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, 21 November 2019 at 10.00am.

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. Presentation – Making Inverness One of the UK’s First Gigabit Cities
Taisbeanadh – A’ toirt Inbhir Nis an lùib ciad bhailtean gigabit na RA 

A presentation will be given by City Fibre on the benefits that it will bring to expand the Inverness Network. Arising from the Inverness City Region Deal, 5 public sector organisations have come together with the objective of improving the digital connectivity of the Highlands.  Their first project involves extending the footprint of full fibre, gigabit capable internet connections. Inverness is one of the chosen locations an officers will brief on this important project for the City and Area. 

4. Scottish Fire and Rescue – Area Performance Report
Smàladh is Teasairginn na h-Alba – Aithisg Coileanaidh Sgìreil

There is circulated Report No. CIA/51/19 dated 26 October 2019 by the Local Senior Officer for Highland.

The Committee is invited to comment and scrutinise the attached Area Performance Report.

5. Housing Performance Report – 1 April 2019 to 30 September 2019
Aithisg Coileanaidh Taigheadais – 1 Giblean 2019 gu 30 Sultain 2019

There is circulated Report No. CIA/52/19 dated 6 November 2019 by the Executive Chief Officer Customer and Communities.

The Committee is invited to consider the information provided on housing performance in the period 1 April 2019 to 30 September 2019.

6. Torvean and Inverness Campus Sports Provision – Developer Contributions 
Solar Spòrs Campas Thòrr Bheathain agus Inbhir Nis – Tabhartasan Luchd-leasachaidh

There is circulated Report No CIA/53/19 dated 8 November 2019 by the Executive Chief Officer Infrastructure and Environment.

The Committee is invited to: -

i.   note the intended purpose of these strategic sports facilities in supporting future growth in the City and the steps towards delivery;
ii.  agree the funding of £25,000 from developer contributions towards the delivery of the Torvean Park project as detailed in paragraph 5.4; and 
iii. agree in principle to the funding of £250,000 of developer contributions towards the delivery of the Inverness Campus Sports Pitch as detailed in paragraph 6.3, and subject to confirmation from partners on the arrangements for community use and compatibility with the aspirations of Craig Dunain Rugby Club.

7. Town Centre Fund
Maoin Meadhan a’ Bhaile

There is circulated Report No CIA/54/19 dated 12 November 2019 by the Chief Executive Officer Transformation and Economy.

The Committee is invited to consider the proposals submitted, determine which projects merit Town Centre Fund resources and rank by order of priority.

8. Victorian Market, Inverness – Business Plan – Market Hall/Fish Hall Transformation - Inverness Common Good Fund
Margadh Bhictòrianach, Inbhir Nis – Plana Gnothachais – Cruth atharrachadh Talla na Margaidh/Talla an Èisg – Maoin Math Coitcheann Inbhir Nis

There is circulated Joint Report No CIA/55/19 dated 13 November 2019 by the Executive Chief Officer Transformation and Economy and the Inverness City Area Manager. 

The Committee is invited to: - 

i.   note the further work undertaken since the report presented to Committee on 29 August 2019;
ii.  agree the Business Plan attached, relating to the letting of a Tender for the transformation of the Market Hall and Fish Hall of the Victorian Market (Appendix 1);
iii. agree to allocate £1.5m from the Inverness Common Good Fund and instruct officers to draft and publish an Invitation to Tender for the Transformation of the Market Hall and Fish Hall of the Victorian Market described within this report and the Business Plan;
iv.  agree that compensation is awarded to the tenants currently in the Market Hall and Fish Hall to help with the necessary relocation, with all tenants in the two Halls being offered the final 6 months of their rent as compensation (either to remain in situ rent free or as a final payment).  Noting that this would amount to a compensation settlement of £55,772, with formal Notices to Quit likely to be served on Tenants in early 2020 to allow for the Project to commence in Spring 2020;
v.   note that the rental income will be significantly reduced during the compensation (6 months), refurbishment (10 months) and letting periods (6 months).  In total this is likely to be in region of 22 months and the equivalent loss of rental of £204,497.  It is hoped some of this will be absorbed in the cost the £1.5m allocation;
vi.  note that further reports will be made to the City of Inverness Area Committee on progress, with a Tender Report being prepared and presented to the City of Inverness Area Committee for approval if required by Financial Regulations and Contract Standing Orders as soon as practicable in 2020; and
vii. note that all practicable steps are being taken to maximise third party funding opportunities, including an application to the Town Centre Fund, which has a deadline of committed funds 31st March 2020.

9. Inverness Common Good Fund
Maoin Math Coitcheann Inbhir Nis

a) Financial Monitoring and Capital Projects     
Sgrùdadh Ionmhasail agus Pròiseactan Calpa

There is circulated Report No. CIA/56/19 dated 7 November 2019 by the Inverness City Area Manager.

The Committee is invited to consider the financial monitoring report to 31 October 2019 and: - 

i.  note that overall expenditure is within agreed budgets; and
ii. scrutinise the current status of capital projects

b) Inverness Common Good Fund – Annual Report 2018/19
Fo-Chomataidh Maoin Math Coitcheann Inbhir Nis – Aithisg Bhliadhnail 2018/19

There is circulated Joint Report No. CIA/57/19 dated 5 November 2019 by the Executive Chief Officer Resources and Finance and the Inverness City Area Manager.

The Committee is invited to consider the final monitoring report and balance sheet for the Inverness Common Good Fund as at 31 March 2019.

c) Grants Applications over £10,000
Iarrtasan Tabhartais thar £10,000

There is circulated Report No. CIA/58/19 dated 5 November 2019 by the Inverness City Area Manager. 

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 note that the Grants Budget for 2019/20 has been fully allocated and that no new applications will be accepted for Grants until the 2020/21 Budget is approved by the Committee in early 2020.

d) Inverness City Arts - Annual Report                                               
Ath-sgrùdadh Bliadhnail/Plana-gnìomh Ealain Baile Inbhir Nis

There is circulated Report No CIA/59/19 dated 11 November 2019 by the Acting Head of Policy.

The Committee is invited to: - 

i.   scrutinise and note the report; 
ii.  note the adjustments required for the Inverness River Art Project Programme to meet the recommendations agreed at the Special Committee in August 2019;
iii. note that officers will explore further options with partners to fund the required changes to the programme; and
iv.  note and thank Creative Scotland and other Partners, for their continuing support for the Project Programme.

10. Street Naming Report
Aithisg Ainmeachadh Sràide

There is circulated Report No CIA/60/19 dated 4 November 2019 by the Inverness City Area Manager.

The Committee is invited to approve: -

• 1 new street name for housing development in Drummond as Drummond Hill
• 1 new street name for housing development in Slackbuie as Rothes Place
• 1 new street name for housing development in Culloden West as Urchal Park
• 3 new names for distributor roads:  Milton of Leys Road; MacAskill Drive and Slackbuie Brae.

11. Minutes 
Geàrr-chunntas

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

i.   Victorian Market Stakeholder Management Group held on 13 August 2019 and 10 September 2019 for noting; 
ii.  City of Inverness Area Committee held on 20 August 2019 and 29 August 2019 for noting; 
iii. Inverness City Arts Working Group held on 27 August 2019,17 September 2019 and 6 November 2019 for approval; and
iv.  Inverness Common Good Fund Sub-Committee held on 4 November 2019 for approval.