Agendas, reports and minutes

A meeting of the City of Inverness Area Committee will take place in the Council Chamber, Council Headquarters, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness on Thursday, 3 March 2016 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
Depute Chief Executive/
Director of Corporate Development

Business

1. Apologies for Absence
Leisgeulan

2. Declarations of Interest
Foillseachaidhean Com-pàirt

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. Police – Area Performance Summary
Poileas – Geàrr-chunntas mu Choileanadh Sgìreil

There is circulated Report No CIA/5/16 dated 11 February 2016 by the Inverness Area Commander (Highland and Islands Division, Police Scotland) which provides a local summary update to Committee Members on progress with reference to the local priorities within the Highland 2014-2017 Policing Plan.

The Committee is invited to scrutinise and discuss the progress report and updates in relation to the 5 Priorities; Road Safety, Drug/Alcohol Misuse, Antisocial Behaviour, Dishonesty and Public Protection.

4. Inverness Community Safety Partnership
Com-pàirteachas Sàbhailteachd Coimhearsnachd Inbhir Nis

There is circulated Joint Report No CIA/6/16 dated 11 February 2016 by the Inverness City Area Manager and Inverness Area Commander (Highland and Islands Division, Police Scotland) which summarises the activities of the Inverness Community Safety Partnership (ICSP) since it last reported on 2014 activity to Committee in June 2015.

The Committee is invited to:-

i. approve the ICSP report for 2015; and
ii. endorse the work of the Operation Respect Daytime Group.

5. Inverness Community Safety Partnership – Operation Respect City Centre 2015/16 Evaluation Report
Com-pàirteachas Sàbhailteachd Coimhearsnachd Inbhir Nis – Aithisg Mheasaidh 2015/16 airson Operation Respect Meadhan a’ Bhaile

There is circulated Joint Report No CIA/7/16 dated 15 February 2016 by the Inverness City Area Manager and Inverness Area Commander (Highland and Islands Division, Police Scotland) which provides an update on the progress developing Operation Respect – City Centre, for the Winter Festival period for 2015-16. It gives as much detail as currently available in relation to evaluation.

The Committee is invited to note the evaluation available to date on the effectiveness of Operation Respect- City Centre for Winter 2015/16.

6. Update on Key City Centre Initiatives
Cunntas às Ùr mu Mheadhan a’ Bhaile

There is circulated Report No CIA/8/16 dated 19 February 2016 by the Director of Development and Infrastructure which updates Members on various initiatives, planned or underway, that address three key priorities identified in the most recent public consultation on land use and transport priorities in the city centre: (1) improvements to access and connections; (2) creation of new visitor and cultural attractions; and (3) development of Academy Street and its surroundings. It gives details of 22 current or planned initiatives to address these priorities, which are also mapped in Appendix 1. Appendix 2 presents a range of concept images for upgrading Inverness Rail Station as part of a proposed multi-million pound investment in station improvements. The report also highlights progress in updating the Inverness City Centre Development Brief.

The Committee is invited to:-

i. note progress in address city centre priorities detailed in Sections 2 – 4 and Appendices 1 and 2, which identify 22 current or planned initiatives to improve access and connections, create new visitor and cultural attractions and regenerate Academy Street and its surroundings;
ii. agree in principle to the future submission of an application to the Inverness Common Good Fund for a contribution to third party funding for Inverness Rail Station improvements, as part of a proposed partnership bid to the Scottish Stations Fund; and
iii. agree to the preparation of a draft Inverness City Centre Development Brief by June 2016. 

7. Scottish Golf Open Championships and Belladrum Music Festival 2016
Farpais Fhosgailte Goilf na h-Alba agus Fèis Ciùil Bhealadruim 2016

There is circulated Joint Report No CIA/9/16 dated 15 February 2016 by the Director of Development and Infrastructure and the Inverness City Area Manager which summarises previous involvement in and benefits from the Scottish Open Golf Championships and provides information in relation to plans for the forthcoming 2016 event. It also makes recommendations on activity designed to better manage arrangements for two other significant local events in summer 2016 – the Black Isle Show and the Belladrum Music Festival.

The Committee is invited to:-

i. endorse the activity detailed in the report and recognise the positive economic impact that the previous Scottish Open Golf Championships in 2011, 2012 and 2013 had on both the city and the Highlands; 
ii. agree to commit up to a maximum of £23,000 from the Inverness Common Good Fund towards enhancing the City’s welcome for the 2016 Scottish Open Golf Championships; and
iii. agree to commit up to £3,000 from the Inverness Common Good Fund towards traffic modelling for the day when the Belladrum music Festival and Black Isle Show overlap.

8. Longman Waste Site – Biogas Electricity Generator
Làrach Sgudail an Longman – Gineadair Dealain Biogas

Carbon CLEVER Highlands has the target of a carbon neutral Inverness in a low carbon Highlands by 2025. The Council aims to lead on and develop excellent working relationships with a number of key stakeholders, potential partners, communities, playing a key role in planning decisions and the development of the region, and can demonstrate good progress in reducing its own carbon emissions. 

In this regard, there is circulated Report No CIA/10/16 dated 12 January 2016 by the Director of Development and Infrastructure which seeks approval to install a Biogas generator on the Longman land fill site that will utilise the currently flared gas to generate electricity. The project will generate an income of £9.6k/year for the first 4 years and £20.3k/year thereafter. A lease length of 10 years is proposed in the first instance generating revenue of £160.2k over this period.

The Committee is invited to agree:-

i. in principle, to the installation of a gas engine on the Longman Landfill site to generate electricity from gas currently flared; and
ii. to delegate authority to the Director of Development and Infrastructure to agree the Head of Terms, and to act as detailed in paragraph 4.1 above, if the development is taken forward on site by NewEnCo Limited.

9. Victorian Market, Inverness – Action Plan – Market Management Inverness Common Good Fund
Am Margadh Bhictòrianach, Inbhir Nis – Plana-gnìomh – Rianachd Margaidh Maoin Math Choitcheann Inbhir Nis

At the meeting of the City of Inverness Area Committee held on 28 January 2016 Members agreed that a report be produced for the next City of Inverness Area Committee which covered: setting up a Stakeholder Group including Local Councillors, businesses, traders and neighbouring traders; a Charrette-style event; a report on options for the Common Good Fund to engage a retail property in-house manager; a timeline to conclude these activities and consultations to be completed within a six month period; and a Seminar be held in order to establish the Committee’s vision for the Victorian Market.

In this regard, there is circulated Joint Report No CIA/11/16 dated 1 February 2016 by the Director of Development and Infrastructure and Inverness City Area Manager which updates Members on the preparation of the above.

The Committee is invited to:-

i. agree the membership of the Market Stakeholder Group;
ii. appoint the Provost and one CIAC representative from each Political Group to join Stakeholder Group; and 
ii. note that the first meeting of the Market Stakeholder Group will take place this April, with update reports being presented to CIAC with a final report being planned for the CIAC set for 1 September 2016.

10. Local Committees – Webcasting
Comataidhean Ionadail – Craoladh-lìn

There is circulated Report No CIA/12/16 dated 22 February 2016 by the Director of Finance seeks a decision whether the City of Inverness Area Committee meetings should be webcasted and, if so, the funding source/s of the additional costs that webcasting would incur.

The Committee is invited to:-

i. note the current service demand for webcasting;
ii. decide whether Local Committees should be webcasted;
iii. agree the preferred webcasting option if Members do wish Local Committees to be webcasted;
iv. note that when the views of all local committees are obtained, where these views are that webcasting is to be undertaken, then approval for the capital funding will be submitted to Resources Committee at the earliest opportunity; and
v. agree the annual recurring cost of £4,800 is met by each Ward Discretionary budget providing £218 per annum where Members agree that webcasting is to be undertaken.

11. Public Toilet Provision – Inverness City
Solar Thaighean-beaga Poblach – Baile Inbhir Nis

There will follow Report No CIA/13/16 by the Director of Community Services on toilet provision within the City Centre.

12. Ness Islands Structural Maintenance – Footpaths, Bridges and Riverbanks
Càradh Structarail Eileanan Nis

There is circulated Joint Report No CIA/14/16 dated 18 February 2016 by the Director of Community Services and the Inverness City Area Manager which provides details of the Detailed Structural Survey undertaken in regard to the Ness Islands Footpaths, Bridges and Roads. The report recommends the allocation of funds to deliver the work recommended in the Engineer’s report. Also, an additional project is proposed to improve the lighting on a footpath on the west bank of the River Ness.

The Committee is invited to:-

i. note the contents and recommendations of the Summary of the Engineer’s detailed inspection report;
ii. agree the preferred option, if any, for a lighting installation on the footpath; and
iii. agree a budget of either £227,000 or £225,000 to complete all of the work proposed in this report.

13. Housing Performance Report – 1 April 2015 to 31 December 2015
Aithisg Dèanadais a thaobh Taigheadais – 1 Giblean 2015 to 31 Dùbhlachd 2015

There is circulated Report No CIA/15/16 dated 18 February 2016 by the Director of Community Services which provides information on how the Housing Section performed in relation to Scottish Social Housing Charter and other performance indicators up to 31 December 2015.

The Committee is invited to scrutinise the information provided on housing performance in the period 1 April 2015 to 31 December 2015.

14. Carbon CLEVER Community Grant Fund 2015/16
Sgeama Thabhartasan Coimhearsnachd Càrboin Ciallaich 2015/16

There is circulated Report No CIA/16/16 dated 11 February 2016 by the Head of Policy and Reform which sets out the applications received for the Carbon CLEVER community grant fund in Inverness for 2015-16. It details the background to the fund, together with a summary of applications, the assessments and funding recommendations.

The Committee is invited to:-

i. agree the funding recommendations from the Carbon CLEVER community grant fund as shown below; and

Ref. No	Applicant Organisation	Recommended Award
12080	Blackthorn Allotments Association	14,874.60
12089	Abriachan Forest Trust	3,192.00
12125	Inverness College UHI	5,643.40
	Total	£23,710

ii. note that Ward Discretionary Grant for Ward 13, Ward 18 and Ward 20 may provide an additional source of funding to support the projects further.

15. Inverness West Ward Discretionary Funding
Maoineachadh fo Ùghdarras Uàrd Inbhir Nis an Iar

The Committee is invited to approve expenditure over £10k for Ward Projects as follows:-

i. Traffic Calming – Dalneigh and Columba - £15,000

16. Inverness Common Good Fund
Maoin Math Coitcheann Inbhir Nis

(a) Financial Monitoring
Sgrùdadh Ionmhasail

There is circulated Report No CIA/17/16 dated 19 February 2016 by the Inverness City Area Manager which presents the expenditure monitoring position for the Inverness Common Good Fund as at 31 January 2016 and the projected year end position.

The Committee is invited to consider the financial monitoring report.

(b) Grants and Capital Projects
Pròiseactan Tabhartais agus Calpa

There is circulated Report No CIA/18/16 dated 18 February 2016 by the Inverness City Area Manager which sets out the current applications for grant funding to be determined and the current status of capital projects.

In this connection, there is circulated separately a copy of supporting documentation as Booklet A.

The Committee is invited to consider the applications for funding and scrutinise the current status of capital projects.

(c) Budget Setting for 2016/17 and Capital Programme
Suidheachadh Buidseat airson 2016/17 agus Prògram Calpa

There is circulated Joint Report No CIA/19/16 dated 22 February 2016 by the Director of Finance and the Inverness City Manager which invites Members set the revenue budget for the Inverness Common Good Fund (ICGF) for the financial year 2016/17.

The Committee is invited to:-

i. agree the Common Good Fund budget for 2016/17 detailed within the report and appendices; 
ii. agree to maintain a general reserve of £2m and reallocate the remaining uncommitted sum of £1.6m to a Property Investment Fund; and
iii. note that officers will continue to monitor projected cash flow for the Common Good Fund, in particular through the Capital Projects Monitoring Report, with an emphasis on the utilisation of surplus revenue either within projects or as an opportunity for investment.

(d) Grants Sub-Committee Membership
Ballrachd Fho-chomataidh nan Tabhartasan

The Committee is invited to appoint a replacement for Mrs G Sinclair on the Inverness Common Good Fund Grants Sub-Committee.

17. Minutes
Geàrr-chunntas

The following Minutes are circulated for noting or approval as appropriate:-

i. City of Inverness Area Committee held on 28 January 2016 for noting; 
ii. Inverness City Arts Working Group held on 11 February 2016 for approval; and
iii. Inverness Common Good Fund Grants Sub-Committee held on 15 February 2016 for approval.