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, 1 September 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

Members are advised that tribute will be paid to the late Mr John Ford at the commencement of the meeting

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.  Recess Powers
Cumhachdan Fosaidh

Members are asked to note that the Recess Powers granted by the Council at its meeting on 29 June 2016 have not been exercised in relation to the business of this Committee.

4.  Presentation of Fair Trade Certificate
Toirt Seachad Teisteanas Malairt Chothromaich

The City of Inverness has Fair Trade status which is a prestigious award confirming that a significant number of City retail businesses sell products which have been sourced from producers who act to ensure that workers involved in the production process are treated fairly.

In this regard, representatives will be present at the meeting to award a new Certificate to the City to renew its status as a Fair Trade City.

5.  Developing Local Priorities for the City of Inverness and Area  
Prìomhachasan Sgìre

There is circulated Report No CIA/34/16 dated 18 August 2016 by the Depute Chief Executive/Director of Corporate Development which provides Members with an update on the local strategic priorities for the City of Inverness and Area.

The Committee is invited to note the updates provided for each Highland First priority.

The Committee is also invited to consider local priorities for their own ward, priorities that are common throughout the City and area which have not been reflected by the above and priorities that reflect the geographical diversity of the City and area.

6.  Community Partnerships 
Com-pàirteachasan Coimhearsnachd

There is circulated separately Report No CIA/35/16 by the Acting Head of Policy.

7.  Digital Inclusion 
Com-pàirteachadh Didseatach

A Presentation will be undertaken at the meeting on Digital Inclusion by Ms Jenny Scotson, Business Change Manager from Corporate Improvement.

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

There is circulated Report No CIA/36/16 dated 17 August 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.

9.  Business Development: Inverness Update 
Leasachadh Gnothachais: A’ Fàs ar N-Eaconamaidh

There is circulated Report No CIA/37/16 dated 12 August 2016 by the Director of Development and Infrastructure which provides an update on the performance of the Council’s business development services in Inverness.  It summarises the delivery of the Business Gateway over the first quarter of 2016 and informs Members on progress with Council involvement in local business development activity in Inverness during the first quarter of 2016/17.

The Committee is invited to note Business Development Service performance in the City of Inverness for the first quarter of 2016/17.

10.  City Centre Development Update 
Cunntas às Ùr mu Leasachadh Meadhan a’ Bhaile

There is circulated Report No CIA/38/16 dated 17 August 2016 by the Director of Development and Infrastructure which highlights ongoing investment, fund-raising and activity to address key priorities identified through recent public consultation on regeneration priorities in Inverness City Centre including the development of tourism and cultural facilities, improvements to City Centre access and connections and the regeneration of Academy Street.

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 2-5, which identify current or planned initiatives to improve access and connections, create new visitor and cultural attractions and regenerate Academy Street and its surroundings; and
ii.  agree to the preparation of a draft Inverness City Centre Development Brief by December 2016, involving consultation with sectoral interest groups.

11.  Inverness and Loch Ness Tourism BID: Progress Report 
Roinn Leasachaidh Gnothachais Turasachd Inbhir Nis agus Loch Nis: Aithisg Adhartais

There is circulated Joint Report No CIA/39/16 dated 15 August 2016 by the Inverness City Area Manager and Tourism BID Chief Executive which describes the progress for the period September 2015 - September 2016 with particular reference to the project activity undertaken.

The Committee is invited to endorse the continuing work and activities of the Tourism BID.

12.  Housing Performance Report – 1 April to 30 June 2016 
Aithisg Dèanadais a thaobh Taigheadais – 1 Giblean to 30 Òg mhios 2016

There is circulated Report No CIA/40/16 dated 23 August 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 30 June 2016.

The Committee is invited to scrutinise the information provided on housing performance in the period 1 April to 30 June 2016.

13.  Augsburg Twinning Links: Economic Opportunities 
Augsburg

There is circulated Report No CIA/41/16 dated 3 August 2016 by the Inverness City Area Manager which updates Members on the recent visit to Augsburg by the Provost and the Civic and Facilities Team Leader, accompanied by the Principal Economy Officer from the Development and Infrastructure Service.

The Committee is invited to:-

i.   approve the commitment of a maximum of £5,000 from the Inverness Common Good Fund Town Twinning Budget towards the costs of additional work to develop economic links between the cities of Augsburg and Inverness;
ii.   note the detail of the initial meeting in Augsburg between the Council and its partners, the Centre for Health Science and the University of the Highlands and Islands, with the Klinikum Augsburg, as well as the proposals for further meetings in September in Inverness; and
iii.  note also the shared interest in Blended Learning and in Collaborative working that has been developing between educational institutions in both cities, and the opportunity they present for future economic development opportunities.

14.  Inverness Common Good Fund 
Maoin Math Coitcheann Inbhir Nis

(a) Financial Monitoring
Sgrùdadh Ionmhasail

There is circulated Report No CIA/42/16 dated 19 August 2016  by the Inverness City Area Manager which presents the expenditure monitoring position for the Inverness Common Good Fund as at 31 July 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/43/16 dated 17 August 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.

The Committee is invited to note the current funds available for allocation and scrutinise the current status of capital projects.

(c) City Events and Festivals – Review of 2016/17 Events and Festivals  Programme and Proposals 2017/18
Tachartasan agus Fèisean a’ Bhaile – Lèirmheas de Thachartasan is Fhèisean 2016/17 agus Prògram is Molaidhean 2017/18

There is circulated Report No CIA/44/16 dated 5 August 2016 by the Inverness City Area Manager which provides an update on the 2016/17 Events and Festivals Programme and seeks approval of the proposed 2017/18 Events and Festivals Programme at a cost of £320,000.

The Committee is invited to approve the proposed 2017/18 programme at a cost of £320,000 and the allocation of a budget in the sum of £320,000 from the Inverness Common Good Fund Budget for 2017/18 and approve the proposed 2017/18 Action Plan.

The Committee is also invited to note the Stakeholder Feedback.

15.  Street Naming – New Development at Cradlehall, Inverness        
Ainmeachadh Sràide – Leasachadh Ùr ann an Cradlehall, Inbhir Nis

There is circulated Report No CIA/45/16 dated 24 June 2016 by the Director of Development and Infrastructure which invites Members to homologate a decision by the Cradlehall and Westhill Community Council, supported by the Local Members, to name a street at Cradlehall that already has built units as ‘Scretan Burn Place (Ceàrn Allt an Sgrìodain).’

The Committee is invited to homologate the naming of the street at Cradlehall as Scretan Burn Place (Ceàrn Allt an Sgrìodain).

16.  Appointments to Working Groups and Outside Bodies
Cur an Dreuchd gu Buidhnean-Obrach agus Buidhnean bhon Taobh A-Muigh

(a) Inverness Women’s Aid
Cobhair Bhoireannach Inbhir Nis

The Committee is invited to appoint a replacement for Miss J Campbell as a Director of Inverness Women’s Aid.

(b) Events and Festivals Working Group
Buidheann-Obrach Thachartasan is Fhèisean

The Committee is invited to appoint Mr I Brown to replace Mrs G Sinclair as a member of the Events and Festivals Working Group.

17.  Minutes  
Geàrr-chunntas

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

i.   City of Inverness Area Committee held on 2 June 2016 and the Special Meeting held on 1 July 2016 for noting;
ii.  Events and Festivals Working Group held on 26 July 2016 for approval;
iii. Inverness Common Good Fund Grants Sub-Committee held on 8 August 2016 for approval; and
iv. ICArts Working Group held on 19 August 2016 for approval.