Minutes of Meeting of the Inverness City Committee held in the Council Chamber, Town House, Inverness on Monday, 4 February, 2008 at 10.00 a.m.
Present
Provost R Wynd, Mr R Balfour, Mr I Brown, Miss J Campbell, Ms H Carmichael, Mr P Corbett, Mr J Crawford, Mrs M Davidson, Mr N Donald, Mr J Finnie, Mr J Ford, Mr A Graham, Mr D Henderson, Mr D Hendry, Mr D Kerr, Mrs B McAllister, Mr J MacDonald, Mr K MacLeod, Mr F Parr, Mr R Pedersen, Mr T Prag, Mrs G Sinclair, Mr H Wood
Officials in attendance:
Mr W Gilfillan, Corporate Manager, Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey, Mr D Haas, Inverness City Manager/Clerk, Mr D Somerville, Area Solicitor, Mrs F MacBain, Senior Administrative Assistant, Miss C Robertson, Administrative Assistant, Mr C Kemp, Integrated Transport Manager, TEC Services, Ms M MacKintosh, Inverness City Partnership Officer, Mrs D Maguire, Greeninverness Partnership Officer, Mr I Wallace, Area Roads and Community Works Manager, Mr I Reid, Quality, Service and Performance Officer, Mr H Robertson, Area Education, Culture and Sport Manager, Ms M Barclay, Quality Improvement Officer, Education, Culture and Sport Service, Mr D McCartney, Quality Improvement Officer, Education, Culture and Sport Service, Ms A MacNeil, Senior Public Relations Officer, Ms F Duffy, Ward Manager, Aird and Loch Ness, Mr J Flint, Ward Manager, Inverness Central and Inverness Millburn, Mrs K Hamilton, Ward Manager, Inverness West and Inverness, Ms C Ross, Administrative Assistant, HQ Chief Executive’s Office,Ms A Calder, Administrative Assistant, HQ Chief Executive’s Office
Provost R Wynd in the Chair
Business
1. Apologies for Absence
Apologies for absence were intimated on behalf of Mr J Gray, Mr J Holden and Ms P Munro.
2. Minutes
There had been circulated the minutes of the City Committee held on Monday, 17 December for information only. The Committee NOTED that any matter arising should be brought up at the Highland Council meeting at which the minutes would be circulated for approval. Matters Members wished to have discussed at the City Committee could be brought up via the Notice of Motion procedure.
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 Mr A Graham, seconded by Miss J Campbell.
“This Committee views with deep concern the complete failure of the Administration to provide the information necessary to permit the Committee to discharge its responsibility to scrutinise service delivery in the City of Inverness in terms of paragraph 2.2 of the Schedule of Powers Delegated from the Highland Council to Inverness City Committee.
We ask that the Committee urge the Administration to establish a quarterly rota of reporting to the Committee by Council service departments, regarding their service delivery within the City. The content of these Reports should include a summary of expenditure against budget, detailing operational achievement against targets and identifying major new issues”.
Mr Graham and Miss Campbell summarised their motion, as above, and explained that the remit of the City Committee included scrutiny of service delivery and associated performance and financial management information. They considered that the Committee was not being provided with sufficient information to enable this scrutiny to be undertaken.
Some Members spoke in support of the motion, considering it important to have clearly understandable City-wide service delivery information.
The Corporate Manager explained that much work had been undertaken to provide service delivery information at Ward level. A sample Ward had been chosen and information on the sample Ward was currently being provided to all Councillors, for discussion at Ward Business meetings. Once considered acceptable, similar information would be compiled for all Wards to allow full Ward-level scrutiny. This information would also be made available to the public via the Council’s web-site on the relevant Ward profile.
Other Members commented that Ward-level information could be aggregated to City-wide level.
The City Manager pointed out that not all activities and budgets were managed at a City level, with some crossing geographic boundaries or being held centrally and targeted at need. The current set up of the accounting teams reflected the budget delegation arrangements currently outlined in the financial regulations in that the teams were set up to support the service structure and not a geographic one. A change made solely for Inverness City might require extra financial resources, which could not be quantified until it was clear exactly what was envisaged.
Following discussion, Provost R Wynd seconded by Mr R Pedersen moved as an amendment that “the Administration was establishing the type of information and the method by which it could be reported to wards, which could be aggregated on a City-wide basis for reporting to the City Committee in accordance with the Committee’s powers. The detail of the process for reporting the information both to wards and the City Committee would be the subject of a further report to the next appropriate meeting of the City Committee.”
Mr J Ford seconded by Mr F Parr moved as a second amendment “to establish a system for reporting to every Inverness City Committee meeting a summary of expenditure against Budget for all Service Departments namely ECS, TECS, HSE & PDET. In addition officials should be in attendance to answer any questions and report on any significant events.”
On a division and Members having called for a roll call vote, the result was as follows:
The first Amendment was voted against the second Amendment:
Second Amendment (Mr Ford)
Mr R Balfour
Miss J Campbell
Mr J Ford
Mr A Graham
Mr D Henderson
Mrs B McAllister
Mr K MacLeod
Mr F Parr
Mr T Prag
Mrs G Sinclair
Mr H Wood
First Amendment (Provost Wynd)
Provost R Wynd
Mr I Brown
Mrs H Carmichael
Mr P Corbett
Mr J Crawford
Mrs M Davidson
Mr N Donald
Mr J Finnie
Mr D Hendry
Mr D Kerr
Mr J MacDonald
Mr R Pedersen
The first Amendment was carried by 12 votes to 11.
The first Amendment was then voted against the Motion
First Amendment (Provost Wynd)
Provost R Wynd
Mr R Balfour
Mr I Brown
Mrs H Carmichael
Mr P Corbett
Mr J Crawford
Mrs M Davidson
Mr N Donald
Mr J Finnie
Mr D Hendry
Mr D Kerr
Mr J MacDonald
Mr R Pedersen
Motion (Mr A Graham)
Miss J Campbell
Mr J Ford
Mr A Graham
Mr D Henderson
Mrs B McAllister
Mr K MacLeod
Mr F Parr
Mr T Prag
Mrs G Sinclair
Mr H Wood
The First Amendment (Provost Wynd) was carried by 13 votes to 10 and became the finding of the meeting.
4. Inverness City Centre Streetscape and Transportation Project – Programme Monitoring
There had been circulated Report No: ICC01/08 dated 21 January, 2008 by the Director of Transport, Environmental and Community Services which updated Members on progress and issues associated with the Inverness City Centre Streetscape and Transportation Project.
In response to questions from Members it was explained that:
a) The trees that had been planted in the City Centre had been well anchored
below ground to minimise any possible damage. In addition CCTV was in
operation in the same location. The suggestion to place a notice to this
effect was noted.
b) An opportunity would be created for the Project Managers and Contractors
to answer questions from Members.
c) No formal complaints had been received about the narrowing of the road at
the corner near the Town House. Design and swept path analysis had
been undertaken. The works would have a traffic-calming effect.
d) In relation to problems with pavement levels being too high for wheelchairs
to correctly exit from disabled parking bays, the Church Street carriageway
was not yet complete and this issue would be investigated.
The Committee thereafter NOTED the update and AGREED that the Integrated Transport Manager contact Cllr K MacLeod to verify the location of the disabled bay in order that consideration be given to the pavement levels.
5. Stakeholder Engagement on the City Centre Streetscape & Traffic Management Programme
There had been circulated Report No. ICC02/08 dated 25 January, 2008 by the City Partnership Officer providing an update to Members on the current status of the actions being undertaken in relation to City Centre Traffic Management works.
The report also sought the Committee’s endorsement to proceed with proposals to progress revised Road Traffic Orders for Ness Walk. In relation to this, the City Partnership Officer explained that, following several meetings with stakeholders, it had been agreed to take Option 5 to full statutory consultation, with Option 5 involving Ness Walk being closed northbound, with Little Kenneth Street being One Way and no signals at the Ness Bridge/Young Street/Huntly Street junction.
Members commented that it would be unfair for the Committee to be seen to ‘endorse’ any particular option, prior to statutory consultation being undertaken. The consultation should firstly take place, and the Committee’s endorsement sought once comments had been received. Members also expressed concern about the effect changes would have on businesses on Huntly Street. It was clarified that Huntly Street would be subject to separate Road Traffic Orders and that only Ness Walk and Little Kenneth Street Road Traffic Orders were being progressed at present.
The Committee thereafter:
a) NOTED the content of the report and that further progress updates would
continue to be provided on a regular basis; and
b) AGREED the proposal to progress revised Road Traffic Orders for the Ness
Walk area on the basis of paragraphs 1.5 and 1.6 in the report and
commence the statutory consultation process.
6. Inverness Common Good Fund Budget 2007/2008
There had been circulated Report No. ICC03/08 dated 21 January, 2008 by the Inverness City Manager which sets out the revenue monitoring position for the period to 31 December, 2007 and showed the actual expenditure to date.
The Committee NOTED the report and AGREED that the words ‘Xmas Lights’ in Appendix 1 be amended to ‘Festive Lights’.
7. Common Good Fund – Grant Street Park
Mr K MacLeod, as a shareholder in Clachnacuddin Football Club 1990 Ltd declared a financial interest in this item and left the room during the discussion.
There had been circulated Report No. ICC04/08 dated 4 February, 2008 by the Inverness City Manager detailing the current position with regard to the leasing arrangements in place for Grant Street Park which was presently let to Clachnacuddin Football Club (1990) Ltd. Pages 1-27 in Booklet A, circulated to Members only, related to this item.
The City Manager summarised the report and explained that the Club’s Chairman, Mr Dowling had provided late information relating to the proposed future strategy for the Club. However the information provided did not contain any new information that was not included in the report therefore this had not been circulated to Members. Mr Haas summarised the key components, indicating that a lottery funding application was in hand.
Several Members expressed concern about the non-payment of rent and the financial management of the Club. The proposed costs contained in the all-weather pitch feasibility report were questioned, Members having noted that the report did not address flood-lighting, changing facilities, drainage or car parking. Further, no confirmed funding had yet been received by the Club for the proposal.
Some Members spoke in support of the Club, given its importance to the promotion of football within Inverness. Comparison was made with the Inverness Rugby Club which paid the Council a nominal rent for grounds at Bught Park. However, it was explained that the Common Good Fund (CGF) had purchased Grant Street Park as an investment in 2001 and, as trustees of the CGF, the Committee was obligated to charge market-value rent for the grounds, as they did to other lease-holders on CGF-owned property.
Members also commented that:
a) The Council could have taken action at an earlier date for non-payment of
rent, but emphasised the burden of responsibility for paying rent rested
with the Club.
b) If it was agreed to serve notice of termination of lease for non-payment of
rent on the Club, consideration should be given to permitting the Club to
rent the ground on match days until the end of the 2007/08 season.
c) Consultation with the community on the future of the Club should be
undertaken.
Following discussion, the Committee:
i. DEFERRED a decision to instruct the Area Solicitor in consultation with
relevant Services to serve formal notice of termination on the current
tenants of the leased subjects at Grant Street Park for recovery of
possession of these premises on the basis of non-payment of rent to the
next meeting on 17 March 2008;
ii. AGREED to the formation of a Working Group to investigate options for the
future and undertake further liaison with representatives from the Club.
This Group to comprise the City Manager, the Provost and four further
Members, one from each political Group; and
iii. AGREED that in the meantime the Club would continue to be charged rent
in line with the terms of the lease.
8. Common Good Fund – Funding Application – Handyperson Scheme
There had been circulated Report No. ICC05/08 dated 28 January, 2008 by the Inverness City Manager which detailed an application by Volunteering Highland for funding support given to the Handyperson Scheme. Pages 28-83 in Booklet A, circulated to Members only, related to this item.
Noting that the application was deemed competent, the Committee was invited to give consideration as to whether or not to provide the support requested, in the form of agreeing to underwrite any overspend of the applicants’ budget for the financial year 08/09. Proof would be by way of an audited budget statement being given to the Council for the period.
The Committee DEFERRED consideration of this item to 17 March 2008 to allow for more information on the Council’s proposals for Handyperson Schemes across the Highlands to be taken into account.
9. Inverness City Parking and Loading Order
There had been circulated Report No. ICC06/08 dated 21 January, 2008 by the Director of Transport, Environmental and Community Services. This detailed representations received in relation to the proposed amendments to the Highland Council (Inverness – Central Consolidation) (Variation Order No. 3) Order 2007, together with details of the
discussions held with objectors and the resulting proposals for amendments to the Order as advertised.
The powers to make Road Traffic Orders lay with the Transport, Environmental and Community Services (TECS) Committee, and Members were invited to consider the report and make a recommendation to the TECS Committee.
The Integrated Transport Manager explained that the aim of the Order was to minimise non-essential traffic circulating in the Old Town, while still allowing it to be used by public transport, taxis and delivery vehicles. It was pointed out that the outstanding objection from Mr W A E Fraser had been given due consideration but as it could not be addressed through mitigation, was not recommended to be upheld.
During discussion several Members voiced support for the retention of 4 short-term pay-and-display parking bays in Queensgate because, with the closure of smaller Post Offices, more people would require to visit the City Centre Post Office. Trips would often be short and were likely to be required by elderly people who, while not qualifying as disabled and therefore able to request a blue Disabled Badge, would nevertheless experience difficulty walking from other car parks, or from using public transport. Members also felt it important for Old Town traders to retain maximum car parking for their customers, given that out of town retailers generally had free parking outside their premises.
Other Members pointed out that the retention of a small number of parking bays would create further congestion because vehicles would drive around the Old Town waiting for the parking bays to become free. This would hamper the already restricted bus movements in the Old Town. It was important to decide on a policy of traffic minimisation and stick to it. Further, the creation of these bays would require the removal of either taxi ranks, loading bays or disabled parking bays.
The City Manager pointed out that a Transport Strategy for the City was currently under discussion.
Provost R Wynd, seconded by Mr I Brown, then moved that the Committee recommend to the Transport, Environmental and Community Services Committee that “the one outstanding objection from Mr W A E Fraser, having been given due consideration, be over-ruled, and that the TEC Services Committee make the Traffic Movement Order subject to the amendments set out in paragraph 2.5 of the report.”
Miss J Campbell, seconded by Mr J Crawford, moved as an amendment that “the Inverness City Committee recommend to the TEC Services Committee that four pay-and-display spaces be retained in Queensgate to accommodate shoppers other than holders of Disabled Parking Badges.”
On a division and the vote having been taken by a show of hands, the Amendment was carried by 13 votes to 10 and the Committee AGREED to recommend to the TEC Services Committee to make the Traffic Movement Order subject to the amendments set out in paragraph 2.5 of the report and excepting that four pay-and-display spaces be retained in Queensgate to accommodate shoppers other than holders of Disabled Parking badges.
10. Bellfield Park and Play Areas across the City
There had been circulated Report No. ICC07/08 dated 28 January, 2008 by the Greeninverness Officer, Ward Manager and Quality, Service and Performance Officer which informs the City Committee of the condition of play equipment at the112 play sites in Inverness. It provided Members with an innovative opportunity to use resources in a project which would enhance one of the principal parks of the City by replacing and upgrading the play equipment at Bellfield Park. The project fitted with the Administration’s programme to work for the increased prosperity and health and wellbeing of people living and working in the Highlands.
Members were given the opportunity to instigate the development of projects to improve other play parks across both landward and built up areas with the help of local communities.
Following a slide presentation which summarised the information in the report, Members voiced support for the planned refurbishment of Bellfield Park and further commented as follows:
a) Steps should be taken to ensure land was not referred to as ‘owned’ by an
individual Service, when it was in the ownership of the Council as a whole.
b) The burden on the Housing Revenue Account should be minimised at every
opportunity, including by the removal of Play Areas from its sphere of
responsibility
c) The refurbishment of Play Areas should be included on the Council’s capital
programme, given the amount of funding that was required.
d) Community Group involvement in Play Areas should be encouraged at every
opportunity as they had access to funding streams that the Council did not.
The Committee thereafter NOTED that a further report would be prepared regarding play areas across the City Wards once feedback has been given by individual Wards, and AGREED:
a) to the implementation of the refurbishment of play equipment at Bellfield
Park;
b) a budget of £120,000 for refurbishing the play equipment at Bellfield Park,
broken down as follows;
- £5,000 contribution to the project from each Ward Discretionary Budget (£30,000), excepting Central Ward which would contribute £20,000;
- to match funding of £60,000 to be provided from the City of Inverness Common Good Fund;
- £10,000 from the TEC Services Playground Maintenance budget;
c) to request that the Director of Housing and Property take steps to remove the burden of Play Areas from the Housing Revenue Account.
11. Transport, Environmental and Community Works Routine and Cyclic Maintenance and Planned Work
There had been circulated Report No. ICC08/08 dated 28 January, 2008 by the Area Roads and Community Works Manager which updated Members with regard to recent staff appointments and work plans for the future management of Roads and Community Works, once the transfer of current responsibilities for Refuse and Waste to the Head of Refuse and Waste had taken place.
Members commented as follows:
a) Appreciation was expressed for the improved communication between
Members and TEC Services.
b) Drainage was a key issue for many communities.
c) The role of Village Officers required clarification as at present they were not
being fully utilised.
The Committee NOTED the proposals for future management of Routine and Cyclic Maintenance, Planned Work and other work included under the Roads and Community Works heading, and that once all new Community Works posts were filled and the burden of Refuse and Waste had been transferred, Mr Wallace’s team would be able to concentrate fully on roads and community works issues. The Committee AGREED
a) TEC Services would consult Ward Members on the role and function of
Village Officers in those Wards which had such a post.
b) Inverness Area TEC Services future work plans would be brought to the
Committee for approval where appropriate.
c) Names of Community Works Managers would be included on the structure
plan, once these were confirmed.
12. Performance of Primary and Secondary Schools in the Inverness Area
There had been circulated Report No. ICC09/08 dated 22 January, 2008 by the Area Education, Culture and Sport Manager and Quality Improvement Officers, which provided an overview for Members on the recent performance of primary and secondary schools in the Inverness area. The analysis was based on inspections of schools carried out by HM Inspectorate of Education (HMIe).
Members were invited to comment on the overview of the recent performance of primary and secondary schools in the Inverness Area as assessed by HM Inspectorate of Education (HMIe).
The Area Education, Culture and Sport Manager clarified that the report provided a broad analysis of schools over time. The sample area covered a wide range of schools, from rural to urban, small to large, schools serving more affluent areas and schools serving less affluent areas. Due to the nature of HMIe reporting, and the complex nature of many schools, individual reports could often be partially out of date as soon as they were published, as issues identified might already have been addressed.
Members commented on the overall quality of education provision in the area, which had improved steadily over the last ten years and compared favourably with other areas of the country. Concern was expressed at the poor physical state of some schools where a significant level of investment was required.
In response to questions from Members it was explained that:
a) The indicator ‘equality and fairness’ covered a range of issues, which
included, as examples, a school’s capacity to be welcoming to parents, its
capacity to deal with individual needs, or to tackle bullying. In all schools in
the area an emphasis had been placed on racial and equality training. The
issues of meeting the needs of the most able pupils was also being
addressed. Quality Officers could be invited to, or choose to visit, a school
at any time, to facilitate the monitoring of quality indicators and address any
areas of concern.
b) If action points identified in an HMI report were not addressed by the
Council, the school would not be ‘signed off’ by HMIe.
c) Area ECS Officers could be invited to Ward Business meetings if Members
wished to know more detail about a specific school.
d) There was no direct link between attainment in the English language and
levels of migration; this had been offered only as a possible explanation in
the report. Social deprivation was a more likely cause of low levels of
attainment.
e) Information on school performance would be included in the ward-level
information that was being compiled, as detailed in Item 3, above.
The Committee NOTED the content of the report.
13. Kirking of the Council Working Group
There had been circulated the Minute of the Kirking of the Council Working Group held on 29 November, 2007, which the Committee APPROVED subject to it being noted that it had not in fact been agreed that complimentary celebrations would be beneficial but that discussion of this would be deferred until the next meeting.
The meeting ended at 1.55pm.