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 27 November 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
Chief Officer – Legal and Corporate 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. Good News
Naidheachdan Matha

4. Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Highland Performance Report
Aithisg Choileanaidh Seirbheis Smàlaidh agus Teasairginn na h-Alba airson na Gàidhealtachd

Under the Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012, the Local Authority has responsibility for monitoring and scrutinising performance of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service against the Local Fire and Rescue Plan for the area. The Local Plan was approved by the Committee in November 2020.

There is circulated the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Highland Performance Report for the period 1 April to 30 September 2024.

The Committee is invited to scrutinise the report.

5. Revenue Budget Monitoring and Service Performance Reporting for Q2 1 July 2024 to 30 September 2024
Sgrùdadh Buidseat Teachd-a-steach agus Aithris Coileanaidh Seirbheis R2 2024/25

There is circulated Report No CP/25/24 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.

6. Capital Budget Monitoring Report Q2 2024-25
Aithisg Sgrùdaidh Buidseit Calpa R2 2024–25 

There is circulated Report No CP/26/24 by the Assistant Chief Executive – Place.

The Committee is invited to:-

i.  consider the forecasted capital outturn for the Communities and Place Service for 2024/25 as at Quarter 2; and
ii. note the current forecast for the major project for the Communities and Place Service for 2024/25.

7. Community Participation and Involvement Update
Cunntas Bhliadhnail mu Chom-pàirteachadh

There is circulated Report No CP/27/24 by the Assistant Chief Executive – Place.

The Committee is invited to:-

i.  consider and note the update on the work ongoing to increase participation and involvement of communities in Council activity across Highland; and
ii. agree the Annual Participation Request report for the Scottish Government set out at Appendix 1 of the report.

8. Highland Local Child Poverty Action Report 2023/24
Aithisg mu Ghnìomh Bochdainn Chloinne 2023/24

There is circulated Report No CP/28/24 by the Assistant Chief Executive – Place.

The Committee is invited to:-

i.  consider and note the actions carried out in 2023/24 as set out in section two of Appendix 2 of the report; and
ii. consider and agree the actions for delivery in 2024/25, as noted in section three of Appendix 2 of the report.

9. Registration of Births, Deaths and Marriages - Annual Report
Clàrachadh air Breith, Bàs is Pòsadh – Aithisg Bhliadhnail 

There is circulated Report No CP/29/24 by the Assistant Chief Executive – Place.

The Committee is invited to:-

i.   note the work of the Registration team across the Highland area;
ii.  scrutinise the performance of the team based on the most recent available data from 2023; and
iii. consider and note the continued efforts to modernise and promote the Registration Service, ensuring Highland Council offers a cost effective, efficient but professional service to the public in all aspects of registration business.

10. Bereavement Services – Project Update
Seirbheisean Call Neach-gaoil – Cunntas às Ùr mun Phròiseact 

There is circulated Report No CP/30/24 by the Assistant Chief Executive – Place.

The Committee is invited to note:-

i.  the progress of current projects on burial ground extensions and Inverness Crematorium refurbishment; and
ii. future burial ground extension projects in Highland.

11. Long-term Waste Management
Stiùireadh Sgudail Fad-ùine

There is circulated Report No CP/31/24 by the Assistant Chief Executive – Place.

The Committee is invited to:-

i.   note that the most appropriate strategic approach for The Highland Council’s long-term residual waste management is considered to be one of seeking a long-term contract with a merchant service provider operating within Scotland.  (A merchant provider is one which sells residual waste processing capacity within its facility to customers which may include local authorities and commercial organisations);
ii.  note that the feasibility study findings previously reported to this Committee identified that the current medium-term merchant provider contract represents good value;
iii. note that continuing to investigate the possibility of developing an energy-from-waste facility within the Highlands is not considered to be a suitable course of action;
iv.  note that the basis for the perspective is based on the likelihood of a better cost outcome and more certainty of provision through using a merchant provider and these factors being more favourable for the planning and delivery of effective, strategic waste management operations;
v.   note that the Waste Service will seek, through tendering at the appropriate time, and subject to the Communities and Place Committee agreeing vi below, a long-term waste management solution through a merchant facility to succeed the current medium-term contract; and
vi.  agree that the most appropriate long-term strategic direction for residual waste management is to tender for a merchant provider solution.

12. Play Park Strategy Update for 2024
Cunntas às Ùr mu Adhartas le Ro-innleachd nam Pàircean-cluiche

There is circulated Report No CP/32/24 by the Assistant Chief Executive – Place.

The Committee is invited to:-

i.  note the contents of the report; and
ii. agree the principle that 10% of funds raised by communities is ringfenced for future maintenance.

13. Approach to Public Conveniences and Action Plan
Goireasan Poblach agus Plana-gnìomha

There is circulated Report No CP/33/24 by the Assistant Chief Executive – Place.

The Committee is invited to:-

i.  note the contents of the report; and
ii. agree the Approach to Public Conveniences and Action Plan (Appendix 1 of the report), and that it is subject to funding.

14. Operational Fleet Compliance, Policies and Procedures
Cunntas às Ùr mu Phoileasaidhean Cabhlaich

There is circulated Report No CP/34/24 by the Assistant Chief Executive – Place.

The Committee is invited to note:-

i.   the requirements relating to the Operator Licence, that the licence is due for renewal in January 2026 and that the Council’s performance is currently rated externally as compliant;
ii.  the requirements relating to the Light Fleet; and
iii. that the refreshed Fleet policies and procedures reflect legislative requirements and are aligned to the Council’s budget.

15. Neurodiversity Review Group
Buidheann Comhairleachaidh Niùro-dhiofaran 

There is circulated Report No CP/35/24 by the Assistant Chief Executive – Place.

The Committee is invited to:-

i.    consider and agree the proposed approach, as set out in section 5 of the report, to developing a new equality outcome to reflect and take account of neurodiversity in Council service delivery and as an employer; and
ii.    note that this will inform the review of equality outcomes with a new equality outcome and associated actions being considered as part of the Equality Outcomes and Mainstreaming Report to Communities and Place in May 2025.

16. Minutes of the Waste Strategy Working Group
Geàrr-chunntas Buidheann Obrach Ro-innleachd Sgudail

There are circulated, for approval, the Minutes of the Waste Strategy Working Group held on Friday 8 November 2024.

17. Membership of the Waste Strategy Working Group
Ballrachd Buidheann Obrach Ro-innleachd an Sgudail

The revised membership, in accordance with the political formula, will be tabled at the meeting.