Agendas, reports and minutes

Economy and Infrastructure Committee

Date: Wednesday, 2 September 2020

Agenda: Read the Agenda

A meeting of the Economy and Infrastructure Committee will take place REMOTELY on Wednesday 2 September 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. Good News
Naidheachdan Matha
 
4. Development and Infrastructure Service Revenue Budget - Monitoring
Sgrùdadh Buidseat Teachd-a-steach Seirbheis an Leasachaidh is a’ Bhun-structair
 
There is circulated Report No. ECI/13/2020 dated 12 August 2020 by the Executive Chief Officer Infrastructure and Environment.
 
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;
ii.  the Revenue Monitoring position for the period to 30 June 2020;
iii. net spend at the end of quarter 1, totaled £15.876m;
iv.  based on the best available information to date, a service budget gap of £10.916m is forecast to end 2020/21;
v.   many areas of the service rely on income to pay for services and this was significantly disrupted this year because of covid impacts. A loss of income 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;  income recovery in 2020/21; and
vii. further adjustments will be made in future quarterly reporting to reflect the updated apportionment of costs and savings across the new structure.
 
5. National Planning Framework 4
Frèam Dealbhaidh Nàiseanta 4
 
There is circulated Report No. ECI/14/20 dated 18 August 2020 by the Executive Chief Officer Infrastructure and Environment.
 
The Committee is invited to approve the Highland Indicative Regional Spatial Strategy at Appendix 1 for submission to Scottish Government to inform NPF4.
 
6. Draft Housing in the Countryside Supplementary Guidance
Taigheadas air an Dùthaich
 
There is circulated Report No. ECI/15/20 dated 14 August 2020 by the Executive Chief Officer Infrastructure and Environment.
 
The Committee is invited to:-
 
i.   consider and agree the Draft Housing in the Countryside Supplementary Guidance at Appendix 1 of the report for approval for public consultation;
ii.  note that the finalised Housing in the Countryside Supplementary Guidance will be reported back to Committee later this year, prior to seeking adoption from the Scottish Government; and
iii. note that, from the point of Committee approval, the Revised Housing in the Countryside Supplementary Guidance will become a material consideration in the determination of planning applications.
 
7. Inverness and Highland City Region Deal Update
Cunntas às Ùr mun Chùmhnant Baile Roinne
 
There is circulated Report No. ECI/16/20 dated 13 August 2020 by the Executive Chief Officer Infrastructure and Environment.
 
The Committee is invited to note progress with the City-Region Deal during 2020 and that a review of the implications of Covid-19 is underway by projects within the programme.
 
8. Highland LEADER Programme
Cunntas às Ùr mu Phrògram Leader
 
There is circulated Report No. ECI/17/20 dated 18  August 2020 by the Executive Chief Officer Infrastructure and Environment.
 
The Committee is invited to:-
 
i.   note the progress to date and the key achievements of the Highland LEADER and European Marine Fisheries Fund (EMFF) programmes;
ii.  note the ongoing discussions at individual, regional and national level with Scottish Government around coping with the impacts of CV19 and the potential risk to the council if these cannot be satisfactorily concluded; and
iii. agree an update to be brought to Members in respect of Section 7: Risk to the Council.
 
9. Strategic Timber Transport Scheme 2020/21 Projects
Maoin Còmhdhail Fiodha Ro-innleachdail
 
There is circulated Report No. ECI/18/20 dated 13 August 2020 by the Executive Chief Officer Infrastructure and Environment.
 
The Committee is invited to:-
 
i.   note the award to date of £1.08m of STTS grant funding for the delivery of the 2020/21 schemes and there maybe potential for further grant funding later in 2020;
ii.  note that preparatory work for potential STTS bids is ongoing;
iii. agree that subject to the availability of funds as decided at the annual budget setting stage and the continuation of the national STTS programme, that up to £0.5m be allocated under the road structural (capital) funding as match funding for 2021/22 and future years; and
iv.  agree that for 2021/22 and in future years, should STTS match funding bids be unsuccessful any residual match funding will be reallocated across the Areas using the Road Condition Survey parameters.
 
10. Annual Road Safety Update
Aithisg Bhliadhnail Sàbhailteachd Rathaid
 
There is circulated Report No. ECI/19/20 dated  4 August 2020 by the Executive Chief Officer Infrastructure and Environment.
 
The Committee is invited to note:-
 
i.   progress made to the 2020 national road casualty reduction targets;
ii.  the work of the Road Safety Team;
iii. there will be an upcoming new Scottish Road Safety Framework and a new Highland Council Road Safety Plan;
iv.  the significant increase in the SRTS Grant funding awarded to Highland Council this year.  SRTS budget for financial year 2020/21 is £1,037,000; and
v.   the planned implementation of both temporary and permanent 20mph speed limits.
 
11. Electric Vehicle Infrastructure – Update Report 2020
Bun-structair Charbadan Dealain
 
There is circulated Report No. ECI/20/20 dated 11 August 2020 by the Executive Chief Officer Infrastructure and Environment.
 
The Committee is invited to:-
 
i. note the contents of the report which provide a summary of the two primary strands of EV infrastructure work:
  • update on the delivery progress of the Electric Vehicle Infrastructure project;
  • the development of a Strategic Control Plan; a strategic piece of work comprising the approach towards future vision, internal structure and funding bids associated with electric vehicle infrastructure; and
ii. agree that a Member workshop (Green Recovery Vision Workshop - Electric Vehicle Infrastructure) is held to help inform the Strategic Control Plan.
 
12. Spaces for People and Bus Priority Rapid Development Fund
 
There is circulated Report No. ECI/21/20 dated 8 August, 2020 by the Executive Chief Officer Infrastructure and Environment.
 
The Committee is asked to:-
 
i.   consider the progress made to implement the Spaces for People Highland project;
ii.  approve the roll out of improvement measures at four key interventions in Inverness;
iii. note the funding success and approve the roll out of data capture measures; and
iv.  note the funding success in respect of the Bus Priority Rapid Development fund.
 
13. Minutes
Geàrr-chunntas
 
There is circulated for noting Minutes of the Planning Applications Committees (PAC) for:-
 
i.   South PAC – 26 May 2020 (pp.140-144);
ii.  North PAC – 9 June 2020 (pp.145-159);
iii. South PAC – 16 June 2020 (pp.160-164)
iv.  North PAC – 26 June 2020 (pp.165-174);