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, 20 February 2020 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. New Year’s Honours
Urraman na Bliadhna Ùire

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

Robert Melville Fowler, Counter Terrorism Strategy Liaison Officer Highlands and Islands, Police Scotland received an MBE for services to Law and Order.

4. The Spirit of the Highlands / Inverness Castle Project – Update    
Pròiseact Spiorad na Gàidhealtachd / Caisteal Inbhir Nis – cunntas às ùr 

The Committee is advised that members of the Inverness Castle Project Team will provide an update on the transfer of ownership of the South Tower to the Council and progress in the programme to transform the Castle from serving as courts to a visitor attraction.  

Specific updates will be given on plans to maximise on the energy efficiency of the new attraction, the proposals to landscape the esplanade and on the programme for the Doors Open Weekend in May. 

5. Yearly Annual Report on Inverness Business Improvement District
Aithisg Bhliadhnail mu Sgìre Leasachadh Gnothachais Inbhir Nis

There is circulated Report No. CIA/1/20 dated 6 January 2020 by the Inverness City Area Manager.

The Committee is invited to: -

i. endorse the work as detailed in this report; and
ii. note the presentation provided by Inverness BID representatives and the on-going development of partnership working.

6. Police – Area Performance Summary Report
Poileas – Geàrr-aithisg Coileanadh Sgìreil

There is circulated Report No. CIA/2/20 dated 10 February 2020 by the Chief Inspector Mairi MacInnes, Area Commander.

The Committee is invited to note progress made against the objectives set within the Highland and Islands Local Policing Plan 2017-2020 Year 3, attached as Annex A to this report, for the period covering 1 April 2019 to 31 December 2019.

7. Inverness Community Safety Partnership (ICSP)
Com-pàirteachas Sàbhailteachd Coimhearsnachd Inbhir Nis (ICSP)

There is circulated Report No CIA/3/20 dated 30 January 2020 by the Inverness City Area Manager.

The Committee is invited to:-

i. note the work of ICSP for since last report dated May 2018 to date;
ii. endorse the work of the Operation Respect Daytime Group;
iii. note the updated ICSP Constitution and Terms of Reference and the agreed New Governance, Oversight and Accountability Structures and Reporting Lines of Communication Arrangements which are now aligned to the Safer Highland Partnership directly through the Inverness Community Partnership; and  
iv. note that the Inverness City Area Committee will continue to receive an annual update on the work of the Inverness Community Safety Partnership in addition to any updates as part of regular Police and Fire Scrutiny reports. 

8. Inverness Community Safety Partnership – Operation Respect City Centre 2019 Winter Festival Period Evaluation Report    
Com-pàirteachas Sàbhailteachd Coimhearsnachd Inbhir Nis – Aithisg Mheasaidh Ùine Fèis Geamhraidh 2019 ‘Operation Respect’ Meadhan a’ Bhaile

There is circulated Joint Report No CIA/4/20 dated 6 February 2020 by the Operation Respect Festive Partners.

The Committee is invited to note the evaluation available to date on the effectiveness of Operation Respect - City Centre for Winter 2019 and make any comment as necessary.

9. Riverside Way – Update and Next Steps
Slighe na h-Aibhne – Ath Cheumannan

There is circulated Report No. CIA/5/20 dated 6 February 2020 by the  Executive Chief Officer (Infrastructure and Environment). 

The Committee is invited to:-

i. note the contents of this report, including the background, and preliminary engagement feedback;
ii. note that the effects of the Experimental Road Traffic Regulation Order (ERTRO) will be carefully monitored and reviewed in compliance with the statutory requirements and in the interests of road safety; and 
iii. delegate the Executive Chief Officer (Infrastructure and Environment) to:-

a. advertise the Experimental Road Traffic Regulation Order, with cycle contraflow, for part of Ness Walk and part of Bught Road (between Bishops Road and Bught Drive);
b. bring back a report to Committee in the event there are sustained objections to the ERTRO; 
c. subject to there being no objections to make and implement the ERTRO;
d. act as the specified officer of the authority in terms of section 10 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984; and
e. subject to the making of the ERTRO, arrange ongoing engagement with the Community Council and those who have raised concerns at any stage of the process, submit a Review Report to a future Committee as soon as possible after the ERTRO has been in operation for a period of 6 months.

10. Road Maintenance Programme 2020/21
Prògram Càradh Rathaid 2020/21

There is circulated Report No. CIA/6/20 dated 5 February 2020 by the Executive Chief Officer (Infrastructure and Environment). 

The Committee is invited to approve the proposed 2020/21 Roads Maintenance Programme for City of Inverness Area.

11. Housing Performance Report – 1 April to 2019 to 31 December 2019
Aithisg Dèanadais Taigheadais – 1 Giblean 2019 gu 31 Dùbhlachd 2019

There is circulated Report No. CIA/7/20 dated 6 February 2020 by the Executive Chief Officer (Property and Housing).

The Committee is invited to consider and note the information provided on Housing Performance in the period 1 April 2019 to 31 December 2019.

12. Housing Revenue Account: Garage Rents 2020/21

There is circulated Report No. CIA/8/20 dated 6 February 2020 by the Executive Chief Officer (Property and Housing).

The Committee is invited to agree a level of rent increase to apply to Inverness Garages and Garage Sites.

13. Inverness-Scotland.com Website
Làrach-lìn Inverness-Scotland.com

There is circulated Report No. CIA/9/20 dated 11 February 2020 by the Inverness City Area Manager. 

The Committee is invited to:-

i. note the current position with the Inverness-Scotland website; and
ii. agree that this site be discontinued while an alternative is agreed with the Council’s partners that also reflects current developments and new requirements with the address temporarily redirected to ensure the user experience is protected.

14. 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/10/20 dated 7 February 2020 by the Inverness City Area Manager. 

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

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

b) Budget Setting for 2020/21 and Capital Programme
Suidheachadh Buidseit airson 2020/21 agus Prògram Calpa

There is circulated Joint Report No. CIA/11/20 dated 10 February 2020 by the Executive Chief Officer (Resources and Finance) and the Inverness City Area Manager. 

The Committee is invited to agree the Common Good Fund budget for 2020/21 as detailed within the report and appendices.

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

There is circulated Report No. CIA/12/20 dated 4 February 2020 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 consider the applications for funding and note:-

i. the Grants Budget for 2019/20 has been fully allocated; and 
ii. the changes in consideration of grant applications

d) Gypsy Travelling People Site
Làrach Luchd-siubhail Siopsach

There is circulated Report No. CIA/13/20 dated 23 January 2020 by the Inverness City Area Manager. 

The Committee is invited to approve expenditure of £61,846 to clear the area of debris and vegetation and to provide a weed suppressant geotextile covered with a hardcore surface.

15. Appointments to Sub-Committee, Working Groups etc    
Cur an Dreuchd gu Fo-Chomataidhean, Buidhnean-obrach is eile

Members are asked to agree the following:-

Inverness Common Good Fund Sub-Committee – Ms E Roddick to replace Mr R Laird as put forward by the SNP Group.  

Victorian Market Stakeholder Management Group – Ms E Roddick to replace Mr R Laird as put forward by the SNP Group.  

16. Appointments to Outside Bodies
Cur an Dreuchd gu Buidhnean on Taobh A-muigh

The Committee is invited to approve the appointment of Ms E Roddick to replace Mr R Laird on the following – 

i. Inverness Civic Trust
ii. Merkinch Enterprise
iii. Merkinch Partnership

17. Minutes
Geàrr-chunntas

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

i. City of Inverness Area Committee held on 21 November 2019 for noting; 
ii. Inverness City Arts Working Group held on 6 November 2019 for approval;
iii. Inverness Events and Festivals Working Group held on 18 November 2019 for approval;  
iv. Victorian Market Stakeholder Management Group held on 3 December 2019 for noting; and
v. Inverness Common Good Fund Grants Sub-Committee held on 3 February 2020 for approval.

18. 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 item on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 6 and 9 of Part 1 of Schedule 7A of the Act.

19. 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/14/20 dated 4 February 2020 by the Head of Development and Regeneration and the Property Manager (Estates).

The Committee is invited to note the recommendations as detailed in the report.