Agendas, reports and minutes

A meeting of the Highland Council will be held REMOTELY on Thursday, 28 October 2021 at 10.35am.

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. 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. Membership of the Council
Ballrachd na Comhairle

Tributes will be paid at the meeting to the late Mr Ian Ramon who served as one of the Local Members for Ward 21 (Fort William & Ardnamurchan) following the Local Government Elections in May 2017. 

In this regard, Members are also advised that a By-Election has now been arranged and will be held on Thursday, 2 December 2021.

4. Confirmation of Minutes  
Daingneachadh a’ Gheàrr-chunntais
                                                               
There are submitted for confirmation as a correct record the Minutes of Meeting of the Council held on 9 September as contained in the Volume which has been circulated separately.

5. Minutes of Meetings of Committees
Geàrr-chunntasan Choinneamhan Chomataidhean

There are submitted for confirmation as correct records, for information as regards delegated business and for approval as appropriate, the Minutes of Meetings of Committees contained in Volume circulated separately as undernoted:-
        
Nairnshire Committee, 15 September
Gaelic Committee, 16 September
Pensions Committee, 22 September
*Audit & Scrutiny Committee, 23 September

Starred Item 9 – Review of Financial Regulations – AGREED TO RECOMMEND adoption by the Council. 

Tourism Committee, 29 September
Housing & Property Committee, 30 September
Wester Ross, Strathpeffer & Lochalsh Committee (Special Meeting), 18 October (To Follow)

Minutes of Meetings not included in the Volume as follows -

(i)    Community Planning Board – for noting – held on 9 June (approved by the Board on 22 September).

(ii)    Valuation Joint Board – for noting – held on 18 June (approved by the Board on 24 September).

(iii)    Recruitment Panel (Depute Chief Executive) – for noting – held on 5 August, 30 August and 3 September.

(iv)    Climate Change Working Group – for approval – to be held on 20 October (to follow)

6. Membership of Committees, etc
Ballarachd Chomataidhean, msaa

Members are asked to agree the following – 

Valuation Joint Board – Mr D MacKay to be added to the membership
North Planning Applications Committee – Mr H Morrison to replace Ms K Currie 
Redesign Board – SNP membership to be confirmed/to follow
Communities and Place Committee – Mr A Baxter to be added to the membership
Corporate Resources Committee – Mr A Baxter to replace Mr J Bruce
Corporate Resources Budget Sub Committee – Mr A Christie to replace Mr R Gale.
                    
Items 7 and 8 will be considered at 2.00pm

7. Question Time
Àm Ceiste                                                                                             

The following Questions have been received by the Head of Corporate Governance –

Public Question

Mr D MacKenzie

To the Leader of the Council

The last meeting of Inverness City Committee passed a motion on Academy Street to “Replace the temporary Spaces for People measures currently in place with more accessible and safer measures…”

The councillor who proposed the motion has confirmed it was intended to mean “remove and, later, replace with something better, after consideration and consultation.” 

Why are the barriers still in place in Academy Street?

The response will follow.

Mr MacKenzie will be entitled to ask a supplementary question which will be answered by the Leader. 
 

Member Questions 

(1)    Mr C Fraser

To the Chair of the Housing & Property Committee 

How many listed buildings do Highland Council own and where are they located? 

The response will follow.

Mr Fraser will be entitled to ask a supplementary question which will be answered by the Chair.
     
(2)    Mr C Fraser

To the Chair of the Economy & Infrastructure Committee 

When can we expect the updated version of the ‘Highland Council Road Verge Maintenance Guidance’ which was promised earlier in the year?

The response will follow.

Mr Fraser will be entitled to ask a supplementary question which will be answered by the Chair. 

(3)    Mrs I MacKenzie

To the Chair of the Education Committee

How many vacant PSA posts are there in each Highland ASG as of the end of the August to October term?

The response will follow.

Mrs MacKenzie will be entitled to ask a supplementary question which will be answered by the Chair.

(4)    Mr D Louden

To the Chair of the Health, Social Care & Wellbeing Committee

Funding to Highland Senior Citizens Forum has been removed. Why was this done?

The response will follow.

Mr Louden will be entitled to ask a supplementary question which will be answered by the Chair.

(5)    Mr D Louden

To the Economy & Infrastructure Committee

When the Council's Transport team alters or cancels bus routes used to carry children to school, are the schools affected and the "Safer Routes to School" team always consulted?

The response will follow.

Mr Louden will be entitled to ask a supplementary question which will be answered by the Chair. 

(6)    Mr J Bruce

To the Chair of the Economy & Infrastructure Committee

Is the Council in full communication with HIE on the progress of repairing the Cairngorm Funicular and able to provide a date for a fully functioning system?

The response will follow.

Mr Bruce will be entitled to ask a supplementary question which will be answered by the Chair. 

(7)    Mr J Bruce  

To the Chair of the Corporate Resources Committee

How many staff posts have been vacant for three months or more and how many have been removed from the establishment?

The response will follow.

Mr Bruce will be entitled to ask a supplementary question which will be answered by the Chair.

(8)    Mr A Jarvie

To the Chair of the Health, Social Care & Wellbeing Committee

A key reason given to return children from out of authority care placements was on the grounds of the educational attainment, what has the change in attainment been from children returned?

The response will follow.

Mr Jarvie will be entitled to ask a supplementary question which will be answered by the Chair. 

(9)    Mr A Jarvie

To the Chair of the Corporate Resources Committee

When will the Administration be commencing the 2022/23 budget?

The response will follow.

Mr Jarvie will be entitled to ask a supplementary question which will be answered by the Chair.

(10) Mr A Jarvie

To the Chair of the Corporate Resources Committee

When will Opposition Groups be involved in the 2022/23 budget?
The response will follow.

Mr Jarvie will be entitled to ask a supplementary question which will be answered by the Chair.

(11) Mr A Jarvie

To the Chair of the Corporate Resources Committee

Can the Conservative Group expect that its competent budget proposals will be voted down again this forthcoming budget, with no reason given?
The response will follow.

Mr Jarvie will be entitled to ask a supplementary question which will be answered by the Chair.

(12)     Mrs G Campbell-Sinclair

To the Chair of the Health, Social Care & Wellbeing Committee

Please confirm the date on which the External Investigator started his investigation into the serious concerns (raised by present and past Members of Staff, CEYP, and Elected Members) into Highland Council Residential Social Care.

The response will follow.

Mrs Campbell-Sinclair will be entitled to ask a supplementary question which will be answered by the Chair. 
 
(13)     Mr A Jarvie

To the Leader of the Council 

Last November, this Council reported me to the Standards Commission following myself finding in the Annual Accounts and asking at Committee about a six-figure payment to a former member of staff. I was reported for my mere verbatim reading of this public document in a public meeting as being “inaccurate and misleading” and for allegedly forwarding an email from a Council Officer explaining the breakdown of these costs to the press. 
These payments are legally required to be published for public transparency.
Do you find it acceptable that a Member of this Council was reported to the Standards Commission by the Authority on these grounds? Particularly in light of the Commission dismissing the complaint, stating what I did was part of my “customary Councillor duties”. 

The response will follow.

Mr Jarvie will be entitled to ask a supplementary question which will be answered by the Leader. 

(14)    Mr A Jarvie

To the Chair of the Economy & Infrastructure Committee

What percentage of planning applications over 50 houses have been approved in the last three years, and what percentage of applications of 3 houses or less have been approved in the last three years?

The response will follow.

Mr Jarvie will be entitled to ask a supplementary question which will be answered by the Chair. 

(15)    Mr R Bremner

To the Leader of the Council  

You organised a seminar to consider a new vision for libraries in Highland as a progressive, modern, and visionary service. As Leader of the Council I am aware of your very keen personal interest, support and understanding of the need to provide a libraries service for the 21st century. Any initiatives are likely to require a new funding and/or organisational model to facilitate change and grow capacity within the service, to enable libraries to build social and cultural capital, as well as build resilience in every community throughout Highland. Can you advise what progress has been made and what the next stages are in this process, please?

The response will follow.

Mr Bremner will be entitled to ask a supplementary question which will be answered by the Leader.

(16)     Mr A Sinclair 

To the Leader of the Council

How many formal complaints have been made to the Information Commissioner for Scotland relating to the Highland Council’s handling of Subject Access Requests and Freedom of Information Requests within the last twelve months?

The response will follow.

Mr Sinclair will be entitled to ask a supplementary question which will be answered by the Leader. 

(17)     Mr A Graham

To the Chair of the Economy & Infrastructure Committee

How many hydrogen refuelling stations for cars are there within the Highland Council area, and where are they located?

The response will follow.

Mr Graham will be entitled to ask a supplementary question which will be answered by the Chair.

(18)     Mr A Jarvie 

To the Leader of the Council 

What response did the Chief Executive give you in response to the bullying scandal breaking in the press?

The response will follow.

Mr Jarvie will be entitled to ask a supplementary question which will be answered by the Leader. 
    
(19)     Mr A Jarvie

To the Chair of the Economy & Infrastructure Committee 

What is the most expensive claim made and the most expensive claim paid out as a result of damage caused by the roads?

The response will follow.

Mr Jarvie will be entitled to ask a supplementary question which will be answered by the Chair. 

(20)     Mrs G Campbell-Sinclair

To the Chair of the Health, Social Care & Wellbeing Committee

Could you please confirm how many Violent Incident Reports have been submitted by Social Care Staff Members, employed in Arach, Braeside, and Leault facilities?

The response will follow.

Mrs Campbell-Sinclair will be entitled to ask a supplementary question which will be answered by the Chair.

(21)     Mrs G Campbell-Sinclair

To the Chair of the Health, Social Care & Wellbeing Committee 

Please confirm how many of our long term registered and qualified Social Care Staff have resigned their posts within the past 6 months?

The response will follow.

Mrs Campbell-Sinclair will be entitled to ask a supplementary question which will be answered by the Chair. 

(22)     Mrs G Campbell-Sinclair

To the Chair of the Health, Social Care & Wellbeing Committee

External organisations provide ongoing Social Care support to our Care Experienced Young People, could you please confirm the annual financial costs to Highland Council?

The response will follow.

Mrs Campbell-Sinclair will be entitled to ask a supplementary question which will be answered by the Chair. 

(23)     Mr C Smith

To the Chair of the Corporate Resources Committee 

How much of the £24.7m reserves held aside to meet extra Covid-19 or Brexit costs have been used to meet extra costs caused by Covid-19 or Brexit?

The response will follow.

Mr Smith will be entitled to ask a supplementary question which will be answered by the Chair. 
    
(24)     Mr S Mackie

To the Leader of the Council 

What is the total budget (both fiscal and human resource) apportioned to the social media output of the Highland Council? 

The response will follow.

Mr Mackie will be entitled to ask a supplementary question which will be answered by the Leader. 

(25)     Mr S Mackie

To the Chair of the Corporate Resources Committee

At the full July 2020 Full Council, the previous Committee Chair made a commitment to review the Highland Councils contribution to the Caithness and North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership would be undertaken. 

Given that this commitment was made well over a year ago, what progress has been made in undertaking this review and when can it be expected to be published?

The response will follow.

Mr Mackie will be entitled to ask a supplementary question which will be answered by the Chair.

(26)     Mr S Mackie

To the Leader of the Council

Prior to the Standards Commission seminar in February 2021, on how many occasions have Executive Officers undertaken training in respect to the Standards Commission, the Councillors Code of Conduct and the defined and protected roles of local authority members?

The response will follow.

Mr Mackie will be entitled to ask a supplementary question which will be answered by the Leader. 

(27)     Mr S Mackie

To the Leader of the Council 

Prior to the Standards Commission seminar in February 2021, what Members of the Highland Council attended training on the updated Code of Conduct for elected Councillors as organised by the Standards Commission for Scotland?

The response will follow.

Mr Mackie will be entitled to ask a supplementary question which will be answered by the Leader. 

(28)     Mr S Mackie

To the Leader of the Council

Can you confirm whether the Highland Council has formally signed the Women in Nuclear Industry Charter, as supported by the Highland Council in March 2020?

The response will follow.

Mr Mackie will be entitled to ask a supplementary question which will be answered by the Leader. 
    
(29)     Mr A Baxter

To the Leader of the Council 

What is the total final cost of The Gathering Place on the River Ness?

The response will follow.

Mr Baxter will be entitled to ask a supplementary question which will be answered by the Leader. 

(30)     Mr A Baxter

To the Leader of the Council 

What is the total financial contribution from the Highland Council towards the cost of The Gathering Place?

The response will follow.

Mr Baxter will be entitled to ask a supplementary question which will be answered by the Leader.

(31)     Mr A Baxter

To the Leader of the Council 

Will the Union’s request of a panel be established to handle the bullying complaints from staff?

The response will follow.

Mr Baxter will be entitled to ask a supplementary question which will be answered by the Leader. 

(32)     Mr A Baxter

To the Leader of the Council

What assurance do you have that Audit and Scrutiny is sufficiently Independent from the central senior management structure?

The response will follow.

Mr Baxter will be entitled to ask a supplementary question which will be answered by the Leader. 

(33)     Mr A Baxter

To the Leader of the Council 

Given the recent spate of allegations concerning institutional bullying within the Highland Council that went unresolved through existing channels, does the Council Leader believe that the internal whistleblowing service is working?
The response will follow.

Mr Baxter will be entitled to ask a supplementary question which will be answered by the Leader. 
    
(34)     Mr R Bremner

To the Chair of the Corporate Resources Committee

Highland Council has no doubt, over recent weeks, been preparing its fleet for the delivery of winter maintenance. The variable nature of weather conditions in the Highlands, particularly over the winter period, can have a detrimental effect on the budget and infrastructure. As I understand it, the Scottish Government offers support through the Bellwin Scheme to retrospectively support local authorities meeting key criteria in order to mitigate some of the challenges they face. Will you take steps to ensure that all members fully understand the support mechanism of the Bellwin Scheme and how this scheme can support local authorities, including Highland Council?

The response will follow.

Mr Bremner will be entitled to ask a supplementary question which will be answered by the Chair. 

(35)     Mr R MacWilliam

To the Leader of the Council 

How many times have staff members lodged reports under the updated whistleblowing policy since it was agreed by Council on 20 October 2020? 

The response will follow.

Mr MacWilliam will be entitled to ask a supplementary question which will be answered by the Leader.

(36)     Mr R MacWilliam

To the Leader of the Council

What measures are in place to ensure the anonymity and protection of staff members who report wrongdoing under the updated whistleblowing policy?

The response will follow.

Mr MacWilliam will be entitled to ask a supplementary question which will be answered by the Leader. 

(37) Mr R MacWilliam

To the Leader of the Council

What was the full final cost of the My Ness artwork installation in Inverness including administrative costs?

The response will follow.

Mr MacWilliam will be entitled to ask a supplementary question which will be answered by the Leader.

(38) Mr R MacWilliam

To the Leader of the Council 

What budget has Highland Council allocated to cover the ongoing maintenance costs for recently commissioned public artworks?

The response will follow.

Mr MacWilliam will be entitled to ask a supplementary question which will be answered by the Leader. 
    
(39) Mr R MacWilliam

To the Leader of the Council 

What was the cost to Highland Council of supporting the doomed bid for a STEP fusion reactor in Caithness?

The response will follow.

Mr MacWilliam will be entitled to ask a supplementary question which will be answered by the Leader. 

(40) Mr R MacWilliam

To the Leader of the Council

Were Members of the political Administration alerted to senior management discussions which led to the submission of vexatious complaints about Elected Member conduct as recently reported in the press? 

The response will follow.

Mr MacWilliam will be entitled to ask a supplementary question which will be answered by the Leader.

(41) Mr R MacWilliam

To the Leader of the Council

What sanctions have been imposed on senior management involved in utilising Highland Council resources in the submission of vexatious complaints about Member conduct to the Standards Commission for Scotland? 

The response will follow.

Mr MacWilliam will be entitled to ask a supplementary question which will be answered by the Leader. 

(42) Mr D Macpherson

To the Chair of the Economy & Infrastructure Committee

Following years of underinvestment by the Highland Council in their annual roads budget, due to a combination of austerity and local authority cutbacks. 

This financial year the full Highland Council voted to secure millions in additional funding required to carry out the growing list of essential road repairs and resurfacing projects required to repair the miles of old worn and crumbling roads. 

I understand that across Highland there is a shortage of staff to cover all the posts (including HGV drivers) needed in the Roads and Transport Department, and this will result in an unwanted situation, where the Council for once has all the money to spend, however it doesn’t have all the necessary staff in place to get all the road repair work done. 

How many vacant staff positions are there currently in the Roads & Transport Department across all ward areas?  and can you please give an assurance that Highland Council will have the requisite number of staff in place to cover essential winter maintenance duties throughout this winter? 

The response will follow.

Mr Macpherson will be entitled to ask a supplementary question which will be answered by the Chair. 

(43) Mr D Macpherson

To the Leader of the Council

On a recent visit to Kilchoan and while travelling around the Ardnamurchan Peninsula at the most westerly point on the UK mainland, I witnessed the impoverished state of the single track roads, the lack of passing places and the many road signs that were barely legible, browned due to fading and bleaching by the elements with discolouration and rusty poles, where even the Highland Council sign to welcome visitors at the Kilchoan Cal-Mac Ferry Terminal was damaged! 

It was therefore of little surprise to me when conversing with local residents around the Ardnamurchan Peninsula (which was formerly in the Argyll Council area), the local residents expressed their desire to once again be part of Argyll & Bute Council, whom they rely heavily on in the neighbouring Isle of Mull or at Oban, (both places involve making 1 or 2 ferry journeys), simply to access everyday services of doctors, dentist, pharmacy, shopping supplies and essential services. The residents I spoke with stated that Argyll & Bute Council seemed better equipped to understand and support their remote and rural coastal areas, rather than the residents currently feel, as they stated as, “the forgotten and neglected, remote part of Highland Council”.

Would Highland Council be prepared to discuss making boundary changes with Argyll & Bute via the Scottish Government, if it helped the vast majority of the community on the Ardnamurchan Peninsula to feel better connected to a local authority that really understood their circumstances and practiced ’Localism’ for its remote and rural communities and constituents?

The response will follow.

Mr Macpherson will be entitled to ask a supplementary question which will be answered by the Leader. 

8. Notices of Motion 
Brathan Gluasaid                                                                                 
                                                                                                   
The following Notices of Motion have been received by the Head of Corporate Governance – 

(1)The Highland Council are grateful for the great partnership work that has taken place with SFRS over the years. However, we now call upon the Scottish Government and the responsible Minister, Ash Denham, to support SFRS to:

1. Introduce the previously agreed 3 crew minimum on the Rapid Response Units that are now deployed in order to reduce the risk to lives and property by complying with their statutory duty “to improve the safety and wellbeing of people throughout Scotland” (Fire and Rescue Framework for Scotland),

2. Review initial training requirements/demands to investigate more modular courses, closer to home. This will improve recruitment in remote and rural areas,

3. In general terms, support SFRS efforts to simplify some methods of work to place more trust in front line firefighters, thereby reducing the likelihood/risk of non- attendance of the local unit(s).

Signed:   Mr M Reiss    Mr H Morrison   Mr A MacKinnon 

(2) This Council agrees to make all and any necessary preparations to hold the December Full Council meeting in person, providing any restrictions permit.

Signed:    Mr A Jarvie     Mr S Mackie

(3) This Council agrees to commence payments of Self-Directed Support (SDS) to Young Carers by the end of this month and, at the same time, make back-payments for SDS wrongly withheld from Young Carers.

Signed:    Mr D Louden    Mrs M Cockburn 

(4) Council strongly urges the Scottish Government to drop its proposed licensing scheme for short-term holiday lets and instead adopt the registration scheme proposed by the Association of Scottish Self Caterers. This would be far less costly for operators and less onerous for the Highland Council to administer, whilst providing proven health and safety protection. The proposed scheme is not appropriate for the Highlands. 

Signed:    Mr G Adam   Mr A Graham    Mr C Aitken

(5) The Highland Council is profoundly concerned at the recent escalating energy prices which are having a serious impact on both domestic and business users across Highland. 

It is understood that the Scottish Government has been allocated £41m from the UK Government (as a consequence of the Barnett formula) who are providing additional funding for vulnerable households across the country to help them with essentials over the coming months. 

Recognising that fuel poverty is a significant issue for many of our Highland citizens, who will be forced to choose between food or fuel this winter, and we need urgent action. The Council asks that the Scottish Government uses these funds to expand the Winter Fuel Payment to include those of working age on Universal Credit, in addition to pensioners who already receive this payment.

The current situation demonstrates the pressing need for a strategic review of our energy supply, market and infrastructure. While the Scottish Government have announced a number of measures to decarbonise our energy needs in their Programme for Government, the Council believes that both the Scottish and UK Governments should work together to commission a Strategic Energy Review to consider the Country’s energy requirements with a view to ensuring they are both sustainable and resilient.

Signed:    Mrs M Davidson      Mr A Henderson

(6) National Care Service - This Council is determined to take the lead in promoting the National Care Service development as described in the Scottish Government independent investigation report (Feeley).

We can take the lead and incorporate valuable experiences from the diverse communities in Highlands. It may be appropriate to begin with improvements in adult social care.

Signed:    Mr B Boyd      Mrs M Cockburn

9. Medium Term Financial Plan – Update
Planadh Ionmhasail Meadhan-Ùine

There is circulated Report No. HC/26/21 dated 14 October 2021 by the Executive Chief Officer Resources and Finance. 

The Council is invited to:-  

(i)    note the medium-term planning assumptions as outlined in section 5 of the report;
(ii)    note the potential range for the 2022/23 budget gap as outlined in section 6.14 of the report and agree a meeting of the Corporate Resources Sub-Committee should consider approaches to be taken should the worse case scenario prevail;
(iii)    approve £1.610m of savings to be delivered in 2022/23 as described in section 7 and Appendix 1 of the report;
(iv)    note the work that has been carried out on the Council’s capital strategy and areas of statutory responsibility at section 8 of the report, and agree that further discussion will be taken forward in the Corporate Resources Sub Committee in advance of December Council;
(v)    note the update provided in relation to the North Coast Care facility, previously approved by Council, with separate detailed consideration via the separate agenda item on this subject;
(vi)    agree in principle to progress housing options on Rum and Eigg for key staff; and
(vii)    approve that Highland Opportunity Investments Limited (HOIL) operates the Community Loans Fund for the Council with the Council’s Corporate Resources Committee reviewing any appeals against decisions made by HOIL in respect of the Fund.

10. External Audit Update and Wider Scope Report 2020/21 – Grant Thornton      
Aithisg Bhliadhnail Sgrùdadh-airgid on Taobh A-muigh 2020/21 – Comas nas Farsainge
    
There is circulated Report No. HC/27/21 dated 15 October 2021 by the Corporate Audit & Performance Manager. 

The Council is invited to note:-

(i)    the overall positive external audit of the Council’s progress in delivering the BVAR improvement plan; 
(ii)    the positive progress on the Council’s financial position and financial management highlighted in the external audit report; and
(iii)    that annual reports will be provided on progress against Best Value duties including the BVAR through internal assessment and external audit. 

11. Future Highlands – Health and Prosperity Strategic Partnership Plan SPP1:Green Energy Hub for Scotland
Ro-innleachd Com-pàirteachas Ro-innleachdail                                                               
    
There is circulated Report No. HC/28/21 dated 18 October 2021 by the Chief Executive. 

The Council is invited to:-

(i)    note the progress being made to develop the first strand of ‘Future Highlands’ and agree the Strategy for SPP1 at Appendix 1 of the report; 
(ii)    agree to re-state the Council’s endorsement of Opportunity Cromarty Firth and support their bid for Greenport and Freeport status;
(iii)    agree that an Action Plan for SPP1 will be developed in partnership with key stakeholders and progress will be reported through the Climate Change Working Group;
(iv)    note that further updates on all five Strategic Partnership Priorities will be brought to future Council meetings; and
(v)    note that detailed oversight of specific projects will be taken forward through the appropriate Strategic Committees and Boards.

12. National Care Service Consultation         
Co-chomhairle Seirbheis Cùraim Nàiseanta                                                          

There will follow Report No. HC/29/21. 
 
13. Annual Review of Standing Orders Relating to the Conduct of Meetings
Ath-sgrùdadh air Gnàth-riaghailtean
  
There is circulated Report No. HC/30/21 dated 26 September 2021 by the Executive Chief Officer Performance and Governance.

The Council is invited to:- 

(i)    agree the revision to Standing Order 12 set out in section 4 of the report; and 
(ii)    note that a Members survey will be issued in the coming weeks which will include section on governance arrangements, which will help to inform whether to consider further adjustments to Standing Orders.

14. Platinum Jubilee
Iùbailidh Platanaim

There is circulated Report No. HC/31/21 dated 18 October 2021 by Executive Chief Officer Resources and Finance. 

The Council is invited to:- 

(i)    approve an additional public holiday on 3 June 2022; and
(ii)    note offices and schools will be closed (subject to Scottish Government approval as per section 5.2 of the report) with minimal service provision on 3 June such as emergency services and waste.

15. Timetable of Meetings 2022
Clàr-ama Choinneamhan 2022

The Council is asked to agree the following - Pensions Committee meeting to be held on 14 February 2022.

16. Deeds Executed
Sgrìobhainnean Lagha a Bhuilicheadh

Members are asked to note that a list of deeds and other documents executed on behalf of the Council since the meeting held on 9 September 2021 is available on the Council’s Website.

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

The Council is asked 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 item on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 6 & 9 of Part 1 of Schedule 7A of the Act.

18. North Coast Care Facility – Recommended Delivery Option
 
There is circulated to Members only Report No. HC/32/21 dated 12 October 2021 by the Executive Chief Officer Health and Social Care. 

The Council is asked to agree the recommendations as outlined in the report.