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 Thursday 5 September 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. 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 Communities and Place Committee.

4. Good News
Naidheachdan Matha

5. 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/15/24 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 March 2024.

6. Firework Control Zones    
Raointean Smachd Chleasan-teine

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

The Committee is invited to:-

i.   note the new discretionary power and the guidance on its use provided by the Scottish Government;
ii.  note the current situation and approach in the Highland Council area; and
iii. approve the proposed process for responding to any community requests.

7. Near Final Outturn Revenue Budget Monitoring for 2023/24 and Service Performance Reporting for Q1 2024/25    
Toradh Faisg air Deireannach airson Sgrùdadh Buidseat Teachd-a-steach airson 2023/24 agus Aithris Coileanadh Seirbheis airson R1 2024/25

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

The Committee is invited to:-

i.  consider the Service’s revenue monitoring position; and
ii. scrutinise the Service’s performance and risk information. 

8. Capital Monitoring: Near Final Outturn 2023/24    
Coimhearsnachdan agus Àite – Sgrùdadh Calpa: Toradh Faisg air Deireannach 2023/24

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

The Committee is invited to note the near final capital outturn position for Communities and Place for 2023/24.

9. Highland Community Benefit Policy (Procurement)    
Poileasaidh Shochairean Coimhearsnachd (Solair agus Sochairean Saor-thoileach Eile)

There is circulated Report No CP/19/24 by the Assistant Chief Executive – Place.

The Committee is invited to:-

i.   note rationale for, and the work undertaken, to review the Council’s approach to community benefits form procurement;
ii.  consider and agree the draft Community Benefit from Procurement Policy set out at Appendix 2 of the report; and
iii. note the next steps and that an update on the implementation of this policy will be reported to this Committee in September 2025.

10. Sustainable Business Travel – Update on progress 2023/24    
Siubhal Gnothachais Seasmhach – Cunntas às ùr mu adhartas 2023/24

There is circulated Report No CP/20/24 by the Assistant Chief Executive – Place.

The Committee is invited to note:-

i.   progress to date on reducing fleet, miles, and emissions;
ii.  progress with Pathfinder 2 and the indicative timescale for implementation in Highland;
iii. the updates to the action plan at Appendix 1 of the report; and
iv.  the summary of Pathfinder Projects at Appendix 2 of the report.

11. Highland British Sign Language (BSL) Local Plan 2024–2030    
Plana Cànan Soidhnidh Bhreatainn 2024–2030 

There is circulated Report No CP/21/24 by the Assistant Chief Executive – Place.

The Committee is invited to consider and agree the Highland BSL Local Plan for 2024-2030 as set out at Appendix 2 of the report.

12. Waste Management Service Update    
Cunntas às Ùr mu Atharrachadh dhan t-Seirbheis Sgudail

There is circulated Report No CP/22/24 by the Assistant Chief Executive – Place.

The Committee is invited to note:-

i.  the progress that has been made on the phased introduction of Recycling Improvement Funded (RIF) collection service changes; and
ii. the progress being made on the essential infrastructure projects that will support service change in Caithness, Skye and Lochaber.

13. Community Asset Transfer    
Gluasad So-mhaoin Coimhearsnachd

13a. Annual Community Asset Transfer Report 2023/24
Aithisg Bhliadhnail Gluasad So-mhaoin Coimhearsnachd 2023/24

There is circulated Report No CP/23/24 by the Assistant Chief Executive – Place.

The Committee is invited to consider and agree:-

i.  the annual report on Community Asset Transfer, as detailed in the report and at Appendix 1 of the report, for submission to the Scottish Government; and
ii. the removal of a right of pre-emption in regard to Fort Augustus Memorial Hall as detailed at section 7 of the report.

13b. Community Asset Transfer Request – The Field
Iarrtas Gluasad So-mhaoin Coimhearsnachd – An t-Achadh

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

The Committee is invited to agree to the lease of the land sited at 4 River Drive, Teaninich Industrial Estate, Alness (currently known as The Field), for £1 per annum, based upon the terms of transfer as set out in the report at paragraph 8.2.