Agendas, reports and minutes

A meeting of the Economy and Infrastructure Committee will take place in the Council Chamber, Council Headquarters, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness on
Thursday, 10 November 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

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 provide some information on the nature of the interest and leave the meeting at the appropriate time.  Advice may be sought from officers prior to the meeting taking place.

3. Good News 
Naidheachdan Matha

4. Corran Ferry – Outline Business Case    
Aiseag a’ Chorrain – Tuairisgeul Cùis Gnothachais

A presentation will be made by Stantec providing information on the Outline Business Case.

In this regard, there is circulated Report No. ECI/25/2022 dated 7 October 2022 by the Executive Chief Officer Infrastructure, Environment and Economy.

The Committee is invited to agree the Outline Business Case Final Report for replacement Vessels and shoreside infrastructure for the Corran Ferry service.

5. Visitor Management Plan
Plana Stiùiridh Luchd-tadhail

There is circulated Report No. ECI/26/2022 dated 4 October 2022 by the Executive Chief Officer Infrastructure, Environment and Economy.

The Committee is invited to :-

i.   note the information provided by each Service and the Access Rangers on progress in delivering the 2022 Visitor Management Plan actions and associated budget spend as detailed in Appendices 1 & 2 of the report;
ii.  note that there may be a need to vire funds between activities; and
iii. agree that a further report on future proposals will be brought to the next Economy & Infrastructure Committee.  

6. Revenue and Performance Monitoring - Quarter 2 to 30 September 2022    
Sgrùdadh Teachd-a-steach – Cairteal 2 gu 30 Sultain 2022

There is circulated Report No. ECI/27/2022 dated 19 October 2022 by the Executive Chief Officer Infrastructure, Environment and Economy.

The Committee is invited to note:-

iv.   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;
v.    the revenue monitoring position for the period to 30 September 2022;
vi.   net spend at the end of Quarter 2, totaled £12.208m;
vii.  based on the best available information to date, a service budget gap of £2.729m is forecast to end of 2022/23;
viii. many areas of the Service rely on income to pay for services and this continues to improve;  
ix.   the budget gap may change positively or negatively depending on applying expenditure and recruitment controls, aligning services to meet budget savings agreed and continuing income recovery in 2022/23;
x.    further adjustments will be made in future quarterly reporting to reflect the updated apportionment of costs and savings across the new structure; and
xi.   scrutinise the Directorate’s performance information. 

7. Capital Monitoring Quarter 2 2022/23    
Aithisg Sgrùdadh Calpa 2 2022/23

There is circulated Report No. ECI/28/2022 dated 28 October 2022 by the Executive Chief Officer Infrastructure, Environment and Economy.

The Committee is invited to consider the financial position as at 30 September 2022 and note the estimated year end forecast.

8. Early Adoption of 20mph Speed Limits in Highland
Gabhail gu Tràth ri Crìochan Astair 20msu anns a’ Ghàidhealtachd

There is circulated Report No. ECI/29/2022 dated 23 September 2022 by the Executive Chief Officer Infrastructure, Environment and Economy.

The Committee is invited to:-

i.   note the timeline for implementation that has been provided to Highland Council by Transport Scotland as detailed in Appendix 1 of the report;
ii.  note that, as early adopters, the entire delivery of the widespread 20mph limits will be fully funded by Transport Scotland;
iii. agree to homologate the Council’s positive response to Transport Scotland in agreeing to their request for the authority to become an early adopter of the National 20mph implementation strategy;  
iv.  note that road assessments are ongoing and The Highland Council Road Safety Team have around 130 settlements around the Council area, with Council adopted roads, with existing speed limits of 30mph or below which are subject to assessment (see Appendix 3 of the report).  Members are invited to put forward any additional settlements for assessment to the Road Safety Team;
v.   note the early adoption implementation will utilise Temporary Traffic Regulation Orders; and 
vi.  note the information with regards to speed collection, communication and permanent implementation as detailed in paragraphs 5.6, 7.3 and 9 respectively.

9. Flow Country World Heritage Site Nomination Update
Cunntas às Ùr mu Ainmeachadh nam Flòbhaichean mar Ionad Glèidhteachais na Cruinne

There is circulated Report No. ECI/30/2022 dated 4 October 2022 by the Executive Chief Officer Infrastructure, Environment and Economy.

The Committee is invited to note the report.

10. Update to Parking Policy
Cunntas às Ùr mu Phoileasaidh Parcaidh

There is circulated Report No. ECI/31/2022 dated 29 September 2022 by the Executive Chief Officer Infrastructure, Environment and Economy.

The Committee is invited to agree the amendments as detailed in section 4 of the report and to adopt as Council policy.

11. Thurso Conservation Area Appraisal & Conservation Area Management Plan
Plana Measaidh & Stiùiridh Sgìre Glèidhteachais Inbhir Theòrsa

There is circulated Report No. ECI/32/2022 dated 14 September 2022 by the Executive Chief Officer Infrastructure, Environment and Economy.

The Committee is invited to:-
 
i.  agree to adopt the Thurso Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan as planning guidance; and
ii. approve the proposed amendments to the statutory Conservation Area boundary.

12. Roads Structures Annual Report    
Aithisg Bhliadhnail Structaran Rathaidean

There is circulated Report No. ECI/33/2022 dated 3 October 2022 by the Executive Chief Officer Infrastructure, Environment and Economy.

The Committee is invited to note:-

i.  the position of the Bridge Stock Condition Indicators in Highland; and
ii. the current position in Highland in relation to the number of structures inspections undertaken.

13. Cycle 1 Local Flood Risk Management Plans – Final Reports
Cearcall 1 Planaichean Stiùiridh Cunnart Tuile Ionadail – Aithisgean Deireannach

There is circulated Report No. ECI/34/2022 dated 5 October 2022 by the Executive Chief Officer Infrastructure, Environment and Economy.

The Committee is invited to:-

i.   note the contents of the Section 38 Final Report and progress made on the measures within the current Highland and Argyll Local Flood Risk Management Plan;
ii.  agree to make the Section 38 Final Report for the Highland and Argyll Local Plan District available to the public on the Council’s website;
iii. note the contents of the Section 38 Final Report and progress made on the measures within the current Findhorn, Nairn and Speyside Local Flood Risk Management Plan; and
iv.  note that Moray Council will approve and publish the Section 38 Final Report for the Findhorn, Nairn and Speyside Local Plan District.

14. Cycle 2 – Local Flood Risk Management Plans
Cearcall 2 – Planaichean Stiùiridh Cunnart Tuile Ionadail

There is circulated Report No. ECI/35/2022 dated 5 October 2022 by the Executive Chief Officer Infrastructure, Environment and Economy.

The Committee is invited to agree:-

i.  the content of the Highland and Argyll Local Flood Risk Management Plan allowing publication by The Highland Council to take place by 31 December 2022; and
ii. the content of the Findhorn, Nairn and Speyside Local Flood Risk Management Plan, allowing Moray Council to publish the Local Plan by 31 December 2022.

15. Community Transport Grants 
Tabhartasan Còmhdhail Coimhearsnachd

There is circulated Report No. ECI/36/2022 dated 5 October 2022 by the Executive Chief Officer Infrastructure, Environment and Economy.

The Committee is invited to:-

i.  approve continuation of funding Community Transport organisations for 2023/24 within the existing budget and in line with discussions held with each individual group; and
ii. note that a future report will be presented during 2023 on longer term proposals for community transport. 

16. Inshes Junction Improvements – Stopping Up of U4403 Beechwood House Road
Leasachaidhean Ceangal-rathaid nan Innseagan – Stad Suas U4403 na Coille-Faidhbhile

There is circulated Report No. ECI/37/2022 dated 4 October 2022 by the Executive Chief Officer Infrastructure, Environment and Economy.

The Committee is invited to:-

i.  note the background to the making of the Stopping Up Order at the U4403 Beechwood House Road; and
ii. approve the making of the Stopping Up Order at the U4403 Beechwood House Road as in Appendix 1 of the report.

17. Achmelvich Car Park
Pàirc Chàraichean Achadh Mhealbhaich

There is circulated Report No. ECI/38/2022 dated 19 October 2022 by the Executive Chief Officer Infrastructure, Environment and Economy.

The Committee is invited to approve the investment of £1.046m in Achmelvich Beach Car Park and Public Toilets funded by £0.500m Rural Transport Infrastructure funding, £0.250m Community Regeneration funding and £0.300m Highland Council loan funding with associated loan charges to be fully funded from income generated from parking charges from the car park.

18. Appointment of City Region Deal Monitoring Group
Cur an Dreuchd Buidheann-sgrùdaidh a’ Chùmhnaint Baile Roinne

The Committee is invited to agree to recommend to Council the appointment of the Chair and Vice Chair of Audit and Scrutiny Committee  and to appoint the Chair and Vice Chair of Economy and Infrastructure and 6 other Member to the City Region Deal Monitoring Group.

19. Minutes
Geàrr-chunntas

There is circulated for noting Minutes of the Planning Applications Committees (PAC) for:-

i.   South PAC – 23 June 2022;
ii.  North PAC –   10 August 2022; 
iii. South PAC – 18 August 2022;
iv.  North PAC – 27 September 2022;
v.   South PAC – 4 October 2022.

20. 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 items on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part 1 of Schedule 7A of the Act, the relevant paragraphs being shown.

21. Property Transactions Monitoring Report
Aithisg Sgrùdaidh Ghnothachasan Seilbhe

There is circulated to Members only Report No. ECI/39/2022 dated 5 October 2022 by the Executive Chief Officer Infrastructure, Environment & Economy.

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

22. Land and Property
Fearann agus Cuid-seilbhe

There is circulated to Members only Report No. ECI/40/2022 dated 7 October 2022 by the Executive Chief Officer Infrastructure, Environment & Economy.

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

23. Public and School Transport Retendering and Contract Awards    
Ath-thairgseadh agus Duaisean Cùmhnaint airson Còmhdhail Poblach is Sgoile

There is circulated to Members only Report No. ECI/41/2022 dated 20 October 2022 by the Executive Chief Officer Infrastructure, Environment & Economy.

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