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 Thursday 31 August 2023 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 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. 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 have not been exercised in relation to the business of the Committee. 

4. Good News
Naidheachdan Matha

5. Police Area Performance Report    
Aithisg Coileanaidh Poileis

Under the Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012, the Local Authority has responsibility for monitoring and scrutinising performance of Police Scotland against the Local Policing Plan for the area.  The Local Plan was approved by the Committee in May 2023.

There is circulated Report No CP/17/23 dated 18/08/23 by the Divisional Commander, Police Scotland.

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

6. Revenue Budget Monitoring Report 22/23 Outturn & 23/24 Quarter 1 and Service Performance Reporting for 2022/23    
Suim Dheireannach Aithisg Sgrùdaidh Buidseat Teachd-a-steach 22/23 & Aithris Cairteil 1 23/24 agus Coileanadh Seirbheis airson 2022/23
    
There is circulated Report No CP/18/23 dated 11 August 2023 by the Executive Chief Officer, Communities and Place.

The Committee is invited to:-

i.  consider the Service’s revenue monitoring position; and 
ii. scrutinise the Service’s performance and risk information.

7. Capital Monitoring – Quarter 4 2022/23 and Quarter 1 2023/24    
Aithisg Sgrùdadh Buidseat Calpa: Suim Dheireannach 22/23 agus Cairteal 1 23/24

There is circulated Report No CP/19/23 dated 7 August 2023 by the Executive Chief Officer, Communities and Place.

The Committee is invited to:-

i.   note the capital outturn position for the Communities and Place Service for 2022/23;
ii.  consider the forecasted capital outturn for the Communities and Place Service for 2023/24 as at Quarter 1; and
iii. note the current forecast for the major project for the Communities and Place Service for 2023/24.

8. Communities and Place Service Plan Update 2023/24    
Cunntas às Ùr mu Phlana na Seirbheis Coimhearsnachd agus Àite 2023/24 

There is circulated Report No CP/20/23 dated 9 August 2023 by the Executive Chief Officer, Communities and Place.

The Committee is invited to comment on and approve the Service Plan for 2023/24.

9. Approach to Sustainable Business Travel    
Dòigh-obrach a thaobh Siubhal Gnothachais Seasmhach

There is circulated Report No CP/21/23 dated 9 August 2023 by the Executive Chief Officer, Communities and Place.

The Committee is invited to:-

i.   note that this report and Action Plan support the Council’s Net Zero Strategy  approved at The Highland Council on 29 June 2023;
ii.  consider the contents of the report; 
iii. agree the Sustainable Business Travel Action Plan; and
iv.  note the annual review of the Action Plan and reporting of progress as outlined at section 7.2 of the report.

10. Waste Management Service Update    
Cunntas às Ùr mu Sheirbheis Rianachd Sgudail

There is circulated Report No CP/22/23 dated 10 August 2023 by the Executive Chief Officer, Communities and Place.

The Committee is invited to note:-

i.   the service response to the imminent ban on upholstered furniture being landfilled; 
ii.  the work and progress being made connected to the Recycling Improvement Fund project and that a detailed report including the scheduled and planned rollout will be reported to this Committee in November 2023; 
iii. the updated position on the planned Waste Transfer Station in Fort William; and
iv.  the scope of work and progress on the Nairn Re-Use Feasibility Project.

11. Bereavement Services – Project Updates    
Seirbheisean Bàis – Cunntasan às Ùr mun Pròiseact

There is circulated Report No CP/23/23 dated 10 August 2023 by the Executive Chief Officer, Communities and Place.

The Committee is invited to note:-

i.   the progress of burial ground extensions in Highland;
ii.  the monitoring and governance provided by the Bereavement Services Project Board;
iii. the challenges with identifying and developing suitable land for burial ground development;
iv.  work has been commissioned to review the options for cremator replacement at Inverness Crematorium and a further update will be provided to Members when the final report is completed; and
v.   the range of improvements being undertaken and developed at the Inverness Crematorium.

12. Annual Community Asset Transfer Report 2023/24    
Aithisg Bhliadhnail Gluasad So-mhaoin Coimhearsnachd 2023/24

There is circulated Report No CP/24/23 dated 10 August 2023 by the Executive Chief Officer, Communities and Place.

The Committee is invited to consider and agree the annual report on Community Asset Transfer, as detailed in the report and at Appendix 1, for submission to the Scottish Government.

13. 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 8 August 2023.