Agendas, reports and minutes

A meeting of the Black Isle and Easter Ross Area Committee will take place remotely, on 27 January 2025, 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
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.    Police – Area Performance Report                
Poilis – Geàrr-chunntas Dèanadais Sgìreil

There is circulated Report No BIER/1/25 by the Area Commander (North Highland Area Command). 

The Committee is asked to note progress made against the objectives set within the Highland Local Policing Plan 2023-2026 Year 1, attached as Annex A to this report, for the period covering 01 April 2024 – 31 December 2024.

4.    Area Roads Capital Programme 2025/26                
Prògram Calpa Rathaidean na Sgìre 2025/26

There is circulated Report No. BIER/2/25 by the Assistant Chief Executive – Place. 

Members are asked to approve the proposed 2025/26 Area Roads Capital Programme for Black Isle and Easter Ross Area.

5.    HRA Garage Rents 2025/26
Màil Gharaidsean Cunntas Teachd-a-steach Taigheadais 2025/26

There is circulated Report No BIER/3/25 by the Assistant Chief Executive – Place.

The Committee is asked to scrutinise and agree a level of rent increase to apply to Black isle and Easter Ross Garages.

6.    Housing Repairs
Càraidhean Thaighean

There is circulated Report No BIER/4/25 by the Assistant Chief Executive – Place.

The Committee is asked to scrutinise and note the information provided on housing performance in the period 1 April 2024 – 31 December 2024.

7.    Education Attainment Reports 
Aithisgean Buileachadh Foghlaim

7a Attainment Report – Fortrose
Aithisg Bhuileachaidh – A’ Chananaich

There is circulated Report No BIER/5/25 by the Assistant Chief Executive – People.

The Committee is asked to scrutinise and note the content of the report.

7b Attainment Report – Tain
Aithisg Bhuileachaidh – Baile Dhubhthaich

There is circulated Report No BIER/6/25 by the Assistant Chief Executive – People.

The Committee is asked to scrutinise and note the content of the report.

8.    Common Good Funds
Maoin Maith Choitchinn

a.    Cromarty Common Good Fund                     
Maoin Math Coitcheann Chromba 

There is circulated Report No BIER/7/25 by the Chief Officer Housing & Communities and Chief Officer Corporate Finance.

The Committee is asked to:-

i.    consider and agree the Cromarty Common Good Fund Statement of Accounts (Appendix 1a) and Quarter 4 monitoring report for 2023/24 (Appendix 1b); 
ii.    scrutinise and note the position of the Cromarty Common Good Fund as shown in the 2024/25 Quarter Three monitoring statement at Appendix 2; and
iii.    approve the proposed budget for 2025/26 as set out in Appendix 3.

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

There is circulated Report No BIER/8/25 by the Chief Officer Housing & Communities and Chief Officer Corporate Finance.

The Committee is asked to:-

i.    consider and agree the Fortrose & Rosemarkie Common Good Fund Statement of Accounts (Appendix 1a) and Quarter 4 monitoring report for 2023/24 (Appendix 1b);
ii.    scrutinise and note the position of the Fortrose & Rosemarkie Common Good Fund as shown in the 2024/25 Quarter Three monitoring statement at Appendix 2;
iii.    approve the proposed budget for 2025/26 as set out in Appendix 3;
iv.    agree to delegate to the Community Support and Engagement Team power to approve expenditure up to £10,000 in relation to Fortrose and Rosemarkie Common Good within the annually set budget and following consultation with relevant Ward Members. This delegated power will be reviewed annually as part of the budget setting process.

c.    Invergordon Common Good Fund                     
Maoin Math Coitcheann Inbhir Ghòrdain 

There is circulated Report No BIER/9/25 by the Chief Officer Community and Housing, and the Chief Officer Corporate Finance.

Members are asked to:

i.    consider and agree the Invergordon Common Good Fund Statement of Accounts (Appendix 1) and Quarter 4 monitoring report for 2023/24 (Appendix 2); 
ii.    scrutinise and note the position of the Invergordon Common Good Fund as shown in the 2024/25 Quarter Three monitoring statement at Appendix 3; and
iii.    approve the proposed budget for 2025/26 as set out in Appendix 4.

d.    Tain Common Good Fund                         
Maoin Math Coitcheann Bhaile Dhubhthaich

There is circulated Report No BIER/10/25 by the Chief Officer Community and Housing, and the Chief Officer Corporate Finance.

Members are asked to:

i.    consider and agree the Tain Common Good Fund Statement of Accounts (Appendix 1) and Quarter 4 monitoring report for 2023/24 (Appendix 2);
ii.    scrutinise and note the position of the Tain Common Good Fund as shown in the 2024/25 Quarter Three monitoring statement at Appendix 3; and
iii.    approve the proposed budget for 2025/26 as set out in Appendix 4.

9.    Ward Discretionary Awards    
Duaisean fo Ùghdarras Uàird

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

10.    Minutes    
Geàrr-chunntas

There is circulated for noting Minutes of Meeting of the Black Isle and Easter Ross Area Committee held on 4 November 2024, which was approved by the Council on 12 December 2024.