Minutes of Meeting of the Planning, Environment and Development Committee held in the Chamber, Council Headquarters, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness on Wednesday, 16 November 2011 at 10.30 a.m.

 

Present:

 

Mr I Ross, Mrs I McCallum, Mr G Farlow, Mr D MacKay, Mr R Coghill, Mr W MacKay, Mrs I Campbell, Dr A Sinclair, Mr R Durham, Mr P Cairns, Mr D Chisholm, Mr B Clark, Mr D Henderson, Mr I Brown, Mr J Gray, Mr A S Park, Mr T Prag, Mr D Fallows, Mr G Rimell, Dr M E M Foxley
 

Non-Members also present:

 

Mr M Rattray
Mr D Hendry
Mr D Kerr
Ms C Caddick
Mr G Marsden
Mr B Gormley

 

Officials in attendance:

 

Mr S Black, Director of Planning and Development
Mr M MacLeod, Head of Planning and Building Standards
Mr G Robson, Head of Environment
Mr A McCann, Economy and Regeneration Manager
Ms S Lunn, Business Support Manager
Ms A Hackett, Principal Projects Officer
Mr T Stott, Principal Planner
Mr S Hindson, Planner
Mr J Willet, Biodiversity Officer
Mr A Webster, Regeneration Adviser
Mr K MacInnes, Economic Adviser
Ms M Peter, Business Gateway Officer
Mr B MacKinnon, Employability Team Leader
Mr P Tomalin, Ward Manager, East Sutherland and Edderton
Ms M Forsyth, Education, Culture and Sport
Mrs R Moir, Principal Committee Administrator
Mr S Taylor, T/Committee Administrator
Mrs T Bangor-Jones, Administrative Assistant 

 

Also in attendance:

 

Mr D Logue, Operations Director, Skills Development Scotland (Item 3)
Ms M Mackintosh, Chief Executive, Highland Opportunity Limited (Items 8 and 15)

 

Mr W J Ross in the Chair

 

Preliminaries

 

The Committee NOTED the following successes at the Highland Council Quality Awards:

  • LEADER Team Community Account Financing – Contributing to the Economy
  • Scottish Open Golf 2011 Team – Chairman’s Prize

 

1. Apologies for Absence

 

Apologies for absence were intimated on behalf of Mr C Fraser, Mrs H Carmichael, Mr J Ford and Mr J Crawford.

 

2. Declarations of Interest

 

The Committee NOTED the following declarations of interest:

  • Items 9 and 10 – Mr I Ross, Mrs I MacCallum, Mr J Gray, Mr I Brown, Mr D Henderson (all Non-Financial)
  • Item 17 – Mr G Farlow (Non - Financial)

 

3. Presentation – Skills Development Scotland

 

There had been circulated Report No. Ped-86-11 (135kb pdf) dated 7 November 2011 by the Director of Planning and Development which advised that the Council and Skills Development Scotland (SDS) had developed a Service Delivery Agreement covering a range of economic and workforce development activities in Highland.  Mr Danny Logue, Operations Director of Skills Development Scotland attended the meeting and gave a presentation on the work of SDS and the Service Delivery Agreement with Highland Council.

 

Mr Logue provided a range of statistical information and data relating to youth employment with specific reference to the Highland Council area. He also outlined SDS’ service delivery agreement and priorities, with its strategic focus on economic development, education and employability, and the various programmes in place, or proposed, to take this forward, including reference to a number of school services (e.g. More Choices, More Chances; My World of Work, etc) and the youth employment/employability programme (e.g. Opportunities for All; Modern Apprenticeship programme, etc).  Specific reference was made to the development of energy skills and to joint activities in the Highland Council area with partners such as Highlands and Islands Enterprise, colleges and the private sector.

 

During discussion, Mr Logue commented on the potential impact of the redevelopment plans for Nigg and the importance of rolling out a skills plan tailored to these and other local business requirements and of supporting young people through the transitional period. The Director of Planning and Development confirmed that a meeting involving the relevant local agencies involved with the Nigg project was planned for early December and should help to clarify its short and long-term requirements.

 

The need to develop young people’s generic skills and also the specialist skills required by specific local industries was highlighted.  Mr Logue outlined SDS’ role in targeting the administration of grant monies and other support mechanisms in partnership and cooperation with other agencies. Highland’s experience of community planning and of well-developed partnership working involving public agencies and the private sector would assist the area in identifying and taking advantage of the complex landscape of new opportunities and funding available to promote skills development. Mr Logue outlined in particular the role, scope and advantages of modern apprenticeships, emphasising the benefits of engaging actively with local employers. 

 

Other issues raised included:

  • the impact of reforms of the welfare system, in particular new outsourced arrangements for work capability assessment
  • the potential role of Business Gateway in assisting young people and SME employers
  • the need to acknowledge the impact of deprived areas in Highland on educational attainment and subsequent employability.

 

After discussion, having heard the Chairman thank Mr Logue for his presentation, the Committee NOTED the presentation and the terms of the circulated report.

 

4. Employability Service Update

 

There had been circulated Report No. Ped-92-11 (67kb pdf) dated 9 November 2011 by the Director of Planning and Development providing a review of the Employability Service and outlining how the labour market and partner employability related services had changed over the previous 24 months. It set out revised priorities for the Employability Service, outlined a proposed corporate commitment towards Youth Employment and the need to co-ordinate other Council Service and partnership employability related actions.

 

In speaking to the report, the Economy and Regeneration Manager highlighted the review of the Employability Service and a number of issues which were outstanding. He drew attention to the review’s conclusions and outlined the Council’s Youth Employment Commitment. Further work would be required before drawing up an action plan to be presented to the next meeting of the Committee in January 2012.

 

In response to comments, Members were advised that:

  • There was recognition that reporting of employment figures could be improved and there would be an opportunity for the inter-service Employability Board to address this issue.
  • The key advantage of modern apprenticeships was the ability to gain hands-on experience in addition to the opportunity to work towards a qualification.
  • Some funding criteria could in practice create barriers to accessing training opportunities.
  • The benefit system could lead to poverty traps, with the ability to earn enough to ensure that employment was financially rewarding being a major barrier in terms of housing costs.
  • A focus on areas of deprivation could help to arrest further decline in these areas.
  • All young people leaving school were offered support through the 16 + Learning Choices programme to assist them in accessing further education or employment.
  • The programme of employer engagement with Lifescan Scotland could serve as a role model for engaging in productive relationships with other businesses across the Highlands.
  • Eligibility criteria should be more flexible and responsive to all needs, so as to facilitate access to training programmes and meet the challenges of the labour market of today.

 

The Committee NOTED the review of the Employability Service and the need to co-ordinate other Council Service and partnership employability related actions and AGREED:

 

i. the revised priorities for the Employability Service as detailed in Paragraphs
   2.3 - 2.8 of the report;
ii. the proposed six point commitment to Youth Employment; and
iii. that an Action Plan should be prepared and considered at the next meeting.

 

5. Revenue Expenditure Monitoring 2011/12

 

There had been circulated Report No. Ped-87-11 (31kb pdf) dated 4 November 2011 by the Director of Planning and Development setting out the revenue monitoring position for the period to 30 September 2011 and the projected year end position.

 

In speaking to the report, the Business Support Manager advised that a budget shortfall was predicted due to a number of pressures, including reduced fee income, higher than budgeted expenditure on Public Local Enquiries and a shortfall in income from corporate address charges. Reassurance was given that the Service would continue to carefully monitor the budget and try to identify further compensatory savings.  A full review of the budget would be brought to the January 2012 meeting of the Committee.

 

In response to questions, the Director of Planning and Development advised that savings had been made through management of vacant posts and from staff returning from maternity leave requesting reduced working hours. Members were also advised that savings had been identified on maintenance expenditure; however, reassurance was given that health and safety maintenance would not be compromised.

 

The Committee NOTED the monitoring report to the end of September 2011 and AGREED the management action which had been taken to reduce the predicted year end overspend to £0.450m.

 

6. Capital Expenditure Monitoring 2011/12

 

There had been circulated Report No. Ped-88-11 (48kb pdf) dated 7 November 2011 by the Director of Planning and Development setting out expenditure and income to 30 September 2011 and the projected year-end position.

 

In speaking to the report, the Regeneration Advisor advised Members that, as an addition to the draft list of Vacant and Derelict Land Fund (VDLF) Substitute Projects, a Children’s Residential project in Wick had been identified for inclusion on the list.

 

During discussion, Members welcomed the VDLF applications for Longman and Nigg and highlighted the importance of these projects to the Highlands.

 

The Committee:

 

i.  NOTED the contents of the report;
ii. APPROVED the portfolio of substitute projects to be submitted to the
   Scottish Government; and
iii. AGREED to authorise the Director of Planning and Development, in
   consultation with the Chairman, to pursue one or more of the approved
   substitute projects in order to absorb any financial flexibility in the
   programme and to report back accordingly.

 

7. Audit Scotland: Statutory Performance Indicators – Second Quarterly Review 2011/12

 

There had been circulated Report No. Ped-89-11 (39kb pdf) dated 7 November 2011 by the Director of Planning and Development advising Members on the delivery of the Development Management, Building Standards and Development Plan services for the second quarter of 2011/12, with comparative figures for previous years.

 

In speaking to the report, the Head of Planning and Building Standards advised of the improvement in performance within Development Management over the second quarter and across all application types over the course of the financial year.  He also highlighted the good response from local agents during the focus group meeting in Wick. Building Standards continued to perform well and a letter of thanks had been received in relation to the Service’s work to resolve issues with water supplies for Highlands and Islands Fire and Rescue Service.  Progress had been made in terms of development plans and a report on the outcome of the Highland-wide Local Development Plan Examination was expected by the end of November. Detailed absence management figures were not available at the meeting; however, he gave reassurance that absence throughout area offices was being actively managed.

 

The Chairman thanked the Committee, Highlands and Islands Fire and Rescue Service, Scottish Government and Officers for their support in providing an outcome that addressed concerns in relation to water supplies for the Highlands and Islands Fire and Rescue Service.

 

In response to questions regarding the drop in non-householder planning applications, the Committee was advised that the figures within the report compared well with other larger Scottish authorities.  Measures would be taken to address issues surrounding the non-householder applications process, including an applications validation check-list setting out the information required when submitting an application.

 

The Committee was also advised that:

  • pre-application advice was now available for local applications and a comprehensive response would be provided to applicants within a six week period
  •  the Service was focused on improving timescales during the applications process; however, this would not be the detriment of quality – timescales were not always met due to requirements for additional information.

The Committee NOTED:

 

i. the general improvement in Development Management and Building
   Standards in the second quarter of 2011/12; and
ii. the work undertaken by the Development Plans team in the second quarter
   of 2011/12.

 

8. Modernising the Planning System – Audit Scotland Report

 

There had been circulated Report No. Ped-90-11 (243kb pdf) dated 7 November 2011 by the Director of Planning and Development advising Members that The Planning etc. (Scotland) Act 2006 had initiated a modernisation programme to change the way the whole planning system worked, and how all stakeholders engaged in the planning system. The Scottish Government had commissioned Audit Scotland to undertake a performance audit of these reforms in order to assess whether these had succeeded in making the planning system more economic, efficient and effective.

 

The Chairman highlighted the recent signing of the Tripartite Partnership Management Agreement between Scottish Government and Historic Scotland, which aimed to streamline the listed building consent process for Rio Tineo Alcan in Lochaber.

 

In speaking to the report, the Head of Planning and Building Standards highlighted the key findings of the audit and advised of the progress the Service had made in improving efficiency in its planning process.  Areas where Service could be improved were also highlighted, and an action plan to address these issues was included. Key issues arising from the action plan were the implementation of a processing agreement for all major planning applications and working with the Scottish Government to look at ways to generate savings.

 

In response to questions, the Committee was advised that:

  • In response to concern that the action plan failed to address the capping of fee levels for larger developments, Members were advised that a consultation on fee levels was forthcoming.
  • In response to concern at the monitoring of delegated decisions, it was highlighted that the E-Planning process would help to improve the consistency of decision-making when dealing with planning applications across the seven area offices.
  • An online training programme for community councils, including a section on dealing with planning applications, was currently being developed in consultation with the Corporate Manager and follow up meetings could also be organised if requested – the role played by community councils during the planning process was acknowledged by the Chairman.
  • Measures to deal with applications taking longer than two months to process were in place to prevent the escalation of issues - applicants had the right to appeal against the non-determination of an application; however, the Head of Planning and Building Standards was keen to ensure that this would not be necessary.
  • Improved measures for the quality of the planning application process would not be to the detriment of target times.
  • Planning officers exercised discretion in terms of design changes in cases of non-advertisement of non-material variations.
  • An update on the implementation of the Enforcement Charter would be provided at a future meeting of the Committee.

The Committee NOTED the outcomes of the Audit Scotland report and AGREED the implementation of the actions to progress them as outlined in the report.

 

9. Business Gateway

 

Declarations of Interest:

 

Mr I Ross, Mrs I MacCallum, Mr J Gray, Mr I Brown, Mr D Henderson and Mr D Hendry, as Directors of Highland Opportunity Limited, declared non-financial interests in relation to this item but, having applied the test outlined in Paragraph 5.18 of the Councillors’ Code of Conduct, concluded that their interests did not preclude their involvement in the discussion.

 

There had been circulated Report No Ped-91-11 (32kb pdf) dated 9 November 2011 by the Director of Planning and Development updating Members on the performance of the Business Gateway contract with Highland Opportunity Ltd for the first half of the operating year 2011/12.

 

The Business Gateway Officer summarised the report, during which she commended the support given to 114 new business start-ups in the current year to date, which had happened during uncertain economic conditions.  A decrease in the number of small businesses registering for VAT was in line with national figures.  Moray Council had recently agreed to continue the shared service with Highland Council for the delivery of Business Gateway for the next three years.

 

During discussion, Members expressed their appreciation at the work of Business Gateway and the Federation of Small Business in Badenoch and Strathspey.  Members also congratulated Business Gateway on producing good figures that were within budget during challenging financial times.

 

Following discussion, the Committee NOTED performance for the first six months of the operating year 2011/12, the progress and proposal for the review of the Business Gateway service and the arrangements for delivery in the period 2012/2015.

 

10. Highland Opportunity Limited – Annual Accounts 2010/11

 

Declarations of Interest:

 

Mr I Ross, Mrs I MacCallum, Mr J Gray, Mr I Brown, Mr D Henderson and Mr D Hendry, as Directors of Highland Opportunity Limited, declared non-financial interests in relation to this item, but, having applied the test outlined in Paragraph 5.18 of the Councillors’ Code of Conduct, concluded that their interests did not preclude their involvement in the discussion.

 

There had been circulated Report No. Ped-97-11 (196kb pdf) dated 7 November 2011 by the Director of Planning and Development providing a summary of Highland Opportunity Limited’s (HOL) activities during the financial year 2010/11.  It also detailed the Company’s current performance against a range of targets set for it as part of its contract with the Council to deliver business support to Highland businesses, and highlighted key work priorities during the remainder of the current financial year.

 

The Economy and Regeneration Manager reported that HOL Group assets were in excess of £4m, and that there had been a trading profit of £52,000. Examples of present business activity were highlighted, including financial assistance to Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SME’s), Community Support and Social Enterprise, European Business Support, Business Premises and Business Gateway. In concluding, he advised that HOL continued to make a substantial contribution to tackling the economic recession in Highland.

 

In response to a question, Members were advised that a community benefit policy had recently been developed and that workshops involving communities, developers and the Council would be arranged during the New Year within areas in receipt of the intermediate tier of community benefit. The Chief Executive of HOL advised the Committee that a consultation on how local communities would like to see Pan-Highland funds and area funds utilised would be issued shortly by the Community Benefit Working Group. Alongside the consultation, HOL had been invited by the Council to submit proposals on how it would run these funds if it was appointed as a fund manager under contract to the Highland Council.  HOL could provide support and suggest ways for communities to utilise their own funds.

 

The Committee NOTED the performance of Highland Opportunity Limited and its Subsidiary Companies and AGREED to accept on behalf of the Council Highland Opportunity Limited’s financial statements for the year ending 31 March 2011.

 

11. Inner Moray Firth Local Development Plan

 

There had been circulated Report No.Ped-93-11 (1343kb pdf) dated 7 November 2011 by the Director of Planning and Development setting out progress to date with the Inner Moray Firth Local Development Plan (IMFLDP).

 

In speaking to the report, the Principal Planner advised that the final Main Issues Report would be brought to the January meeting of the Committee for approval following the outcome of the Highland-wide Local Development Plan in late November/early December 2011. Public drop-in exhibitions and evening workshops would be held in each of the 38 main settlement and urban districts within the IMFLDP, with scope for further events at Ward Forums if requested.  Local Members would receive a copy of the draft maps of villages, towns and urban districts relevant to their wards in advance of the January meeting of the Committee for comment.

 

During discussion, comment was made that the drop-in exhibitions would require good promotion to ensure local people engaged effectively with the consultation.

 

The Committee NOTED:

 

i. progress to date and the proposed future actions as outlined in the report;
   and
ii. that detailed consideration and approval of the Main Issues Report’s content
   would be sought at the January 2012 meeting.

 

At this point, the meeting adjourned for lunch at 1.00pm and reconvened at 1.45pm

 

12. Highland’s Statutorily Protected Species: Supplementary Guidance – Post Consultation Amendments

 

There had been circulated Report No.Ped-96-11 (929kb pdf) dated 7 November 2011 by the Director of Planning and Development presenting the results of a six-week public consultation on the Council’s draft Statutorily Protected Species – Interim Supplementary Guidance and outlining subsequent amendments for Committee consideration.

 

In speaking to the report, the Biodiversity Officer advised the Committee that, in response to requests from SNH and SEPA, a detailed Appendix to the Guidance, to include case studies, would be published within the subsequent six months.

 

The Committee APPROVED the amended draft supplementary guidance.

 

13. Nairn Town Centre Planning Gain

 

There had been circulated Report No.Ped-99-11 (16kb pdf) dated 10 November 2011 by the Director of Planning and Development seeking approval for the spend of the planning gain monies received in respect of a new Sainsbury’s store in Nairn.  The monies were directed towards town centre improvements and the report detailed the various projects being brought forward.

 

The Committee AGREED the allocation of Sainsbury’s planning gain monies (£250k) in Nairn towards Street Lighting (£130,200), CCTV (£52,200) and the Shop Front Scheme (£68,600).

 

14. Scottish Parliamentary Call for Evidence – Inquiry into Broadband Structure in Scotland

 

There had been circulated Report No.Ped-94-11 (43kb pdf) dated 7 November 2011 by the Director of Planning and Development responding to the Scottish Parliament’s Infrastructure and Capital Investment Committee’s call for views on its inquiry into broadband availability and roll-out in Scotland.  The report outlined the remit of the Committee’s investigation and invited the Committee to approve a suggested response.  The deadline for submitting writing evidence was 18 November 2011.

 

In speaking to the report, the Economy Adviser outlined the Council’s response to the inquiry and highlighted a number of key points, including:

  • the need to ensure that the standard of broadband services in the Highlands did not slip behind the rest of the UK and Scotland
  • broadband initiatives currently underway in the Highlands
  • suggested means of encouraging broadband take-up
  • the potential for business opportunities to be developed in the area as a result of higher broadband speeds
  • the strategic importance of high speed broadband when seeking funding opportunities from UK Government and the European Union
  • the importance of lobbying the Scottish Government on these issues.

The Chairman highlighted the importance of actively promoting high speed broadband and its contribution to the economic and community development of the Highlands.

 

During discussion, the following issues were highlighted:

  • the need to be more robust on the central issues
  • the economic importance to the region and the potential for broadband to remove the disadvantages of remoteness and sparsity
  • the need for more emphasis on the current under-supply situation and the importance of optimising uptake
  • the importance of the early introduction of 4G
  • the importance of roll-out to rural areas and of achieving the best possible connectivity in the most remote areas
  • the need to make the case for State Aid rules not inhibiting support for roll-ou
  • the need to encourage businesses to come in and set up data centres in major population areas in the Highlands.

In response to questions, Members were advised that:

  • Work undertaken by Highlands and Islands Enterprise indicated a high take-up rate of broadband in the Highlands.
  • Internet Service Providers were unwilling to deliver a commercial service in rural areas with low economic return.
  • 4G services were unlikely to progress until the mobile broadband spectrum was auctioned off by the UK Government, at which time it would be cheaper for operators to access broadband.

The Committee AGREED to delegate to the Director, in consultation with the Chairman and Vice-Chairman, finalisation of the submission to the Scottish Parliament’s Infrastructure and Capital Investment Committee, as detailed in section 2 of the report, taking into account comments made in discussion.

 

15. Houses in Multiple Occupation

 

There had been circulated Report No.Ped-95-11 (1514kb pdf) dated 7 November 2011 by the Director of Planning and Development summarising the responses to the recent public consultation held between 17 August and 26 September 2011 and brought forward a revised Houses in Multiple Occupation: Interim Supplementary Guidance for which Committee approval was sought for adoption.

 

The Committee was advised that the revised Guidance contained a number of revisions, including:

  • Proposals for a moratorium on the granting of change of use to a House of Multiple Occupation (HMO) within Inverness City Centre, to allow time to identify any potential amenity issues and associated link with higher concentrations of HMOs.
  • A standard condition for all new planning permissions for bed and breakfast, hotels, hostels and guest houses to close a loop-hole which allowed such properties to implement a change of use to HMO without requiring to seek planning permission.

 

The Guidance would be closely monitored over the following year to ensure that it remained an effective tool in managing amenity and land use issues associated with HMOs and would help to support partnership working with other agencies dealing with related non-planning issues and perceptions.

 

In response to questions/comments raised during discussion, Members were advised that:

  • Local businesses within the city centre had expressed concerns regarding amenity issues in relation to the concentration of HMOs within the centre.
  • The impact of a small number of very large HMOs in Inverness City Centre was heightened due to the comparatively low number of other residential properties in this area.
  • HMOs were an important element within the housing stock.
  • Proposals in the Guidance to impose a 10% limit on HMOs in areas outside of Inverness City Centre should address concerns as to the impact of dispersal of HMOs from the centre to the more peripheral areas.
  • Displacement from the city centre into smaller HMO properties within a residential environment could be an alternative scenario.
  • Student accommodation was exempt from the Guidance.
  • The HMO Operational Group had been organised in partnership with the City Manager, Northern Constabulary, Housing, Social Work and the Environmental Health team in TEC Services.
  • Examples of joint working with other services/agencies included Homeless Offices, Housing Strategy Offices, Social Work, Licensing and Northern Constabulary.
  • The Planning Service worked jointly with the Licensing Service to ensure that the relevant legislation was considered when granting planning permission.
  • The requirement to secure planning permission for a change of use to HMO would be Highland-wide.

 

The Committee NOTED the responses to the public consultation and AGREED:

 

i. the Houses in Multiple Occupation: Interim Supplementary Guidance be
   adopted as interim supplementary guidance to the Highland-wide Local
   Development Plan;
ii. a moratorium on planning permission for new houses in multiple occupation
   for a period of one year to November 2012 in Inverness City Centre as
   defined by the adopted Inverness Local Plan 2006; and
iii. to delegate to the Director finalisation of the assessment criteria used for
   evaluating the impact of the moratorium, subject to that draft being
   circulated to the Committee and Local Members for Wards affected for
   comment on proposed criteria.

 

16. Beinn Tharsuinn Windfarm Community Ltd

 

There had been circulated Report No Ped-98-11 (18kb pdf) dated 28 October 2011 by the Director of Planning and Development detailing the activities of Beinn Tharsuinn Windfarm Community Limited during the Financial Year 2010/11.

 

The Committee NOTED on behalf of the Council:

 

i. the activities of Beinn Tharsuinn Windfarm Community Limited; and
ii. the financial statements for the year ending 31 March 2011 of Beinn
   Tharsuinn Windfarm Community Limited.

 

17. Caithness and North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership Advisory Board Minutes

 

Declaration of Interest

 

Mr G Farlow, as a Member of the Dounreay Stakeholders Group, declared a non-financial interest in relation to this item, but, having applied the test outlined in Paragraph 5.18 of the Councillors’ Code of Conduct, concluded that his interest did not preclude his involvement in the discussion.

 

There had been circulated Minutes of the Meeting of the Caithness and North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership Advisory Board held on 16 August 2011 (52kb pdf).

 

The Director of Planning and Development advised Members that, following a ministerial statement on 2 November, the future of the Vulcan Naval Reactor Test Establishment site was currently being assessed and updates would be provided to the Committee.

 

The Committee was also advised that Rolls Royce had recently given a commitment to maintaining jobs in the Caithness area.

 

The Committee NOTED:

 

i. the Minutes of meeting of 16 August 2011;
ii. the commitment from Rolls Royce to maintain jobs in the Caithness area; and
iii. a briefing by the Director of Planning and Development on the future of the
   Vulcan Naval Reactor Test Establishment

 

The Committee AGREED that this be closely followed and, if necessary, appropriate representations made, with updates to be provided to the Committee.

 

18. Minutes

 

The Committee NOTED Minutes of the Planning Applications Committees as detailed below:

 

i. Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey, 30 August 2011
ii. Ross, Skye and Lochaber, 16 August 2011
iii. Ross, Skye and Lochaber, 23 August 2011
iv. Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, 13 September 2011
v. Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey, 20 September 2011
vi. Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey, 4 October 2011

 

The meeting ended at 2.45 p.m.