Agendas, reports and minutes

 

A meeting of the Economy and Infrastructure Committee will take place REMOTELY on Wednesday 2 February 2022 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

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. Good News 
Naidheachdan Matha

4. Presentation – Opportunity Cromarty Firth
Taisbeanadh – Cothrom Linne Chromba

A presentation will be made by Joanne Allday, Strategic Business Development Manager, Port of Cromarty Firth, and Lead for the Opportunity Cromarty Firth Consortium.

The Committee is invited to note the presentation.

5. School Transport Transformation Project (Review of School Transport)
Pròiseact Cruth-atharrachaidh Còmhdhail Sgoile (Ath-sgrùdadh air Còmhdhail Sgoile)

There is circulated Report No. ECI/1/22 dated 13 January 2022 by Executive Chief Officer Infrastructure, Environment & Economy.

In addition, a presentation will be made by John Taylor of The TAS Partnership, providing information and an update on their review of the Council’s school transport policy and practice.

The Committee is invited to note the full summary report from The TAS Partnership, attached as an Appendix to the report.

6. Revenue Monitoring Quarter 3 to 31 December 2021    
Sgrùdadh Teachd-a-steach Cairteal 3 gu 31 Dùbhlachd 2021

There is circulated Report No. ECI/2/22 dated 21 January 2022 by Executive Chief Officer Infrastructure, Environment & Economy.

The Committee is invited to note:-

i.   the more detailed reporting of gross income and gross expenditure to improve scrutiny of net budgets as set out in the Appendices to the report;
ii.  the revenue monitoring position for the period to 31 December 2021;
iii. net spend at the end of Quarter 3, totaled £22.696m;
iv.  based on the best available information to date, a service budget gap of £1.738m is forecast to end of 2021/22;
v.   many areas of the Service rely on income to pay for services, and this continues to be affected in 2021/22 because of Covid-19 impacts.  A loss of income and Covid-19 related costs is the key driver of the Service’s budget gap;
vi.  the budget gap may change positively or negatively depending on applying expenditure and recruitment controls, aligning services to meet budget savings agreed and income recovery in 2021/22; and
vii. further adjustments will be made in future quarterly reporting to reflect the updated apportionment of costs and savings across the new structure.

7. Draft National Planning Framework 4
Dreachd Frèam Dealbhaidh Nàiseanta 4

There is circulated Report No. ECI/3/2022 dated 14 January 2022 by the Executive Chief Officer Infrastructure, Environment & Economy.

The Committee is invited to:-

i.   note the Draft National Planning Framework 4;
ii.  agree that the headline issues identified in Section 5 of the report be subject of Council comment to Scottish Government and approve the headline comments on those issues as set out in Section 5, to be worked up for submission;
iii. note that other issues and comments may be included in the Council’s final response to the consultation;
iv.  note that a Member Workshop is to be held on 25 February 2022 to further inform the Council’s response to Draft NPF4 and agree that the headline issues and comments in (ii) should form the basis for that discussion; and
v.   note that the submission will be finalised by the ECO Infrastructure, Environment and Economy, which may include further consultation with the Chair of the Environment and Infrastructure Committee ahead of the pre-election purdah period.

8. Covid-19 Business Grants
Tabhartasan Gnothachais Covid-19

There is circulated Report No. ECI/4/2022 dated 13 January 2022 by the Executive Chief Officer Infrastructure, Environment & Economy.

The Committee is invited to note the current work underway to deliver a number of Covid-19 business grants to Highland businesses.

9. Planning Performance Framework Report 2020/21
Aithisg Frèam Dèanadais Dealbhaidh 2020/21

There is circulated Report No. ECI/5/2022 dated 17 January 2022 by the Executive Chief Officer Infrastructure, Environment & Economy.

The Committee is invited to note the findings of the 2020/21 Planning Performance Framework (PPF) Report from the Scottish Government.

10. Onshore Wind Policy Statement Refresh 2021
Ùrachadh Aithris Poileasaidh Gaoithe Air Tìr 2021

There is circulated Report No. ECI/6/2022 dated 20 January 2022 by the Executive Chief Officer Infrastructure, Environment & Economy.

The Committee is invited to homologate the response contained in Appendix 1 of the report. 
    
11. Minutes
Geàrr-chunntas

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

i.   North Planning Applications Committee held on 19 October 2021, and 7 December 2021 for noting;
ii.  South Planning Applications Committee held on 2 November 2021 for noting; and
iii. City Region Deal Monitoring Group held on 20 January 2022 for approval. 

12. 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.

13. Wick Airport PSO
Uallach Seirbheis Phoblach Port-adhair Inbhir Ùige 

The Executive Chief Officer Infrastructure, Environment & Economy will give a verbal update.

14. Property Transactions Monitoring Report
Aithisg Sgrùdaidh Ghnothachasan Seilbhe

There is circulated to Members only Report No. ECI/7/2022 dated 10 January 2022 by the Executive Chief Officer Infrastructure, Environment & Economy.

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

15. Housing Development Initiatives
Iomairtean Leasachaidh Taigheadais

There is circulated to Members only Report No. ECI/8/2022 dated 18 January 2022 by the Executive Chief Officer Infrastructure, Environment & Economy.

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