Agendas, reports and minutes

A Special Meeting of the Economy and Infrastructure Committee will take place in the Council Chamber, Council Headquarters, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness on Thursday, 11 June 2024 at 2.30pm. 
    
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. Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green Freeport – Full Business Case update (FBC)
Saor-phort Uaine Inbhir Nis agus Chromba – Cunntas mun Chùis Ghnothachais Iomlan

There is circulated Report No. ECI/31/24 by the Chief Executive.

The Committee is invited to:-

i.   note the Executive Summary of the Full Business Case for the Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green Freeport enclosed at Appendix 1 of the report noting the environmental, social and economic benefits which are expected to be achieved for the region;
ii.  agree that the Council’s obligations, under its Accountable Body role, will continue after the FBC has been completed.  These obligations include the ongoing monitoring and verification that the operation of the Green Freeport ensures propriety, compliance with regulations and value for money; 
iii. agree that the proposed NDR Investment Plan (and subsequent reviews) referred to in Section 5 of the report are reported to future meetings of the Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green Freeport Monitoring Group and formally considered by the Economy & Infrastructure (E&I) Committee for response to the Green Freeport Company; and
iv.  agree that the Assistant Chief Executive - Place continues as the Council’s nominated Director on the Green Freeport Company Board until such time as the Memorandum of Understanding between UK/Scottish Governments, the Green Freeport Company and the Council has been signed and agreed (anticipated to be November 2024).

4. 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 Paragraphs 6 and 9 Part 1 of Schedule 7A of the Act.

5. Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green Freeport – Full Business Case 
Saor-phort Uaine Inbhir Nis agus Chromba – Cùis Gnothachais Iomlan

There is circulated to Members only Report No. ECI/32/24 by the Chief Executive.

The Committee is invited to agree to recommend that Council approve the Full Business Case (FBC) for the Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green Freeport (ICFGF) as shown in Appendix 1 of the report to allow for submission to the UK and Scottish Governments.