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 6 March 2024 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.    Police 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 their area.  Each Local Plan must be approved by the Local Authority and reviewed every three years.  The current Local Plan was approved by the Committee in May 2023.

There is circulated Report No CP/01/24 by the Divisional Commander, Police Scotland.

The Committee is invited to note progress made against the objectives set within the Highland Local Policing Plan 2023-2026 Year 1, attached as Annex A to the report, for the period covering 1 April 2023 to 31 December 2023

4. Communities and Place – Revenue Budget Monitoring and Service Performance Reporting for Q3 1 October 2023 to 31 December 2023    
Coimhearsnachdan agus Àite – Sgrùdadh Buidseat Teachd-a-steach agus Aithris Coileanaidh Seirbheis airson R3 1 Dàmhair 2023 gu 31 Dùbhlachd 2023

There is circulated Report No CP/02/24 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.

5. Capital Monitoring – Quarter 3 2023/24    
Aithisg Sgrùdaidh Buidseit Calpa

There is circulated Report No CP/03/24 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 3; and 
ii. note the current forecast for the major project for the Communities and Place Service for 23/24.

6. Update on Recycling Improvement Fund Project    
Cunntas às Ùr mu Phròiseact Leasachaidh na Maoin Ath-chuairteachaidh

There is circulated Report No CP/04/24 dated by the Executive Chief Officer, Communities and Place.

The Committee is invited to:-

i.   note the progress that has been made in advance of the phased introduction of Recycling Improvement Funded collection service changes;   
ii.  note the timeline for essential infrastructure projects that will support service change in Caithness, Skye and Lochaber; and 
iii. note the detail of the comprehensive communications plan to support the service change.

7. Growing Our Future: Allotments Policy and Rules and Regulations for Allotment Sites on Council Land    
A’ Fàs ar n-Àm ri Teachd: Poileasaidh agus Riaghailtean Lotaichean airson Làraich Lotaichean air Fearann na Comhairle

There is circulated Report No CP/05/24 by the Executive Chief Officer, Communities and Place.

The Committee is invited to:-

i.  approve and adopt the revised Allotments Policy set out at Appendix 1 of the report; and
ii. agree in principle the Rules and Regulations for allotments pending further public notice, as outlined at section 9.5 of the report.

8. Bereavement Services – Project Updates    
Seirbheisean Bàis – Cunntasan às Ùr mu Phròiseactan

There is circulated Report No CP/06/24 by the Executive Chief Officer, Communities and Place.

The Committee is invited to note:-

i.   the progress of burial ground extensions in Highland;
ii.  proposals for cremator replacement at Inverness Crematorium;
iii. the recent inspection undertaken by the Scottish Government at the Inverness Crematorium and the positive findings; and 
iv.  the update on the feasibility of a crematorium in the Lochaber area

9. Environmental Health Performance 2023/24 and Operational Plan 2024/25
Coileanadh Slàinte Àrainneachdail 2023/24 agus Plana Obrachaidh 2024/25

There is circulated Report No CP/07/24 by the Executive Chief Officer, Communities and Place.

The Committee is invited to:- 

i.   note the Environmental Health performance in 23/24 to date including delivering statutory duties to over 6000 properties on private water supplies, over 5000 food businesses, and responding to 13,000 annual service requests on a wide range of public health, nuisance, licensing, safety, dog control, animal health and incivility issues;  
ii.  consider and approve the Environmental Health Operational Plan to 31 March 2025 as detailed in Appendix 1; and
iii. note that the team is preparing annual reports on local Environmental Health team performance for Area Committees in 2024. 

10. Good News
Naidheachdan Matha