Agendas, reports and minutes

A meeting of the Black Isle and Easter Ross Area Committee will take place remotely via Microsoft Teams, on 5 August 2024, at 10.30 am.

Recording Notice: This meeting will be recorded and uploaded to the Council’s YouTube channel.

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

1.    Apologies for Absence
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.    Recess Powers
Cumhachdan Fosaidh

The Committee is asked to note that the Recess Powers granted by the Council at its meeting on 27 June 2024 have not been exercised in relation to the business of the Committee.

4.    Police – Area Performance Summary Report                       
Poilis – Geàrr-chunntas Dèanadais Sgìreil

There is circulated Report No BIER/01/24 by Chief Inspector Stuart Fitzpatrick - Area Commander (North Highland Area Command).

The Committee is asked to note:

i. progress made against the objectives set within the Highland Local Policing Plan 2023 – 2024 Year 1 attached as Annex A to this report, for the period covering 01 April 2023 – 30 November 2023; and
ii. the change in format necessitated by a reduction in back office capacity to prepare additional area committee reports.

5.    Black Isle Place Plan     
Plana Àite an Eilein Duibh

There is circulated Report No BIER/15/24 by the Assistant Chief Executive – Place.

The Committee is asked to:

i.    adopt the Plan, using it as a tool to inform and support decision making about the Black Isle;
ii.    note Opportunity Black Isle is both a Local Place Plan in line with national Planning Legislation and an Area Place Plan in line with Highland’s Place Based Framework;
iii.    note the Plan will be taken into account in preparation of the Highland Local Development Plan (HLDP) as guided by the Planning (Scotland) Act 2019; and
iv.    note the next steps for progressing the work set out in the plan. 

6.    Winter Service Plan 2024/25    
Plana Seirbheis a’ Gheamhraidh 2024/25

There is circulated Report No BIER/16/24 by the Assistant Chief Executive – Place.

The Committee is asked to approve the Winter Service Plan for 2024/25.

7.    Common Good Funds    
Maoin Maith Choitchinn

a.    Cromarty Common Good Fund                     
Maoin Math Coitcheann Chromba 

There is circulated Report No BIER/17/24 by the Assistant Chief Executive – Place.

The Committee is asked to scrutinise and note the Q4 monitoring statement for the Cromarty Common Good Fund.

b.    Fortrose and Rosemarkie Common Good Fund             
Maoin Math Coitcheann na Cananaich agus Ros Maircnidh 

There is circulated Report No BIER/18/24 by the Assistant Chief Executive – Place.

The Committee is asked to scrutinise and note the Q4 monitoring statement for the Fortrose and Rosemarkie Common Good Fund.

c.    Invergordon Common Good Fund                     
Maoin Math Coitcheann Inbhir Ghòrdain 

There is circulated Report No BIER/19/24 by the Head of Community Support and Engagement and the Head of Corporate Finance & Commercialism.

The Committee is asked to scrutinise and note the Quarter 4 monitoring statement for the Invergordon Common Good Fund.
                                                                     
d.    Tain Common Good Fund                         
Maoin Math Coitcheann Bhaile Dhubhthaich

There is circulated Report No BIER/20/24 by the Head of Community Support and Engagement and the Head of Corporate Finance & Commercialism.

The Committee is asked to scrutinise and note the Quarter 4 monitoring statement for the Tain Common Good Fund.

8.    Ward Discretionary Awards    
Duaisean fo Ùghdarras Uàird

There is circulated for noting details of the Discretionary Budget applications that have been approved.

9.    Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green Freeport Update
Cunntas às Ùr mu Shaor-phort Uaine Inbhir Nis agus Chaolas Chromba

Calum MacPherson, Chief Executive of Inverness and Cromarty Green Freeport, will give a presentation to the Committee on the Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green Freeport.

10.    Ward Minutes    
Geàrr-chunntas

There is circulated for noting Minutes of Meeting of the Black Isle and Easter Ross Area Committee held on 13 May 2024, which were approved by the Council on 27 June 2024.