Committees
A meeting of Inverness City Committee will take place in the Council Chamber, Town House, Inverness, on Monday 13 February 2012 at 10.00am.
A note of the business to be transacted at the meeting is appended.
Yours faithfully
Michelle Morris
Assistant Chief Executive
1. Apologies for Absence
2. 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.
3. Visit by His Holiness The Dalai Lama
There is circulated Report No. ICC-01-12 (29kb pdf) dated 23 January 2012 by the Corporate Manager. His Holiness the Dalai Lama is visiting Scotland during June 2012 and will be in Inverness on Saturday 23 June. This report invites the Committee to support the visit and make funds available from Inverness Common Good Fund as a contribution towards the overall costs.
The Committee is invited to agree to support the visit to the City of Inverness by His Holiness the Dalai Lama with a financial contribution up to a maximum of £5,000 from the Inverness Common Good Fund, with the Inverness City Manager receiving delegated powers, in consultation with Members of the Donations Working Group, to agree the final sum.
4. Inverness Trunk Link Road (West Link) – Presentation
The presentation will provide feedback on the responses to the second public consultation for the Inverness West Link, review the Options Appraisal, and provide feedback from the Inverness Trunk Link Road (West Link) Working Group held on 27 January 2012.
The Committee is invited to note the presentation and provide views on the options under consideration to the Inverness Trunk Link Road (West Link) Working Group
5. City Planning – Strategy and Implementation
There is circulated Joint Report No. ICC-02-12 (79kb pdf) dated 1 February 2012 by the Depute Chief Executive and Director of Housing and Property, Director of Planning and Development and the Corporate Manager providing Members with information on The Six Cities initiative, Highland-wide Local Development Plan, Draft Inner Moray Firth Local Development Plan, Inverness City Vision and associated Development Briefs which all provide a significant opportunity for Inverness to grow as the City in the Highlands.
This report sets out a recommended approach which would make best use of the opportunities whilst effectively engaging with our communities and partner agencies.
The Committee is invited to:
- note the actions being taken to enhance the status of Inverness as the City in the Highlands and the role of funding packages, including the Common Good Fund, in the on-going development of the city;
- agree that the Corporate Manager, in consultation with the Depute Chief Executive & Director of Housing and Property and Director of Planning and Development, identifies an existing officer resource within the Council to form a City Development officer group whose remit will include identification of opportunities (including assets in the ownership of Inverness Common Good Fund) and, where appropriate, implementation of action plans;
- agree that the Corporate Manager in consultation with the Council’s political group leaders formulates proposals on the membership, remit and priorities of the Stakeholder Group; and
- that a report on progress will be made to the next appropriate meeting of the City Committee.
6. Conference Subvention
There is circulated Report No. ICC-03-12 (67kb pdf) dated 23 January 2012 by the Inverness City Manager. This report updates Members on the operation of the Subvention Policy which is supported by the Inverness Common Good Fund (CGF). To enable Inverness to compete nationally, it must be able to offer competitive financial assistance through its venues, businesses and the Council via the CGF.
This report updates the Committee on the benefits conferences bring to the city and the landward areas. It recommends that the maximum level of discretionary benefit per event is increased to £17,500.
The Committee is invited to agree that:
- a maximum of £17,500 be set as the subvention rate for conferences subject to the existing application procedure and considerations;
- the new maximum rate of support be applied to future applications made to the Common Good Fund for conferences with applicants who have been successful in respect of events yet to take place being able to reapply for support under the new criteria; and
- the sum of £40,000 be allocated from the Common Good Fund for the Year 2012/13. Any applications made between now and 31st March 2012 will be funded from the City Events and Promotions budget; and,
note that:
- Inverness Hotel’s Association is keen to provide additional support for any subvention proposal through a voluntary commission scheme. This would ensure that the organiser benefits from a 5% commission on all direct bed nights; and
- evaluation will be undertaken on the economic impact of the revised Subvention Pack with a report to the City Committee in March 2013
7. Proposals for Castle Wynd Conveniences
There is circulated Joint Report No. ICC-04-12 (319kb pdf) dated 6 February 2012 by the Depute Chief Executive and Director of Housing and Property and the Inverness City Manger. A report was taken to the City Committee on 8 August 2011 with the recommendation that the Castle Wynd facilities be closed in preference to Mealmarket Close. This was agreed by the TECS Committee on 22 September 2011.
This report highlights the development potential of the site.
The Committee is invited to agree:
- as part of the City Centre Development Brief, to endorse further in-depth examination by the Inverness City Manager and Housing and Property Service seeking an alternative use for the Castle Wynd building and wider site to include feasibility of including publicly accessible toilets; and,
- that an update report be brought back to the Committee on progress in November or December 2012
8. Inverness Common Good Fund
8.1 Scheme for Winter Payments
There is circulated Joint Report No. ICC-05-12 (69kb pdf) dated 26 January 2012 by the Director of Finance and the Inverness City Manager.
The Winter Payments Scheme was subject to a review and a revised application criterion was agreed by the City Committee at its meeting held on 8 August 2011. As a result, the single level grant payment fell within budget and has provided for officers to consider recommending a second tier “Extra Heat” payment which can be targeted at those most in need of support in order to heat their own homes.
If agreed, the recommendation would allow for a competent and sustainable system to be put in place which could be utilised in future years.
The Committee is invited to:
- Note that expenditure to date in respect of the first tranche of Inverness Winter Fuel Payment is well within budget.
- Extend the deadline for receipt of applications in respect of the first tranche payments (£36) to 15 March 2012. Those eligible for such payments will then become eligible for consideration for an Extra Heat payment based upon ESSac’s assessment of the energy efficiency of the applicant’s home.
- Agree to make available a second tier Extra Heat payment which is a one-off payment available to people with the greatest need due to low income, with health and/or debility issues who live in the poorest energy efficient homes.
- Agree that Extra Heat Payments will be made from the Common Good Fund at the rate of £30 per household and that the closing date by which applications must be received be 31 March 2012; and,
- Be aware of the case studies detailed at Appendix 1 to this report and the very positive outcomes for the individual clients and the wider economy.
8.2 Revenue Monitoring Statement
There is circulated Report No. ICC-06-12 (659kb pdf) dated 6 February 2012 by the Inverness City Manager setting out the revenue monitoring position for the period to 31 December 2011 and shows expenditure to date.
The Committee is invited to note the contents of the report.
8.3 Budget 2012/13
There is circulated Joint Report No ICC-07-12 (77kb pdf) dated 1 February 2012 by the Director of Finance and the Inverness City Manager which invites Members to set the revenue budget for the Inverness Common Good Fund for the financial year 2012/13.
It clarifies:
- anticipated income (primarily from tenancy rentals);
- the proposed expenditure, split into essentials (for the maintenance of buildings and the provision of basic services) and a number of additional items;
- action on the future investment of any projected surplus funds; and
- the structure of payments made to the Council for services rendered in support of the fund and how these services should be supported in the coming financial year and thereafter
The Committee is invited to:
- Agree that the Common Good Fund budget for 2012/13 detailed within the report; and the revised payment structure for services provided for by the Council to the Common Good Fund; and
- note that officers will continue to monitor projected cash flow for the Common Good Fund, in particular through the Capital Projects Monitoring Report, with an emphasis on the utilisation of surplus revenue either within projects or as an opportunity for investment.
8.4 Capital Monitoring Report
There is circulated Joint Report No. ICC-08-12 (32kb pdf) dated 3 February 2012 by the Depute Chief Executive/Director of Housing and Property and the Inverness City Manager providing an update on the status of all current capital projects funded through the Inverness Common Good Fund.
The committee is invited to;
- note the progress being made on the current capital projects; and
- approve the installation of heat curtains and upgrade of existing fans at a cost of £32,157.71, funded from the Inverness Common Good Fund Health & Safety Budget.
8.5 Funding Requests from 2011/12 Budget
There is circulated Report No. ICC-09-12 (35kb pdf) dated 6 February 2012 by the Inverness City Manager detailing requests for funding from the Inverness Common Good Fund from the 2011/12 budget.
The Committee is invited to give consideration to the applications.
9. Inverness Partnership
9.1 Community Safety – Operation Respect
There is circulated Report No. ICC-10-12 (1653kb pdf) dated 23 January 2012 by the Inverness City Manager This report updates Members on the progress developing Operation Respect – City Centre, for the Winter Festival period for 2011-12. It gives as much detail as currently available in relation to evaluation.
The Committee is invited to note the evaluation available to date on the effectiveness of Operation Respect - City Centre for Winter 2010/11.
9.2 City Arts
There is circulated Report No. ICC-11-12 (59kb pdf) dated 3 February 2012 by the Inverness City Manager reviewing IOTA’s programme outcomes from 2011 and outlining the projects proposed for 2012 – 2014.
The Committee is invited to agree to endorse the outcomes of the IOTA project Team for 2011/12 and the ongoing developments planned for 2012/13.
9.3 Events and Festivals
There is circulated Report No. ICC-12-12 (108kb pdf) dated 23 January 2012 by the Inverness City Manager. At the meeting of the Committee held on 14 February 2011, the funding plan and strategy for financial years 2011/12, 2012/13, and 2013/14 were approved. This report:
- Updates Members on implementation of the strategy as it has been applied to events and festivals in 2011/12 and;
- Provides information on the plans for events and festivals in 2012/13.
The Committee is recommended to:
- Endorse the activities of the Events and Festivals Working Group and confirm that the activity meets with the aims and objectives of the Inverness Events and Festivals Action Plan;
- Approve a budget of £315,000 to be drawn from revenue balances held within the Inverness Common Good Fund for the financial year 2012/13; and,
- Note the Events and Festivals Programme for 2012/13.
10. Street Markets – City Centre
There is circulated Report No. ICC-13-12 (712kb pdf) dated 26 January 2012 by the City Manager. This report follows on from a decision by the Committee taken on 10 October 2011 to defer consideration of control measures pending further investigation of options. Following due consideration it is now recommended that action be taken which will:
- attract street markets to the City Centre which contribute to its economic vibrancy; and
- prevent markets taking place where there has been a clear history of breach of conditions
The Committee is invited to agree;
that the Street Markets Policy (detailed at Appendix 1) be endorsed; and recommended for approval to the Transport, Environment and Community Services Committee, for use on a one year pilot basis within Inverness city centre (as defined by the geographical extent of the Business Improvement District area) from the point at which the Council approves the policy or from 1 March 2012, whichever is sooner.
11. Inverness City - Gull Control
There is circulated joint Report No. ICC-14-12 (90kb pdf) dated 6 February 2012 by the Inverness City Manager and the Policy & Advice Manager, Ornithology, Scottish Natural Heritage. Further to Members’ requests, this report details options for the management of the herring gull breeding population in Inverness along with possible costs and associated risks.
The report recommends that delegated powers be granted to the City Manager to work with Inverness Business Improvement District (BID) to formulate a course of action in line with that detailed in the report in consultation with the Members of the Donations Working Group
The Committee is invited to agree;
- to delegate power to the City Manager, in consultation with the Members of the Donations Working Group, to formulate a course of action based on the actions recommended by this report which will include a programme of nest and egg removal within the BID area;
- a budget of up to £30,000 to be drawn from the large grants budget of the Common Good Fund for pilot year 12/13; and
note that:
- an update report will be provided to the City Committee in December 2012 advising on the evaluation of the work to date and the next steps.
12. Minutes
12.1 Inverness City Committee Minutes
There is circulated Minute of the Inverness City Committee held on 5 December 2012 for information.
12.2 Donations Working Group
There is circulated Minutes (51kb pdf) of the Donations Working Group held on 30 January 2012 for approval.
12.3 Inverness Partnership
There is circulated Minute (42kb pdf) of the Inverness Partnership held on 24 January 2012 for approval
13. Exclusion of the Public
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 6.4 on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 6 and 9 of Part 1 of Schedule 7A of the Act.
14. Common Good Fund - Sites and Premises Updates
There is circulated Members only updated version of the list detailing transactions affecting sites and premises in the ownership of the Inverness Common Good Fund.
The Committee is invited to note the content