Inverness Area Command merging with Badenoch & Strathspey. Inspector Coats outlined how problems are dealt with in the area.
Q: Areas public can be involved with i.e. good practice/youth/working in partnership with communities?
A: Need to identify issues and change response as issues change.
Q: Area is the largest conurbation outside of Inverness. Policing in Inverness ok but no one policing when people return to housing areas?
A: Police respond to the needs of the public at the time. Do not have the resources to completely patrol an area so need to respond to the problems when they occur. Working on getting more resources.
3. A Presentation on Planning Gain & other connected Planning Issues i.e. Developer Contribution – David Polson – Planning & Building Standards Manager
Looking in particular at the A96 Corridor developments.
Q: Is information available to Community Councils and general public with regard to Planning Gain for particular developments?
A: All that information and details are public and available for viewing on the Highland Council Website. In the future the level of contribution will be set out up front.
Q: Percentage or set figure of the cost of development laid down at early stage or in relations to inflation costs?
A: A96 Corridor – Percentage now but is inflation linked.
Q: Developer contribution?
A: Level of contribution was researched by consultants, this will of course be reflected in the price of the house.
Q: Does Planning Gain result in sub-standard development i.e. roads?
A: Roads will not be adopted by the Council until the road is completed and inspected, up until that point it is the responsibility of the developer.
Action: Murray Park Gardens – Check in terms of road repair – Charles Stephen, Ward Manager
Q: Are the Highland Council clamping down on developments and stopping developers sitting on land banks?
A: When land comes up for review on planning permission not necessarily granted again.
Q: Amenity land?
A: Consultants looked at different land us and took that into account in their financial sums.
Q: Provision of Primary School (if required) in new developments is there consideration given for new hospital development?
A: Yes health provision can be included in the calculations.
4. Any other business
Q: Action Note available on website – what about those that do not have internet access?
A: Action Note will be sent to Members, Community Councils and anyone who requests a copy. Community Councils to put copy on notice board/library/etc in community.
Q: Bus services in Balloch. Change of routes. Lengthening of journey time not new buses. No new bus shelters on longer routes?
A: Better services i.e. Balloch to Raigmore which is one of the reasons for lengthening the route. Re. Bus shelters historically they have come out of the Councillors discretionary budget. There is now a bigger discretionary budget – possibility of bus shelters being funded from here.
Q: Skate Park in Ardersier – Want council to take it on as can’t afford up keep, valuable asset to community in helping keep the kids off the streets.
A: Councillors will work with Community Learning & Leisure to this end. One of the things required is a community group and to have young people involved in the group would open up funding sources like Leader+, Discretionary Budget, etc.
Q: Response required from Council to Community Council with regard to planning applications where they have been opposed by the Community Council only to go through planning?
A: Community Council opinions are encouraged and welcome. A letter of explanation should be sent to the Community Council to explain why the decisions have been taken.
Action: David Polson to check.
i. David Haas can meet with Community Councils.
ii. Community Councils are integrally key to Ward Forums.
iii. Ward Members
iv. Scottish government are looking into role of Community Councils in Highland, looking at ways of strengthening the role.
Q: Community Newsletters
A: Money is given to Community Councils for this purpose, they cannot be funded separately to this.
Q: A96 dualling – concerns about routes across between communities and the sea shore?
A: Cyclists, pedestrians and wildlife have been taken into account with routes across and alongside the dual-carriageway. Outline design stage at present, this will be followed by detailed plan of crossings. Green Inverness has been involved in terms of access along and across the A96 particularly green bridges.
Q: Community Council and Ward Boundary’s?
A: Well aware of challenges of Community Council falling into two wards. Waiting until after Government consultation on Community Councils. Will probably make justification in time, but consultation will happen on this. Boundaries have to make sense for the communities.
Q: Question of bridge or underpass across the Canal still has not happened although the number of houses has and continues to increase. So how can you guarantee that infrastructure will be in place for Tornagrain?
A: 27th September meeting with regard to the preferred route of A96 and route from Airport to A82. Final route across the canal will be put to full Council on 27th September 2007.
Q: Would like discussion on housing developments with regard to life long living i.e. size of rooms/corridors/access
A: These are issues covered by Building Standards but cannot impose requirements at this time.
5. Date of next meeting
Date to be confirmed on website and on posters in the community.