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, 22 February 2018 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

Stewart Fraser
Head of Corporate Governance

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.  New Year’s Honours
Urraman na Bliadhna Ùire

Members are advised that the following individuals have been recognised in the New Year’s Honours List:-

Stuart Christopher Rose, BEM    
Dr James Patrick Vestey, OBE

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

There is circulated Report No CIA/1/18 dated 2 February 2018 by the Inverness Area Commander which provides an update on progress with reference to the objectives outlined within the Highland Policing Plan 2017-20.

The Committee is invited to comment and note progress made against the objectives set within the Highland and Islands Local Policing Plan 2017-20 attached as Annex A to the report for the period covering 1 April – 31 December 2017. 

5.  Inverness Community Safety Partnership – Operation Respect City Centre 2017/18 Winter Festival Period Evaluation Report     
Com-pàirteachas Sàbhailteachd Coimhearsnachd Inbhir Nis – Aithisg Mheasaidh Ùine Fèis Geamhraidh 2017/18 ‘Operation Respect’ Meadhan a’ Bhaile

There is circulated Joint Report No CIA/2/18 dated 9 February 2018 by the Inverness City Area Manager and the Inverness Area Commander (Highland and Islands Division, Police Scotland) which provides an overview of resources, actions and evaluation of the multi-agency Operation Respect – City Centre for the Winter Festival 2017/18. 

The Committee is invited to comment and note the evaluation available to date on the effectiveness of Operation Respect – City Centre for Winter 2017/18

6.  Inverness City Heritage Trust Annual Report    
Aithisg Bhliadhnail Urras Dualchais Baile Inbhir Nis

There is circulated Report No CIA/3/18 dated 30 January 2018 by the Inverness Heritage Trust Project Officer which provides information on the work of Inverness City Heritage Trust during the financial year 2016/17, with particular attention to the total grant allocation to projects in Inverness Riverside Conservation Areas to date and during 2016/17.

The Committee is invited to note the:-

(i)    contributions made by the Inverness City Heritage Trust in delivering a programme of conservation work funded by grant assistance in Inverness since 2005;
(ii)   work carried out in partnership with the Traditional Building Forum for the Highlands and Islands to deliver conferences for building professionals/ practitioners.  Also the work with other building professionals to try and find realistic options for retention and repair of important city buildings and features; and 
(iii)  current situation with regard to future funding from Historic Environment Scotland for Inverness City Heritage Trust.  

7.  Roads Maintenance Programme 2018/2019    
Prògram Càraidh Sgìreil airson Rathaidean agus Dhrochaidean 2017/18

There is circulated Report No CIA/4/18 dated 30 January 2018 by the Director of Community Services.

The Committee is invited to approve the proposed 2018/19 Roads Maintenance Programme for the City of Inverness Area.

8.  Lower Speed (City Centre) Study
Sgrùdadh Astaran nas Ìsle (Meadhan a’ Bhaile)

There is circulated Report No CIA/5/18 dated 1 February 2018 by the Director of Development and Infrastructure.

The Committee is invited to:-

(i)    note the contents of the report and the supporting documentation;
(ii)   note the aspects of the Inverness City Development Brief that are relevant to the actions set out in the final section of the Study Report;
(iii)  endorse the key outcomes identified from the Individual/Social/Material Workshop: Users of streetscape feel safer: Inverness is more attractive: improved amenity and economy;
(iv)  delegate to the Director of Development and Infrastructure to develop and implement a messaging campaign about lower speeds in Inverness City and other communities; and
(v)  delegate to the Director of Development and Infrastructure to review the existing speed limit gateways and enhance them through improved signs and markings.        

9.   Inverness City Active Travel Network (ICATN) Update                    
Cunntas às Ùr mu Lìonra Chòmhdhail Ghnìomhach Baile Inbhir Nis

There is circulated Report No CIA/6/18 dated 6 February 2018 by the Director of Development and Infrastructure.

Members are invited to note the contents of the report and that reports will be brought back to Ward Business Meetings and this Committee as necessitated, such as the proposal for any statutory approvals such as Road Traffic Regulation Order.

The Committee is also invited to appoint 3 Members to sit on the Advisory Panel for the ICATN Programme.

10.  Street Lighting Update    
Soillseachadh Sràide agus CCTV

There is circulated Report No CIA/7/18 dated 9 February 2018 by the Director of Community Services.

The Committee is invited to note the progress and future programme for delivery of LED replacement lighting in Inverness.  

Members are also invited to note that a submission has been made for EU funding under the ERDF SMART Cities Programme for grant funding towards the provision of Intelligent Street Lighting in Inverness and that development of the proposals will involve a consultation stage including presentation at Ward Business meetings with a report back to the Committee later in 2018.     

11.  Homologation of New Street Names    
Aontachadh Ainmean Ùra Sràide

There is circulated Report No CIA/8/18 dated 8 February 2018 by the Inverness City Area Manager.

The Committee is invited to homologate the naming of new streets for new housing and flatted developments in Drumnadrochit, Lewiston and the Hill, Holm, Ness Castle and Crown areas of Inverness as detailed in the report.   

12.  Inverness Common Good Fund    
Maoin Math Coitcheann Inbhir Nis

(a)  Financial Monitoring
Sgrùdadh Ionmhasail

There is circulated Report No CIA/9/18 dated 7 February 2018 by the Inverness City Area Manager.

The Committee is invited to consider the financial monitoring report to 31 January 2018 and note that overall expenditure is within agreed budgets.

(b)  Grants and Capital Projects
Pròiseactan Tabhartais agus Calpa

There is circulated Report No CIA/10/18 dated 1 February 2018 by the Inverness City Area Manager.

The Committee is invited to note the funds available for allocation and scrutinise the current status of capital projects. 

(c)  Budget Setting for 2018/19 and Capital Programme
Suidheachadh Buidseit airson 2018/19 agus Prògram Calpa 

There is circulated Joint Report No CIA/11/18 dated 7 February 2018 by the Depute Chief Executive/Director of Corporate Resources and the Inverness City Manager which invites Members to set the revenue budget for the Inverness Common Good Fund for the financial year 2018/19. It also clarifies governance arrangements, anticipated income (primarily from tenancy rentals), the proposed expenditure, split into essentials (for the maintenance of buildings and the provision of basic services) and a number of additional items, action on the future investment of any projected surplus funds and the structure of payments made to the Council for services rendered in support of the fund and how these services should be supported in the coming financial year and thereafter.  

The Committee is invited to:-

(i)   agree the Common Good Fund budget for 2018/19 detailed within the report and appendices;
(ii)  agree to maintain a general reserve of £2m and reallocate the remaining uncommitted sum of £1.6m to a Property Investment Fund; and
(iii)  note that Officers will continue to monitor projected cash flow for the Common Good Fund, in particular through the Capital Projects Monitoring Report, with an emphasis on the utilisation of surplus revenue either within projects or as an opportunity for investment.
     
13.  Minutes     
Geàrr-chunntas

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

i.   City of Inverness Area Committee held on 30 November 2017 for noting; 
ii.  Inverness Common Good Fund Grants Sub-Committee held on 29 January 2018 for approval; and
iii.  Victorian Market Stakeholder Management Group held on 6 February 2018 for noting.

14.  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 during discussion of 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.

15.  Inverness Common Good Account Sites and Premises Transaction Report
Aithisg Gnothachais Làraich agus Togalaichean Chunntasan Maoin Math Choitcheann Inbhir Nis     

There is circulated to Members only Joint Report No CIA/12/18 dated 19 January 2018 by the Head of Development and Regeneration and the Property Manager (Estates).

The Committee is invited to note the contents of the report as detailed.

16. Lease Amendment    
Atharrachadh Aonta Màil

There is circulated to Members only Report No CIA/13/18 dated 23 January 2018 by the Director of Development and Infrastructure.

The Committee is invited to agree the recommendation as detailed in the report.