Agendas, reports and minutes

A Special Meeting of the Highland Council will take place in the Council Chamber, Council Headquarters, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness on Thursday, 14 February  2019 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.

Your attendance at the meeting is invited and I append a note of the business to be transacted. 

Yours faithfully

Stewart Fraser
Head of Corporate Governance 

BUSINESS

1. Calling of the Roll and Apologies for Absence 
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. Revenue Budget 2019/20 to 2021/22    
Buidseat Teachd-a-steach agus Cìs Comhairle 2019/20

There is circulated Report No. HC/2/19 dated 9 February 2019 by the Chief Executive and Depute Chief Executive/Corporate Resources. 

Members are asked to consider the report and:-

i.    approve the Council’s change programme, ‘A Sustainable Highland’, to deliver £37.456m of savings over the next three years; 

ii.   approve the additional and recurring £1.500m investment in roads maintenance as outlined in Section 5.5 of the report;

iii.   approve the changes to Council Tax as outlined in Section 7 of the report;

iv.   agree to set aside £2.500m into a change fund with a view to ensuring that ‘A Sustainable Highland’ is fully resourced and delivered as outlined in Section 14.5 of the report; and   

v.   agree the medium term target for the non-earmarked general fund reserve of 3% of annual revenue budget as outlined in Section 14.3 of the report. 

4. Housing Revenue Account Estimates 2019/20 
Tuairmsean Chunntasan Teachd-a-steach Taigheadais 2019/20

At its meeting on 24 January 2019, the Care, Learning and Housing Committee agreed to make recommendations to the Council on the Housing Revenue Estimates 2019/20 and on rents for houses, garages and other charges.

In this connection, there is circulated separately Extract from the Minutes of the Meeting which recommends that the Council agree:-

i.    a 3% increase for council house rents for 2019/2020;
ii.   the above percentage increase (3%) be applied to all residential HRA rents and service charges and to Gypsy/Traveller site pitches;
iii.   note that, following consideration by Area Committees/Ward Members, rents for garages and garage sites except in Lochaber will be increased by 3%, with rents for garages and garage sites in Lochaber to be as agreed by Lochaber Members;
iv.   that non-HRA rents for leased property should increase as stipulated in existing contracts;
v.    the estimated HRA surplus of £2.5m in 2019/2020 be applied as capital from current revenue to fund HRA capital investment; and
vi.   a full review of HRA loan charges and capital planning be carried out during 2019/20 to inform future HRA rents policy and the 2021-2026 HRA Capital Plan.

The Council is asked to agree the recommendations from the Care, Learning and Housing Committee as detailed.

5. Clerk of Highland Licensing Board
Clàrc Bòrd Ceadachd na Gàidhealtachd

The Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 requires the Council to appoint and employ an Officer to be Clerk of every Licensing Board with jurisdiction within its area.

On that basis, the Council is asked to agree that Ms Claire McArthur, Principal Solicitor (Regulatory Services) should be appointed Clerk of Highland Licensing Board with immediate effect. 

6. Timetable of Meetings 
Clàr-ama Choinneamhan 

Members are asked to agree the following change to the timetable of meetings - 

Sutherland County Committee – to now be held on 25 February 2019 (instead of 26 February 2019) at 2.00 pm.