• Agenda

 

Minutes of Meeting of the Inverness City Committee held in the Council Chamber, Town House, Inverness on Monday 12^th November 2007 at 10.00 a.m.

 

 

Business

 

Provost R Wynd in the Chair

 

 

1.           Apologies for Absence

 

Apologies for absence were intimated on behalf of Mrs H Carmichael, Mr J Crawford, Mr J Ford, Mrs B McAllister and Mr R Pedersen.

 

2.           Minutes of previous City Committee meetings

 

Members expressed concern that the minutes of previous meetings were not circulated for noting on the agenda of the following City Committee meeting, but were circulated only to the full Council for approval.  Members felt that it was not appropriate to tackle matters arising, or review decisions concerning Inverness at full Council.  It was explained that the City Committee was a strategic Committee of the Council and in terms of Standing Order 40.2, its minutes required approval of the Council.  It would not be appropriate for minutes to be approved or matters arising dealt with by two separate meetings. 

 

It was also suggested that, to facilitate proper Service scrutiny, at each meeting of the City Committee a report be given by Education, Culture and Sport, Transport, Environmental and Community Services, Housing and Property, and Social Work on matters relating to the City, the reports to include budget information and current progress with the Administration programme. 

 

It was AGREED that the City Manager investigate both the reporting of minutes and Service provision/budgets at future meetings.

 

3.           Notice of Motion

 

In terms of Standing Order 10.1, there was submitted on behalf of the Liberal Democrats the following Motion, proposed by Thomas Prag and seconded by Kenneth MacLeod:

 

“That a review be undertaken of the provision of Civic Hospitality by the Council at Inverness Town House”

 

Mr Prag and Mr MacLeod explained that the motion contained no criticism of staff and they were not opposed to the provision of civic hospitality in principle.  However many events were poorly attended by Councillors, and insufficient briefing was given to Councillors attending, all of which lowered the service being given to the guests.

 

Following discussion the Committee NOTED that problems were being experienced with the provision of catering because of the lack of response from Councillors to civic hospitality invitations, and AGREED:

 

i.             the Motion as detailed;

ii.           that Inverness Councillors, from each political grouping, be invited to join
        the Provost and the City Manager in attending meetings to consider
        requests for civic hospitality; and

iii.         that where possible briefing information be given to Councillors at the same time the invitation was issued, this information to be sought from the organisation concerned.

 

4.           Strategic Service Delivery Across City Wards – Update from the Planning and Building Standards Manager

 

The Area Planning and Building Standards Manager made a presentation to the Committee, explaining how the Service was accommodating the need to recognise the challenges in providing a strategic service delivery across the City Wards. 

 

In response to questions he advised that:

 

i.             He would arrange for the weekly planning application lists to be emailed local Members.

ii.           Additional staff time for work on maintenance and enforcement would be useful and the Administration had authorised several new posts for Highland.

iii.         In terms of DDA legislation for new builds, pavements were the responsibility of TEC Services.

iv.         The Planning department could not restrict applicants from applying for an increase in plots at the detailed application stage, further to outline planning permission being granted.

v.           Member training days were being held with regard to Planning matters.

vi.         Objectors were kept informed of applications they had objected to and, where it was worthwhile, dialogue was entered into with applicants and objectors.  Everyone who made representations received a letter advising of the decision.

vii.       A report on enforcement at ward level would be produced at the end of the year.

 

Members NOTED the content of the presentation and AGREED that:

 

i.             Weekly planning application lists would be emailed to local Members;

ii.           A report on enforcement at ward level would be produced at the end of the year; and

iii.         A copy of the presentation would be sent to Members by the Area Planning and Building Standards Manager.

 

5.           Common Good Fund – Briefing

 

The City Manager and Area Solicitor gave a short presentation on the Inverness Common Good Fund.

 

In response to questions from Members they commented that:

 

i.             Expenditure was reported to the Council and was monitored by the Finance Service.

ii.           In terms of the boundaries, consideration would be given to rural applications if they would benefit the inhabitants of the burgh. 

iii.         Each application was considered on its own merits.

 

Members NOTED the content of the presentation.

 

6.           Common Good Fund – Revenue Monitoring Statement

 

There had been circulated Report No.  ICC15/07 dated 30 October 2007 by the City Manager setting out the revenue monitoring position for the period to 30 September 2007 which showed the actual expenditure to date.

 

The City Manager advised that:

 

i.             Income from the Victorian Market was significant.

ii.           There had been a large expenditure on Town House Maintenance as 2 safety inspections had been carried out on the exterior.

iii.         Due to the success of the new flooring in the main hall, this had been extended throughout the first floor.

iv.         New tea and coffee machines had been installed in the Town House meeting rooms which over 3 years would create a saving. 

v.           £50,000 had been budgeted towards the Hogmanay event.   The additional £200,000 would be allocated from balances, and was shown as a variance.

vi.         The bowling green project was no longer proceeding.

 

Members NOTED the contents of the report and AGREED that future reports would be in a new format with a more detailed breakdown of the figures.

 

7.           Common Good Fund – Property Report

 

There had been circulated Report No.  ICC16/07 dated 31 October 2007 by the City Manager. 

 

Further to Members comments the City Manager advised that:

 

i.             Work on the floor of ground level of the Town House was being investigated.

ii.           Money had to be spent on the exterior of the Town House to maintain it and ensure it was safe.  Listed Building Grants were being looked into.

 

Members APPROVED expenditure on essential property repairs to the Victorian Market hall roof and the Town House ground floor toilet from the Inverness Common Good Fund.  They further NOTED the condition of the exterior of the Town House and that a full structural survey was being commissioned, and that a further report would be brought detailing the costs of this item.

 

8.           Donations Working Group Minutes

 

Mr K MacLeod declared a financial interest as the Chairman of the Multiple Sclerosis Therapy Centre and left the room for this item.

 

The minutes of the Donations Working Group, held on 5 November 2007 had been circulated to Members.

 

The Committee RESOLVED in terms of Section 50A(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 that public be excluded from the meeting to allow discussion of this item on the grounds that it involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 4 and 6 of Part 1 of Schedule 7A of the Act.

 

Further to discussion Members AGREED the recommendations of the Donations Working Group.  As regards the application by the Inverness & District Friends of ARMS Ltd, a further report would be presented at the next Committee.  The sum granted could at that time be increased if Members so wished.

 

9.           The Faith, Hope and Charity Statues and the UHI Executive Office Garden

 

Mr T Prag as a Governor of the UHI Millennium Institute declared a non-financial interest in this item but having applied the test outlined in paragraph 5.18 of the Councillors Code of Conduct concluded that his interest did not preclude his involvement in the discussion.

 

There had been circulated joint report No. ICC17/07 dated 18 October 2007 by the City Manager and the Greeninverness Officer providing information on the statues Faith, Hope and Charity.

 

The Greeninverness Officer summarised the report and advised that the estimated quote for the cost of relocation was £40,000 which included transport, storage and any treatments necessary. 

 

Members commented that:

 

i.             UHI should be asked to contribute financially and other sites could be considered.

ii.           Public art would be beneficial to the area and would be an additional tourist attraction. The statues were part of the heritage of the City and it would be cheaper to bring them back here than to commission new art. 

iii.         The statues were tall and it might be more appropriate for them to be sited at a height rather than at ground level.

 

The Committee NOTED the content of the report and AGREED in principle to purchase the three statues at a total cost of £15,000 to the Inverness Common Good Fund, with further costs of £25,000 for removal and relocation of the statues also being allocated from the Inverness Common Good Fund.  They further AGREED that:

 

i.             Officers be delegated the task of meeting with UHI Millennium Institute Officials with a view to having the statues placed in the garden of the UHI Executive Office as part of their landscaping project.  If this site was appropriate then consideration could be given to cost sharing.

ii.           Other sites would also be considered and discussion about which site was most appropriate would take place at the next Committee.

 

10.      Ness Islands Management Plan

 

There had been circulated Report No. ICC18/07 dated 19 October 2007 by the Greeninverness Officer detailing the requirement for a Ness Islands Management Plan.

 

The City Manager advised that the current budget for the Ness Islands was £75,000 which contained an allocation of £17,000 from the Common Good Fund.  Members were asked to consider an additional donation of £8,000 to cover maintenance work required due to vandalism. 

 

Further to discussion the Committee NOTED the content of the Management Plan and AGREED the additional sum of £8,000 from the Common Good Fund for ongoing management and maintenance of the Ness Islands bringing the annual contribution to a maximum of £25,000.

 

11.      Inverness and Nairn Local Access Forum

 

Three Councillor appointments were required for the Inverness and Nairn Local Access Forum; one from Nairn Members and two from Inverness Members.  Councillor Graham Marsden had been appointed by Nairn Ward Members as a Nairn representative, and the City Committee was asked to appoint two Members to represent Inverness. 

 

As background information, Section 25 of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 required access authorities to establish a Local Access Forum for its area.  Its functions were to:

 

i.             Advise the access authority and anyone who consults it on access rights, the existence and delineation of rights of way an the core paths plan.

ii.           To offer assistance and, where it is accepted, give assistance to parties in dispute about the exercise of access rights, the existence and delineation of rights of way, the drawing up and adoption of the core paths plan and the use of core paths.

 

The Highland Council required to appoint persons to the Local Access Forums; its members drawn from community, land management, agency and user group interest in addition to 3 Councillors.

 

There were six forums in The Highland Council area; Caithness, Sutherland, Ross and Cromarty, Skye & Lochalsh, Lochaber and Inverness & Nairn (including parts of Badenoch and Strathspey which are outwith the Cairngorms National Park Authority).

 

The Administration moved the appointment of Councillor Ian Brown, as Chairman of the INBS Planning and Applications Review Committee.  Mr J Gray seconded by Mr R Balfour moved Mr F Parr and Mr T Prag seconded by Mrs G Sinclair moved Mr H Wood. 

 

The Committee NOTED Councillor Graham Marsden had been appointed by Nairn Members as a Nairn representative and AGREED to investigate whether Mr I Brown, Mr F Parr and Mr H Wood could all be appointed as Inverness representatives to the Inverness and Nairn Local Access Forum.

 

12.      City Centre Streetscape & Traffic Management Programme

 

There had been circulated Report No. ICC19/07 dated 8 November 2007 by the City Manager detailing the current status of the actions being undertaken in relation to the Streetscape & Traffic Management works currently underway in the City Centre. 

 

Members NOTED the contents of the report and that the Corporate Manager would be presenting and reporting on Community Planning Structures to the next appropriate meeting.

 

The Committee ended at 1.05pm