Agendas, reports and minutes

A meeting of the Caithness Committee will take place remotely on Monday 20 January 2025 at 10.00am.

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

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. Scottish Fire and Rescue Local Performance Report                         
Aithisg Dèanadais Ionadail Seirbheis Smàlaidh is Teasairginn na h-Alba

There will follow Report No CC/01/25 by the Local Senior Officer for Highland.     
        
4. Scottish Government Play Park Funding
Maoineachadh Phàircean-cluiche Riaghaltas na h-Alba

There is circulated Report No CC/02/25 by the Assistant Chief Executive - Place.

The Committee is invited to agree that:

i.  in Ward 2 £146,824 be allocated to the agreed projects as outlined at 6.5; and
ii. in Ward 3 £145,338 be allocated to the agreed projects as outlined at 6.6    

5. Area Roads Capital Programme Update – 2024-25
Cunntas mu Phrògram Calpa nan Rathaidean Sgìreil – 2024-25

There is circulated Report No CC/03/25 by the Assistant Chief Executive - Place.

The Committee is invited to:

i.   note the final budget allocation for Caithness area for 2024/25;
ii.  note the works completed on the approved prioritised list to date;
iii. note the additional works identified and prioritised throughout the year; and
iv.  approve the works still proposed for the 2024/25 financial year.     
        
6. Area Roads Capital Programme 2025-26
Prògram Calpa Rathaidean Sgìreil 2025/26

There is circulated Report No CC/04/25 by the Assistant Chief Executive - Place.

The Committee is invited to approve the proposed prioritised Area Roads Capital Programme for Caithness Area.            

7. Housing Revenue Account: Garage Rents 2025/26 
Cunntas Teachd-a-steach Taigheadais: Màil Gharaidsean 2025/26

There will follow Report No CC/05/25 by the Assistant Chief Executive - Place.

8. Housing Repairs Performance Report
Aithisg Coileanaidh Càraidhean Taigheadais

There will follow Report No CC/06/25 by the Assistant Chief Executive - Place.
            
9. Education Associated School Group Report        
Aithisg Foghlaim Buidheann Sgoiltean Co-cheangailte

There are circulated Report Nos CC/07/25 to CC/08/25 by the Assistant Chief Executive - People.

The Committee is invited to scrutinise and note the content of the reports.    
        
10. Caithness Place Based Initiative Fund Update
Cunntas mu Mhaoin Iomairt Stèidhichte air Àite Ghallaibh

There is circulated Report No CC/09/25 by the Chief Officer Community and Housing

The Committee is invited to:

i.  note progress made on PBI supported projects in the current financial year; and
ii. homologate re-purposing of £1,556 underspend of Ward 3 PBI funding to support Wick town centre regeneration projects.     
        
11. Wick Common Good Fund – 2023/24 Annual Accounts and Final Monitoring, 2024/25 Quarter Three Monitoring Report and 2025/26 Proposed Budget
Maoin Math Coitcheann Inbhir Ùige – Cunntasan Bliadhnail agus Sgrùdadh Deireannach 2023/24, Aithisg Sgrùdaidh Ràith Trì 2024/25 agus Buidseat a Thathar a’ Moladh airson 2025/26

There is circulated Report No CC/10/25 by the Executive Chief Officer Communities and Place and Head of Corporate Finance.

The Committee is invited to:-

i.   Consider and agree the Wick Common Good Fund Statement of Accounts (Appendix 1) and Quarter 4 monitoring report for 2023/24 (Appendix 2), 
ii.  Consider and note the position of the Wick Common Good Fund, as shown in the Q3 monitoring statement (Appendix 3) against budget for 2024/25, and
iii. Approve the Wick Common Good Fund Annual Budget for 2025/26 (Appendix 4).
        
12. Thurso Common Good Fund – 2023/24 Annual Accounts, 2025/26 Budget 
Maoin Math Coitcheann Inbhir Theòrsa – Cunntasan Bliadhnail 2023/24, Buidseat 2025/26

There is circulated Report No CC/11/24 by the Executive Chief Officer Communities and Place and Head of Corporate Finance.

The Committee is invited to

i.  consider and agree the Thurso Common Good Fund Statement of Accounts for 2023/24. (Appendix 1); and
ii. agree Thurso Common Good Fund Annual Budget for 2025/26 (Appendix 2).
    
13. Ward Discretionary Awards
Duaisean fo Ùghdarras Uàird

The Committee is asked to note that the following Ward Discretionary Budget applications were approved for the period to 31 December 2024.

Thurso and Northwest Caithness Ward Discretionary Budget applications approved 1st April 2024 – 31st December 2024

Community Food Initiatives North East – Fareshare in Highland    £1,690.00
Caithness Chamber of Commerce – Caithness Transport Forum    £500.00
Pentland Firth Yacht Club – Replacement Windows                        £1,450.00
Highlife Highland – Active School Coaching & Equipment               £1.500.00
Sidh Chailleann Art – “Industrial Caithness” Exhibition                    £1,000.00
Thurso Youth Club SCIO – Holiday Activities                                   £1,000.00
Thurso Community Council – Thurso Town Centre initiative 2024    £400.00
Association of Caithness Community Councils – Village Officer      £3,200.00
Connecting Carers Caithness                                                           £1,916.00

Total Spend to Date - £12,656.00
Current Available Balance  - £1,744.00  
    
Wick and East Caithness Ward Discretionary Budget applications approved 1st April 2024 – 31st December 2024

Community Food Initiatives North East – Fareshare in Highland     £2,763.00 
Caithness Chamber of Commerce – Caithness Transport Forum    £500.00
Highlife Highland – Youth Session Resources                                  £999.00
Argyll Square Area Association – Replacement Litter Bin                 £561.60
Association of Caithness Community Councils – Village Officer      £5,300.00    

Total Spend to Date - £10,123.60
Current Available Balance - £4,276.40  
        
14. Minutes                                                                                                       
Geàrr-chunntas

There are circulated for noting Minutes of the Caithness Committee held on 11 November 2024 which were approved by the Council on 12 December 2024.