Minutes of Meeting of the Inverness City Committee held in the Council Chamber, Town House, Inverness on Monday, 8 August 2011 at 10.00 a.m.

 

Present

 

Provost J Gray
Mr R Balfour
Miss J Campbell
Ms H Carmichael
Mr P Corbett
Mrs M Davidson
Mr N Donald
Mr J Finnie
Mr A Graham
Mr D Henderson
Mr D Hendry
Mr J Holden
Mr D Kerr
Mrs B McAllister
Mr K MacLeod
Ms P Munro
Mr F Parr
Mr R Pedersen
Mr T Prag
Mr H Wood
Mr B Wynd

 

In Attendance:

 

Mr W Gilfillan, Corporate Manager
Mr D Haas, Inverness City Manager/Clerk
Ms A Tanner, Inverness Heritage Trust Project Officer
Ms G Ward, Advice and Information Officer
Ms T Urry, Housing and Property Manager, South
Mr R Evans, Area Roads and Community Works Manager INBS
Mr G Rennie, Principal Project Manager
Mr B Smail, Property Manager, South
Mrs A MacNeil, Senior Public Relations Officer
Miss M MacLeod, Business Support Officer

 

Also In Attendance:

 

Mr C Duncan, Inverness BID
Ms J Cuddy, Inverness BID
Chief Inspector G Murdoch, Northern Constabulary
Mr A Grant, Energy Saving Scotland
Mr D Sutherland, The Archie Foundation
Mr D Cunningham, The Archie Foundation

 

Provost J Gray in the Chair

 

Provost J Gray started the meeting by reading a statement from the Director of Transport, Environmental and Community Services detailing the actions taken by TEC Services to alleviate the effects of flooding caused by severe rainfall over the weekend of 6 and 7 October.

 

Members were unanimous in thanking Highland Council staff and the Emergency Services for their quick and efficient response to the flooding and acknowledged that medium and long term solutions had to be found to reduce the risk of this recurring in the future.

 

Business

 

1. Apologies for Absence

 

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Mr I Brown, Mr A Christie, Mr J Crawford, Mr J Ford, and Mrs G Sinclair.

 

2.  Inverness BID Business Plan – annual report      

 

Declaration of Interest

 

Mr J Gray declared a non financial interest in this item as a Board Member of Inverness BID Company Ltd but, having applied the test outlined in Paragraphs 5.2 and 5.3 of the Councillors’ Code of Conduct, concluded that his interest did not preclude his involvement in the discussion.

 

There had been circulated Report No.ICC-28-11 (358kb pdf) dated 25 July 2011 by the Inverness City Manager providing a summary on the activities of the Inverness Business Improvement District Company (BID) during the period August 2010 to August 2011.

 

Mr C Duncan (BID Chair) highlighted the key aims and objectives of Inverness BID which were principally to enhance the city centre and facilitate long term, positive change. 

 

Ms J Cuddy (BID Vice Chair) then outlined the main activities carried out by BID over the past year including:

 

Marketing

  • working with businesses to extend opening hours;
  • an independent fashion show for businesses in the city;
  • creation of a BID website with a page for each business;
  • distribution of 40,000 food and drink leaflets; and
  • distribution of 10,000 leaflets promoting the city centre during the Barclay’s Scottish Open.

 

Improving Amenity

  • BID Ambassadors; and
  • the gutter cleaning project.

 

Safety

  • BID Security Task team; and
  • Inverness Community Safety Partnership.

 

Facilitating improved communication and development

  • BID Breakfasts; and
  • regular liaison with the Highland Council through the Inverness City Manager.

 

Members welcomed the report and presentation and commented that the work being carried out by BID had done a great deal to further the amenity and safety of the city centre.  However there were some issues within the city that were causing concern to Members, including:

  • the lack of covered bin storage areas, particularly for food premises;
  • the large number of different waste collection vehicles being used in the City Centre; and
  • the increasing number of seagulls in and around the city centre scavenging on discarded food and attacking passers by.

 

A particular concern was highlighted with the Council’s new finance procedures relating to receipt of income where BID levy payments by cheque had been made more difficult.

 

In response, Members were encouraged to hear that BID was contributing to the City Centre Development Brief through consultation with its Board and Members and that it was directly involved with the Inverness Partnership Marketing Group. 

 

The City Manager confirmed that a communications protocol which had been put in place meant that BID was given prior notice of any matters that might affect the City Centre and this system was now working well with regular meetings between the City Manager and BID Manager.

 

The Committee NOTED:

  1. the contents of the report and the presentation provided by Inverness BID representatives along with the ongoing, continuing development of the relationship between the Council and Inverness BID; and

 

AGREED that the City Manager:

  1. liaise with the Finance Service to ensure that payment of the BID Levy was not prejudiced by the Council’s new payment processes;
  2. work with BID to look at the possibility of setting up a single bin collection contract within the City Centre; and
  3. evaluate the work being undertaken by other local authorities in relation to seagulls, in conjunction with TEC Services, and present a report to the City Committee as soon as was practical.

 

3. Inverness City Heritage Trust – Annual Report

 

Declarations of Interest

Mr J Gray, Mr K MacLeod and Mr D Kerr declared non financial interests in this item as Board Members of Inverness City Heritage Trust but, having applied the test outlined in Paragraphs 5.2 and 5.3 of the Councillors’ Code of Conduct, concluded that their interests did not preclude their involvement in the discussion.

 

There had been circulated Report No. ICC-29-11 (47kb pdf) dated 12 July 2011 by the Inverness City Manager informing Members about the work of Inverness City Heritage Trust (ICHT) during the financial year 2010/11.  Particular attention had been given to the total grant allocation to properties in Inverness, Riverside and Crown Conservation Areas within this period.

 

Ms A Tanner introduced the report and welcomed comments from the Committee.

 

Members noted the work being carried out by ICHT to help with improvements and the maintenance of many historic buildings in Inverness and commented that if funding were to become available they would like to see the grant eligible areas extended to include areas such as Clachnaharry.  Members would also like to see improvements being made to properties in Academy Street in particular.

 

Ms Tanner was able to confirm that properties owned by the Common Good Fund would be eligible to apply for a grant from the ICHT.  

 

The Committee NOTED:

  1. the contributions made by the Inverness City Heritage Trust in delivering a programme of conservation work funded by grant assistance in Inverness since 2005;
  2. work carried out in partnership with Inverness College and Historic Scotland to deliver a series of Conservation Master Classes for building professionals/ practitioners and home owners; and
  3. the current situation with the Inverness City Heritage Trust in regard to their ongoing funding from Historic Scotland.

 

4. Inverness Common Good Fund – Scheme for Winter Payments – Proposals for 2011/12
 

There had been circulated Joint Report No. ICC-30-11 (246kb pdf) dated 28 July 2011 by the Depute Chief Executive & Director of Finance and the Inverness City Manager following on from Members’ requests to revise the Winter Payment Scheme, noting its growing popularity, so as to refocus the benefit towards members of the community most in need.

 

Ms G Ward, the Council’s Advice and Information Officer, summarised the report and explained the options being presented to Members.  She highlighted that the preferred option (Option 2) targeted members of the community that were most at risk and most in need.

 

Mr A Grant explained that Energy Saving Scotland was an independent organisation set up to help the Scottish Government meet its target of eradicating fuel poverty by 2016.   Quite often it was those people in the greatest level of poverty that were the hardest to engage with and the Enhanced Extra Heat Payment would provide ESS with an opportunity to help these people.

 

Members thanked Officers for the comprehensive and detailed report which had provided them with the necessary information on which to base their decision. They also recognised that Option 2 targeted those most in need.

 

The City Manager was also able to confirm that the Food Hamper Scheme would not have a negative impact on any other benefits received by recipients.

 

The Committee AGREED to run the Winter Payment Scheme for the City of Inverness and Landward areas of the seven City Wards for the year 2011/12 on the following basis:

  1. that the Scheme operated for Winter 2011/12 based on the rate and entitlement categories detailed in the report - Para 5.2 (Option 2) - being residents in receipt of Income Based means tested benefits and who were also in receipt of Attendance Allowance or Disability Allowance with a care element middle or higher;
  2. that only one claim could be made per household and that no person should be entitled to claim under more than one category of payment; and no residents in the household were in receipt of a wage either now or in the last 6 months or had capital over £6000; 
  3. that an ‘Extra Heat’ payment would be made available to those claimants who met the additional assessment criteria set in association with the Energy Savings Scotland advice Centre. A further report would be made to the first City Committee set for 2012 recommending payment rates which would contain expenditure within resources; and
  4. that the City Manager would review the availability of contingency funds should there be further materially significant increases to fuel charges or changes to the Benefits system, noting that the Common Good Fund Winter Payment Scheme should not be considered a replacement for Government Benefits.

 

5. Play Equipment Project

 

There had been circulated Report No. ICC-31-11 (52kb pdf) dated 18 July by the Inverness City Manager reporting on the outcome of a project to replace dilapidated play equipment which had resulted in a £240,000 investment in new equipment for play areas in the Inverness area.

 

The City Manager summarised the report and highlighted the Highland-wide contract which had been established to benefit the Council, Community Councils and other community organisations wishing to purchase play equipment.  He noted the work carried out by Stewart Wardlaw, Ward Manager for Inverness West and Ness-side, to co-ordinate the funding and installation of equipment on fourteen sites in the City Committee area during 2011.

 

Members were supportive of the initiative and commented that:

  • Inverness had a number of well used and well loved parks and it was important to keep them as attractive and well maintained as possible;
  • work on a new city park at Inshes was due to start;
  • the collaborative approach had worked extremely well;
  • a proper strategy and mechanism was required to support the development and maintenance of play parks in the City and to harness the expertise and information gained in communities;
  • it was important to involve those who used the facilities i.e. children and parents, when choosing equipment;
  • the Council and communities should be seeking third party funding to help support and enhance these initiatives; and
  • any requests for funding from the Common Good Fund should be made by application to the Committee and from the Ward Discretionary Budget by application to the individual Wards.

 

The City Manager informed Members that the request for funding from the Common Good Fund was competent and that the Highland-wide contract with equipment suppliers meant that the Council’s procurement procedures were being followed to ensure Best Value. He also confirmed that, as part of the City Vision, Officers were reviewing and consulting on the need for open spaces in the city.

 

Mrs P Munro then MOVED that Recommendation (ii) as detailed in the report should be amended to read as follows:

 

‘That formal applications are made to each of the Wards covered by the Inverness City Committee towards further enhancement of facilities available in Whin Park’  

 

The Committee thereafter NOTED the investment in play areas in 2011 and AGREED:

  1. to commit £80k from the Common Good fund to upgrade existing equipment in the strategic asset of Whin Park; and
  2. that formal applications be made to each of the Wards covered by the Inverness City Committee towards the further enhancement of facilities available in Whin Park.

 

6. Tackling Homelessness through Prevention

 

Declarations of Interest

 

Mr J Finnie declared a non financial interest in this item as Board Member of the Highland Homeless Trust but, having applied the test outlined in Paragraphs 5.2 and 5.3 of the Councillors’ Code of Conduct, concluded that his interest did not preclude his involvement in the discussion.

 

There had been circulated Report No. ICC-32-11 (96kb pdf) dated 28 July 2011 by the Director of Housing and Property updating Members regarding prevention of homelessness initiatives underway in Inverness, including:

  • recent measures in relation to review of the Homelessness Policy agreed by the Housing and Social Work Committee on 9 March 2011;
  • the formation and composition of a Homelessness Prevention Team in Inverness and across Highland; and
  • re-deployment of staff and other resources from crisis management to proactive housing options work.

 

Ms T Urry, Housing and Property Manager South, outlined the changes that had been made in the Council’s Housing and Property Service to tackle homelessness in the City.

 

A Homelessness Prevention Team had been established to assist applicants to resolve housing difficulties using alternative housing options and prevention before homelessness actually occurred.

 

The Team had been in place since June 2011 and already had seen a 50% reduction in the number of statutory homeless presentations through:

  • the provision of enhanced information and advice;
  • carrying out home visits;
  • investigations into tenancy rights; and
  • the provision of housing support once a tenancy had been found.

 

The team had also been successful in sourcing 23 new private tenancies in the 6 week period since establishment.

 

Ms Urry also discussed the work being carried out by the Homeless Day Centre.  It had originally been established to provide facilities for people sleeping rough but with these numbers reducing there was a need to re-focus the emphasis towards the provision of structured and focused activities.

 

Members welcomed the report and acknowledged the initial success of this shift in policy to prevent homelessness rather than having to deal with the fallout from it. They commented that:

  • there was a heavy reliance on temporary B&B accommodation and insufficient public sector housing available therefore new options for housing were required, including the use of private sector landlords;
  • sometimes people were being moved into tenancies too early without adequate support from services such as the NHS and Social Work;
  • there would be an increased pressure on housing within the city centre with the opening of the UHI campus; and
  • people now had a social need for the Homeless Day Centre and not a housing need.

 

Ms Urry re-affirmed the need for a corporate approach when dealing with people with challenging behaviour and needs. The Homelessness Prevention Team was working with colleagues in Social Work and the NHS on a case conference basis to identify the health, social and housing needs and options for clients.  All parties were working together to create solutions for long term tenancy sustainability and homelessness prevention. 

 

The Committee NOTED the developments detailed in the report.

 

7. Inverness Partnership – Community Safety – Operation Respect - City Centre - 2011/12

 

There had been circulated Joint Report No. ICC-33-11 (88kb pdf) dated 28 July 2011 by the East Division Area Police Commander and Inverness City Manager detailing the objectives, structure and initiatives forming part of Operation Respect - City Centre - 2011/12.

 

The City Manager summarised the report and highlighted the excellent work being carried out by all the Partner Agencies as part of Operation Respect.  Chief Inspector Murdoch commented that Operation Respect was a tried and tested initiative that was working to improve the safety and the perception of safety in the city centre.  With the Street Pastors extending their hours to cover daytime and increasing the number of volunteers trained, there would now be the flexibility to cover areas outwith the centre, such as Hilton, Kinmylies and Merkinch, if so required.

 

Members were supportive of all the initiatives being carried out by the Partner Agencies and commented that:

  • the Street Pastors had developed into a very useful resource, supporting the work of the police and ambulance services, in particular;
  • with all the Partner Agencies working together, Inverness had shown that it was more than capable of successfully hosting international events and large concerts in the city without major incident e.g. Barclays Scottish Open Golf Championship and the Simple Minds Concert; and
  • Inverness was one of the safest cities in Scotland and it was important not to forget that when discussing safety initiatives for the city.

In response to a query, the City Manager confirmed that the City Committee would have overall governance on any resources being allocated from the Common Good Fund to Operation Respect. Recommendation (ii) within the report had been altered to reflect the fact that resource allocation would be decided by the City Committee in October 2011.

 

The Committee:

 

  1. ENDORSED the plans for Operation Respect – City Centre for 2011;
  2. NOTED that the resources required from Partner Agencies and the Common Good Fund would be presented to the City Committee for decision at the October meeting with an update on progress; and
  3. NOTED that a report detailing the evaluation of the project would be presented to Committee in early 2012, with particular attention to the extended role of the Street Pastors.

 

8. Review of Council Provision of Public Conveniences – Inverness City Centre

 

There had been circulated Joint Report No. ICC-34-11 (346kb pdf) dated 26 July 2011 by the Director of Transport, Environmental and Community Services and the Inverness City Manager reviewing the public conveniences at Castle Wynd and Mealmarket Close, together with the other facilities which were available to the public in the city centre.

 

The Area Roads and Community Works Manager highlighted the main points from the report and explained the financial and logistical rationale behind the proposal to close the Castle Wynd facility rather than the facility at Mealmarket Close.

 

Some Members expressed their strong opposition to the closure of Castle Wynd (as recommended) stating that visitors to the city expected to have and should be provided with adequate facilities, particularly in such an important and busy tourist area.

 

However, in light of the fact that one of the facilities had to be closed, other Members did support the closure of Castle Wynd stating that facilities provided at Mealmarket Close were better. Members also felt that better signage and a map were certainly required.

 

The lack of baby changing facilities for both sexes in Mealmarket Close and the Inverness Museum and Art Gallery was also commented on and Members agreed that this should be included within the recommendations.
 

The Committee AGREED:

  1. to recommend the closure of the Castle Wynd facility to the Transport, Environmental and Community Services (TECS) Committee;
  2. to support a recommendation to the TECS Committee that if closure of the Castle Wynd facility was confirmed then the building should be declared “surplus to requirements” by TEC Services;
  3. to endorse further in-depth examination by the Inverness City Manager and Housing and Property Services to seek an alternative use for the Castle Wynd building whilst noting that this could include the transfer of the building to the Inverness Common Good Fund which would open up the possibility of future investment to allow a joint commercial and toilet facility to be developed;
  4. that the Inverness City Manager should establish a Business Case and the next steps to be taken before this option could be assessed as being competent for the Council to consider for investment by the Inverness Common Good with a report back to a future meeting of the City Committee;
  5. that the Inverness Area Roads & Community Works Manager, in liaison with ECS, should review facilities in the Inverness Museum and Art Gallery and Mealmarket Close to ensure that baby changing facilities were available to both males and females; and

 

NOTED:

  1. that the existing scheme of toilet signage would be improved and Central Ward Members would be consulted on changes.

 

9. Town Twinning – Visit to Augsburg

 

There had been circulated Report No. ICC-35-11 (45kb pdf) dated 18 July 2011 by the Inverness City Manager reporting on work in progress to improve economic, tourism and cultural links with the City of Augsburg, Inverness’ twin town in Germany.

 

Following a summary of the report by the City Manager, Members commented that they were encouraged to see the developments between Augsburg and Inverness and the strenuous efforts being made by Officers in both cities to add value to the work already being carried out by the Town Twinning Committees, including:

  • youth exchanges;
  • a joint youth service programme in Romania;
  • tourism marketing;
  • football, judo and rock band exchanges; and
  • encouragement of interaction between respective business sectors in each country.

 

Officers confirmed that the Council’s European Unit had been working with Highlands & Islands Enterprise and would be looking at funding opportunities from third parties to enhance the work being carried out already.

 

The Committee NOTED the report of the visit to Augsburg and AGREED to further work being undertaken to develop projects with the City of Augsburg involving young people, tourism and economic development.

 

10. Inverness Common Good Fund

 

10.1 Inverness Common Good Fund – Monitoring Statement  

 

There had been circulated Report No. ICC-36-11 (286kb pdf) dated 28 July 2011 by the Inverness City Manager setting out the revenue monitoring position for the period to 30 June 2011 and showing expenditure to date.

 

The City Manager confirmed that arrears of rental payments for the use of Grant Street Park had been received from Clach and that all outstanding issues relating to this matter had now been concluded.

 

Members welcomed the news and commented that it was important that a protocol was put in place between the Inverness Common Good Fund and Clach Football Club to ensure that other organisations were able to make use of the pitch when not required by Clach. 

 

The Committee NOTED the contents of the report and AGREED that the City Manager:

  1. should review the Common Good Fund reporting methods to provide the Committee with a more detailed analysis of strategic spend in the city; and
  2. should draw up a protocol for the use of Grant Street Park to ensure use of the facility was fairly allocated when Clach were not using it.

 

10.2 Inverness Common Good Fund – Capital Monitoring Report
     

There had been circulated Joint Report No. ICC-37-11 (32kb pdf) dated 21 July 2011 by the Director of Housing and Property and the Inverness City Manager providing an update on the status of all current key capital projects funded through the Inverness Common Good Fund (ICGF).

 

Following a summary of the report Members commented on the CGF projects as follows:

  • Longman Drive required adequate drainage and pumping systems to replace old pipes;
  • for governance purposes, the Committee required regular monitoring reports on these projects;
  • once the Steeple had been renovated it could be developed into a tourist attraction;
  • Officers should investigate the possibility of linking the Steeple with Church Street property owned by the Common Good Fund;
  • following the earlier report on the Inverness City Heritage Trust (ICHT), Officers should investigate the possibility of ICHT becoming a third party funder for renovations to Common Good Fund properties; and
  • the Victorian Market was an under utilised facility and the City Manager should investigate options for further development as a tourist destination, events venue and unique shopping experience.

 

In response, Officers were able to confirm that:

  • they were in the process of appointing engineers to the Longman Drive project;
  • the Council’s Conservation Officer was looking into other potential sources of funding for the renovation work to the Steeple; and
  • regular update reports would be brought to the City Committee on all projects.  

The Committee NOTED the progress being made on the current capital projects and AGREED that the City Manager should investigate options for the further development of the Victorian Market as a tourist destination, events venue and unique shopping experience.

 

10.3 Inverness Common Good Fund – Re-roofing of Victorian Market

 

There had been circulated Joint Report No. ICC-38 -11 (71kb pdf) dated 21 July 2011 by the Director of Housing and Property and the Inverness City Manager updating Members on essential property repairs to the Victorian Market Hall roof for which expenditure had originally been approved by the Inverness City Committee on 12 November 2007.

 

Noting that the changes and additions to the specification of the roof materials and work to be carried out had been requested by Trustees of the Common Good Fund, the Committee thereafter:

  1. NOTED the additions to the project since initiation;
  2. APPROVED Common Good Funding for the full re-roofing measures outlined in the report for a total estimated project cost of £751,525; and
  3. APPROVED the additional re-decoration project at an estimated cost of £40,000.


 

10.4 Inverness Common Good Fund – Funding Requests from the 2011/12 Budget

 

Declarations of Interest

Mr K MacLeod and Mr P Corbett declared non financial interests in Item 10.4 (para. 2.2) as Trustees of the Merkinch Welfare Hall but, having applied the test outlined in Paragraphs 5.2 and 5.3 of the Councillors’ Code of Conduct, concluded that their interests did not preclude their involvement in the discussion.

 

Mr J Finnie declared a non financial interest in Item 10.4 (para. 2.5) as a former Member of the Royal National Mod 2014 Local Organising Committee but, having applied the test outlined in Paragraphs 5.2 and 5.3 of the Councillors’ Code of Conduct, concluded that his interest did not preclude his involvement in the discussion.

 

Mr R Pedersen declared a non financial interest in Item 10.4 (para. 2.5) as a Member of the Royal National Mod 2014 Local Organising Committee but, having applied the test outlined in Paragraphs 5.2 and 5.3 of the Councillors’ Code of Conduct, concluded that his interest did not preclude his involvement in the discussion.

 

Mr A Graham declared a financial interest in Item 10.4 (para. 2.5) as a Board Member of An Comunn Gaidhealach and left the room.

 

There had been circulated Report No. ICC-39-11 (132kb pdf) dated 29 July 2011 by the Inverness City Manager detailing requests for funding from the Inverness Common Good Fund from the 2011/12 budget.

 

The City Manager introduced Mr David Sutherland and Mr David Cunningham of The Archie Foundation who had been invited to attend to provide Members with background information on the charity and the work being carried out to help improve the facilities and environment available to sick children and their families when visiting hospital. They also reassured Members that the project they were applying to the Inverness Common Good Fund for was additional to any work being carried out by the NHS.

 

Members were very supportive of the aims of the charity and of this application noting that the charity would be creating a sustainable and long term commitment to Raigmore Hospital children’s department with a built in maintenance programme. 

 

Mr Sutherland and Mr Cunningham were thanked for their presentation.

 

Thereafter the Committee:

1. AGREED to award:

 

The Archie Foundation
£150,000 towards the cost of refurbishment and modernisation of the Child Health Facility at Raigmore Hospital, Inverness.

 

Camanachd Association
£6,000 towards the cost of the 2011 Shinty/Hurling International Series

 

Inverness Royal Academy
£1,000 towards the cost of publication of a book on the history of Inverness Royal Academy.

 

An Comunn Gaidhealach
£45,000 towards the cost of hosting the Royal National Mod in 2014 in Inverness and the cost of holding 3 Provincial Mods in the run up to 2014.

 

Split in funding as follows:

  • £12,000 (£4,000 in 2012, 2013 and 2014) for the Inverness Provincial Mod
  • £33,000 (£11,000 in 2012, 2013 and 2014) for the Royal National Mod 2014

 

The Real Nappy Company - Highland Baby Show 2011
£1,500 towards the cost of holding the Highland Baby Show 2011 in Eden Court in October 2011.


 

Inverness High School – Textile Development Group
£3,000 towards the cost of purchasing textile equipment which would offer additional practical skills and qualifications for pupils at Inverness High School.  The equipment would be used to offer textile courses in Home Economics and Art and Design.

 

This award would be subject to agreement that the equipment could also be used for evening classes and workshops outwith school hours.

 

Wildcat Cheerleaders
£3,000 towards the cost of attending a summer camp in Virginia, America in August 2011.

 

Inverness Harriers
£3,000 towards the cost of attending the Young Athletes League final in Scotstoun, Glasgow on 23 July 2011.

 

STUC
£6,000 towards the cost of the STUC Conference in April 2012.

 

2. DECLINED to award:

 

Inverness Polish Association  
£7,704 sought towards the cost of a Polish/Scottish Saturday School and Library.

 

Although supportive of the work being carried out by the Polish Association, following recent meetings with UHI, the Polish Consul, the Provost and the City Manager, the Committee felt that the application was premature and that more work was needed on the wider issues affecting different communities in Inverness and the pulling together of a total package that might be eligible for alternative sources of funding.

 

3. DEFERRED the application from:

 

Merkinch Welfare Hall
£18,000 sought towards the cost of commissioning a business plan to test the viability of the development of Merkinch Welfare Hall.

 

The Committee was supportive of the initiative to bring the Welfare Hall back into use.  However it wanted to see a clear development plan in place before considering any further funding from the Common Good Fund; and

 

4. AGREED that the City Manager draw up a protocol for the timing and processes of applications to the Inverness Common Good Fund.

 

The Committee resolved in terms of Section 50A(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 that the public be excluded from the meeting for Item 10.5 on the grounds that it involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 6 and 9 of Part 1 of Schedule 7A of the Act

 

10.5 Inverness Common Good Fund – Action Plan for 1-5 Church Street

 

There had been circulated Report No. ICC 40/11 dated 10 May 2011 by the Director of Housing and property and the Inverness City Manager providing Members with options as to the future of the properties owned by the Common Good Fund at 1-5 Church Street.

 

The Committee AGREED the recommendations detailed in the report.

 

11. Minutes  

 

11.1 Inverness City Committee

 

The Committee NOTED the Minutes of the Inverness City Committee held on 6 June 2011

 

11.2 Donations Working Group
 

The Committee APPROVED the Minute (67kb pdf) of the Donations Working Group held on 27 June 2011

 

11.3 Inverness Partnership
 

The Committee APPROVED the Minute (69kb pdf) of the Inverness Partnership held on 28 June 2011.


 

The meeting concluded at 3.30pm