A meeting of The Highland Council will take place in the Council Chamber, Council Headquarters, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness on Thursday, 8 May 2008 at 10.30am.

 

You are invited to attend the meeting and a note of the business to be considered is attached.

 

Yours faithfully,

 

Alistair B Dodds

Chief Executive

 

 

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.    

 

 

1.            Calling of the Roll and Apologies for Absence

 

2.            Confirmation of Minutes

 

There are submitted for confirmation as correct records the Minutes of Meeting of the Council held on 6 March 2008 as contained in the Volume circulated separately.

 

3.            Minutes of Meetings of Committees

 

There are submitted for confirmation as correct records, for information as regards delegated business, and for approval as appropriate, the Minutes of Meetings of Committees  (click on this link to access the Committee Index) contained in the volume circulated separately as undernoted:-

 

• 3.1 Housing and Social Work Committee - 12 March 2008
• 3.2 Education, Culture and Sport Committee - 13 March 2008
• 3.3 Gaelic Committee -13 March 2008
• 3.4 Joint Committee for Children and Young People - 14 March 2008
• 3.5 Inverness City Committee -17 March 2008
• 3.6 Planning, Environment and Development Committee - 19 March 2008
• 3.7 Transport, Environmental and Community Services Committee -10 April 2008
• 3.8 Resources Committee -16 April 2008
• 3.9 Audit and Scrutiny Committee -17 April 2008

 

4.            Climate Change Working Group

 

There are circulated Minutes of Meeting of the Climate Change Working Group held on 5 March 2008 for approval.

 

Members are advised that the Council was one of the first Local Authorities to sign Scotland’s Climate Change Declaration on the day after its launch on 16 January 2007. The Declaration has now been revised to reflect changes in the Scottish Government and Local Authority structure and the Council will take this opportunity to demonstrate its continued commitment to addressing climate change by the signing of the revised Declaration by the Convener and the Chief Executive.

 

5.          Political Arrangements Working Group  

 

There are circulated Minutes of Meeting of the Political Arrangements Working Group held on 3 and 18 April 2008 for approval.

  

6.          Amendments to Committees, Working Group and Fire Board membership

    

(i) The Council is advised that Mr David Bremner is no longer a member of the Council’s Scottish National Party Group. Therefore, the political make up of the Council is now as follows –

 

Independent - 34 

Liberal Democrat - 21

SNP - 17     

Labour - 7        

Non-Aligned - 1

 

The formula in respect of the number of places on the Strategic Committees is unaffected (9,6,5,2).

 

The Council has previously allocated places on Strategic Committees in accordance with advice from CoSLA on political balance. The following changes to Strategic Committee and Fire Board membership are therefore proposed in order to maintain the political balance –

 

Education, Culture and Sport Committee – Mr Alan Torrance to fill the resultant vacancy for an SNP Member.

 

Transport, Environmental and Community Services Committee – Mrs Liz MacDonald to fill the resultant vacancy for an SNP Member.

 

Political Arrangements Working Group – Ms Maxine Smith to fill the resultant vacancy for an SNP Member.

 

Highlands and Islands Fire Board – Ms Maxine Smith to fill the resultant vacancy for an SNP Member.  

 

(ii) The Council is asked to agree the following change to membership of the Resources Committee as submitted by the Independent Group –

 

Mr Peter Corbett to replace Mr Jim Crawford

 

(iii) The Council is asked to agree the following change to membership of the INBS Planning Applications and Review Committee as submitted by the Independent Group –

 

Mr L Fraser to replace Mr Sandy Park

   

7.          Membership of the ICT Procurement Working Group

 

The Council is advised that, at the meeting of the Resources Committee on 16 April 2008, it was agreed that an ICT Procurement Working Group should be established to provide support for the effective procurement of an IS Service for the Council and to consider documentation and approach at all key stages in the procurement process in order to advise the Resources Committee.

 

The Council is asked to approve the following membership in accordance with the agreed formula:-

 

Independent (4) – Mrs C Wilson (Chairman), Mr J Laing, Mrs M C Davidson and Mr W Fernie.

Liberal Democrat (2) – Mr R Rowantree and Mr K MacLeod

SNP (2) – Mr D Hendry and Mrs P Munro

Labour (1) – Mr J Ford

     

8.            Questions to the Convener

 

The following Questions have been received by the Chief Executive in terms of Standing Order 42:-

 

(i) Mr Alex Graham

 

“With reference to the motion passed at Inverness City Committee on Monday, 4 February 2008 which stated that:

 

“The Administration was establishing the type of information and the method by which it could be reported to Wards which could be aggregated on a City wide basis for reporting to the City Committee in accordance with the Committee’s powers. The detail of the process for reporting the information both to Wards and the City Committee would be the subject of a further report to the next appropriate meeting of the City Committee” and

noting that two subsequent meetings of the City Committee have been held without further report on this matter, please advise of the current position and when it is expected to provide the information concerned so that Inverness City Committee can discharge its responsibility to scrutinise service delivery in the City of Inverness in terms of Paragraph 2.2 of the Schedule of Powers delegated from the Highland Council.”    

 

The Convener’s response to Alex Graham is circulated.

 

Mr Graham will be entitled to ask a supplementary question which will be answered by the Convener.

 

(ii) Mr William J Ross

 

“How many affordable houses does the Administration expect to be built in the Highland Council areas in 2008/09?”

 

The Convener’s response to Iain Ross is circulated.

 

Mr Ross will be entitled to ask a supplementary question which will be answered by the Convener.

 

(iii) Dr Michael Foxley

 

“Since the Highland Council succeeded in its campaign to increase the Council Tax paid on holiday homes from 50% to 90%, how much revenue has that produced in each year?”

 

The Convener’s response to Dr Foxley Question 1 is circulated.

 

Dr Foxley will be entitled to ask a supplementary question which will be answered by the Convener.

 

(iv) Dr Michael Foxley

 

“Has there been a shift of properties paying the Council Tax as a holiday home to commercial rates?”

 

The Convener’s response to Dr Foxley Question 2 is circulated.

 

Dr Foxley will be entitled to ask a supplementary question which will be answered by the Convener.

 

(v) Dr Michael Foxley

 

“These additional funds were to be used to provide affordable housing, including assistance with infrastructure, in the Highlands. Where and what has been spent each year?”

 

The Convener’s response to Dr Foxley Question 3 is circulated.

 

Dr Foxley will be entitled to ask a supplementary question which will be answered by the Convener.

 

(vi) Dr Michael Foxley

 

“What use does the Administration plan to make of the additional funds raised from the increased council charge on second homes in the Highlands in future financial years?”

 

The Convener’s response to Dr Foxley Question 4 is circulated.

 

Dr Foxley will be entitled to ask a supplementary question which will be answered by the Convener.

 

(vii) Dr David Alston

 

“What effect will current Scottish Government policies have on the development of small scale housing developments in rural parts of the Highlands?”

 

The Convener’s response to David Alston is circulated.

 

Dr Alston will be entitled to ask a supplementary question which will be answered by the Convener.

 

(viii) Mr David Bremner

 

“Will the Administration provide a breakdown of the £98,000 (2008/09) and £155,000 (Full Year Saving) from the Library Service as put forward by them to the Council on 14 February 2008.”

 

The Convener’s response to David Bremner is circulated.

 

Mr Bremner will be entitled to ask a supplementary question which will be answered by the Convener.

 

9.           Notice of Motion

               

The following Notice of Motion has been received in accordance with Standing   Order 10.1 –

 

“The Council seeks to establish a central register of attendance of Members appointed by the Council to serve on external agencies with a view to facilitating public scrutiny of attendance.

 

In this respect, the Council seeks to promote transparency and public accountability in order to foster greater public confidence in the role of elected Members serving the constituents of the Highlands via such external agencies.”

 

 Signed

 Hamish Wood 

Thomas Prag

 

10.     Revised Budget Governance Arrangements 

 

There is circulated Report No. HC-01-08 dated 1 May 2008 by the Depute Chief Executive and Director of Finance which sets out recommendations for revised governance arrangements relating to the budget process for revenue and capital.

 

The Council is asked to agree:-

 

a)     to cease the Budget Working Group in its current format;

b)     to form a new Budget Information Group with remit as per Annex 2;

c)     that membership of the new Group should be on the same basis as for the Budget Working Group; and

d)     the Budget Protocol as per Annex 3 of the report.    

 

11.     Ward Discretionary Budget Report 2008/09

 

There is circulated Report No. HC-02-08 dated 17 April 2008 by the Depute Chief Executive and Director of Finance which sets out proposals for the allocation of discretionary revenue budget resources to each of the Council’s 22 multi-Member Wards.

 

The Council is invited to give their views on the basis of allocation of resources for Ward Discretionary Budgets in 2008/09 to each of the 22 multi-Member Wards.

 

12.     Eden Court Theatre

 

There is circulated Report No. HC-03-08 dated 15 April 2008 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport which confirms that the Eden Court Theatre redevelopment is now complete and has opened to significant public acclaim and recommends the payment of £200,000 as a part contribution to the final costs of the project.    

 

In this regard, a Presentation will be undertaken by Mr Colin Marr, Theatre Director, at the meeting.

 

The Council is invited to provide funding of £200,000 towards the final settlement of the capital costs of the Eden Court Theatre Project with the funding to be managed from slippage within the Education, Culture and Sport Capital Programme.

 

13.     Homecoming Scotland 2009

 

There is circulated Report No. HC-04-08 dated 24 April 2008 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport which outlines plans to host a signature event in the Highlands as part of the Homecoming Scotland celebrations in 2009 and presents proposals for the Council’s support of this event.

 

Members are invited to agree that the Council should lead on co-ordinating the management of the Homecoming Scotland Signature event programme for the Highlands in 2009.

 

Members are also invited to approve an allocation of up to £100,000 from the ECS Highland Legacy budget, such that £30,000 be made available in 2008/09 and up to £70,000 be made available in 2009/10.

 

14.     Education Provision in Brae Lochaber

 

There is circulated Report No. HC-05-08 dated 29 April 2008 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport which sets out the background and current position in relation to the statutory consultation on education provision in Brae Lochaber and highlights two options in relation to future provision in the area.

 

In light of the outcome of the review of the financial aspects and roll projections of the statutory consultation, it is recommended that Members agree to set aside the decision of the Council taken on 14 December 2006 and:-

 

a)     agree to commence a new statutory consultation on education provision in Brae Lochaber; or

 

b)     agree to continue education provision in both the Spean Bridge and Roy Bridge communities.

 

15.     Single Outcome Agreement

 

As agreed by the Council at the meeting on 6 March 2008, there is circulated Report No. HC-06-08 dated 28 April 2008 by the Chief Executive which explains the process for finalising the Single Outcome Agreement with the Scottish Government.

 

The Draft Agreement has been circulated separately.

 

Members are asked to note the process for finalising the first Single Outcome Agreement with the Scottish Government and to comment on the content as circulated.  Amendments need to be confirmed before the end of May 2008 and a final version of the Agreement will be provided for the next Council meeting on 26 June 2008.

 

16.     The Scottish Independence Convention

   

There is circulated Report No. HC-07-08 dated 30 April 2008 by the Chief Executive which provides details of a request received from the Scottish Independence Convention for the Council to consider a motion to support a referendum on the political future of Scotland.

 

The Council is invited to consider whether to support the motion as detailed in the report. 

 

17.     Scottish Government Response to the Independent Review of the 2007 Elections

 

There is circulated Report No. HC-08-08 dated 7 April 2008 by the Chief Executive which advises of the Scottish Government’s response to the Independent Review of the Scottish Parliamentary and Local Government Elections held on 3 May 2007. The Scottish Government’s response also contains a consultation paper on decoupling the Scottish Parliament and Local Government Elections. It is proposed that the Council should support the decoupling of the Scottish Parliamentary and Local Government Elections with the next Local Government Elections to be held in 2012.

 

The Council is invited to agree the response to the Consultation Paper on the decoupling of elections as outlined in Paragraphs 6.1 to 6.7 of the report.    

 

18.     Scottish Parliamentary Call for Written Evidence – Creative
Scotland Bill

   

There is circulated Report No. HC-09-08 dated 21 April 2008 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport which presents the Council’s response to the Scottish Parliamentary Call for Written Evidence in relation to the Creative Scotland Bill for homologation and invites any additional comments which Members might wish to be conveyed to the Scottish Parliament Education, Lifelong Learning and Culture Committee.

 

The Council is invited to:-

 

19.     External Audit Reviews 

 

There is circulated Report No. HC-10-08 dated17 April 2008 by the Depute Chief Executive and Director of Finance which confirms that the following reports have been issued by Audit Scotland, the Council’s External Auditors, and were considered by the Audit & Scrutiny Committee on 17 April 2008 - 

 

Priorities and Risk Framework 2007/08

Annual Audit Plan 2007/08

Strategic Risk Analysis

 

Electronic links have been provided to the full reports – copies of which have been placed in the Members’ Library.

 

The Council is invited to note the terms of the reports from Audit Scotland as detailed. 

   

20.     Scottish Redundant Churches Trust – Request for Funding

 

There is circulated Report No. HC-11-08 dated 11 April 2008 by the Corporate Manager, Ross, Skye and Lochaber which provides details of a request from the Scottish Redundant Churches Trust for funding in respect of restoration works to be carried out at Cromarty East Church.

 

The Council is invited to approve a payment of £50,000 from balances to the Scottish Redundant Churches Trust as detailed in the report.

 

21.     The Socio-Economic Aspects of Dounreay Decommissioning – Membership of the Advisory Board

 

At the last meeting of the Council on 6 March 2008, it was agreed that the Council’s membership of the Advisory Board should comprise the Convener and Chairman of the Planning, Environment and Development Committee, together with 2 Local Members.

 

Nominations in regard to the 2 Local Members have now been received as follows – Mr D Bremner and Mr D C M Flear

The Council is invited to approve the nominations as detailed.

 

22.     Timetable of Meetings

 

Following consultation with the Chairman, it is proposed that the date of the next meeting of the Gaelic Committee should be changed from Thursday, 22 May to Thursday, 5 June 2008.

 

It is also proposed that the meeting should now be held in Sabhal mor Ostaig, Skye.

 

The Council is invited to agree the change in date and location for the meeting as detailed.

 

23.     Deeds Executed  

 

Members are invited to note that a list of deeds and other documents executed on behalf of the Council since the meeting held on 6 March 2008 is available in the Members’ Library and on the Council’s Website.

 

24.     Exclusion of the Public

 

The Council is invited to resolve that, under Section 50A(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, the public should be excluded from the meeting during discussion of the following items on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 6, 9 & 13 of Part 1 of Schedule 7A of the Act.

 

25.     Caithness Heat & Power 

 

There will follow to Members only Joint Report No. HC/12/08 by the Depute Chief Executive and Director of Finance and the Corporate Manager (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross).

 

26.     Cairngorm Mountain Limited

 

There is circulated to Members only Joint Report No. HC/13/08 dated 25 April 2008 by the Chief Executive and Director of Finance which provides information in relation to the Council’s involvement with Cairngorm Mountain Limited.

 

The Council is asked to agree the recommendations as detailed in the report.  

 

27.     Freemen: Proposed Admission  

   

There are circulated to Members only -  

 

a)     Report No. HC/14/08 dated 3 March 2008 by the Corporate Manager (Caithness, Sutherland & Easter Ross); and

b)     Report No. HC/15/08 dated 8 April 2008 by the Corporate Manager (Ross, Skye & Lochaber).

 

The Council is invited to agree the recommendations in the reports as detailed.