Minutes of Meeting of the Planning, Environment and Development Committee held in the Council Chamber, Council Headquarters, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness on Wednesday, 20 May 2009 at 10.30 a.m.
Present:
Mr I Ross; Mrs I McCallum; Mr S Park; Dr M Foxley; Mr G Farlow; Mr D MacKay; Mr W MacKay; Mr M Rattray; Mr B Clark; Mr E Hunter Mrs H Carmichael; Mr D Hendry; Ms P Munro; Mr D Henderson; Mr I Brown; Mr J Gray; Mr J Crawford;
Mr J Holden; Mr T Prag; Mr G Rimell
In Attendance:
Mrs L Munro; Mr B Fernie; Mr G Smith; ; rs I Campbell; Mr R Greene; Ms M Smith; Ms A MacLean; Dr D Alston; Mr J Laing; Miss J Campbell; Mr D Kerr; Mrs E McAllister; Mr A Christie; Mr S Black; Mr D Fallows; Mr D Cameron; Mr B Gormley;
Mr B Murphy
Officials in attendance:
Mr S Black, Director of Planning and Development
Mr R Hartland, Head of Planning and Building Standards
Mr G Robson, Head of Environment and Development
Mr A McCann, Economy and Regeneration Manager
Mr G Hamilton, Countryside, Heritage and Natural Resources Manager
Mr M MacLeod, Development Plans Manager
Mr D Polson, Inverness, Nairn and Badenoch and Strathspey (INBS) Area Planning and Building Standards Manager
Mrs N Drummond, INBS Team Leader
Mr K MacInnes, Economic Adviser
Ms A Hackett, Principal Projects Officer
Mr C Wishart, Principal Planner, Coastal
Mr D Cowie, Principal Planner
Mr S Hindson, Graduate Planner
Mrs R Moir, Principal Committee Administrator
Mrs L Lee, Committee Administrator
Also in attendance:
Mr A Renshaw, Experian Catalist (Item 2)
Mr D Owen, Company Manager, Highland Opportunity Limited (Items 18 and 19)
Mr I Ross in the Chair
An asterisk in the margin denotes a recommendation to the Council.
All decisions with no marking in the margin are delegated to the Committee.
1. Apologies for Absence
Apologies for absence were intimated on behalf of Mr R Durham, Mr A Torrance, Mr B Barclay and Mrs G Sinclair.
2. Access Legislation – Feddon Hill Wood, Ross-shire – Appeal Decision
The Chairman summarised the legal action taken to date by the Council in respect of access to Feddon Hill Wood, including in particular that the Court of Session, on appeal by the landowner, had not found in the Council’s favour. He advised that a full report would be submitted to the Resources Committee on 10 June 2009.
The Committee NOTED the position.
3. Presentation by Experian Catalist on the Future of Rural Road Fuel
Supply in the Highlands and Islands
There had been circulated Report No. Ped 34-09 dated 11 May 2009 by the Director of Planning and Development informing Members of the outcome of a comprehensive study undertaken by Experian Catalist on behalf of the Council, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and HITRANS into the future of rural road fuel supplies in the Highlands and Islands. A copy of the initial report by Experian Catalist, delivered in November 2008, had been made available in the Members’ Library and on the Members’ bulletin. Appendices 1 and 2 to the report were circulated separately as Booklet A.
A presentation was given by Mr Arthur Renshaw of Experian Catalist, who drew the Committee’s attention to a number of points, including:
- there was a high dependency on car use in the Highlands - 64% of the population were at least 30 minutes drive time from main centres, compared with 9% for Scotland as a whole
- in rural petrol stations, the volume of petrol sales was low and there was low profitability on petrol – people expected to pay supermarket prices
- petrol stations would in future need to make substantial capital investments to comply with environmental legislation
- it was anticipated that, in the next 7 – 10 years, about half the current network of 231 filling stations in the Highlands and Islands would cease operating – the remainder should however become more viable
- there was currently no problem in the supply of petrol from the refinery to remote areas, but future fuels, such as bio-ethanol, could not be transported by water – this had implications for Islands communities.
In full discussion, Members raised a number of points including that:
- the future of rural road fuel supply in the Highlands and Islands was an issue of significant importance for the sustainability of rural communities and for the tourism industry and a more urgent response was needed;
- there was a need to raise public and community awareness and to work in partnership with all public agencies; the issue should be taken to Highlands and Islands Conveners’ meetings;
- whilst recognising that there would be difficulties in establishing a strategic network of filling stations, this approach should be investigated and a strong evidence base should be developed;
- additional opportunities to make representations should be identified, and lobbying work carried out in the past, including previous approaches to Westminster regarding fuel duty etc, should be revisited;
- effective targeted support mechanisms should be sought;
- the current funding and support position needed to be clarified – any reluctance to fund businesses which could not demonstrate long-term viability did not augur well for the future provision of rural petrol stations;
- the impact of the introduction of biofuels on rural stations should be assessed – the costs of installing new tanks and/or additional cleaning of tanks could cause rural petrol stations to close;
- banks should be encouraged to release capital to filling stations to enable the required maintenance and replacement of tanks.
The Committee NOTED the findings of the circulated report and the information given, and AGREED:
i. that the Council, along with its partners, Highlands and Islands Enterprise
and HITRANS, should continue to work to ensure that the Highlands
retained an extensive network of fuel stations;
ii. that the points raised in discussion above be taken forward; and
iii. that a report on progress be brought back to Committee in early course.
4. Notice of Amendment (Planning)
Planning Applications 08/00740/CONIN and 08/00723/FULIN - Demolition of Existing Former Bingo Hall Premises at 19 – 21 Huntly Street, Inverness and Erection of a 96 Bedroom Hotel for Ardmuir Developments
In terms of Standing Order 13.2, the following Members had applied for and been granted a Local Member vote: Mrs J Campbell, Mr D Kerr and Mrs E McAllister.
The Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey Planning Applications and Review Committee (INBS PARC) had granted planning consent for the above application at its meeting on 14 April 2009. The following Notice of Amendment had been received on 17 April 2009:
“We the undersigned, being elected Members of The Highland Council, hereby declare our wish that the decisions of the Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey Planning Applications and Review Committee at their meeting on 14 April 2009 on the above planning applications be reviewed at a forthcoming meeting of the Planning, Environment and Development Committee of the Council.
Signed: Mr D Fallows, Mr F Black, Mr P Corbett, Mr D Kerr, Mr A Graham, Mr H Wood, Mr J Holden, Mr J Crawford, Mr R Balfour, Miss J Campbell”.
Accordingly there had been re-circulated Report No. PLI-23-09 (for all drawings, maps, and amendments please see under 'Reports' on the right-hand side of this page) by the Area Planning and Building Standards Manager for Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey, together with the relevant extract from the Minutes of the PARC meeting.
Demolition of Existing Former Bingo Hall at 19 – 21 Huntly Street, Inverness (08/00740/CONIN)
The Team Leader, Inverness, Badenoch and Strathspey (INBS) summarised the proposals for the demolition, drawing attention to the following:
- the demolition was dependent on permission for the construction of a replacement building, in this case the hotel (08/00723/FULIN), being granted
- as the existing building was a non-listed building in a conservation area, should demolition be agreed by the Committee, approval would require to be sought from Historic Scotland.
The Committee NOTED the information given and AGREED that planning permission for the demolition be granted, as previously agreed by the Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey Planning Applications and Review Committee at its meeting on 14 April 2009.
Erection of a 96 Bedroom Hotel for Ardmuir Developments at 19 – 21 Huntly Street, Inverness (08/00723/FULIN)
The Team Leader INBS advised that there had been two minor changes made to the application since the INBS Planning Applications and Review Committee (PARC) had considered the proposals on 14 April 2009, namely, (a) the reduction in height of the central tower by 1.3m and (b) a change to the proposed colour of the render to off-white to complement the sandstone. There were no proposals to use red brick, as had been suggested in recent press reports.
The Team Leader gave a presentation illustrating the proposals, including a new photomontage provided by the applicant showing the hotel in position amongst the other properties in Huntly Street. She summarised the main points of the application as set out in the circulated papers. She also advised that, in accordance with SPP7, as the development was situated within the designated flood plain identified by the Scottish Envirionment Protection Agency (SEPA), and as the Inverness flood protection scheme had not yet been constructed, should the application be approved, it would require to be submitted to Scottish Ministers.
The Team Leader emphasised that planning issues to be considered in determining the application were (a) whether the proposed use was appropriate, and (b) whether the design was acceptable, i.e. whether the building would fit with the existing streetscape. In this latter regard she commented on the mixture of building styles in the vicinity. She also drew attention to the view of the Transport, Environmental and Community Services that 18 parking spaces would be sufficient. The applicant’s traffic assessment and travel plan showed that most clients would not use cars when travelling to the hotel.
Following the PARC meeting on 14 April, Architecture and Design Scotland had again been asked to comment on the application, but had again indicated that it was not in a position to do so.
At this point, the Chairman called on the Chair of INBS PARC, Provost Gray, to speak and he reported that concerns as to the design and mass of the building had been raised at the PARC, but on balance the PARC had taken the view that the application was acceptable.
The Chairman then called on Miss J Campbell, as the mover of the Notice of Amendment, to speak. Miss Campbell referred to the previous response from Archictecture and Design Scotland (ADS) suggesting that they were unable to look at the application due to lack of time. She was therefore seeking deferral of the application in the hope of facilitating consideration by ADS. The site was central to Inverness, in a conservation area, and concerns had been raised by Crown Community Council and Inverness Civic Trust as to the height and mass of the proposed building. The building should enhance the unique identity and preserve the character of the location.
The Chairman invited the other signatories to the Notice of Amendment present to give their views. Points raised included:
- the riverside was unique; the building proposed was ordinary
- ADS should be given additional time to respond to the application
- it was important to make the right decision - the Council would be judged for the next 30 – 40 years
- local people were against the application
- there was insufficient parking provision.
The Team Leader having responded to these points in accordance with information contained in the report, other Members gave their views on the application, some supporting the above, others drawing attention to:
- the need for a balance between the ideal and what was commercially achievable – holding out for the ideal could lead to the site becoming steralised and damaged
- the height and mass of the proposed hotel were no greater than the existing Bingo Hall
- a budget hotel would be useful in Inverness
- local people supported the application
- the INBS PARC had voted 9:6 in favour of the application.
Profost J Gray, seconded by Mr D Henderson, MOVED that the decision of the Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey Planning Applications and Review Committee be upheld and that accordingly the application be approved subject to conditions as set out in the report.
As an AMENDMENT, Miss J Campbell, seconded by Mr D Kerr, moved that the application be deferred to enable further consultation with Architecture and Design Scotland, to seek to ensure that the design of the Huntly Street application would enhance the character and appearance of a conservation area in the heart of the city of Inverness.
The Chairman having received advice from the Principal Committee Administrator as to the Committee process options available should the amendment be carried, Miss Campbell agreed to add the following to her amendment: “and that whatever response was received from Architecture and Design Scotland be referred back to the Planning Applications and Review Committee”.
On a vote being taken, the MOTION received 14 votes and the AMENDMENT received 9 votes, with no abstentions. The MOTION was therefore CARRIED, the votes having been cast as follows:
For the Motion:
Mr G Farlow; Mr D Mackay; Mr W MacKay; Mr I Ross; Mrs I McCallum; Mr B Clark; Mr E Hunter; Mrs H Carmichael; Mr D Hendry; Mr D Henderson; Mr I Brown; Provost J Gray; Mr S Park; Mrs E McAllister
For the Amendment:
Mr M Rattray; Mrs P Munro; Mr J Crawford; Mr J Holden; Mr T Prag; Mr G Rimell; Dr M Foxley; Miss J Campbell; Mr D Kerr
Decision:
The Committee AGREED that planning permission be granted, subject to conditions as set out in the report, as previously agreed by the Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey Planning Applications and Review Committee at its meeting on 14 April 2009, and NOTED that, in accordance with SPP7, as the site was situated within the designated flood plain identified by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), and the Inverness flood protection scheme had not yet been constructed, the application for construction of the hotel would require to be submitted to Scottish Ministers.
5. Revenue Expenditure Monitoring 2009/10
There had been circulated Report No. Ped 35-09 dated 12 May 2009 by the Director of Planning and Development setting out the revenue monitoring position for the period to 30 April 2009 and the projected year end position.
While fee income for April 2009 was lower than for the same period the previous year, it was anticipated at this stage that the budget would come in on target. The position would be closely monitored.
The Director also sought Committee approval to move £100,000 from a Project budget heading relating to a previous EU funded Small Town Networks project (NPP2) to establish a new Project budget, the latter to be used, with match LEADER funding, to support revenue based projects that supported any bids the Council made for assistance for town centres from the Town Centre Regeneration Fund (item 9 below refers).
The Committee NOTED the position and APPROVED the budgetary adjustment outlined above.
6. Capital Expenditure Monitoring 2009/10
There had been circulated Report No. Ped 36-09 dated 6 May 2009 by the Director of Planning and Development outlining the expenditure and income to 30 April 2009 for the year 2009/10 capital programme and the projected year-end position. Members were advised that the date in the penultimate sentence in paragraph 1.3 should read 2011/12 and not 2010/11. Whilst no expenditure had been incurred to the date of the report, an assurance was given that projects were progressing satisfactorily.
The Committee NOTED the report and the information given and AGREED that:
i. with reference to paragraph 1.3, expenditure on the Dingwall
streetscape be accelerated, with £150k being brought forward from
2011/12 to the current financial year; and
ii. with reference to paragraph 1.4, the pre-condition that Fort William
establish a Business Improvement District (BID) in order to benefit from
£50,000 funding allocated by the Service in 2005 be removed, with this
funding now to be directed to Fort William town centre works.
7. Planning and Development Service – Service Plan 2009/10
-2010/11
There had been circulated Report No. Ped 37-09 dated 12 May 2009 by the Director of Planning and Development introducing the draft Planning and Development Service – Service Plan for 2009/10 – 2010/11, together with a copy of the draft Plan (Booklet B).
The Director summarised the aims and objectives of the Plan, and drew attention to its links with the Single Outcome Agreement and the Highland Council Programme. The Plan set out measures to respond to the recession and grow the economy, and identified priorities within the Service, including the preparation of the Highland-wide Local Development Plan, Business Gateway, the redevelopment of Nigg, support for Renewable Energy (particularly in the Pentland Firth), and the implications of the Planning etc. (Scotland) Act 2006. He also drew attention to the risk management analysis carried out to identify potential risks facing the Service, as set out in the report.
Members welcomed the Plan, and, following full discussion, the Committee APPROVED the draft Planning and Development Service - Service Plan 2009/10 – 2010/2011 subject to:
i. the inclusion of reference to webcasting and video conferencing in line
with the Council’s theme of increasing accessibility; and
ii. the wording of paragraph 2.4.9.1 being amended to read “consider
incentives for new staff and graduate incomers….”
The Committee also NOTED:
i. the Director’s assurance that there would be a focus on the risks facing
the Service;
ii. that staff absence within the Service due to stress was closely monitored
but absence was below the average for the Council as a whole;
iii. that the Beauly-Denny electricity transmission line application was still
being considered by Scottish Ministers;
iv. that previous presentations to the Committee had indicated that sub-sea
transmission might be a possibility for the longer term future;
v. that a report would be brought to the Land, Environment and
Sustainability Strategy Group on various funding matters, including the
availability of match funding for crofting, intervention rates and the
Council’s priorities;
vi. that a report on fee income and the structure of the Service’s budget
would be brought to a future meeting; and
vii. that an update on progress with web-casting would be provided to a
future meeting.
The Committee also AGREED that the opportunities under LEADER be promoted as widely as possible.
8. Audit Scotland Statutory Performance Indicators – Fourth
Quarterly Review 2008/09
There had been circulated Report No. Ped 38-09 dated 4 May 2009 by the Director of Planning and Development advising Members on the delivery of the Development Management, Building Standards and Development Plan services for the final quarter of 2008/09, with comparative figures for previous years. The Development Management and Development Plan figures were statutory performance returns to Audit Scotland. The Building Standards returns were no longer statutory but had proved to be a useful management tool to assess the Service’s performance.
The Head of Planning and Building Standards drew attention to the main points of the report, including that numbers of applications for planning permission and building warrants were lower than the previous year. It was therefore disappointing that performance against targets over the year had fallen slightly, although the position had improved towards the end of the year. The drop in performance could be attributed to a number of factors, including that staff effort had been directed towards the introduction of e-planning, implementing the changes to Planning regulations required under the Planning etc. (Scotland) Act 2006, and taking actions to achieve the Balanced Scorecard sought by the Scottish Building Standards Division following the 2008 Audit. Staffing resources were being redirected to offices where targets were proving more difficult to meet. The recruitment of additional staff at graduate level had been affected by Job Evaluation and a range of options was being considered as to how best to address this.
Work on preparing the various development plans was progressing satisfactorily.
The Committee NOTED:
i. the current improving position in respect of both Planning and Building
Standards performance in relation to the vacancies throughout the
Service; and
ii. that a report on progress with the Council’s Major Applications protocol
would be brought to a future meeting.
9. Town Centre Regeneration Fund
There had been circulated Report No. Ped 39-09 dated 5 May 2009 by the Director of Planning and Development providing information on the recently announced Town Centre Regeneration Fund, and offering an approach to guide Council efforts in any applications made within Highland for support from this Fund.
The Economy and Regeneration Manager summarised the way the scheme would operate and clarified that there would be two rounds of bids. He emphasised that there were strict criteria for eligibility for projects, including that projects must be completed within the current financial year. As information was still being received from the Scottish Government on various aspects of the scheme – the Council had only recently been informed that Inverness City Centre would not be eligible – it was not possible at this stage to put forward a list of towns for which bids could be made, notwithstanding that the closing date for the first tranche of bids was 5 June 2009.
Members welcomed the scheme and, following discussion, NOTED that:
i. credible bids for all towns meeting the Government’s criteria would be
supported;
ii. the towns covered by the emerging Cairngorm National Park Local Plan
would be assessed for their eligibility;
iii. Ward Members would be involved in drawing up bids; and
iv. COSLA was understood to be pressing for the scheme to be offered on
an ongoing, annual basis.
The Committee AGREED that:
i. the Director of Planning & Development, in consultation with the
Convener, Leader of the Council’s Administration and the Chairman,
submit an application or applications for the Town Centre Regeneration
Fund by the 5 June 2009 deadline and determine which other
applications made by others the Council should support;
ii. a further report be presented to the August Committee on any
application(s) made, and an assessment of any potential second tranche
applications to be made by the 21 August 2009 deadline; and
iii. discussions be held with the Scottish Government with regard to future
operation of the scheme, with a view to making the eligibility criteria
clearer at an early stage.
10. Scottish Government Consultation – Scottish Planning Policy
Consultative Draft 2009
There had been circulated Report No. Ped 40-09 dated 23 April 2009 by the Director of Planning and Development providing a draft response to the new Scottish Planning Policy, Consultative Draft. National Planning Policy for Scotland was currently expressed through a series of Scottish Planning Policies (SPPs) and National Planning Policy Guidelines (NPPGs). As part of the commitment to proportionate and practical planning policies, the Scottish Government was rationalising the SPP and NPPG series into a single statement of National Planning Policy, which was currently under consultation. Appendix 1 to the report set out the consultation questions and a draft Council response.
In response to a question raised, the Development Plans Manager advised that the Council’s response called for more clarification with regard to crofting. It was hoped the Scottish Government would address this and provide additional guidance.
The Committee NOTED the content of the report and AGREED the Council’s response to the Scottish Planning Policy (Consultative Draft), as detailed in Appendix 1 to the report.
11. Scottish Government Consultation on the Amendment to the
General Permitted Development Order for Householder
Development
There had been circulated letter from the Director of Planning and Development dated 23 March 2009 to the Scottish Government, comprising a response on behalf of the Council to the Scottish Government’s consultation paper on Householder Permitted Development Rights, for which responses had been sought by 20 March 2009.
The Committee HOMOLOGATED the response.
12. The Town and Country Planning (Notification of Applications)
(Scotland) Direction 2009
There had been circulated Report No. Ped 41-09 dated 15 April 2009 by the Director of Planning and Development setting out revised arrangements for Scottish Planning Authorities to notify planning applications to the Scottish Government. It emphasised the Government’s wish to be involved in decisions on planning applications of strategic or national importance only. The Circular emphasised the Scottish Government’s wish for local authorities to make speedier decisions on mainstream planning applications.
In speaking to the report, the Head of Planning and Building Standards explained that there would be three categories of development which would require to be notified to the Scottish Government:
- where the Planning Authority had an interest and the proposals were a significant departure from the development plan
- where objections from Government agencies had been received
- open-cast coal workings.
It was foreseeable that some applications might be open to question as to whether they should be submitted to the Government. Whilst advice would be given by Planning Officers based on their professional judgement and taking account of any relevant precedent, decisions in this regard would ultimately fall to Members.
The Committee NOTED the report and the information given, including the amendments to the notification procedure and the objectives of the Scottish Government in the change to procedures.
13. Open Space in New Residential Developments: Supplementary
Guidance
There had been circulated Report No. Ped 42-09 dated 8 May 2009 by the Director of Planning and Development and the Director of Transport, Environment and Community Services advising that, following a public consultation early in 2009, adjustments had been made to the consultation version of the Supplementary Guidance brought before this Committee in November 2008. The final draft version of the document had been circulated, and the document, the strategic environmental assessment report and the report of consultation had been made available in the Members’ library.
The Graduate Planner summarised the report, drawing attention to the discussions that had taken place in coming to the recommendations, and the key aspects of the proposals for the management and maintenance of open space in new residential developments. Support to residents’ associations might require to be made available initially.
In response to comments raised in discussion, the Head of Planning and Building Standards advised that:
- the “40 x multiplier” option, whereby the Council would agree to maintain open space within a new development where the developer lodged a sum equal to 40 times the annual costs of the maintenance, had, as far as he was aware, never been taken up. However, this issue fell within the Transport, Environmental and Community Services Committee remit and any further discussion would need to take place in that forum
- a planning condition relating to the passing of information between property owners on open space maintenance agreements would be difficult to enforce
- the Policy could be made retrospective – this would allow those residents with agreements which tied them to a particular factor to change factor if they wished.
The Committee NOTED the report and the information given and AGREED:
i. to adopt the supplementary guidance for use as a material planning
consideration in the determination of planning applications;
ii. that the recommendations for implementing the supplementary guidance
be carried out; and
iii. that the guidance be brought back to Committee to be re-adopted as
part of the Local Development Plan at the appropriate time.
14. Highland-wide Local Development Plan Progress Report
There had been circulated Report No. Ped 43-09 dated 8 May 2009 by the Director of Planning and Development outlining the progress made to date on the production of the Highland Wide Local Development Plan and how it would be progressed to the Main Issues Report.
The Development Plans Manager emphasised the importance of consultation to this process. He referred to work already undertaken with key stakeholders, and summarised proposed future actions, including presentations to Community Councils. Awareness of the Plan would also be raised through engagement with the media, schools competitions, information days and continued liaison with key agencies. It was intended that the consultation period would run from 17 August to 25 September 2009.
The Committee NOTED the progress on the production of the Highland Wide Local Development Plan and AGREED that:
i. a Members’ workshop be held in June 2009 to discuss the draft Main
Issues Report; and
ii. the Main Issues Report be brought before the Committee in August
2009, before going out for public consultation.
15. Nigg Development Master Plan and Strategic Environmental
Assessment
Declarations of Interest:
As Chairman of Cromarty Firth Port Authority, Mr J Gray declared a financial interest in this item but, in terms of the dispensation granted by the Standards Commission, remained to participate in the discussion.
As a Director of Port Services (Invergordon) Ltd, Mr M Rattray declared a financial interest in this item and left the room at the outset of this item. He returned prior to the conclusion of the item, but did not participate in the discussion.
There had been circulated Report No. Ped 44-09 dated 11 May 2009 by the Director of Planning and Development seeking Committee approval for the Master Plan and associated documents, to enable the final 10 week public consultation to commence at the beginning of June 2009. Depending on the number of responses received, it was anticipated that a report would be brought to the Committee in September 2009 seeking approval of the Nigg Masterplan, with ratification being sought from the full Council at its meeting on 29 October 2009. Thereafter the Council could determine whether it wished to progress to a Compulsory Purchase Order.
The Head of Environment and Development summarised the report and, a number of Members having expressed regret at the time taken to take the process forward, explained that the consultation period could not be reduced if the Plan were to be robust and capable of withstanding future challenges.
He advised the Committee that it was understood that a number of companies had expressed an interest in the Yard, including from the renewables sector.
The Committee NOTED:
i. the revisions made to the draft Nigg Development Masterplan arising
from the first round of public consultation; and
ii. the updated Market Assessments in relation to the oil, gas,
decommissioning and renewables sectors.
The Committee APPROVED the final draft of the Masterplan incorporating mitigation measures identified through the Strategic Environmental Assessment process and Flood Risk Assessment, and AGREED:
i. to authorise officers to publish the Final Draft of the Masterplan and
associated documents for a 10 week public consultation period
commencing 1 June 2009; and
ii. that a letter be sent to the Enterprise Minister (a) setting out the
importance of Nigg to the Highland and Scottish economy and
emphasising the need for investment to upgrade and equip the yard to
meet anticipated future general requirements, and (b) seeking a
meeting with the Minister.
16. Sutherland Local Plan
There had been circulated Report No. Ped 45-09 dated 8 May 2009 by the Director of Planning and Development presenting an objection relating to the Sutherland Local Plan not referred to Committee at its meeting on 18 March 2009, in relation to an outstanding local plan representation. This related to a representation seeking a minor boundary change to the Brora Settlement Development Area.
The Committee NOTED the issues raised through the further representation on the Plan and AGREED:
i. the response, including further Plan change commended to the
Reporter; and
ii. that the change commended in the report be a material consideration
for development management purposes with immediate effect.
17. Draft Aquaculture Framework Plan – Loch Nevis
There had been circulated Report No. Ped 46-09 dated 6 May 2009 by the Director of Planning and Development advising that a new framework plan had been prepared to guide the development of aquaculture in Loch Nevis. This was intended to replace the original (1988) Loch Nevis plan, and was one of three new aquaculture plans for Highland which were currently in preparation. Coastal plans were becoming more widespread in Scotland and more diverse as marine management moved up the political agenda, as more organisations got involved, and new methodologies were tested. This background provided the context for the scope of the future development of the Highland Aquaculture Framework Plans.
The Committee APPROVED the publication of the draft Loch Nevis Aquaculture Framework Plan for public consultation over an 8-week period.
18. Business Gateway
Declarations of Interest:
As Directors of Highland Opportunity Ltd, the Chairman, Mrs I McCallum, Mrs H Carmichael, Mr D Hendry, Mr J Gray, Mr D Henderson and Mr I Brown declared non-financial interests in this item, but, having applied the test outlined in Paragraph 5.18 of the Councillors’ Code of Conduct, concluded that their interest did not preclude their involvement in the discussion.
There had been circulated Report No. Ped 47-09 dated 12 May 2009 by the Director of Planning and Development updating Members on the commencement of the Business Gateway service.
The Economy and Regeneration Manager reported that the Business Gateway had opened successfully on 1 April 2009 and was working well. He summarised the main points of the report. The Company Manager, Highland Opportunity Limited (HOL), gave a verbal report on the transfer of the operation from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), and advised that there had been a high level of activity in the first six weeks of operation. Courses on business start-ups had been oversubscribed and additional courses were being organised.
Members welcomed the positive report and thanked all staff for their hard work. In response to questions raised, the Economy and Regeneration Manager and the Company Manager gave assurances that:
- staff would contact businesses on a regular basis to ensure the service offered by Business Gateway met businesses’ needs
- whilst the retail food sector was not eligible for the Business Growth Fund, the Fund was open to the emerging local food production sector.
The Committee NOTED the arrangements put in place that had enabled the Business Gateway service in Highland to be launched on 1 April 2009 and AGREED that quarterly performance reports and an annual operating plan be presented to future meetings of this Committee.
19. Highland Opportunity Ltd – Performance Review 2009/09
Declarations of Interest:
As Directors of Highland Opportunity Ltd, the Chairman, Mrs I McCallum, Mrs H Carmichael, Mr D Hendry, Mr J Gray, Mr D Henderson and Mr I Brown declared non-financial interests in this item, but, having applied the test outlined in Paragraph 5.18 of the Councillors’ Code of Conduct, concluded that their interest did not preclude their involvement in the discussion.
There had been circulated Report No. Ped 48-09 dated 11 May 2008 by the Director of Planning and Development advising Members of the performance of Highland Opportunity Limited (HOL) against the range of targets set by the Council as part of the 2008/09 contract it held with HOL to deliver business development services.
The Company Manager, HOL, summarised the content of the report, drawing attention to HOL having assisted in creating, sustaining and supporting employment for over 600 families. A particular achievement had been the Business Growth Fund, and it was understood other Local Authorities were looking to copy this. The opening of Business Gateway offices in Castle Street, adjacent to the Prince’s Trust and the Inverness Chamber of Commerce, had formed an enterprise cluster, with benefits arising from close working.
The Committee NOTED the report and the information given, and congratulated staff on their achievements.
20. Minutes of Tourism Project Group – 22 April 2009
There had been circulated Minutes of meeting of the Tourism Project Group held on 22 April 2009.
The Committee NOTED that typographical errors had been corrected and APPROVED the minutes.
21. Findhorn, Nairn and Lossie Fisheries Trust – Appointment of
Council Member
There had been circulated Report No. Ped 49-09 dated 12 May 2009 by the Director of Planning and Development introducing an invitation from Findhorn, Nairn and Lossie Fisheries Trust (FN&LFT) to nominate a Highland Council Member who would become an Associate Member of the Trust. The report provided a brief consideration of the role and structure of the Trust.
* The Committee AGREED to recommend that the Council nominate Mr
Laurie Fraser of Ward 19 (Nairn) as Associate Member of the FN&LFT.
22. Wick, Pulteneytown Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme
(CARS)
There had been circulated Report No. Ped 50-09 dated 8 May 2009 by the Director of Planning and Development asking Members to consider a grant request for the allocation of Historic Scotland funding towards the first major project under the Wick, Pulteneytown Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme.
The Committee APPROVED Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme deficit funding of £297,836 to the Highland Housing Alliance towards the redevelopment and the formation of 11 residential dwellings at Williamson Street / Saltoun Street, Wick Pulteneytown.
The meeting ended at 3.10 p.m.