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 20 November 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 – Aithisg Coileanaidh Sgìreil

There is circulated Report No CIA/28/23 by the Local Senior Officer for Highland. 

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

4. Visit Inverness Loch Ness (VILN) Business Improvement District (BID) Renewal 
Ùrachadh Sgìre Leasachadh Gnothachais Tadhal Inbhir Nis Loch Nis

There is circulated Joint Report No. CIA/29/23 dated 2 November 2023 by the Executive Chief Officer Communities and Place and the Executive Chief Officer Economy & Regeneration.

The Committee is invited to:-

i. note the Proposal for the renewal of the VILN BID; and
ii. recommend to full Council at its meeting on 14 December 2023 that the Council supports the VILN BID Ltd Proposal in the BID ballot.

5. Whin Park Redevelopment Update
Cunntas às Ùr mu Ath-leasachadh Pàirc a’ Chonaisg 

There is circulated Report No. CIA/30/23 dated 9 November 2023 by the Executive Chief Officer, Communities and Place.

The Committee is invited to:-

i. agree the vision for the park; 
ii. agree the Scottish Government Play Park funding allocation for this Project as detailed in the report; 
iii. note the completed work to revitalise the boating pond; 
iv. note the toilets are to be redeveloped in winter 2023 and funding already secured for this;  
v. note the feasibility study outcomes and costs for a full park redevelopment to be undertaken as per the scope of works detailed in the report to CIAC on 24 November 2023; and
vi. note that funding opportunities will continue to be explored.

6. Inshes Junction Improvements – Proposed Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) and Stopping Up Order
Leasachaidhean Snaidhm-rathaid nan Innseagan – Òrdugh Ceannach Èigneachail ga Mholadh agus Òrdughan Stad a Bhith na Rathad-mòr

There is circulated Report No. CIA/31/23 dated 30 October 2023 by the Executive Chief Officer Infrastructure, Environment & Economy.

The Committee is invited to:-

i. agreed to recommend to The Highland Council that plans for Inshes Junction Improvements as detailed in Appendix 1of the report, are taken forward for use in progressing Compulsory Purchase Orders (CPOs) for the scheme; and 
ii. note the plans for Inshes Junction Improvements as detailed in Appendix 2 of the report, which are to be taken forward for use in progressing Stopping Up Orders for the scheme.

7. Inverness Common Good Fund - Reclassification of Inverness Town House car park     
Maoin Math Coitcheann Inbhir Nis – Ath-sheòrsachadh Pàirc Chàraichean Taigh Baile Inbhir Nis 

There is circulated Report No. CIA/32/23 dated 25 October 2023 by the Interim Executive Chief Officer, Performance & Governance.

The Committee is invited to note:-

i. the investigations undertaken in connection with the legal title for the Town House car park;
ii. the reclassification of the Town House car park from Common Good to General Fund; and
iii. the consequent impact on the financial position for Inverness Common Good Fund.

8. Inverness Common Good Fund
Maoin Math Coitcheann Inbhir Nis

a) Financial Monitoring
   Sgrùdadh Ionmhasail  

There is circulated Report No. CIA/33/23 dated 3 November 2023 by the Executive Chief Officer, Communities and Place

The Committee is invited to note the financial monitoring report to 30 September 2023 and that overall expenditure is within agreed budgets excepting estimated outturns detailed in Appendices 1 and 2 of the report.

b) Inverness Common Good Fund Sub-Committee Report.
   Aithisg Fo-Chomataidh Maoin Math Choitcheann Inbhir Nis

There is circulated Report No. CIA/34/23 dated 9 November 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 which are as follows:- 

i. note:
• applications for funding totalling £133,108.60 have been received;
• £55,231 remains in the Poverty and Inequality grant budget;
• £125 remains in the Other grants budget; and
• the City Vibrancy budget has been over committed by £31,242.
ii. consider the applications received based on either the recommendations made by the Sub-Committee or ask the Sub-Committee to reconsider the applications based on the available budget as shown in Appendix 1 of the report;
iii. consider application for £150,000 towards the Whin Park Refurbishment Project as detailed in the application, which if approved would require to be drawn from ICGF Reserves in addition to any sums agreed ii above;
iv. noting the decisions taken in ii and iii above, if required, consider and agree the allocation of further sums to the Grants and City Vibrancy budgets from reserves, which, if approved in accordance with the recommendations made by the Sub-Committee would total £77,752.60, for grants and City Vibrancy and £150,000 for Whin Park; and
v. agree to close the Grants and City Vibrancy budgets for further applications for the remainder of financial year 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 28 August 2023:-

• Ward 12
Dopamine Dolls: Outreach & Awareness - Purchase Initial Publicity Material - £200
Beauly Community Council: Christmas Lights Replacement and Upgrade - £1,500

• Ward 13 – None

• Ward 14 
Inverness Women's Aid: Operation Love Your Refugee - £2,520
Inverness Festival Association: Inverness Music Festival - £750

• Ward 15 – None

• Ward 16
HLH Millburn Active Schools: Associated Schools Football Groups Ward 16 - £1,751

• Ward 17– None

• Ward 19 – None

10. Minutes 
Geàrr-chunntas

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

i. City of Inverness Area Committee held on 28 August 2023 for noting; 
ii. Inverness Common Good Fund Sub-Committee held on 9 October 2023 and 30 October 2023 for approval; and
iii. Inverness Events and Festivals Working Group held on 4 September 2023, 9 October 2023 and 10 November 2023 for approval.

11. 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 item on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 6 and 9 of Part 1 of Schedule 7A of the Act.

12. Inverness Common Good Fund – Sites and Premises Transaction Report
Maoin Math Coitcheann Inbhir Nis – Aithisg Gnothachais Làraich is Thogalaichean

There is circulated to Members only Joint Report No CIA/35/23 dated 30 October 2023 by the Head of Economic Development & Regeneration and Property Manager.

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

13. Notices of Motion 
Brathan Gluasaid                                                                                 

The following Notices of Motion have been received by the Head of Legal and Governance – 

(i) “That the artwork transfers of footprints and paw prints that have sprung up in Lombard Street, Drummond Street and Union Street be removed. They do nothing to improve the appearance of our city or increase the economic performance of town centre traders.”

Signed: Mr A Christie, Mrs T Robertson

S95 officer assessment of financial implications.

This motion is anticipated to have a financial implication.  Officers have estimated the cost of cleaning/removal as £2,800.  The risk has been highlighted that this approach, given the nature of the materials, may not prove successful. If so, it is estimated that costs of full replacement of the slab stones and associated labour and materials would be in the region of £12,000.  This is an estimate and with the potential that costs may differ, and may be higher, given the specialised and made to order nature of the materials.   

(ii) “That the City of Inverness Area Committee notes the decision by Council on 14th September to defer the Capital funding allocation for the following schools.  In order that the Area elected members can better understand the impact on the educational experience and attainment of our pupils, the impact on capacity limitations at all Area Schools and any health and safety risks posed by the deferral that a seminar be arranged as soon as possible”.

Charleston Academy £13M deferral in funding
Culloden Academy £6.5M deferral in funding 
Ness Castle Phase 2 £7.7M deferral in funding
Stratton Primary £22M deferral in funding
East Inverness New Academy £59M deferral in funding”

Signed: Mr A Christie, Mr D Gregg, Mr A Graham

S95 officer assessment of financial implications.

This motion is not anticipated to have a financial implication to the Council.  There may be ancillary costs, or opportunity costs, associated with the calling of a seminar and officer time involved in preparing for such a meeting.