Agendas, reports and minutes

15. Update on Occupational Health, Safety and Wellbeing (OHSW) Policy and Guidance     
Slàinte agus Sàbhailteachd

There had been circulated Report No. HC/19/20 dated 15 July 2020 by the Executive Chief Officer, Resources and Finance.

During discussion, Members raised the following issues:-

• there was a need for more detail on the issue of stress management, specifically there had been reference in the report to ‘excessive pressure’ but this would be a subjective judgement and as such required to be refined; 
• from references within the report, it appeared that it might now require to be updated in certain aspects, such as the lockdown situation;
• there was a need for consultation with staff who were working from home to ensure that they had the correct equipment on a daily basis;
• it was expected that shielding and self-isolating would continue to be issues for some staff members over the next 18 month period in particular;
• as part of Infection Control, there was a need to review the number of diseases and conditions included, particularly in relation to Schools;
• it had to be highlighted that there were issues associated with extended periods of use of laptops/display equipment, etc. This was particularly relevant in terms of the considerable length of some meetings and as such should be evaluated as part of future work patterns;
• clarification was needed on whether Health & Safety training was mandatory across Council Services; and
• there was a need for further information on the resource implications for the health and safety issues which had been contained within the report and also highlighted at the meeting, specifically in relation to the current budgetary situation.    

Decision  

The Council APPROVED the updated policy and plan as detailed in Appendices 1 and 2 respectively within the report.

16. Decision of Standards Commission for Scotland - Hearing     
Toradh Choimisean nan Inbhean

Declaration of Interest - Mr A Henderson declared a non-financial interest in this item as Chair of Hi-TRANS but, having applied the test outlined in Paragraphs 5.2 and 5.3 of the Councillors’ Code of Conduct, concluded that his interest did not preclude him from taking part in the discussion.

There had been circulated Report No. HC/20/20 dated 16 July 2020 by the Head of Corporate Governance/Monitoring Officer.

Decision  

The Council NOTED the decision of the Standards Commission of Scotland as detailed in the report.

17. 2019 Review of Electoral Arrangements – Highland Council    

There had been circulated Report No. HC/21/20 dated 20 July 2020 by the Executive Chief Officer, Performance and Governance.

During discussion, Members raised the following issues:-

• there were major concerns at the unequal way in which representation across the Highlands had been viewed and specifically issues of rurality and poverty which had not been acknowledged;  
• in light of the above, there was a need for urgent political lobbying in advance of a response being provided by the Council; 
• with reference to the Caithness area in particular, it was clear that there had been a woeful lack of understanding of the vast geography of the area, the fact that Caithness was one of the most under represented areas in Highland and the need for measures to be taken to address population decline which required more (and not less) representation in future;
• the proposals for areas such as Caithness, Sutherland and Skye were utterly unacceptable and were being viewed as ‘punishment’ for those areas in contrast with what was being proposed for more urban areas of the Highlands;
• the serious lack of understanding of the geography of the area had the potential to cause serious and lasting damage and this had to be resisted;
• as part of the consultation, it would be important to also include all Community Councils and External Agencies/Boards across the area wherever and whenever possible, along with local communities;
• these proposals were not fair, equitable or representative and it should be highlighted that population numbers, and not the Electoral Roll, had to be of paramount consideration;
• this was being viewed as an attack on already fragile areas and it was queried as to how this would be viewed alongside the Islands Bill;
• whilst not disagreeing with the proposals to set up a cross-Council Working Group to analyse the proposals, it was suggested that this would not include those Members who were not part of any political group and this was unfair;
• a wide selection of Members from across the Highlands was needed to consider these proposals so an additional recommendation should be added to the report to strengthen this new Working Group as had been suggested;
• as part of the Council response, it should be highlighted that these proposals from the Boundary Commission were not addressing problems in the Highlands but making them worse; and
• it was imperative that structures were put in place across the Highland area which worked effectively for each type of community and met local priorities wherever possible and as such these proposals were being viewed as an insult to democracy and had to be robustly challenged.              

Decision 

The Council:- 

(i)     NOTED that consultation would be undertaken with Members at Ward level, the outcome of which would be reported to the next full Council meeting on 10 September;  
(ii)    AGREED to establish a cross-Council Working Group to analyse the proposals and bring forward comments to the next full Council meeting on 10 September; 
(iii)   AGREED to strengthen this cross-Council Working Group by taking account of those Members who were not part of any political group on the Council; and
(iv)    AGREED that the Leader of the Council should be immediately empowered to make the displeasure of the Council known in respect of the proposals which had been presented from the Boundary Commission. 

18. Appointments – CoSLA Boards 
Cur an Dreuchd Ballrachd – Co-chruinneachadh Ùghdarrasan Ionadail na h-Alba

It was noted that the following revised arrangements were being proposed by the Administration in regard to appointments to CoSLA Boards -   

Health and Social Care Board – Ms L Munro (Sub- Mrs I Campbell)
Community Wellbeing Board – Mr B Thompson (Sub – Mrs M Paterson)
Environment and Economy Board – Mrs T Robertson (Sub – Mr D Macpherson)

In this respect, the following amendments were proposed by the SNP Group – 

Health and Social Care Board – Mrs M Cockburn (Sub-Ms E Roddick)
Community Wellbeing Board – Mrs M Cockburn (Sub – Mr B Boyd)
Environment and Economy Board – Mr K Gowans (Sub – Mr D Louden)

In respect of the Health and Social Care Board, and following a roll call vote, it was confirmed as follows – 

Votes for Ms L Munro (Sub – Mrs I Campbell) (33)
G Adam, R Balfour, J Barclay, C Caddick I Campbell, J Campbell, H Carmichael, A Christie, M Davidson, J Finlayson, M Finlayson, R Gale, J Gordon, A Graham, J Gray, A Henderson, B Lobban, D MacKay (Mrs), W MacKay, A MacKinnon, A MacLean, D Macpherson, B McAllister, H Morrison, C Munro, L Munro, M Paterson, D Rixson, F Robertson, T Robertson, G Ross, N Sinclair and B Thompson.  

Votes for Mrs M Cockburn (Sub – Ms E Roddick) (28)
A Baxter, B Boyd, R Bremner, I Brown, J Bruce, G Campbell-Sinclair, I Cockburn, M Cockburn, K Currie, C Fraser, K Gowans, P Hadley, A Jarvie, D Louden, A MacInnes, D MacKay (Mr), G MacKenzie, I MacKenzie, S Mackie, C MacLeod, D MacLeod, R MacWilliam, E Roddick, K Rosie, P Saggers, A Sinclair, C Smith and M Smith.   

In respect of the Community and Wellbeing Board, and following a roll call vote, it was confirmed as follows – 

Votes for Mr B Thompson (Sub – Mrs M Paterson) (35) 
G Adam, R Balfour, J Barclay, C Caddick, I Campbell, J Campbell, H Carmichael, A Christie, M Davidson, J Finlayson, M Finlayson, L Fraser, R Gale, J Gordon, A Graham, J Gray, T Heggie, A Henderson, B Lobban, D MacKay (Mrs), W MacKay, A MacKinnon, A MacLean, D Macpherson, B McAllister, H Morrison, C Munro, L Munro,  M Paterson, D Rixson, F Robertson, T Robertson, G Ross, N Sinclair and B Thompson.     

Votes for Mrs M Cockburn (Sub – Mr B Boyd) (24)
B Boyd, R Bremner, G Campbell-Sinclair, I Cockburn, M Cockburn, K Currie, C Fraser, K Gowans, P Hadley, A Jarvie, D Louden, A MacInnes, D MacKay (Mr), G MacKenzie, S Mackie, C MacLeod, D MacLeod, R MacWilliam, E Roddick, K Rosie, P Saggers, A Sinclair, C Smith and M Smith.    

Abstention (1)
A Baxter

In respect of the Environment and Economy Board, and following a roll call vote, it was confirmed as follows – 

Votes for Mrs T Robertson (Sub – Mr D Macpherson) (36)
G Adam, R Balfour, J Barclay, J Bruce, C Caddick, I Campbell, J Campbell, H Carmichael, A Christie, M Davidson, J Finlayson, M Finlayson, L Fraser, R Gale, J Gordon, A Graham, J Gray, T Heggie, A Henderson, B Lobban, D MacKay (Mrs), W MacKay, A MacKinnon, A MacLean, D Macpherson, B McAllister, H Morrison, C Munro, L Munro, M Paterson, D Rixson, F Robertson, T Robertson, G Ross, N Sinclair and B Thompson. 

Votes for Mr K Gowans (Sub – Mr D Louden) (25)
A Baxter, B Boyd, R Bremner, I Brown, G Campbell-Sinclair, I Cockburn, M Cockburn, K Currie, C Fraser, K Gowans, A Jarvie, D Louden, A MacInnes, D MacKay (Mr), G MacKenzie, S Mackie, C MacLeod, D MacLeod, R MacWilliam, E Roddick, K Rosie, P Saggers, A Sinclair, C Smith and M Smith. 

Decision

The Council AGREED as follows:-

Health and Social Care Board – Ms L Munro (Sub – Mrs I Campbell)
Community and Wellbeing Board – Mr B Thompson (Sub – Mrs M Paterson)
Environment and Economy Board – Mrs T Robertson (Sub – Mr D Macpherson)        

19. Appointment - High Life Highland
Cur an Dreuchd do Chompanaidhean – High Life na Gàidhealtachd

Declarations of Interest  

Mr T Heggie, Ms L Munro and Mr A Jarvie declared non-financial interests in this item as Directors of High Life Highland but, having applied the test outlined in Paragraphs 5.2 and 5.3 of the Councillors’ Code of Conduct, concluded that their interests did not preclude them from taking part in the discussion.

Mr K Gowans declared a non-financial interest on the basis of a family member being employed by High Life Highland but, having applied the test outlined in Paragraphs 5.2 and 5.3 of the Councillors’ Code of Conduct, concluded that his interest did not preclude his involvement in the discussion and voting.
   
It was noted that it had been proposed that Mr B Thompson should replace Mr D Macpherson on High Life Highland.

In this regard, it was also proposed at the meeting that this position should be filled by Mr S Mackie.

On a vote being taken, it was confirmed as follows:-

Votes for Mr B Thompson (33)
G Adam, R Balfour, J Barclay, C Caddick, I Campbell, J Campbell, H Carmichael, A Christie, M Davidson, J Finlayson, M Finlayson, L Fraser, R Gale, J Gordon, A Graham, J Gray, T Heggie, A Henderson, B Lobban, D MacKay (Mrs), A MacKinnon, A MacLean, D Macpherson, B McAllister, H Morrison, C Munro, L Munro, M Paterson, D Rixson, F Robertson, T Robertson, G Ross and B Thompson.    

Votes for Mr S Mackie (26)
B Boyd, R Bremner, J Bruce, G Campbell-Sinclair, I Cockburn, M Cockburn, C Fraser, K Gowans, P Hadley, A Jarvie, D Louden, A MacInnes, D MacKay (Mr), W MacKay, G MacKenzie, I MacKenzie, S Mackie, C MacLeod, D MacLeod, E Roddick, K Rosie, P Saggers, A Sinclair, N Sinclair, C Smith and M Smith.

Abstention (1)
A Baxter          

Decision

The Council AGREED that Mr B Thompson should replace Mr D Macpherson on High Life Highland.

20. Deeds Executed
Sgrìobhainnean Lagha a Bhuilicheadh

It was NOTED that a list of deeds and other documents executed on behalf of the Council since the meeting held on 12 March 2020 was available in the Members’ Library and on the Council’s Website.

21. Exclusion of the Public
Às-dùnadh a’ Phobaill

The Council AGREED to resolve that, under Section 50A(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, the public should be excluded from the meeting for the following items on the grounds that they involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 6, 8 & 9 of Part 1 of Schedule 7A of the Act.

22. School and Public Bus Contracts

Declaration of Interest – Mrs B McAllister declared a financial interest in this item on the basis of having a family connection to one of the organisations mentioned in the report and left the meeting during discussion.

There had been circulated to Members only Report No. HC/22/20 dated 17 July 2020 by the Executive Chief Officer, Infrastructure and Environment.

Decision

The Council AGREED the recommendations as detailed in the report. 

23. Project Dòchas     
Pròiseact Dòchais

Declaration of Interest – Mrs H Carmichael declared a non-financial interest in this item on the basis of having a family connection to one of the organisations mentioned in the report but, having applied the test outlined in Paragraphs 5.2 and 5.3 of the Councillors’ Code of Conduct, concluded that her interest did not preclude her from the discussion and voting.   

There had been circulated to Members only Report No. HC/23/20 dated 10 June 2020 by the Executive Chief Officer, Resources & Finance.

Decision 

The Council AGREED the recommendations as detailed in the report. 

24. Property Purchase    
Ceannach Seilbhe

Declaration of Interest – Mr K Gowans declared a financial interest in this item as an employee of Inverness College/UHI and left the meeting during discussion. 

There had been circulated to Members only Report No. HC/24/20 dated 14 July 2020 by the Executive Chief Officer, Infrastructure and Environment.

Decision 

The Council AGREED the recommendations as circulated.

Having been adjourned on Thursday, 30 July at 6.15pm, and resuming on Monday, 3 August at 9.00am, the meeting ended at 12.25pm.