Committees
A meeting of the Planning, Environment and Development Committee will take place in the Council Chamber, Council Headquarters, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness on Wednesday, 18 January 2012 at 10.30am.
Webcast Notice: This meeting will be filmed and broadcast over the Internet on the Highland Council website and will be archived and available for viewing for 12 months thereafter.
You are invited to attend the meeting and a note of the business to be considered is attached.
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. Revenue Monitoring Statement to end November 2011 and Review of Charges 2012/13
There is circulated Report No.PED-1-12 (93kb pdf) dated 6 January 2012 by the Director of Planning and Development commenting on the Revenue Monitoring Statement for the period to the end of November 2011. An over-spend at the year-end of £0.577m is predicted, primarily caused by lower than budgeted fee income. The report recommends that a request be submitted to the Resources Committee for a supplementary budget estimate for this sum. The report also reviews charges for services for 2012/13.
The Committee is asked to:
i. note the monitoring report to the end of November 2011 and agree the
management action which has been taken to date to reduce the projected
over-spend against budget to £0.577m at the year-end;
ii. agree to submit a request to the Resources Committee for a supplementary
budget estimate of £0.577m to balance the Planning and Development
Revenue Budget for 2011/12; and
iii. agree the updated charges for services in 2012/13 as outlined in section 6.1
and Appendix 2.
4. Monitoring of Capital Expenditure to 30 November 2011
There is circulated for noting Report No.PED-2-12 (302kb pdf) dated 21 December 2011 by the Director of Planning and Development outlining the expenditure and income to 30 November 2011 and for the 2011/12 capital programme.
5. Planning and Development Service Capital Programme
There is circulated Report No. PED-3-12 (67kb pdf) dated 21 December 2011 by the Director of Planning and Development proposing specific capital projects for 2012/13 and draft projects for subsequent years of the Capital Programme to 2016/17.
The Committee is asked to agree:
i. the allocation of capital and scope of projects as presented in the report; and
ii. flexibility in allocation of expenditure in accordance with paragraph 2.3 of the
report, subject to scrutiny through the usual Committee Capital Monitoring
reporting process.
6. Business Gateway
There is circulated Report No PED-4-12 (55kb pdf) dated 9 January 2012 by the Director of Planning and Development updating Members on the third quarter and cumulative performance of the Business Gateway contract with Highland Opportunity Ltd for the financial year 2011/12 and the proposal for the Business Gateway service delivery post 1 April 2012.
The Committee is asked to:
i. note performance for the three quarters of the operating year 2011/12; and
ii. agree the proposal for the delivery of the Business Gateway service from 1
April 2012 to 31 March 2015 as set out in the report, with details of the
negotiated contract with Highland Opportunity Ltd being reported to the
Committee in March.
7. Employability Service Update
There is circulated Report No.PED-5-12 (106kb pdf) dated 9 January 2012 by the Director of Planning and Development providing an update on the work of the Employability Service and outlining an Action Plan to deliver on the Council’s commitment to Youth Employment.
The Committee is asked to:
i. agree to redirect the £35,000 already approved to Education, Culture and
Sport for Activity Agreements, to the Skills for Life Project; and
ii. note the actions proposed to deliver on the Council’s Six Point Commitment
to Youth Employment.
8. Highland-wide Local Development Plan – Report of Examination and Approval of Procedures to Adoption
There is circulated Report No.PED-6-12 (53kb pdf) dated 5 January 2012 by the Director of Planning and Development advising that the Report of Examination for the Highland-wide Local Development Plan has now been received from the Directorate of Planning and Environmental Appeals. The Committee must now consider the Reporters’ recommendations, which are essentially binding upon the Council. The Local Development Plan will then require to be modified in line with the recommendations and necessary consequential modifications and non-material corrections to progress the Plan so modified towards adoption. Members are asked to agree the changes necessary to enable the Plan to be adopted at the meeting of the Highland Council on 5 April 2012.
The Committee is asked to agree:
i. that the Reporters’ recommendations be followed;
ii. that officers should progress the necessary consequential modifications and
non-material corrections;
iii.to the carrying out of the statutory processes required to progress the Plan
so modified towards adoption, including report to the full Council on 5 April
2012; and
iv.that the Plan as modified be a material consideration for development
management purposes with immediate effect pending its adoption by Full
Council.
9. Inner Moray Firth Local Development Plan – Approval of Main Issues Report and Draft for Consultation
There is circulated Report No.PED-7-12 (76kb pdf) ated 10 January 2012 by the Director of Planning and Development seting out the content of the first, statutory draft of the Inner Moray Firth Local Development Plan - the Main Issues Report. The Main Issues Report (Appendix 1(1) (1643kb pdf) | Appendix 1(2) (2293kb pdf)) is circulated separately. A colour version will be available in the Members’ library and on the Council’s website. Electronic copies of individual maps can be requested from the Planning and Development Service. The document can also be accessed via the Planning and Development website here.
The Committee is asked to:
i. approve Appendix 1 (Booklet A) as the material content of the Inner Moray
Firth Local Development Plan: Main Issues Report; and
ii. note the proposed consultation arrangements as outlined in the report and
at Appendix 2.
10. Letter from Chief Planner – Occupancy Restrictions and Rural Housing
There is circulated Report No.PED-8-12 (1309kb pdf) dated 5 January 2012 by the Director of Planning and Development which considers the letter received by all Planning Authorities in Scotland from the Chief Planner dated 4 November 2011 (Appendix 1). The Committee is asked to consider the content of the letter and determine whether any change is required to the Council’s established practice in relation to the use of Section 75 Agreements for certain types of housing in the countryside in pressured areas.
The Committee is asked to:
i. note the letter from the Chief Planner; and
ii. agree the status quo, as set out in Option 1 in the report, whilst recognising
the need to be sensitive to requests for variation of legal agreements should
circumstances change over time.
11. Onshore Wind Energy – Outcome of Consultation
There is circulated Report No.PED-9-12 (226kb pdf) dated 10 January 2012 by the Director of Planning and Development comprising an interim report on the results of consultation on the Council’s draft Onshore Wind Energy Supplementary Guidance. It identifies key issues raised in consultation responses and outlines a number of key areas of work that officers are engaged in, responding to issues raised and where appropriate drafting revisions to the Guidance. The full recommended response to issues and revised Guidance will be brought to the Committee in March 2012 for consideration, prior to further consultation.
The Committee is asked to agree that:
i. any comments of the Committee on the content of this report, or on the
intended next steps, be taken into consideration by officers in preparing a
further report for Committee consideration at its meeting in March 2012; and
ii. the further report provide the full summary of issues raised, recommended
response to issues and revised Supplementary Guidance, together with the
intended arrangements for and timing of public consultation on the revised
Guidance and associated Environmental Report.
12. Inverness City Centre Development Brief
There is circulated Report No.PED-10-12 (2238kb pdf) dated 4 January 2012 by the Director of Planning and Development outlining the content of the draft City Centre Development Brief, which has been prepared to help support the Inverness City Vision. The Brief does this by identifying and promoting development and environmental enhancement opportunities within the City Centre. Members are asked to agree the contents of the draft Development Brief (Booklet B) and to agree that it be issued for public consultation.
The Committee is asked to agree:
i. the contents of the draft City Centre Development Brief; and
ii. that the draft City Centre Development Brief be made available to public
consultation.
13. Sandown Development Brief
There is circulated Report No.PED-11-12 (39kb pdf) dated 6 January 2012 by the Director of Planning and Development detailing proposals to prepare a Development Brief for the Sandown site in Nairn. The preparation of the Brief will involve a new approach to community involvement for the Council through the use of “charrette” principles. The Scottish Government is supporting the Council in this exercise, and Members are asked to agree the process for preparation of the Brief, which will be reported to the March Committee.
The Committee is asked to:
i. agree the arrangements for the Charrette to prepare the Sandown
Development Brief; and
ii. agree that the outcomes of the Development Brief are reported to the
Committee at its meeting on 14 March 2012.
14. Changes to the General Permitted Development Order in relation to Designated Conservation Areas
There is circulated Report No.PED-12-12 (92kb pdf) dated 20 December 2011 by the Director of Planning and Development updating Members on changes to the General Permitted Development Order (GPDO) insofar as they relate to residential properties in designated conservation areas. The report recommends the removal of all existing Article 4 Directions.
The Committee is asked to:
i. note the changes to GPDO in relation to planning controls in Conservation
Areas; and
ii. approve the formal withdrawal of existing Article 4 Directions as detailed in
Appendix 3 to the report.
15. Wick, Pulteneytown Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme
There is circulated Report No.PED-13-12 (33kb pdf) dated 10 January 2012 by the Director of Planning and Development seeking approval for one large grant and one small grant under the Wick, Pulteneytown Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme (CARS).
The Committee is asked to:
i. approve a large CARS grant in the sum of £369,940.39 to the Highland
Housing Alliance for the Harbour Quay project;
ii. approve a small CARS grant of £1,590 for 62 Argyle Square; and
iii. agree that the Council submit a CARS grant application to Historic Scotland
for the award of £115,055.55 for works and fees for the Harbour Quay
project (14 Telford Street).
16. Highland LEADER Programme 2007-13
There is circulated Report No.PED-14-12 (65kb pdf) dated 20 December 2011 by the Director of Planning and Development updating Members on progress with the delivery of the Highland LEADER Programme, including actions arising from the Highland LEADER Internal Audit Report (November 2011) and the findings of a recent Monitoring Visit from the Scottish Government.
The Committee is asked to note:
i. progress with the delivery of the Highland LEADER Programme; and
ii. the findings of the November 2011 Internal Audit Report and the August
2011 Scottish Government Monitoring Visit, the actions undertaken and the
proposed actions to address outstanding issues.
17. Highland Birchwoods – Annual Report and Accounts
There is circulated Report No.PED-15-12 (1455kb pdf) dated 16 December 2011 by the Director of Planning and Development introducing the “Report of the Trustees and Financial Statements for Highland Birchwoods for the financial year to 28 February 2011”. It briefly summarises the organisation’s aims and objectives, the review of the past year’s activity and planned future developments. The Council’s relationship with Highland Birchwoods is also briefly considered alongside developing projects.
The Committee is asked to note:
i. the Financial Statements of Highland Birchwoods to 28 February 2011 and
the organisation’s proposals for the year ahead; and
ii. the joint project work undertaken to date and the potential future project.
18. Highland Buildings Preservation Trust
There is circulated Report No.PED-16-12 (279kb pdf) dated 8 December 2011 by the Director of Planning and Development providing a summary of The Highland Buildings Preservation Trust (HBPT) activities and unaudited financial statements for their financial year, which ended on 31 December 2010.
The Committee is asked to note the performance of the HBPT in 2010.
19. Highland Economic Forum – Minutes of Meeting of 22 November 2011
There are circulated for noting Minutes of Meeting of the Highland Economic Forum held on 22 November 2011 (60kb pdf)
20. Minutes
There are circulated separately for noting Minutes of the Planning Applications Committees for:-
i. Ross, Skye and Lochaber, 4 October 2011
ii. Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, 25 October 2011
iii. Ross, Skye and Lochaber, 1 November 2011
iv. Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey, 1 November 2011
v. Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey, 8 November 2011
vi. Ross, Skye and Lochaber, 15 November 2011
vii. Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, 13 December 2011
viii. Ross, Skye and Lochaber, 13 December 2011
ix. Ross, Skye and Lochaber, 20 December 2011