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 19 August 2024 at 10.00am.

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. Recess Powers 
Cumhachdan Fosaidh

The Committee is invited 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 City of Inverness Area Committee.

4. Birthday Honours 
Urraman Co-là-breith
    
Members are advised that the following individual has been recognised in the Birthday’s Honours List:-

Retired Special Constable Francis John Sutherland (known as Iain Sutherland) has been honoured with an MBE in recognition of his service to the police force.
  
5. Police – Area Performance Summary    
Poileas – Geàrr-chunntas air Coileanadh Sgìreil

There is circulated Report No CIA/21/24 dated 7 August 2024 by the Inverness Area Commander.

The Committee is invited to note:-

i. progress made against the objectives set within the Highland Local Policing Plan 2023–2024 Year 1 attached as Annex A to the report, for the period covering 01 April 2023 – 31 March 2024; and
ii.the change in format necessitate by a reduction in back-office capacity to prepare additional area committee reports.

6. Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green Freeport Update    
Cunntas às Ùr mu Shaor-phort Uaine Chaolas Chromba

There will be a presentation by the Chief Executive Officer of the Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green Freeport.

The Committee is invited to note the presentation.

7. 2024/25 Annual Report on Inverness Business Improvement District 
Aithisg Bhliadhnail 2024/25 mu Sgìre Leasachadh Gnothachais Inbhir Nis
                                                                                                         
There is circulated Report No. CIA/22/24 dated 2 August 2024 by the Assistant Chief Executive - Place.

The Committee is invited to:- 

i.  endorse the work detailed in this report; 
ii. note the ongoing development of partnership working in the key areas identified; and
iii.note that a Members Briefing will be arranged to provide for further discussion with Bid Board representatives.

8. Bereavement services update    
Cunntas às ùr mu sheirbheisean bàis

There is circulated Report No. CIA/23/24 dated 5 August 2025 by the Assistant Chief Executive – Place. 

The Committee is invited to note:-

i. the progress of burial ground extensions in the Inverness area; and
ii.the challenges with identifying and developing suitable land for burial ground development

9. Petition for Speed limit change on A833    
Athchuinge airson casg astair atharrachadh air A833

There is circulated Report No. CIA/24/24 dated 31 July 2024 by the Assistant Chief Executive – Place

The Committee is invited to note the contents of the petition and this report and consider granting approval for officials to carry out a review and analysis of the relevant section of road with a view to considering implementation of an appropriate speed limit over an appropriate length of the A833.  All in accordance with relevant criteria for setting local speed limits with any proposed implementation of speed limits following relevant procedure in terms of consultation advertising etc.

10. Winter Service Plan for 2024/25                                                         
Plana Seirbheis Geamhraidh airson 2024/25 

There is circulated Report No. CIA/25/24 dated 22 July 2024 by the Assistant Chief Executive - Place

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

11. Allocation Process for Area Share of Invitation to Pay Scheme
Pròiseas Riarachaidh airson Co-roinn Sgìreil den Sgeama Cuireadh airson Pàigheadh

There is circulated Report No. CIA/26/24 dated 22 July 2024 by the Assistant Chief Executive - Place

The Committee is invited to:- 

i.  consider the options set out for distribution in paragraph 6.1 of the report;
ii. approve the proposed process for the area allocation of invitation to pay income;
iii.note that the process will be reviewed after the first year of implementation; and
iv. note that in line with the Scheme of Delegation, the delegated powers for the authorisation of spend up to £10,000 would be assigned to the Senior Community Development Manager and over £10,000 would be subject to Committee approval.

12. Inverness Common Good Fund    
Maoin Math Coitcheann Inbhir Nis

a) Inverness Common Good Fund Sub-Committee Annual Report [2023/24]
Aithisg Bhliadhnail Fo-Chomataidh Maoin Math Coitcheann Inbhir Nis [2023/24]

There is circulated Report No. CIA/27/24 dated 5 August 2024 by the Assistant Chief Executive - Place.

The Committee is asked to:- 
i.  note and scrutinise the work of the ICGFSC as described within the report; and
ii. agree to the replacement of the reference to Director of Development and Infrastructure with Assistant Chief Executive – Place in “clause h” and to the inclusion of new “clause j” within the Powers delegated to the ICGFSC shown in Appendix 2 of the report.

b) Financial Monitoring – 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024
Sgrùdadh Ionmhasail

There is circulated Report No. CIA/28/24 dated 2 August 2024 by the Inverness City Area Manager. 

The Committee is invited to consider and note the near final monitoring report (Appendix 1 of the report) for the Inverness Common Good Fund for the year ended 31 March 2024. 

c) Inverness Common Good Fund – Town House Car Park 
Maoin Math Coitcheann Inbhir Nis – Pàirc Chàraichean Taigh a’ Bhaile

There is circulated Report No. CIA/29/24 dated 10 July 2024 by the Assistant Chief Executive – Place.
The Committee is asked to agree that £4085.00 costs incurred by the Council’s Parking Services Team to operate the Town House Car Park as a Common Good site is charged against the Inverness City Common Good Fund

d) Grants Applications over £10,000
Iarrtasan Tabhartais thar £10,000

There is circulated Report No. CIA/30/24 dated 2 August 2024 by the Assistant Chief Executive - Place. 

In this connection, there is circulated separately a copy of supporting documentation as Booklet A.

The Committee is invited to:-

i.    consider the applications for funding;
ii.    note that no further applications will be considered during the financial year 2024/25 under the Poverty and Inequality or Other Grants Budgets unless further funding is allocated to the relevant budgets; and
iii.    agree to close the Grants budget for further applications for the remainder of financial year 2024/25.

13. Inverness Local Holidays 2025/26
Saor-làithean Ionadail Inbhir Nis 2025/26

2025
Wednesday 1 January 2025 (New Year’s Day)
Thursday 2 January 2025 (2nd January Holiday)
Monday 3 February 2025
Monday 3 March 2025
Monday 21 April 2025 (Easter Monday)
Monday 5 May 2025 (May Day Holiday)
Monday 7 July 2025
Monday 6 October 2025
Monday 3 November 2025
Thursday 25 December 2025 (Christmas Day)
Friday 26 December 2025 (Boxing Day)
 
2026 
Thursday 1 January 2026 (New Year’s Day)
Friday 2 January 2026 (2nd January Holiday)
Monday 2 February 2026
Monday 2 March 2026
Monday 6 April 2026 (Easter Monday)
Monday 4 May 2026 (May Day Holiday)
Monday 6 July 2026
Monday 5 October 2026
Monday 2 November 2026
Friday 25 December 2026 (Christmas Day)
Monday 28 December 2026 (Boxing Day)

The Committee is invited to agree the above dates as Local Holidays for the City of Inverness for years 2025 and 2026.

14. Minutes     
Geàrr-chunntas

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

i.    City of Inverness Area Committee held on 24 May 2024 for noting; 
ii.   Inverness Common Good Fund Grants Sub-Committee held on 1 August 2024 for approval; and
iii.  Inverness Events and Festivals Working Group held on 28 June 2024 for approval