealtachd – Aithisg Adhartais

There is circulated Report No. HC/48/17 dated 5 December 2017 by the Chief Executive.

The Council is asked to note:-

(i) the Board’s growing programme of reviews, with five peer reviews underway, a new peer review to be undertaken and new areas for Lean reviews. Recommendations from current peer reviews will be made by early 2018 and in time to feed into the budget process;
(ii) that Board workshops are open to all Members to attend and that Members can propose areas for review to the Board;
(iii) the positive engagement with staff in the 16 local briefings carried out between October and December. Nine Board members including trade union representatives and two further members participated. Over 500 staff took part in the briefings and generated nearly 200 ideas and issues to explore. These are being considered in the relevant budget theme groups as well as the Redesign Board. Feedback to staff is being arranged; and
(iv) the Board has begun to develop its communication plan and this will continue over the next few months.

14. Corporate Plan 2017-22
Plana Corporra 2017-22

There is circulated Report No. HC/49/17 dated 4 December 2017 by the Chief Executive.

Members are asked to:-

(i) approve the Corporate Plan for 2017-22 as circulated;
(ii) note that the Plan will support the delivery of the Highland Outcome Improvement Plan;
(iii) note that the Plan will be the subject of an Annual Performance Report in September of each year; and
(iv) note that the Plan is normally reviewed following the Annual Performance Report to Council and any changes will be submitted to the Council for approval.    

15. Proposals for Changes to the Governance of Education
Ath-sgrudadh Riaghladh Foghlaim

There is circulated Report No. HC/50/17 dated 4 December 2017 by the Chief Executive. 

Members are asked to:-

(i) discuss the proposals at this meeting;
(ii) endorse the approach and conclusions set out at the end of the report; and
(iii) agree that the Council’s response will take account of further consultations, including with Partner Authorities in the Northern Alliance and at CoSLA, and be finalised by the Strategic Chair in consultation with the Council Leader and Chief Executive.

16. Tourism Development
Aithisg Suidheachadh Turasachd

There is circulated Report No. HC/51/17 dated 4 December 2017 by the Director of Development & Infrastructure.

Members are asked to:-

(i) note the significance of the tourism to the Highland economy and welcome the levels of growth witnessed in recent years;
(ii) agree to identify Council resources to provide financial support that allows Event Scotland and their partners to bid for future major international events to be hosted in Highland;
(iii) approve the setting up of a tourism working group within the Council to take a strategic overview of and set priorities for the Council’s contribution to addressing the issues described in the report; and
(iv) consider which Members might be included in the proposed working group.

17. Talent Attraction, Retention and Returns
Aithisg Taladh Talaint

There is circulated Report No. HC/52/17 dated 4 December 2017 by the Depute Chief Executive/Director of Corporate Resources.

The Council is asked to consider:-

(i) the workforce sustainability challenges facing the Highland Council;
(ii) the importance of collaboration with partners to develop a Talent Attraction, Retention and Returns Strategy and Action Plan; and
(iii) the requirement to prepare for the workforce challenges presented by Brexit.  

18. Scheme of Delegation and Administration to Strategic Committees and Sub Committees and to Officers
Raòn Ùghdarrais agus Rianachd gu Comataidhean Ro-innleachdail agus Fo-chomataidhean agus gu Oifigearan

The Council is asked to agree inclusion of the following wording within Part IV - Powers Delegated to Officers – Chief Executive’s Office - Corporate Governance – Housing (Scotland) Act 2006 – Part 5:-  

‘Section 144 – to revoke a rent suspension order (i) if an HMO (house in multiple occupation) licence has subsequently been granted to the owner of the living accommodation concerned, or (ii) if satisfied, on the application of any person, that the living accommodation concerned is no longer an HMO, or (iii) in the case of a rent suspension order made in respect of breach of an HMO licence condition, if satisfied that the condition is no longer being breached or that the living accommodation concerning is no longer an HMO’ – delegated to the Head of Corporate Governance and Principal Solicitor (Regulatory Services). 

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 26 October 2017 is available in the Members’ Library and on the Council’s Website.