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 Wednesday 29 November 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.    Good News
Naidheachdan Matha

4.    Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Highland Performance Report
Aithisg Coileanaidh Seirbheis Smàlaidh is Teasairginn na h-Alba

Under the Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012, the Local Authority has responsibility for monitoring and scrutinising performance of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service against the Local Fire and Rescue Plan for the area.  The Local Plan was approved by the Committee in November 2020.

There is circulated the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Highland Performance Report for the period April to September 2023.

The Committee is invited to scrutinise the Highland Performance Report.

5.    Communities & Place – Revenue Budget Monitoring and Service Performance Reporting for Q2 – 1 June 2023 to 30 September 2023

There is circulated Report No CP/25/23 dated 10 November 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.

6.    Capital Monitoring – Quarter 2 2023/24
Sgrùdadh Calpa – Cairteal 2 2023/24

There is circulated Report No CP/26/23 dated 9 November 2023 by the Executive Chief Officer, Communities and Place.

The Committee is invited to:-

i.    consider the forecasted capital outturn for the Communities and Place Service for 23/24 as at Quarter 2; and
ii.    note the current forecast for the major project for the Communities and Place Service for 23/24.

7.    Long-term Waste Management
Stiùireadh Sgudail Fad-ùine

There is circulated Report No CP/27/23 dated 10 November 2023 by the Executive Chief Officer, Communities and Place.

The Committee is invited to:- 

i.    note the study findings which Council Officers have considered; and
ii.    consider and agree the proposed next steps as reported at Section 5.2 of the report.

8.    Waste Projects Update
Cunntas às Ùr mu Phròiseactan Sgudail

There is circulated Report No CP/28/23 dated 10 November 2023 by the Executive Chief Officer, Communities and Place.

The Committee is invited to:-

i.    approve the amended Household Waste Policy as described in section 4 of the report and as shown in full in Appendix 1;
ii.    note the updated position on the timeline for the phased introduction of Recycling Improvement Fund collection service changes and the highlighted progress that has been made;
iii.    note comprehensive communications and engagement plan for the service change;
iv.    note progress being made to secure a Waste Transfer Station in Fort William; and
v.    approve the introduction of a trial at a recycling centre as described in section 7 of the report.

9.    Playpark Strategy
Ro-innleachd Phàircean-cluiche

There is circulated Report No CP/29/23 dated 9 November 2023 by the Executive Chief Officer, Communities and Place.

The Committee is invited to:-

i.    note the contents of the report;
ii.    agree and adopt the Playpark Strategy and Action Plan 2023-2033 (Appendix 1 of the report); and
iii.    note that an annual update on progress will be reported to the Communities and Place Committee.

10.    Update on Public Convenience Provision
Cunntas às Ùr mu Sholar Ghoireasan Poblach

There is circulated Report No CP/30/23 dated 10 November 2023 by the Executive Chief Officer, Communities and Place.

The Committee is invited to:- 

i.    note the contents of the report;
ii.    note the improvement projects to date including the resulting environmental benefits, and improvements planned for 2024/25;
iii.    note the challenges faced running the public convenience service including financial challenges;
iv.    note the community support and involvement including progress with community asset transfer and leasing to communities;
v.    note the staff accolades; and
vi.    agree the closing protocol when required to close any particular Public Convenience.

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

There is circulated Report No CP/31/23 dated 9 November 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 progress for cremator replacement at Inverness Crematorium; and
iii.    the intention to commission a detailed options appraisal on the provision of a crematorium in the Lochaber Area

12.    Registration of Births, Deaths and Marriages – Annual Report
Clàrachadh air Breith, Bàs is Pòsadh – Aithisg Bhliadhnail

There is circulated Report No CP/32/23 dated 10 November 2023 by the Executive Chief Officer, Communities and Place.

The Committee is invited to:-

i.    note the work of the Registration team across the Highland area;
ii.    scrutinise the performance of the team for 2022, noting that this latest data has not yet been examined and finalised; and
iii.    note the continued efforts to promote and modernise the service in relation to marriage and civil partnership, ensuring that the Highland Council continue to offer a professional and cost-effective service to the public, whist adapting to keep up to date with the ever changing and growing wedding industry.

13.    Community Asset Transfer Request
Iarrtas So-mhaoin Coimhearsnachd a Ghluasad

There is circulated Report No CP/33/23 dated 9 November 2023 by the Executive Chief Officer, Communities and Place.

The Committee is invited to agree the following Community Asset Transfer request:

• Sale of the Banavie Rugby Pitch, Car Park and Play Area to Lochaber Rugby Football Club for £1, based upon the terms set out in the report.  

14.    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 7 November 2023.