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 Monday 3 February 2025 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
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 Statemen
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. New Years Honours 
Urraman na Bliadhn’ Ùire

Members are advised that the following individuals have been recognised in the New Year’s Honours List: -

• Elizabeth Devlin McClurg (BEM)
• David Matthews (MBE)
• Karla Stevenson (KFSM)

4. Police – Area Performance Report     
Poileas – Geàrr-aithisg Coileanadh Sgìreil

There is circulated Report No. CIA/01/25 by the Inverness Area Commander.

The Committee is invited to note:-

i.  progress made against the objectives set within the Highland Local Policing Plan 2023–2026 Year 1 attached as Annex A to the report, for the period covering 1 April 2023 – 31 December 2024; and 
ii. the change in format necessitate by a reduction in back-office capacity to prepare additional area committee reports.

5. Inverness Strategy Update    
Fios às Ùr mu Ro-innleachd Inbhir Nis  

There is circulated Report No CIA/02/25 by the Assistant Chief Executive – Place.

The Committee is invited to note:-

i.   the Inverness Strategy as a tool for communicating and coordinating delivery of priority development and investment for the city and area; 
ii.  the vision and priority outcomes derived from a consolidation of existing national, regional and local plans and strategies, adopting these as a set of expectations and qualities for future development and investment to be delivered through current and future projects; and 
iii. that delivery of the projects, priorities and vision identified within the Strategy will rest upon targeted use of existing tools and a collaborative approach to cross-sector partnership working.  

6. Area Roads Capital Programme 2025/26 
Prògram Calpa Rathaidean Sgìreil 2025/26

There is circulated Report No CIA/03/25 by the Assistant Chief Executive – Place.

The Committee is invited to approve the proposed 2025/26 Area Roads Capital Programme for the City of Inverness and Area.

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

There is circulated Report No CIA/04/25 by the Assistant Chief Executive – Place.

The Committee is invited to agree a level of rent increase to apply to Inverness Garages and Garage Sites.

8. Housing Performance Report – 1 April 2024 to 30 September 2024
Aithisg Coileanaidh Taigheadais – 1 Giblean 2024 gu 30 Sultain 2024
    
There is circulated Report No CIA/05/25 by the Assistant Chief Executive – Place.
The Committee is invited to note the information provided on housing performance for the period 1 April 2024 – 31 December 2024.

9. Associated School Group Attainment Overview     
Foir-shealladh air Buileachadh Buidheann Sgoiltean Co-cheangailte 

There is circulated Report No CIA/06/25, No CIA/07/25, and No CIA/08/25 by the Assistant Chief Executive - People.

The Committee is invited to scrutinise and note the content of the reports related to Culloden Academy, Inverness Royal Academy and Millburn Academy.
 
10. Inverness Common Good Fund (ICGF)    
Maoin Math Coitcheann Inbhir Nis

a) Inverness Common Good Fund - 2023/24 Annual Accounts and Final Monitoring
Maoin Math Coitcheann Inbhir Nis – 2023/24 Cunntasan Bliadhnail agus Sgrùdadh Deireannach 

There is circulated Report No. CIA/09/25 by the Assistant Chief Executive – Place.

The Committee is invited to consider and note the final monitoring report (Appendix 1) and Statement of Accounts (Appendix 2) for the Inverness Common Good Fund for the year ended 31 March 2024. 

b) Financial Monitoring
Sgrùdadh Ionmhasail  

There is circulated Report No. CIA/10/25 by the Assistant Chief Executive – Place.

The Committee is invited to note the financial monitoring report to 31 December 2024 and that overall expenditure is within agreed budgets excepting estimated outturns detailed in Appendices 1 and 2 of the report.

c) Inverness Common Good Fund Budget Setting for 2025/2026
Suidheachadh Buidseit Maoin Math Coitcheann Inbhir Nis airson 2025/26

There is circulated Report No. CIA/11/25 by the Assistant Chief Executive – Place.

The Committee is invited to consider and approve the Common Good Fund budget for 2025/2026 as detailed within the report and appendices of the report.

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

There is circulated Report No. CIA/12/25 by the Assistant Chief Executive – Place.

The Committee is invited to:-

i.   note the terms of the Inverness Common Good Fund Budget for 2025/26;
ii.  consider the applications in Booklet A for funding from the 2025/26 budget:
iii. agree to the repurposing of part of the grant approved in 2024 towards the Gull Management Programme 2024/25 within the application in Booklet B; and
iv.  noting the moratorium on applications to the 2024/25 grants budget, agree the recommendation to refuse the request to allocate a further sum of £9,663 also contained within the application in Booklet B.

11. Ward Discretionary Budget Applications     
Iarrtasan Buidseat fo Ùghdarras Uàird

The Committee is asked to note that the following City of Inverness Ward Discretionary Budget applications have been approved since 18 November 2024:-

Ward 12 
Highland Schools Wind Orchestra (HLH): 2025 Tour to Augsburg Germany - £300
Aird Community Trust: Kirkhill Community Centre Upgrades - £2,500
Glenurquhart High School Parent Council: School uniform initiative - £750
Beauly Community Trust: Sports Association Asset Transfer - £2,000

Ward 13
Highland Schools Wind Orchestra (HLH): 2025 Tour to Augsburg Germany - £300
Old School Clachnaharry: Woodworking Enterprise Project - £911.23
Torvean Avenue Legal Fee - £344

Ward 14
Trinity Life Church - TLC Community Hall Enhancement - £1,000
Highland Print Studio: Wise Guys - £1,500

Ward 15
Inverness Foodstuff: Supporting Families at Christmas - £1,200

Ward 16
Highland Schools Wind Orchestra (HLH): 2025 Tour to Augsburg Germany - £300

Ward 17
Culloden - Balloch Baptist Church: Warm Space Project - £2,000

Ward 19 
Highland Schools Wind Orchestra (HLH): 2025 Tour to Augsburg Germany - £300

12. Minutes
Geàrr-chunntas

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

i.    City of Inverness Area Committee held on 18 November 2024 for noting; 
ii.    Inverness Events and Festivals Working Group held on 13 January 2025 for approval; and 
iii.    Inverness Common Good Fund Sub-Committee held on 20 January 2025 for approval.