Minutes of Meeting of the Planning, Development, Europe and Tourism Committee held in the Council Chamber, Council Headquarters, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness on Thursday 23 March 2006 at 2.00 p.m.

 

 

 

Officials in attendance:

 

Mr J D Rennilson, Director of Planning and Development

Mr G Robson, Head of Environment

Mr A McCann, Economy and Europe Manager

Mr M MacLeod, Policy and Information Manager

Mr A Ogilvie, Principal Planner

Mr G Summers, Principal European Officer

Mr C Simpson, Tourism Co-ordinator

Mrs D Stott, Senior Planner, Ross & Cromarty Area

Mrs R Moir, Principal Administrator, Corporate Services

Mrs C Nicoll, Administrative Assistant, Corporate Services

 

Mr A S Park in the Chair

 

Business

 

An asterisk in the margin denotes a recommendation to the Council.
All decisions with no marking in the margin are delegated to the Committee.

 

Preliminaries

 

1.  Apologies For Absence

 

Apologies for absence were intimated by Mr R Saxon, Mr F R M Keith, Mr M Macmillan, Mr W M Fulton, Mr C L Goodman and Mrs O J Macdonald.

Resources

2.  Revenue Expenditure 2005/06 - Monitoring Statement

 

There had been circulated and NOTED Report No. PDET21/06 dated 15 March 2006 by the Director of Planning and Development on Revenue Expenditure on the Planning and Development Service for the period to 28 February 2006 and the projected year-end position.

3.   Revenue Budget 2006/07

 

There had been circulated Report No. PDET22/06 dated 14 March 2006 by the Director of Planning and Development outlining the Planning & Development Service 2006/07 Budget proposals.

 

The Committee NOTED the measures required to balance the 2006/07 revenue budget, as set out in the report, and that a report would be brought to each meeting of the Committee in financial year 2006/07, detailing how the Service’s savings measures were progressing.

4.  Capital Expenditure 2005/06 - Monitoring Statement

 

There had been circulated Report No. PDET23/06 dated 14 March 2006 by the Director of Planning and Development outlining the gross expenditure and income for the period to 28 February 2006 and giving the estimated outturn for the Year 2005/06 Capital Programme.

 

The Committee NOTED the position and APPROVED:

 

(a) the carry forward and continuation of the delayed projects as detailed; and
(b) the reallocation of identified funding of £60,000 to the refurbishment of the Visitor Centre at Dunnet.

Development And Control

5.  Erection of Heat Transfer Station Adjacent to Obsdale Primary School, Alness, Ross-Shire (05/00941/Nidrc)

 

In terms of Standing Order 13.2, the following Member had applied for and been granted a local Member vote for this item: Mrs C Wilson.

 

This item had appeared on the agenda for the meeting of the Ross and Cromarty Area Planning Committee to be held on Tuesday, 14 March 2006.  Legal advice had, however, been received that the Area Planning Committee should refer the matter to this Committee.  Prior to commencement of the item, the Chairman made a statement on behalf of the Ross and Cromarty Members of the Committee to the effect that their earlier consideration of this matter at the Ross and Cromarty Area Housing Committee had been limited to the principle of the proposed Community Heating Scheme and they had not discussed any matters of a planning nature.  In the event that the Committee considered that planning permission should be granted, the application would require to be referred to Scottish Ministers because of the Council’s interest in the application.

 

There had been circulated Report No. PDET24/06 dated 2 March 2006 by the Area Planning and Building Standards Manager for Ross and Cromarty recommending approval, subject to conditions, of a Notice of Intention to Develop proposal for the erection of a Heat Transfer Station adjacent to Obsdale Primary School, Alness, Ross-shire, submitted by the Council’s Housing Services, per Property and Architectural Services.

In speaking to the report, the Senior Planner, Ross & Cromarty Area, made reference to a letter just received from Mrs M Macmillan MSP on behalf of constituents, but advised that it did not raise new issues not already addressed in the report.  She summarised the application, which involved the erection of a building to house a gas fired combined heat and power unit, together with a wood chip fuelled boiler plant producing hot water for a Community Heating Scheme serving 209 Council owned houses on the Milnafua Housing Estate and also Obsdale Primary School.

 

The principle of the proposed development adhered to the Council’s Policies on Sustainability G1 and G2.  The site was not allocated for any specific purpose in the Adopted Easter Ross Local Plan and had therefore not been advertised as a Departure.  The Revised Local Plan for Ross & Cromarty East identified the site as part of the school grounds with a recognised amenity contribution; however, the building, in part designed to serve the school, had an associated service use.  Statutory and internal consultees had expressed neither technical objections nor environmental health concerns.  A significant number of objections had, however, been lodged by local residents.

 

During discussion, the proposal was generally supported, particularly as it was seen as according well with the Council’s sustainability goals and its Draft Renewable Energy Strategy.  The view was expressed that, had the proposal been more fully explained to the local community at an early stage, this might have allayed concerns expressed, and that this should be taken into account in any similar future projects.  In response to a question, it was confirmed that it might be possible at a future date to extend the benefits of the Scheme to private households in the vicinity.

 

After discussion, the Committee APPROVED the application, subject to conditions as set out in the report.

Planning Issues

6.  Ross and Cromarty East Local Plan: Deposit Draft and Proposed Modifications - Report of the Public Local Inquiry

 

There had been circulated Report No. PDET25/06 dated 7 March 2006 by the Director of Planning and Development advising that the Council had now received the Inquiry Reporter’s Report into objections to the Ross and Cromarty East Local Plan.  The Director’s report referred to the circulated Report No. RP056/06 dated 6 March 2006 by the Director of Planning and Development, submitted to the Ross and Cromarty Area Planning Committee on 20 March 2006. This latter report had summarised the Reporter’s key conclusions and recommendations of the Local Plan Inquiry held in the summer of 2005 and had invited the Area Committee to agree further Modifications (2) to the Local Plan. 

 

Members were advised that the Ross and Cromarty Area Planning Committee, at its meeting held on 20 March 2006, had approved the Director’s report as submitted to that meeting without further amendment.

 

The Committee AGREED:

 

(a) the proposed modifications to the Deposit Draft of the Ross and Cromarty East Local Plan as set out in Appendix 1 to the report;
(b) publication of the Deposit Draft of the Ross and Cromarty East Local Plan with Modifications (2) and its placing on deposit for six weeks in accordance with statutory requirements; and
(c) that the Deposit Draft Plan with Modifications (2) be recognised as a material consideration to be taken into account in conjunction with the Adopted Local Plans for the purpose of development control within the Ross and Cromarty East Area.

Policy And Consultations

7.  Scottish Water - Update

 

As agreed at the Committee meeting held on 25 January 2006, there had been circulated Report No. PDET26/06 dated 8 March 2006 by the Director of Planning and Development updating Members on continuing discussions with Scottish Water in relation to development constraints and the emerging Quality and Standards (Q&S) 3 Programme.

 

Members were advised that officials had recently been asked, within a very short timescale, to provide the Council’s priorities for investment to Jacobs Baptie, who had been appointed by Scottish Water to co-ordinate input to Q&S 3.   A response had been prepared and submitted on the basis of a professional assessment of relevant criteria, including the provisions of the Structure and Local Plans, Affordable Housing issues and known water supply or wastewater constraints, and in consultation with the Committee’s Portfolio-holders, together with the Convener, Vice-Convener, Area Planning Chairmen and Chairmen of the Housing & Social Work, TEC Services and Education, Culture & Sport Committees.

 

During discussion, a number of Members highlighted problems found in particular areas, including cases where recent Scottish Water upgrade work had failed or had at least proved inadequate to meet demand.  The suggestion was made that consideration be given to convening a meeting with other interested agencies, including all Housing Authorities within the Highlands and Islands, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Communities Scotland and the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations, to identify and discuss the difficulties and costs faced across the housing sector due to lack of Scottish Water investment.

 

After discussion, the Committee NOTED the current position and AGREED:

 

(a) to homologate the recent submission made by officers in relation to the prioritisation exercise carried out by Jacobs Beattie on behalf of Scottish Water; and
(b) that Members pass their particular local concerns relating to Scottish Water to the Director of Planning and Development to inform a briefing note to the Convener in the context of her request for a meeting with the Minister for Environment and Rural Affairs.

8.  Housing In The Countryside

 

There had been circulated Report No. PDET27/06 dated 10 March 2006 by the Director of Planning and Development on the responses to a public consultation on proposed changes to the Housing in the Countryside Development Plan Policy Guideline agreed by this Committee in light of the publication of Scottish Planning Policy 15 - Planning for Rural Development, Planning Advice Note 72 – Housing in the Countryside and Planning Advice Note 73 – Rural Diversification.  The changes related specifically to the removal of the need for occupancy conditions where there was an agricultural need, the provision of housing with existing or new businesses in rural areas and the renovation of redundant buildings or derelict land.

 

During discussion, while there was a general view that a degree of flexibility in the application of the Policy Guideline would be required to reflect local circumstances, it was acknowledged that the requirement in the Guideline for housing development to take into account locally important croft land accorded with the terms of the Structure Plan.

 

After discussion, the Committee APPROVED the recommended changes to the Development Plan Policy Guideline for immediate use.

9.  EU Regional Policy - Post 2006

 

At its meeting held on 24 March 2004, the Committee had agreed that a report on the development of EU Regional Policy post-2006, and in particular progress on the case for Objective 1b status for the Highlands and Islands, be brought to each future meeting of the Committee.  There had been circulated Report No. PDET28/06 dated 13 March 2006 by the Director of Planning and Development on recent developments in the evolution of the EU’s Regional Policy and accompanying Structural Fund programmes for the 2007-13 budgetary period. 

 

The Committee NOTED the position and AGREED that:-

 

(a) the Director of Planning and Development, in consultation with the Convener, Chairman and Europe Spokesperson, prepare a detailed response by the due date of 22 May 2006 to the consultation exercise currently being undertaken by the Department of Trade & Industry in respect of the National Strategic Reference Framework, with particular reference to the Scottish Chapter;
(b) in this context, the Scottish Executive’s draft list of priorities for the European Regional Development Fund and European Social Fund Operational Programmes post-2006 be circulated to all Members for early comment, with the Chairmen of the Council’s strategic Committees encouraged in particular to respond; and
(c) on receipt of these comments, the Director of Planning and Development, in consultation as at (a) above, submit a list of Council priorities for these Operational Programmes to the Scottish Executive, to seek to influence the preparation of the formal consultation document on the Scottish Chapter anticipated for issue in the near future.

Operational Issues

10.  Tourism

(a) Tourism Working Group Minutes

 

There had been circulated and NOTED Minutes of Meeting of the Tourism Working Group held on 10 February 2006.

(b) Partnership Agreement With VisitScotland

 

There had been circulated Report No. PDET29/06 dated 6 March 2006 by the Director of Planning and Development introducing the Partnership Agreement between The Highland Council and VisitScotland for the coming financial year 2006-07 and outlining the process for its conclusion.  Members were advised that the terms of the Agreement offered the Council greater influence than previously over VisitScotland’s expenditure programme, which would be subject to regular monitoring and greater transparency. 

 

The Committee AGREED:

 

(i) that the Director of Planning and Development, in consultation with the Chairman and Depute Chairman (Tourism), conclude a Partnership Agreement with VisitScotland for 2006-07 incorporating the activities listed in Appendix 1 to the report and the information requested on VisitScotland’s national activities and performance indicators; and
(ii) payment to VisitScotland of the sum of £495,000 for 2006-07, to be paid in four equal instalments, the first paid on receipt of the signed Partnership Agreement and thereafter quarterly on receipt of suitable corresponding performance information.

(c) Development Budget: Guidelines for Disbursement of Funds

 

There had been circulated and APPROVED Report No. PDET30/06 dated 6 March 2006 by the Director of Planning and Development setting out proposals for Guidelines for Disbursement of Funds from the Council’s Tourism Development Budget, subject to clarification that the Standard Conditions should specify appropriate use of Gaelic written material.

11.  Aviemore And Cairngorm Destination Management Organisation: Request For Funding

 

At its meeting held on 6 March 2006, the Badenoch and Strathspey Area Committee had agreed to contribute a total of £15,000 from Area budgets towards the setting up of the new Aviemore and Cairngorm Destination Management Organisation (ACDMO) and had recommended that this Committee approve a contribution of £10,000 from the Tourism Development Budget.

 

There had been circulated and APPROVED Report No. PDET31/06 dated 8 March 2006 by the Director of Planning and Development recommending that the Committee contribute funding of £10,000 from the Tourism Development Budget for 2005/06 to the ACDMO towards the first year costs of the Organisation. 

12.  E-Planning: Local Authority Bids For Funding – Memorandum Of Understanding  

 

Members were advised that the Scottish Executive had been working for some months to develop a bid to the Efficient Government Fund (EGF) for  financial support towards introduce e-planning across the Executive and all of Scotland's Planning Authorities, with greater consistency in both hardware and software.  Individual authorities were being invited to indicate support by signing a Memorandum of Understanding which, whilst not legally binding, would show willingness in principle to participate.    
 

The Committee AGREED that the Director of Planning and Development be authorised to sign the Memorandum of Understanding.

The meeting ended at 4.00 p.m.