Agendas, reports and minutes

A meeting of the City of Inverness Area Committee will take place in the Council Chamber, Council Headquarters, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness on Monday 5 June 2023 at 10.00 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 Legal and Governance

Business 

1. Calling of the Roll and Apologies for Absence
Gairm a’ Chlàir agus Leisgeulan

2. Declarations of Interest/Transparency Statement
Foillseachaidhean Com-pàirt/ Aithris Fhollaiseachd

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. Scottish Fire and Rescue Service – Area Performance Report
Seirbheis Smàlaidh is Teasairginn na h-Alba

There is circulated Report No CIA/13/23 dated 22 May 2023 by the Local Senior Officer for Highland. 

The Committee is invited to comment and scrutinise the attached Area Performance Report.

4. Victorian Market Update
Cunntas às Ùr mun Mhargadh Bhictòrianach

There is circulated Report No. CIA/14/23 dated 23 May 2023 by the Executive Chief Officer Communities and Place.

The Committee is invited to:-

i.   consider and note the progress in respect of the work agreed through the Victorian Market Action Plan since the last report to the City Committee and the work ongoing to progress the letting of all new units in the Market;
ii.  agree that the current management arrangements are extended for a further year to enable a review to be undertaken to establish future management and commercial development requirements; and
iii. note that a report on the review and associated recommendations will come to the City Committee by June 2024.

5. Inverness Wards Repurposing COVID-19 Fund       
Maoin Ath-adhbharachaidh COVID-19 Uàrdan Inbhir Nis
    
There is circulated Report No. CIA/15/23 dated 15 May 2023 by the Executive Chief Officer Communities and Place.

The Committee is invited to agree the repurposing of the following COVID-19 funds:-

• Ward 12 – Aird & Loch Ness
£1,145 to support Amenity Services with repairs and improvements to play parks in the Ward.

• Ward 14 – Inverness Central
£2,000 to support Amenity Services with repairs and improvements to play parks in the Ward.

• Ward 16 – Inverness Millburn
£1,800 to support Amenity Services with repairs and improvements to play parks in the Ward

• Ward 17 – Culloden & Ardersier 
£10,350 to support Amenity Services with repairs and improvements to play parks in the Ward.

6. City of Inverness Ward Discretionary Budget Approvals
Aontaidhean Buidseat fo Ùghdarras Uàird Cathair-bhaile Inbhir Nis 

a) Ward Discretionary Budget Applications Approved - 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023
Iarrtasan Buidseat fo Ùghdarras Uàird air an Aotachadh – 1 Giblean 2022 gu 31 Màrt 2023     

There is circulated, for noting, Report No CIA/16/23 by the Executive Chief Officer, Communities & Place detailing the Ward Discretionary Budget applications approved since 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023.

b) Ward Discretionary Budget Applications Approved since 1 April 2023
Iarrtasan Buidseat fo Ùghdarras Uàird air an Aotachadh bho 1 Giblean 2023 

The Committee is asked to note that the following City of Inverness Ward Discretionary Budget applications have been approved since 1 April 2023:-

Ward 12 

• Orchard Play Park Beauly - £864.80
• Glen Urquhart Men’s Shed: Purchase of Laser Cut / Engraving Machine - £500

Ward 13

•Charleston Academy Community Complex: Gala Fun Day - £1,500

Ward 14

• Inverness Royal Academy: Outward Bound Targeted Intervention and Nurture Course - £420
• 12th Inverness Boys Brigade (Dalneigh): National Table Tennis Final Travel & Accommodation - £372

Ward 16 

•Inverness Royal Academy: Outward Bound Targeted Intervention and Nurture Course - £420

Ward 15,17 and 19 

•No spend to date

7. Housing Performance Report –1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023
Aithisg Coileanaidh Taigheadais – 1 Giblean 2022 gu 31 Màrt 2023

There is circulated Report No CIA/17/23 dated 5 June 2023 by the Executive Chief Officer Housing and Property. 
The Committee is invited to consider the information provided on housing performance in the period 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023.

8. Inverness Common Good Fund (ICGF)
Maoin Math Coitcheann Inbhir Nis

a) Inverness Winter Payments 2022/23
Pàighidhean Geamhraidh Inbhir Nis 2022/23

There is circulated Report No. CIA/18/23 dated 10 May 2023 by the Executive Chief Officer Communities and Place. 

The Committee is invited to:-

i.    agree to provide an Inverness Winter Payments Discretionary Scheme for 2023/24 having regard to the financial support available from the Department for Work and Pensions and Social Security Scotland as set out in sections 6 and 7 of the report;
ii.   agree to accept applications from 1 December 2023 to 29 February 2024 inclusive;
iii.  agree to provide a budget of £0.200m for the 2023/24 Scheme noting that payments for Landward Areas will be sourced from available income within the Inverness Benevolent Funds first, with the ICGF being  utilised for the Landward Areas, in the event that officers decide it financially prudent to do so;
iv.   decide whether to apply a Consumer Price Index (CPI) increase to the original £97 award rate for 2022/23 in order to determine the 2023/24 single tier payment rate;
v.    should Members agree to apply a CPI increase as set out in (iv) above, agree to use the annual CPI of 8.9% (March 2023 rate), noting this will establish the 2023/24 award amount at £106 for eligible applicants;
vi.   agree that the criteria utilised for the 2022/23 scheme as set out in paragraphs 9.2 to 9.6 of the report be used as the basis for the 2023/24 Scheme;
vii.  agree this discretionary scheme is to be made available to residents in the City of Inverness and the Landward areas of the seven City Wards; and
viii. agree BACS payments are to be used for this discretionary scheme as this is the most secure method of payment for recipients of the payment and the Council alike.

b) Grants Applications over £10,000
Iarrtasan Tabhartais thar £10,000

There is circulated Report No. CIA/19/23 dated 22 May 2023 by the Executive Chief Officer Communities and Place.

In this connection, there is circulated separately a copy of supporting documentation as Booklet A.

The Committee is invited to consider the applications for funding.

9. Appointments to Outside Bodies 
Cur an Dreuchd gu Buidhnean air an Taobh A-muigh

i. Highlanders Museum – Board of Directors

Following a request from the Highlanders Museum Board of Directors, the Committee is invited to agree to appoint the Provost as a Board Director.

ii Inverness Women’s Aid Board of Directors

The Committee is invited to agree that Ms E Knox be appointed to Inverness Women’s Aid Board of Directors.

10. Minutes 
Geàrr-chunntas

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

i.   City of Inverness Area Committee held on 13 February 2023 and 23 March 2023 for noting; 
ii.  Inverness Events and Festivals Working Group held on 27 February 2023, 23 March 2023 and 13 April 2023 for approval;
iii. Inverness Common Good Fund Grants Sub-Committee held on 6 March 2023 and 15 May 2023 for approval; and
iv.  Inverness East Sports Facilities Working Group held on 21 March 2023 for approval.