A meeting of Inverness City Committee will take place in the Council Chamber, Town House, Inverness on Monday, 9 June 2008 at 10.00am.
A note of the business to be transacted at the meeting is appended.
Yours faithfully,
David Haas
Inverness City Manager
(for the Chief Executive)
Declarations of Interest – 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 indicate whether it is a financial or non-financial interest and include some information on the nature of the interest. Advice may be sought from Officers prior to the meeting taking place.
1. Apologies for Absence
2. Minutes
City Committee
There is circulated the minute of the City Committee held on Monday 28 April 2008 for information only.
Donations Working Group
There is circulated the minute of the Donations Working Group held on 9 May 2008 for approval. DWG Minutes
3. Am Baile Virtual Tour & Guide to Inverness Town House Booklet
A short presentation will be given on the Am Baile website and Inverness Town House Booklet.
4. Inverness City Centre Streetscape and Transportation Project
There is circulated Report No. ICC38-08 dated 27 May 2008 by the TEC Services Integrated Transport Manager outlining progress and issues associated with the Inverness City Centre Streetscape and Transportation project.
This project takes forward the Programme for Administration aim of Improved Transport and Connectivity: By 2008, we will implement an agreed £6m programme of traffic management and streetscape improvement measures in Inverness City Centre which will reduce traffic congestion and improve the quality of the environment.
The Committee is asked to support the position regarding progress with the Project.
5. Stakeholder Engagement on the City Centre Streetscape & Traffic Management Programme
There is circulated Report No. ICC39-08 dated 30th May 2008 by the City Partnership Officer providing an update to Members on the current status of the actions being taken in relation to the traffic management element of the works currently underway in the City Centre.
The project delivers the Programme for Administration priority 8.6 under Improved Transport and Connectivity: By 2008 we will implement an agreed £6m programme of traffic management and streetscape improvement measures in Inverness City Centre which will reduce traffic congestion and improve the quality of the environment.
The Committee is asked to note the content of the report.
6. Inverness City Vision – Merkinch Projects
There is circulated Report No. ICC40-08 dated 30th May 2008 by the City Partnership Officer. In March 2008 the City Committee deferred a decision on re-allocation of £35k of the Cities Growth Fund earmarked for the South Kessock Environmental Co. to alternative projects in Merkinch. This report brings forward more detailed proposals on replacement projects and seeks Members’ approval to re-allocate the funding.
The projects would develop the local infrastructure necessary to enjoy the natural environment and pursue active lifestyles. They would contribute to the Programme for Administration’s Care and Community priority 2.8 by providing facilities for people to take exercise: With our Wellbeing Alliance partners we will give a high priority to health improvement in the Highlands and will focus on combating drug and alcohol misuse, improving healthy eating and increasing the opportunities for people to stop smoking and take exercise.
The Committee is invited to approve the re-allocation of Cities Growth Fund as follows:
(i) £10,000 to support the limited refurbishment of South Kessock Slipway;
(ii) £15,000 to support the Local Nature Reserve activities detailed in paragraph 4.4; and
(iii) £7,500 to support the Old Ferry Ticket Office upgrade subject to the conditions in 5.4 being fully satisfied.
7. Sponsorship of Roundabouts
There is circulated Report No.ICC41-08 dated 26 May by the Area Roads and Community Works Manager which seeks Members views on proposals from local businesses to sponsor roundabouts in the City of Inverness which are wholly under the control of the Council, as local roads authority.
This report addresses the aims of the Programme of Administration to work with and support the business community and to be open, fair and accountable.
The Committee is invited to consider this report and come to a decision on whether they would support a recommendation to a subsequent TECS Committee to allow advertising on roundabouts all as set out in Section 2.0 of this report.
8. Proposals for an Inverness Winter Festival
There is circulated Report No. ICC42-08 dated 28 May 2008 by the Senior Community Learning and Leisure Officer which recommends the next steps towards the development of a Winter Festival for the City of Inverness.
Establishing a Winter Festival will support the delivery of the Programme for Administration commitment 6: We will continue to work with our partners to establish a year round programme of events to follow on from the good work of Highland 2007. A co-ordinated approach will be taken to link events to maximise visitor numbers to a range of artistic, cultural and sporting events across the Highlands.
It is recommended that Members:
(i) approve the principle of establishing a Winter Festival for three years with funding from the Inverness Common Good Fund of up to £25K per year for a consultancy which will co-ordinate and fund-raise for a winter festival;
(ii) agree that a further meeting of stakeholders be held;
(iii) agree to the principle of the funding raised (contributed by partners and raised though business sponsorship) being matched by the Inverness Common Good fund; and
(iv) agree to receive a further report on funding when more detailed information on the programme and costs is known.
9. Major Public Entertainment Events in 2008
There is circulated Report No.ICC43-08 dated 22 May 2008 by the Area Solicitor and the Inverness City Manager which provides the Committee with details of the forthcoming major public entertainment events within the Area.
These events contribute to the Administration’s aim of providing for a culture of enterprise and growth and also support the arts/heritage, culture and sport.
The Committee is invited to note the major public entertainment events taking place in 2008.
10. Grants to Voluntary Organisations – Governance and Recognition of Contributions
There is circulated Report No. ICC44-08 dated 12th May 2008 by the Inverness City Manager which details the governance controls that are in place to ensure that any funds made available to applicants through either the Donations Working Group or the decisions of this Committee, emanating from the City’s Common Good Fund, are monitored. It also clarifies the steps required to be taken by successful applicants in recognising the contribution made by the Common Good Fund.
Members are invited to agree that the governance procedures as detailed in the report be used and decided for all applications for funds from the City of Inverness Common Good Fund, noting that they have been applied to date when the application has merited the relevant condition.
11. CCTV Ness Islands – Operational Requirements
There is circulated Report No. ICC45-08 dated 26 May 2008 by the Inverness City Manager which outlines the background and operational requirements for the installation of two CCTV cameras at Ness Islands and improvements to the City cabling for CCTV. Members are asked to note the requirements to implement the decision of the City Committee in January 2007 for these installations, to be met from the Common Good Fund.
Improvements to CCTV contribute to the Programme for Administration by contributing to Sustainable Communities and Improving Transport & Connectivity through improving safety and security in City Centre amenities for residents and visitors.
The Committee is asked to:
(i) note the technical and operational requirements of the CCTV installation at Ness Islands and to confirm the decision to meet the costs of £29,850; and
(ii) approve expenditure from the Common Good Fund to:
a. enable cabling improvements in the City Centre at a cost of £10,350; and
b. install cabling for the cameras on the top floor of the Rose Street Car Park at a cost of £4,105.
The Committee is asked to resolve in terms of Section 50A(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 that public be excluded from the meeting for Item 12.4 and Item 13 on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 4, 6 and 9 of Part 1 of Schedule 7A of the Act.
12. Inverness Common Good Fund
12.1 Grant Street Park - Update Report
There is circulated Report No. ICC46-08 dated 12 May 2008 by the Inverness City Manager. Members are aware that meetings are ongoing between the City Manager, the Area Solicitor and the representatives of the tenant. This report summarises the progress made and invites the Committee to agree to the City Manager and the Area Solicitor continuing liaison with the tenant, with Councillors Kerr and Gray only becoming involved once the lease has been terminated either by renunciation or court action.
The Committee is invited to agree that:
(i) the City Manager and other appropriate Council officials continue to negotiate with representatives of the tenant of Grant Street Park in order to induce the production of a business plan proposing a sustainable solution for Clachnacuddin Football Club;
(ii) Councillors Kerr and Gray, supported by the City Manager, only become involved with Clachnacuddin Football Club’s own Working Group once the lease has either been terminated by renunciation or court action; and
(iii) the City Manager and appropriate officers, in consultation with Councillors Kerr and Gray, investigate a feasibility study into the option of the Common Good Fund developing an all weather synthetic sports pitch facility at Grant Street Park.
The Committee is also invited to note that further update reports will be provided to the City Committee.
12.2 Monthly Monitoring
There is circulated Report No ICC47-08 by the Inverness City Manager which sets out the revenue monitoring position for the period to 30 April 2008 and shows the actual expenditure to date.
The Committee is asked to note the contents of this report.
12.3 Monitoring Report on Projects
There is circulated Report No.ICC48-08 by the Inverness City Manager and the Area Housing and Property Manager, dated 23 May 2008, which presents the current position on projects currently being carried out for the Inverness Common Good Fund. Tying in with the Administration’s Corporate Objectives for the Highland Council in that “We will continue to pursue best value for our residents and service users…”
The Committee is asked to:
(i) note progress currently being carried out; and
(ii) approve the increase in budget for re-roofing the Market Hall Roof to £250,000 and that the additional expenditure will come from surplus income drawn out of the Common Good Fund revenue budget for 08/09.
12.4 Funding Application Requests
There is circulated Report No.ICC49-08 dated 30th May 2008 by the Inverness City Manager inviting the Committee to consider a request for funding from the Inverness Common Good Fund from the 2008/09 budget. There is also circulated, to Members only, a copy of supporting documentation.
13. Rose Street Car Park
There is circulated to Members only Report No. ICC50/08 dated 26 May 2008 by the Director of Housing and Property regarding the Upper Deck Car Park, of what is a two storey car park, at Rose Street, Inverness.
The Inverness City Committee is asked to consider the recommendation as per the report.