Agendas, reports and minutes

A meeting of the Communities and Place Committee will take place in the Council Chamber, Council Headquarters, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness on Wednesday 16 November 2022 at 10.30 am.

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 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.    Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Highland Performance Report
Aithisg Coileanaidh Seirbheis Smàlaidh is Teasairginn na h-Alba

Under the Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012, the Local Authority has responsibility for monitoring and scrutinising performance of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service against the Local Fire and Rescue Plan for the area.  The Local Plan was approved by the Committee in November 2020.
 
There is circulated Report No CP/18/22 dated 3 November 2022 by the Local Senior Officer for Highland, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.

The Committee is invited to comment on and scrutinise the Highland Performance Report.

5.    Revenue Budget Monitoring Report: 2022/23 Quarter 2
Aithisg Sgrùdaidh Buidseat Teachd-a-steach: Cairteal 2 2022/23

There is circulated Report No CP/19/22 dated 30 October 2022 by the Executive Chief Officer, Communities and Place.

The Committee is invited to note:-

i.    the forecasted outturn for the 2022/23 Revenue budget for the Communities and Place Service as at Quarter 2 is £1.150m overspend; and
ii.    higher costs pertaining to fuel and parts including vehicle components, spares and tyres are placing significant pressures on the budget.

6.    Capital Budget Monitoring Report: 2022/23 Quarter 2
Aithisg Sgrùdaidh Buidseat Calpa: Cairteal 2 2022/23

There is circulated Report No CP/20/22 dated 2 November 2022 by the Executive Chief Officer, Communities and Place.

The Committee is invited to note:-

i.    the forecasted capital outturn for the Communities and Place Service for 2022/23 as at Quarter 2; and
ii.    the current forecasts for the major projects in the Communities and Place Service.

7.    Implementing the requirements of the Period Products (Free Provision) (Scotland) Act 2021 in Highland
A’ Buileachadh riatanasan Achd Bathar Fala-mìos (Solar An-asgaidh) (Alba) 2021 anns a’ Ghàidhealtachd

There is circulated Report No CP/21/22 dated 24 October 2022 by the Executive Chief Officer, Communities and Place.

The Committee is invited to:-

i.    note the arrangements that have been made to provide free period products in Highland;
ii.    note the results of the community consultation on free period products in Highland;
iii.    consider and note the actions agreed by the Partnership Steering Group to further develop provision in Highland, based upon the consultation feedback; and
iv.    agree and adopt the Statement on Exercise of Functions found at Appendix 1 of the report.

8.    Update on Service Enhancements from Visitor Management Plan Funding
Cunntas às Ùr mu Leasachaidhean Seirbheis bho Mhaoineachadh Plana Stiùiridh Luchd-tadhail

There is circulated Report No CP/22/22 dated 27 October 2022 by the Executive Chief Officer, Communities and Place.

The Committee is invited to note:-

i.    the Visitor Management Plan is not recurring funding;
ii.    the investment in public conveniences and waste services will be fully committed this year;
iii.    the enhanced public convenience service with 75 Council operated facilities, with infrastructure improvements for 40 facilities, 16 new comfort scheme providers now taking the total to 53, and support for 2 community groups running portaloos;
iv.    any new funding streams will be pursued; and
v.    a number of the Council’s 3-year comfort scheme contracts will be renewed in April 2023 and seasonal providers will form part of that review to ensure footfall and geographical coverage is reflected within the current budget.  

9.    Registration of Births, Deaths and Marriages – Annual Report
Clàrachadh air Breith, Bàs is Pòsadh – Aithisg Bhliadhnail

There is circulated Report No CP/23/22 dated 28 October 2022 by the Executive Chief Officer, Communities and Place.

The Committee is invited to:-

i.    note the work of the Registration team across Highland and the changes to work patterns and services over the last three years;
ii.    scrutinise the performance of the Registration team based upon the most recently examined data from 2021 and outlined in Appendix 4 of the report; and
iii.    note the future developments for the service for the next year.

10.    Service Points and Connected Customer Update
Ionadan-Seirbheis agus Cunntas às Ùr mu Luchd-cleachdaidh Co-cheangailte

There is circulated Report No CP/24/22 dated 28 October 2022 by the Executive Chief Officer, Communities and Place.

The Committee is invited to note:-

i.    the update on the opening hours across the Council’s Service Point network; and
ii.    the outline of the recently agreed Connected Customers and Digitisation Redesign Board review.  

11.    Update on Waste Strategy    
Cunntas às Ùr mu Ro-innleachd Sgudail

There is circulated Report No CP/25/22 dated 28 October 2022 by the Executive Chief Officer, Communities and Place.

The Committee is invited to:-

i.    note the contents of the report;
ii.    approve the submission of a bid to the Scottish Government’s Recycling Improvement Fund for capital costs connected to the implementation of service changes aligned to the Household Waste Recycling Charter;
iii.    note the changes in Household Waste Recycling Centre restrictions from December 2022 and that the outcomes from the review of opening hours will be considered by Members in early 2023; and
iv.    note the updated position on Waste Transfer Station infrastructure in Aviemore, Inverness and Fort William.

12.    Minutes of the Waste Strategy Working Group
Geàrr-chunntas Buidheann Obrach Ro-innleachd Sgudail

There are circulated, for approval, the Minutes of the Waste Strategy Working Group held on 20 October 2022.

13.    Urgent Additional Item: Review of UK Parliamentary Constituencies: Revised Proposals
Ath-sgrùdadh de Roinnean-Pàrlamaid na RA: Molaidhean Ath-sgrùdaichte

There is circulated Report No CP/26/22 dated 11 November 2022 by the Executive Chief Officer, Performance and Governance.

The Committee is invited to:-

i.    note the revised proposals detailed in section 8 and Appendices A-D of the report; and
ii.    consider whether to challenge the proposals being made by Boundary Commission for Scotland.

If it is decided to challenge the proposals it is recommended that the Committee agree to:-

iii.    delegate authority to the Executive Chief Officer for Performance and Governance to draft a response based upon the debate and outcome at Committee; and 
iv.    lobby Highland MPs and the Secretary of State for Scotland to change the Commission’s proposals.