Agendas, reports and minutes

A meeting of the Recovery Board will take place REMOTELY on Monday 24 August 2020 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

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. Minutes of Previous Meeting
Geàrr-chunntas na Coinneimh Roimhe

There is circulated the Minutes of the previous meeting held on 15 July 2020 for approval.

4. Recovery Action Plan: Progress Update
Plana Gnìomha Ath-shlànachaidh: Cunntas às Ùr mu Adhartas

There is circulated Report No RB/12/20 dated 13 August 2020 by the Executive Chief Officer Transformation.

The Board is invited to note the:-

i.    latest progress of the Council’s Recovery Action Plan to 30 June 2020; and
ii.    associated implications and pressures on resources in the delivery of the Recovery programme.    PP.5-27

5. High Life Highland
High Life na Gàidhealtachd

There is circulated Report No RB/13/20 by the Chief Executive of High Life Highland (HLH). 

The Board is invited to note:-

i.    that despite projected income losses of £9.345m, extensive mitigation means that the HLH reasonable worst-case year-end deficit has been reduced from initial estimates of £11.4m down to £1.55m (with a sensitivity of £0.8m to £1.8m(deficits));
ii.    that the current projected year-end deficit of £1.55m equates to 5% of HLH overall turnover (£30.8m);
iii.    that £4.7m is projected to be drawn down from the UK Government Job Retention Scheme (JRS);
iv.    that total in-year mitigation of £7.75m (JRS income plus other costs mitigations) equates to 25% of HLH overall turnover;
v.    the significant amount of joint working between High Life Highland and the Highland Council to serve our citizens and communities during the pandemic;
vi.    the governance and due diligence arrangements for recovery;
vii.    Recovery Action Plan (RAP) progress against the Plan and the seven key themes;
viii.    the vital importance of early HLH access to the school estate;
ix.    that strategic alignment with The Highland Council will be critical to realisation of overall benefits, with rationalisation a particular area of potential joint working;
x.    that HLH’s main effort is now shifting from mitigation to strategic business recovery planning;
xi.    that HLH is confident that it can recover in FY21/22 with some one-off support; and
xii.    that HLH services that support vulnerable groups, music tuition and project management of the Inverness Castle Project have continued throughout lockdown.    PP.28-46

6. Digital Transformation 
Cruth-atharrachadh Didseatach

There will follow Report No RB/14/20 by the Executive Chief Officer Infrastructure and Environment.    

7. Update on Schools Reopening
Cunntas às Ùr mu Sgoiltean a’ Fosgladh às Ùr

There will be a verbal update on the reopening of schools.