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 28 August 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. Birthday Honours 
Urraman Co-là-breith

Members are advised that the following individuals have been recognised in the Birthday’s Honours List: -

• Ms Anne McCreadie has been awarded the BEM for services to the community in Merkinch.
• Ms Ina Melville, unit leader of Smithton Girl Guides, for her services to young people and the community of Smithton.
• Ms Sheila Bruce, musical director, Cancer Fund for Children, Inverness, receives the same honour for services to the community in Inverness and the Highlands.

4. Recess Powers
Cumhachdan Fosaidh

The Committee is asked to note that the recess powers granted by the Council at its meeting on 29 June 2023 did not require to be exercised in relation to the business of the City of Inverness Area Committee.

5. Police – Area Performance Summary
Poileas – Geàrr-chunntas air Coileanadh Sgìreil

There is circulated Report No CIA/20/23 dated 17 August 2023 by the Inverness Area Commander.

The Committee is invited to note the progress made against the objectives set within the Highland Local Policing Plan 2020-2023 Year 3, attached as Annex A to this report, for the period covering 1 April 2022 - 31 March 2023.

6. Making Academy Street a Place for Everyone 
A’ Dèanamh Sràid na h-Acadamaidh na h-Àite do na h-Uile

There is circulated Report No. CIA/21/23 dated 17 August 2023 by the Interim Executive Chief Officer Infrastructure & Environment.  

The Committee is invited to:-

i.   note design progress, which strikes a balance between delivering sustainable transport, city centre regeneration and supporting the city centre economy; 
ii.  agree that officers proceed with finalising the proposed design and consult on a Traffic Regulation Order, as explained in Section 10 of the report including appropriate equalities and economic impact assessments; and
iii. agree that, if recommendation (ii) is not progressed that officers stop work on the design and remove temporary footpath widening measures (bollards) and reinstate the carriageway to its original width.

7. 2023/24 Annual Report on Inverness Business Improvement District 
Aithisg Bhliadhnail 2023/24 mu Sgìre Leasachadh Gnothachais Inbhir Nis

There is circulated Report No. CIA22/23 dated 17 July 2023 by the Executive Chief Officer Communities and Place.

The Committee is invited to:- 

i.  agree to endorse the work detailed in this report; and
ii. note the on¬going development of partnership working in the key areas identified.

8. Winter Service Plan for 2023/24  
Plana Seirbheis Geamhraidh airson 2023/24 

There is circulated Report No. CIA/23/23 dated 4 August 2023 by the Interim Executive Chief Officer Infrastructure & Environment.

The Committee is invited to approve the Winter Service Plan for 2023/24.

9. Ward Discretionary Budget Applications    
Iarrtasan Buidseat fo Ùghdarras Uàird

The Committee is asked to note that the following City of Inverness Ward Discretionary Budget applications have been approved since 5 June 2023:-

Ward 12

• Dopamine Dolls – Outreach & Awareness - £300

Ward 13

• Highland Rugby Club – U16 Legacy Rugby Tour of Italy October 2023 - £810
• Inverness Caledonian Thistle Community Development – Free Football –Inverness High School - £169

Ward 14

• South Kessock & Merkinch Community Action Group - Summer Fun Day Engagement Event - £1,000
• Merkinch Partnership – Maintenance of Defibrillators - £750
• Inverness Caledonian Thistle Community Development – Free Football – Inverness High School - £338
• Bun-Sgoil Ghaidhlig Inbhir Nis – Trim Trail - £604
• South Kessock Residents Association – Lawn Mower & Strimmer - £468

Ward 15

• 27th Inverness Brownies – Holm Primary Hire -£936.20
• Bun-Sgoil Ghaidhlig Inbhir Nis – Trim Trail - £2,416

Ward 16

• Highland Rugby Club – U16 Legacy Rugby Tour of Italy October 2023 - £810

Ward 17

• Highland Rugby Club – U16 Legacy Rugby Tour of Italy October 2023 - £1,350
• Ardersier Community Hub – Ardersier Christmas Lights - £2,000

Ward 19 

• No Spend

10. Inverness Common Good Fund
Maoin Math Coitcheann Inbhir Nis

a) Financial Monitoring
Sgrùdadh Ionmhasail  

There is circulated Report No. CIA/24/23 dated 16 August 2023 by the Executive Chief Officer Communities and Place. 

The Committee is invited to:-

i.  note the financial monitoring report to 30 June 2023 and that overall expenditure is within agreed budgets excepting the estimated outturns detailed in Appendices 1 and 2 of the report; and
ii. approve the continued use of Inverness Town House by Police Scotland as detailed within paragraph 6.6 of the report.

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

There is circulated Report No. CIA/25/23 dated 14 August 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.

c) Events and Festivals Working Group Update
Cunntas às Ùr mu Bhuidheann-obrach Thachartasan is Fhèisean 

There is circulated Report No. CIA/26/23 dated 18 August 2023 by the Executive Chief Officer Communities and Place.

The Committee is asked to agree to the Events and Festivals Working Group having the delegated power to extend charging for entry to the Red Hot Highland Fling event within the community events programme set by the Working Group, noting the attendant risk to events being delivered within the allocated budget.

d) Inverness Common Good Fund Annual Report 2022/23
Aithisg Bhliadhnail Maoin Math Coitcheann Inbhir Nis 2022/23

There is circulated  Report No. CIA/27/23 dated 17 July 2023 by the Executive Chief Officer Communities and Place.

The Committee is asked to:-

i.  note and scrutinise the work of the ICGF Sub-Committee as described within the report; and
ii. agree that powers delegated to the ICGF Sub-Committee be amended to include power to consider expressions of interest in respect of the community regeneration fund.

11. Appointment to Sub-Committee, Working Groups etc 
Cur an Dreuchd gu Fo-Chomataidh, Buidhnean Obrach is eile

Following the resignation of Ms Morven Reid, the Committee is invited to appoint one Member to the Community Events and Festivals Working Group.

12. Minutes 
Geàrr-chunntas

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

i.   City of Inverness Area Committee held on 5 June 2023 for noting; 
ii.  Inverness Events and Festivals Working Group held on 25 May 2023,16 June 2023, 3 July 2023, and 7 August 2023 for approval; and 
iii. Inverness Common Good Fund Grants Sub-Committee held on 12 June 2023 and 7 August 2023 for approval.