Agendas, reports and minutes

Minutes of Meeting of the Nairnshire Committee held in the Chamber, The Court House, High Street, Nairn on Wednesday 13 June 2018 at 10.30 am.

Present:

Mr L Fraser, Mr T Heggie, Mrs L MacDonald, Mr P Saggers
    
In attendance:

Ms L Cowie, Ward Manager, Nairn and Badenoch and Strathspey
Mr R MacLeod, Principal Housing Officer, Community Services
Mr S Taylor, Administrative Assistant, Chief Executive’s Office

Also in attendance:

Mr M Boylan, Chair, ‘NairnConnects’ Business Improvement Steering Group (Item 3)
Mr G Morrison, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (Item 4)

An asterisk in the margin denotes a recommendation to the Council.  All decisions with no marking in the margin are delegated to the Committee.

Mr T Heggie in the Chair

Preliminaries

Prior to the commencement of the formal business, the Chair advised that the press would be allowed to record the meeting since it was a committee meeting held in public and was not webcast.

Business

1. Apologies for Absence
Leisgeulan

There were no apologies for absence.

2. Declaration of Interest
Foillseachaidhean Com-pàirt

The Committee NOTED the following Declaration of Interest:-

Item 7 – Mr L Fraser (non-financial)

3. Nairn Business Improvement District (BID)
Sgìre Leasachaidh Gnìomhachais Inbhir Narann

There had been circulated report No N/5/18 dated 31 May 2018 by the Inverness City Area Manager. 

Mr Michael Boylan, Chair of ‘NairnConnects’ Business Improvement Steering Group, provided an update on the proposal to establish a Business Improvement District (BID) for Nairn Town, during which he highlighted the main objectives of the BID and advised that the proposed BID was scheduled to go to ballot on 16 August 2018.  He emphasised that, whilst Nairn was ideally situated in terms of tourism, the town was currently lagging behind some other areas with regard to branding and marketing; therefore, the establishment of a Nairn BID would help bring businesses together to ensure that Nairn received its share of tourism and support.  Mr Boylan thanked the Council officers involved in the process of establishing a Nairn BID proposal.

In discussion, the following points were raised:-

• Further information was sought and provided on amendments to the BID which had been made following consultation with interested parties;
• The BID presented an exciting opportunity for businesses to work together to the benefit of Nairn;
• The Council’s contribution towards funding of the BID and the collaborative work undertaken by Council officers and the BID team was highlighted;
• Further information was sought and provided on the timeline for submission of the ballot and the creation of a BID Board towards the end of the year;
• Further information was sought and provided on the potential income and additional funding opportunities arising from the BID and the flexibility the BID had to potentially provide funding over a 5 year period; and
• The Committee welcomed the opportunity to work with the BID in the future.

The Committee:-

i. NOTED the proposals for the establishment of a Nairn Business Improvement District; and
* ii. AGREED TO RECOMMEND to the Council that it supports the ‘NairnConnects’ BID Proposal when this is considered at the meeting of the Council on 28 June 2018.

4. Scottish Fire and Rescue Service – Local Committee Performance Report for 2017-18
Seirbheis Smàlaidh agus Teasairginn na h-Alba – Aithisg Coileanaidh na Comataidh Ionadail airson 2017-18

There had been circulated Report No N/6/18 dated 23 May 2018 by the Local Senior Officer for Highland (Scottish Fire and Rescue Service).

In discussion, the following points were raised:-

• In regard to deliberate fires, further information was requested and provided on the multi-agency approach taken by Police and Fire Services and social workers to address this, including educating young people by visiting schools and an increased Police and Fire presence in affected areas;
• Further information was requested and provided on the reasons for an increase in false alarms being raised; this included some new alarms being overly sensitive to fumes and also business proprietors testing alarms without first informing the Fire Service of their intention to do so;
• Further information was provided on crew availability and the utilisation of the Fire appliances based in Nairn in response to wildfires outwith the area;
• Further information was requested and provided on the increased role the Service had in responding to emergency medical incidents, such as the use of defibrillators; and
• The Service was commended for the help it provided within Nairnshire and the flexible approach it had taken to dealing with the local community.  

Having thanked the Local Senior Officer for his report, the Committee NOTED and scrutinised the Area Performance Report.

5. Local Priorities for Nairn and Nairnshire
Prìomhachasan Ionadail airson Inbhir Narann agus Siorrachd Inbhir Narann

There had been circulated joint Report No N/7/18 dated 29 May 2018 by the Head of Policy and Reform.

In discussion, the following points were raised:-

• It was suggested that the local strategic priorities for Nairn and Nairnshire could be shared with the Community Planning Partnership as there were a number of priorities identified which featured joint working with other organisations;
• The proposed upgrading/replacement of Nairn Academy was highlighted;
• It was important for Members and Associated School Groups to be aware of any potential changes to the governance of education and how this would be administered in the future;
• Further information was requested and provided on how the local strategic priorities would be scrutinised by the Committee and that this could include the submission of an Action Plan for review;
• In regard to ‘FIT’ houses, it was suggested that close working with the local community partnership should be included when developing an Action Plan; and
• In welcoming the local strategic priorities, it was emphasised that the Committee had the benefit of being able to scrutinise priorities that were specific to the Nairnshire area.

The Committee:-

i. APPROVED the local strategic priorities for Nairn and Nairnshire;
ii. AGREED to promote the local strategic priorities for Nairn and Nairnshire with the wider Council membership and as part of the Council’s Programme 2017-22;
iii. NOTED that there would be an opportunity, through the development of the local community partnership and engagement with community bodies and communities, to consider wider shared priorities over the Council’s term; and
iv. NOTED that further work would be done in 2018 to identify how the local priorities agreed, some of  which were already well aligned to the Council’s Programme, could be supported by staff and any other Council resources, including consideration of how best to measure progress.

6. Nairn Links Scoping Report
Aithisg Mheasaidh Machair Inbhir Narann

There had been circulated joint Report No N/8/18 dated 31 May 2018 by the Inverness City Area Manager.

In discussion, the following points were raised:-

• In welcoming the report, it was highlighted that the interest shown by local groups in relation to proposals such as the expansion of the pontoon system at Nairn Harbour and the creation of a Coastal Trail could make the delivery of these projects feasible;
• The importance of consulting with interested parties to ensure consensus with regard to the development of projects in a measured approached was emphasised;
• In regard to collaborative working, rights and responsibilities, the importance of ensuring that any proposals arising from the consultation period took into account the potential need for future maintenance was emphasised.

Having considered the contents of the Scoping Report attached as Appendix A to the report, the Committee AGREED:-

i. to take forward a consultation on the future development of the Links in August 2018;
ii. that further reports be brought back to the Committee as required; and
iii. that a final plan be ready consideration by the end of 2018/19.

7.Housing Performance Report – 1 April 2017 to 31 March 2018
Aithisg Coileanaidh Taigheadais – 1 Giblean 2017 gu 31 Mart 2018

Declaration of Interest: Mr L Fraser declared a non-financial interest in this item as a Sub-Contractor for the Housing Service in Nairn but, having applied the test outlined in Paragraphs 5.2 and 5.3 of the Councillors’ Code of Conduct, concluded that his interest did not preclude his involvement in the discussion.

There had been circulated report No N/09/18 dated 21 May 2018 by the Director of Community Services.

During discussion, the following comments were made:-

• A request was made for information to be provided on the average target time for temporary emergency accommodation in Nairn; and
• The Committee commended the staff for their measured approach when dealing with requests for housing.

The Chair on behalf of the Committee commended the local Housing team and thereafter NOTED and scrutinised the information provided on housing performance for the period 1 April 2017 to 31 March 2018.

8. Minutes of Previous Meeting
Geàrr-chunntas

There had been circulated and were NOTED Minutes of Meeting of the Nairnshire Committee held on 14 March 2018, which had been approved by the Council on 10 May 2018.

The meeting concluded at 11.30 am.