Agendas, reports and minutes

A meeting of the Economy and Infrastructure Committee will take place in the Council Chamber, Council Headquarters, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness on
Thursday, 16 November 2023 at 10.30am. 

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.    Good News 
Naidheachdan Matha

4.    Quarterly Revenue and Performance Monitoring Report Quarter 2 
2023/24    
Aithisg Ràitheil Teachd-a-steach agus Sgrùdadh Coileanadh Cairteil 2 2023/24

There is circulated Report No. ECI/54/2023 dated 24 October 2023 by the Executive Chief Officer Infrastructure, Environment and Economy.

The Committee is invited to:-

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

5.    Capital Monitoring – Q2 2023/24    
Sgrùdadh Calpa – C2 2023/24

There is circulated Report No. ECI/55/2023 dated 13 October 2023 by the Executive Chief Officer Infrastructure, Environment and Economy.

The Committee is invited to consider the financial position as at 30 September 2023 and note the estimated year end forecast.

6.    Draft Biodiversity Planning Guidance    
Dreachd Stiùireadh Dealbhadh Bith-iomadachd

There is circulated Report No. ECI/56/2023 dated 2 October 2023 by the Executive Chief Officer Infrastructure, Environment and Economy.

The Committee is invited to agree that the draft Biodiversity Planning Guidance (BPG) is released for minimum 4 weeks public consultation.

7.    Tackling the Nature Emergency: Consultation on Scotland’s Strategic Framework for Biodiversity – Proposed Council Response    
A’ Dèiligeadh ris an Èiginn Nàdair: Co-chomhairleachadh air Frèam Ro-innleachdail na h-Alba airson Bith-iomadachd – Freagairt na Comhairle ga Moladh

There is circulated Report No. ECI/57/2023 dated 16 October 2023 by the Executive Chief Officer Infrastructure, Environment and Economy.

The Committee is invited to approve the proposed Council response to Tackling the Nature Emergency: Consultation on Scotland’s Strategic Framework for Biodiversity.

8.    Building Warrant Fees: Consultation Response    
Cìsean Barantas Togail: Freagairt Cho-chomhairleachaidh

There is circulated Report No. ECI/58/2023 dated 12 October 2023 by the Executive Chief Officer Infrastructure, Environment and Economy.

The Committee is invited to;-

i.    note the details of the Building Warrant Fees Consultation Responses noted in Appendix 1;
ii.    agree by homologation the Council’s response to the consultation; and
iii.    consider and agree further participation by the Council if further consultation is requested for strengthening and sustaining building standards within Highland.

9.    Award of Community Transport Grants    
Toirt Seachad Tabhartasan Còmhdhail Coimhearsnachd

There is circulated Report No. ECI/59/2023 dated 13 October 2023 by the Executive Chief Officer Infrastructure, Environment and Economy.

The Committee is invited to;-

i.    approve the grant award recommendations as set out in Table 1, Paragraph 5.5 of the report, with awards proposed to 28 Community Transport groups, including four new recipients;
ii.    agree that the £7,000 annual budget to support driver training and emergency repairs for Community Transport organisations continues;
iii.    agree that a proportion of the funding made available by Transport Scotland’s Community Bus Fund (CBF) is used to ensure vehicle provision to a number of groups, as capital funding is not accommodated by the Community Transport grant budget; and

iv.    note that:-

a.    issuance of grant payments in line with award recommendations will be dependent upon groups’ submission of regular claim forms and progress reports;
b.    grant awards may be withdrawn, withheld or reduced in instances where claim forms and progress reports are either persistently not submitted, or where they reflect that a group’s activity does not match that which is outlined in their application; and
c.    alternative funding sources are being sought for Ferintosh Community Council’s application.

10.    Visit Inverness Loch Ness (VILN) Business Improvement District (BID) Renewal     
Ùrachadh Roinn Leasachadh Gnothachais Tadhail Inbhir Nis Loch Nis

There is circulated Report No. ECI/60/2023 dated 17 October 2023 by the Executive Chief Officer Infrastructure, Environment and Economy.

The Committee is invited to approve the assessment made in Appendix 1 of the report relative to the Visit Inverness Loch Ness BID Proposal and agree not to exercise the Council’s right of veto.

11.    Uk Share prosperity Fund Programme (UKSPF) - Update    
Prògram Maoin Soirbheis Cho-roinnte na RA – Cunntas às Ùr

There is circulated Report No. ECI/61/2023 dated 23 October 2023 by the Executive Chief Officer Infrastructure, Environment and Economy.

The Committee is invited to;-

i.    agree the redirection of £148.3k UKSPF 2023/24 monies within the People & Skills priority to allocate to the Science Skills Academy for spend during the first quarter of 24/25 financial year;
ii.    note that a third round of the Community Regeneration Fund Programme with funding secured from the UKSPF, is to be launched before end November 2023 and agree that round three CRF grant award decisions is taken by the existing Economy and Infrastructure Committee Community Regeneration Fund Programme sub-group, comprising the Chair and Vice Chair of Economy and Infrastructure Committee and the Chair of each of the Area Committees; and 
iii.    agree to utilise up to £100k from the UKSPF to support costs associated with the 2024 Fort William Mountain Bike World Cup Event.

12.    Early Adoption of 20mph Speed Limits in Highland Update    
Cunntas às Ùr mu Bhith a’ Gabhail gu Tràth ri Crìochan-astair 20msua anns a’ Ghàidhealtachd

There is circulated Report No. ECI/62/2023 dated ** 2023 by the Executive Chief Officer Infrastructure, Environment and Economy.

The Committee is invited to note the contents of this report.

13.    Road Structures Annual Report    
Aithisg Bhliadhnail Structar Rathaidean

There is circulated Report No. ECI/63/2023 dated 23 October 2023 by the Executive Chief Officer Infrastructure, Environment and Economy.

The Committee is invited to;-

i.    approve the updated ‘Structures Inspections’ policy;
ii.    note the position of the Bridge Stock Condition Indicators in Highland; and
iii.    note the current position in Highland in relation to the number of structures inspections undertaken.

14.    City Region deal Monitoring Group– Change of Membership
Buidheann Sgrùdaidh Cùmhnant Baile Roinne – Atharrachadh Ballrachd  

The Committee is invited to agree that Mr A Christie is appointed to the City Region Deal Monitoring Group to replace Ms J McEwan.

15.    Minutes     
Geàrr-chunntas

There is circulated for noting Minutes of the Planning Applications Committees (PAC) for:-

i.    South PAC – 27June 2023;
ii.    North PAC –9 August 2023;
iii.    South PAC – 23 August 2023;
iv.    North PAC – 12 September 2023; 

and, for approval:-

v.    Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green Freeport Monitoring Group of 18 August 2023 and 22 September 2023;
vi.    City Region Deal Monitoring Group of 5 September 2023; 
vii.    Education Transport Entitlement Review Sub-Committee of 18 September 2023;
viii.    Wildfires Working Group of 5 October 2023; 
ix.    Harbours Management Board of 3 November 2023.

16.    Exclusion of the Public
Às-dùnadh a’ Phobaill 

The Committee is asked to resolve that, under Section 50A (4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part 1 of Schedule 7A of the Act, the relevant paragraphs being shown.

17.    Property Transactions Monitoring Report
Aithisg Sgrùdaidh Ghnothachasan Seilbhe

There is circulated to Members only Report No. ECI/64/2023 dated 16 October 2023 by the Executive Chief Officer Infrastructure, Environment & Economy.

The Committee is invited to note the recommendations as detailed in the report.

18.    Housing Development Initiatives                 
Iomairtean Leasachadh Taigheadais

There is circulated to Members only Report No. ECI/65/2023 dated 11 October 2023 by the Executive Chief Officer Infrastructure, Environment & Economy.

The Committee is invited to agree the recommendations as detailed in the report.

19.    Inverness & Highland City Region Deal - Project Options
Cùmhnant Baile Roinne Inbhir Nis & na Gàidhealtachd – Roghainnean Pròiseict 

There is circulated to Members only Report No. ECI/66/2023 dated 1 November, 2023 by the Executive Chief Officer Infrastructure, Environment and Economy.

The Committee is invited to agree the recommendations as detailed in the report.