Agendas, reports and minutes

In relation to the agenda and papers circulated for the above Meeting of the Highland Council, please find attached the following which it was indicated would follow:-

AGENDA ITEM 7

Minutes of Meetings of Committees 
Geàrr-chunntasan Choinneamhan Chomataidhean

Sutherland County Committee, 30 August
Caithness Committee, 31 August

AGENDA ITEM 8

Membership of Committees, Sub Committees, etc
Ballrachd air Comataidhean, msaa

Members are asked to agree the appointment of Mr D Fallows to the Pensions Committee.

The Revised Committee memberships will be tabled at the meeting.

AGENDA ITEM 19

Scheme of Delegation – Proposed Amendment          
Sgeama Tiomnaidh – Atharrachaidhean a Thathar a Moladh 

The Council is asked to agree the following additional amendments to the Scheme of Delegation –

Part IV – Powers Delegated to Officers - Community Services - Environmental Health

Inclusion of the following wording at the end of the Section Housing (Scotland) Act 1987 and Housing (Scotland) Act 2006

To approve applications for grants, insofar as the applications relate to financial assistance in respect of the improvement of property or the repair of property;  to sign Notice of Payment of Grant; to determine housing improvement orders and revoke closure orders; to issue HMO amenity notices.

Part IV – Powers Delegated to Officers - Development and Infrastructure Service

Amend wording as follows – Paragraph 1.3

Current Version – “To determine all applications*, with the exception of the following:

(a) Applications for “national development” (designated as such under s3A(4)(b) of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 (as amended));

(b) Applications for “major developments” designated as such under s26A(1)&(2) of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 (as amended) which are recommended for approval or irrespective of the recommendation are significantly contrary** to the development plan.”

Proposed Version – “To determine all applications*, with the exception of the following:

(a) (i) Applications for “national development” (designated as such under s3A(4)(b) of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 (as amended)) and (ii) consultations under the Electricity Act 1989 (as amended) equivalent  in scale to “national development”;

(b)  (i) Applications for “major developments” designated as such under s26A(1)&(2) of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 (as amended) which are recommended for approval; or, irrespective of the recommendation, are significantly contrary** to the development plan; and

(ii) Consultations under the Electricity Act 1989 (as amended) equivalent  in scale to “major developments”; where the recommendation is that no objection is to be raised; or, irrespective of the recommendation, are significantly contrary** to the development plan.”

Current Version – “*Unless otherwise stated, the term “applications” includes: .... ii. All consultations under the Electricity Act 1989 (as amended), including those made under s36, s36C and s37. For the purposes of this scheme of delegation, such consultations shall be treated as if they were applications for planning permission and categorised a local, major or national developments accordingly; and...”

Proposed Version – “*Unless otherwise stated, the term “applications” includes: .... ii. All consultations under the Electricity Act 1989 (as amended), including those made under s36, s36C and s37; and...”

In terms of Standing Order 17, the Convener has agreed that the following should be considered as urgent business at this meeting -

ADDITIONAL URGENT ITEM 22

Fort George Military Barracks        
 
Members are advised that there is speculation over the future of Fort George as an active military barracks as a result of the UK Government defence estate “foot print” review, which aims to reduce the size of the built estate by 30%.

In this regard, there is circulated Report No HC/40/16 dated 6 September 2016 by the Director of Development and Infrastructure which provides Members with a briefing on the importance of Fort George remaining an active military barracks and to summarise the lobbying activity that is currently underway.

Members are asked to consider the contents of this report and agree that the Council should continue to use every opportunity to lobby the UK Government on this matter.

Yours sincerely

Michelle Morris
Depute Chief Executive/Director of Corporate Development