Committees

A meeting of the Highland Council will be held in the Council Chamber, Council Headquarters, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness on Thursday, 25 October 2012 at 10.35am.

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

Business

1. Calling of the Roll and Apologies for Absence
A’ Gairm a’ Chlàir agus Leisgeulan

2. Declarations of Interest
Foillseachaidhean Com-pairt

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. Presentation – Scottish Natural Heritage
Taisbeanadh – Dualchas Nàdair na h-Alba

A Presentation will be undertaken at the meeting by Mr Andrew Thin, Chairman of Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH).

4. Confirmation of Minutes
Daingneachadh a’ Ghearr-chunntais

There are submitted for confirmation as a correct record the Minutes of Meeting of the Council held on 6 September 2012 and the Special Meeting of the Council held on the same date as contained in the Volume which has been circulated separately.

5. Minutes of Meetings of Committees
Gèarr-chunntasan de Choinneamhan Chomataidhean

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 contained in Volume circulated separately as undernoted:-

|Link to Minutes Index|

Community Safety, Public Engagement and Equalities Committee, 12 September 2012
Pensions Committee, 13 September 2012
Gaelic Implementation Group, 13 September 2012
Planning, Environment and Development Committee, 19 September 2102
Transport, Environmental and Community Services Committee, 20 September 2012
Audit & Scrutiny Committee, 20 September 2102
Adult & Children’s Services Committee, 26 September 2012
Finance, Housing & Resources Committee, 3 October 2012
City of Inverness Area Committee, 8 October 2012

6. Investment Sub Committee – Minutes of Meeting
Fo-chomataidh Airgid an Seilbh – Geàrr-chunntas Coinneimh

There are circulated for noting Minutes of Meeting of the Investment Sub Committee held on 13 September 2012 (43kb pdf).

Members are asked to note that these Minutes are being circulated to the Council on this occasion in light of the fact that the next meeting of the Pensions Committee has been cancelled.

7. Membership of Committees, etc
Ballrachd air Comataidhean, msaa

Members are advised that Mr D Kerr has left the SNP Group. In this regard, the political make-up of the Council is now as follows:-

Independent - 35
SNP - 22
Liberal Democrat - 14
Labour - 8
Non Aligned - 1

The formula in respect of the number of places on Strategic Committee is unaffected at 10/6/4/2.

Members are also asked to agree the following -

Community Safety, Public Engagement and Equalities Committee - Miss J Campbell to replace Mr D Bremner
Community Safety, Public Engagement and Equalities Committee - Mr H Fraser to replace Mrs C Wilson
North Planning Applications Committee – Ms Maxine Smith to replace Mrs C Wilson

8. Question Time
Am Cieste

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

(i) Mr A MacLeod

To the Leader of the Council

“How many petitions have been submitted to the Council during the last five years?”

The response to Mr A MacLeod (20kb pdf) is circulated.

Mr MacLeod will be entitled to ask a supplementary question which will be answered by the Leader of the Council.

(ii) Mr G Ross

To the Leader of the Council

“With the West Link Route in Inverness now going out to the design stage, can the Administration confirm that any planning gain monies received will be utilised to ensure the new sporting facilities and the relocation of the Golf Course and Highland Rugby Club are developed in tandem with the new road, river and canal crossings?”

The response to Mr G Ross (16kb pdf) is circulated.

Mr Ross will be entitled to ask a supplementary question which will be answered by the Leader of the Council.

(iii) Mrs M Davidson

To the Leader of the Council

“Many of the communities we represent are working hard with our Community Development Officers to develop services for their older people.

Highland Council’s current Administration has promised that “the Council will work with Community Councils and other community organisations to encourage community empowerment and will introduce a Community Challenge Fund of £1million of recurring expenditure to support community projects which explore new ways of delivering services at a local level.

Can communities get clarity about this Fund and know when they can apply?”

The response to Mrs M Davidson (15kb pdf) is circulated.

Mrs Davidson will be entitled to ask a supplementary question which will be answered by the Leader of the Council.

9. Notice of Motion
Brath Gluasaid

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

“That the Highland Council agrees to review the Bulky Uplift Charges as agreed and reduce to zero for over 65’s”.

Signed: Mr A Henderson, Mr E Hunter

10. Armed Forces Community Covenant
Cùnnradh Coimhearsnachd leis na Feachdan Dìon

There is circulated Report No. HC-23-12 (108kb pdf) dated 16 October 2012 by the Corporate Manager which outlines the background to the Armed Forces Community Covenant.

Members are asked to agree to sign the Armed Forces Community Covenant for the Highland Council area as appended to the report.

Members are also asked to note the opportunities for Partners and communities across the Highlands through the MOD Community Covenant Grant Scheme.

In this regard, it is advised that the Community Covenant will be signed at 2.00pm (before the re-commencement of the meeting following lunch).

11. Gaelic Language Plan
Plana Gaidhlig

Members are advised that, following agreement of the final draft of the Council’s Gaelic Language Plan for 2012-16 on 5 April 2012, the Plan was submitted to Bord na Gaidhlig for statutory approval.

In this regard, the Bord met on 18 September and formally approved the Plan which has been circulated separately.

Members are therefore asked to note that the Gaelic Language Plan is now a live document with statutory approval and an electronic version can be found at – /livinghere/gaelic/gaeliclanguageplan/

12. Performance Framework for the Council Programme – Working Together for the Highlands
Ag Obair Comhla airson na Gaidhealtachd – Fream Coileanaidh air a Mholadh

There is circulated Report No. HC-24-12 (378kb pdf) dated 12 October 2012 by the Chief Executive which proposes the high level actions and indicators for measuring progress with delivering the Council’s Programme ‘Working Together for the Highlands’ 2012-17.

Members are asked to agree the performance framework for the Programme as detailed in the report.

Members are also asked to note that the performance framework will be used for Service Plans which will be brought to Strategic Committees and that progress with delivering the Council’s Programme will be reported through Strategic Committees and annually to the full Council.

13. Single Outcome Agreement – Annual Performance Report 2011/12
Aonta Buil Shingilte – Aithisg Coileanaidh 2011/12

There is circulated Report No. HC-25-12 (140kb pdf) dated 11 October 2012 by the Chief Executive which provides details of the Single Outcome Agreement Annual Performance Report which has been prepared with input from community planning partners and will be considered by the Highland Public Services Partnership at their next meeting on 29 November 2012.

Members are asked to note the Annual Performance Report (3823kb pdf) for the Single Outcome Agreement which has been circulated separately and submitted to the Scottish Government.

Members are also asked to note the progress made with the national review of community planning partnerships and Single Outcome Agreements and that changes can be expected for future Single Outcome Agreement development and the way in which performance will be reported.

14. Additional Commissioned Older People Services
Seirbheisean Sheann Daoine Barrantaichte a Bharrachd

There is circulated Report No. HC-26-12 (85kb pdf) dated 15 October 2012 by the Chief Executive which confirms that proposals for preventative spend on older people services were considered and supported at the Adult & Children’s Services Committee on 26 September.

Members are asked to agree the proposals for preventative spend on services for older people from the current financial year as detailed in the report.

15. Community Challenge Fund – Criteria and Funding
Maoin Dubhland Coimhearsnachd

There is circulated Report No. HC-27-12 (29kb pdf)|Process for Consideration of Applications (46kb pdf) dated 17 October 2012 by the Director of Finance which sets out the criteria for establishing a Community Challenge Fund and how this will be funded.

Members are asked to agree:-

(a) the criteria for projects eligible for funding from the Community Challenge
Fund as set out in Paragraphs 2.2 and 2.3 of the report; and

(b) the transfer of £1m from the General Fund to establish the Community
Challenge Fund.

16. Proposal for Investment of Subordinated Debt in Projects Delivered by Hub Co North and associated Sub Hub Companies
Cothroman airson Airgead an Seilbh Ìochdarain ann an Pròiseactan air an Ghabhail os Làimh le Hub Co North

There is circulated Report No. HC-28-12 (59kb pdf) dated 15 October 2012 by the Director of Finance which outlines a proposal for the Council to invest in Hub Co projects and the financial opportunities and risks to be considered in deciding whether or not to make such an investment.

Members are asked to:-

1. consider the investment opportunities available to the Council to invest in
     Hub Co projects as outlined in Section 3;
2. agree in principle to invest in all Hub Co projects, subject to the total sum
    of current and future investments not exceeding £1m;
3. subject to the above, agree to delegate powers to the Chief Executive,
    Depute Chief Executive/Director of Housing & Property and Director of
    Finance to take any further decisions required to undertake such an
    investment within the framework agreed by the Council;
4. note that the sum available for investment will come from the Council’s cash
    balances, supported by the General Fund balance; and
5. agree to amend the Council’s Treasury Management Strategy Statement
    and Investment Statement to include Hub Co North and any associated Sub
    Hub Co as permitted counterparties with a limit of £1m maximum
    investment for this type of investment and a maximum maturity period of
    25 years.

17. Overview of Local Government in Scotland
Mion-sgrùdadh air Ùghdarrasan Ionadail an Alba

There is circulated Report No. HC-29-12 (30kb pdf) dated 5 October 2012 by the Chief Executive which highlights the main themes of the Audit Scotland Overview of Local Government in Scotland Report for 2012 and suggests the use of a checklist for new and returning Elected Members.

Members are asked to note that the Overview Report identifies challenges in 2012 and sets out the types of response in place and needed.

Members are also asked to agree that the checklist for new and returning Elected Members be used for self-assessment as part of personal development planning and that also that this can be used alongside feedback on the induction process to highlight where Officers might need to provide more briefing.

18. Sixth Review of UK Parliamentary Constituencies – Revised Proposals
Siathamh Breithneachadh de Roinnean-parlamaid na RA – Molaidhean Ath-sgrudaichte

There is circulated Report No. HC-30-12 (248kb pdf)|Cabrich-Balchraggan Area Map (1420kb pdf) dated 17 October 2012 by the Chief Executive which advises of the publication of the Boundary Commission for Scotland’s Revised Proposals for UK Parliamentary Constituencies. The revised proposals are subject to an 8 week public consultation which ends on 7 November 2012.

Members are asked to note the Commission’s revised proposals and:-

(i) accept the revised proposals for the Moray and Nairn Constituency;
(ii) recommend to the Boundary Commission a revised boundary for the
     Caithness, Sutherland, Ross and Cromarty and Inverness and Skye and
     Argyll, Bute and South Lochaber Constituencies as detailed in the report;
     and
(iii) consider whether any further recommendations should be made
     concerning the proposed Constituency names.

19. Children’s Hearing Scotland Act 2011 – Proposed Changes to Support
Arrangements
Achd Èisteachd Chloinne Alba 2011 – Atharrachaidhean air am Moladh airson Rèiteachadh Taice

There is circulated Report No. HC-31-12 (59kb pdf) dated 15 October 2011 by the Assistant Chief Executive which provides an update on on-going discussions and proposals to establish a shared Area Support Team for the Highland and Moray Council areas to meet the requirements of the Children’s Hearing (Scotland) Act 2011.

Members are invited to note the current position and agree the proposal from the National Convener of Children’s Hearings Scotland that the Children’s Panel Advisory Committees within Highland Council and Moray Council should combine to form a Highland/Moray Area Support Team.

Members are also asked to agree to delegate authority to the Assistant Chief Executive, in consultation with the Chair and Vice Chair of the Finance, Housing and Resources Committee, to approve both the terms of the Partnership Agreement between Highland Council and Children’s Hearings Scotland and also the Minute of Agreement with Moray Council to determine support, within existing resources, for the Highland/Moray Area Support Team as detailed in the report.

20. Commando Memorial Garden, Spean Bridge
Gàradh Cuimhneachaidh Commando, Drochaid an Aonachain

There is circulated Report No. HC-32-12 (27kb pdf) dated 21 September 2012 by the Corporate Manager which confirms that the Memorial Garden adjacent to the Commando Memorial in Spean Bridge has been successfully expanded and upgraded to meet the increasing pressure on the area. In this regard, costs were slightly higher than expected and retrospective approval is sought for this expenditure.

Members are asked to retrospectively approve the additional spend of a further £6,001 from the Commando Memorial Trust Fund for the construction of the extension to the Commando Memorial Garden.

21. Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (CoSLA) – Membership of Sport, Arts and Culture Working Group
Co-chruinneachadh Ùghdarrasan Ionadail na h-Alba – Ballrachd de Bhuidheann-obrach Spòrs, Ealain agus Cultair

Members are advised that the CoSLA Community Wellbeing and Safety Executive Group recently agreed to establish a group to bring all Sports, Arts and Culture Conveners (or equivalent) together on a regular basis.

It is intended that the agenda focus will rotate between sports and culture and each Local Authority has been invited to submit a nomination in relation to Member attendance on this new Working Group.

In this regard, the Administration will move the nomination of Mr K Gowans.

Members are asked to agree the nomination for the Sport, Arts and Culture Working Group as detailed.

22. Deeds Executed
Sgriobhainnean Lagha a Bhuilicheadh

Members are asked to note that a list of deeds (30kb pdf) and other documents executed on behalf of the Council since the meeting held on 6 September 2012 is available in the Members’ Library and on the Council’s Website.