Agendas, reports and minutes

A meeting of the Easter Ross Area Committee will take place remotely on 30 October 2023 at 10.30am. 

Recording Notice: This meeting will be recorded and uploaded to the Council’s YouTube channel.

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
 

1.    Apologies for Absence
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.    Police – Area Performance Summary Report     
Poileas – Geàrr-Aithisg Coileanaidh Sgìreil

There is circulated Report No ERA/18/23 by the Area Commander.

The Committee is asked to note 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 01 April 2022 – 31 March 2023.

4.    Housing Revenue Account Capital Programme 2023-27    
Prògram Calpa Cunntas Teachd a-steach Taigheadais 2023-27 

There is circulated Report No ERA/19/23 by the Executive Chief Officer, Housing and Property. 

The Committee is invited to:-

i.    note the summary update on the HRA Capital Programme at section 5 of the report;
ii.    note the HRA Capital resources identified for Easter Ross area at paragraph 6.7 of the report;
iii.    agree the proposed investment priorities in the HRA Capital Programme for Easter Ross 2023-27 as set out in Appendix 1 of the report; and 
iv.    note that updates on the Housing Revenue Account Capital Programme will continue to be provided through ward briefings and at future Local Committees as requested by local Members, in addition to reporting to Housing and Property Committee.  

5.    Place Based Investment Programme (PBIP) Grant Award 2021/22: Tain Streetscape
Duais Tabhartais Prògram Tasgaidh Stèidhichte air Àite 2021/22: Cruth-sràide Bhaile Dhubhthaich                        

There is circulated Report No ERA/20/23 by the Executive Chief Officer Infrastructure, Environment & Economy.

The Committee is asked to:-

i.    agree to formally withdraw the offer of grant of £100,000 PBIP from the Tain Streetscape Project; and 
ii.    pending agreement of the Scottish Government, agree to carry forward the £100,000 PBIP funding into the available CRF allocation for Easter Ross for 2023/24 

6.    Associated School Group Overview (ASG)             
Foir-shealladh air Buidhnean Sgoiltean Co-cheangailte

a)    Alness Academy ASG                             
Buidheann Sgoiltean Co-cheangailte Alanais

There is circulated Report No ERA/21/23 by the Executive Chief Officer, Education & Learning.

The Committee is asked to scrutinise and note the content of the report.

b)    Invergordon Academy ASG                         
    Buidheann Sgoiltean Co-cheangailte Inbhir Ghòrdain

There is circulated Report No ERA/22/23 by the Executive Chief Officer, Education & Learning.

The Committee is asked to scrutinise and note the content of the report.

c)    Tain Royal Academy ASG                         
Buidheann Sgoiltean Co-cheangailte Bhaile Dhubhthaich

There is circulated Report No ERA/23/23 by the Executive Chief Officer, Education & Learning.

The Committee is asked to scrutinise and note the content of the report.

7.    Invergordon Common Good Fund                                                     
Maoin Math Coitcheann Inbhir Ghòrdain
                                                                         
There is circulated joint Report No ERA/24/23 by the Executive Chief Officer Community and Place and the Head of Corporate Finance and Commercialism.

The Committee is asked to:-

i.    scrutinise and note the Q2 monitoring statement for the Invergordon Common Good Fund; and
ii.    note that the Community Asset Transfer application received from the Invergordon Naval & Heritage Museum has been paused for reasons due to instability in the applicant group as outlined in section 5 of the report.

8.    Tain Common Good Fund                                                           
Maoin Math Coitcheann Bhaile Dhubhthaich 

There is circulated joint Report No ERA/25/23 by the Executive Chief Officer Community and Place and the Head of Corporate Finance and Commercialism. 

The Committee is asked to:-

i.    scrutinise and note the Quarter 2 monitoring statement for the Tain Common Good Fund; and  
ii.    note the update on current Tain Common Good issues.

9.    Easter Ross Area Place Plan – Progress Update        
Plana Àite Sgìre Rois an Ear – Cunntas air Adhartas

There is circulated Report No ERA/26/23 by the Executive Chief Officer Communities and Place. 

The Committee is asked to:-

i.    consider and discuss the emerging themes and priorities for action identified so far at Section 5.2, and the further background and information to be shared by the Officer through a verbal presentation on the day; and  
ii.    note the next steps for progressing this work and broadening participation, including the launch of online engagement, aligning community-led activity and establishing governance model.

10.    Invergordon Common Good Fund - the bust of Sir John Gordon by Edmé Bouchardon.
Maoin Math Coitcheann Inbhir Ghòrdain – ìomhaigh-bràghad Shir Iain Ghòrdain le Edmé Bouchardon         

There is circulated Report No ERA/27/23 by the Executive Chief Officer, Performance & Governance.

The Committee is asked to:-

i.    consider and note the update on the work undertaken to explore the potential of selling the Bouchardon Bust;
ii.    consider the assessment of the various sale options and note the advice from Sotheby’s that a sale by private arrangement may be most beneficial in financial terms; and
iii.    in light of this information, consider whether to agree to commence a Community Empowerment consultation to inform the decision making in respect of a proposal to sell the Bouchardon bust.

11.    Ward Discretionary Awards
Duaisean fo Ùghdarras Uàird        

The Committee is asked to note the Ward Discretionary Projects that have been approved since 1st April 2023.

12.    Minutes                                                        
Geàrr-chunntas

There is circulated for noting Minutes of Meeting of the Easter Ross Area Committee held on 7 August 2023, which were approved by the Council on 14 September 2023.

13.    Place Based Investment Funds – Proposed Reallocation of Funds 
Maoinean Stèidhichte air Àite – Ath-riarachadh Mhaoinean ga Mholadh

There is circulated Report No ERA/28/23 by the Executive Chief Officer, Communities and Place.

The Committee is asked to agree to repurpose the remaining £12,000 from the £20,000 allocated to the Invergordon Social Club for its Feasibility Study, to a Ward 6 Community Grants stream set up to address one or more of the four harms of Covid.