Agendas, reports and minutes

A meeting of the City of Inverness Area Committee will take place in the Council Chamber, Town House, Inverness on Thursday, 22 November 2018 at 10.00am.

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

Stewart Fraser
Head of Corporate Governance

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. Yearly Annual Report on Inverness Business District

There is circulated Report No CIA/47/18 dated 6 November 2018 by Inverness City Area Manager

The Committee is invited to:-

1. endorse the work detailed in the report; and
2. note the presentation provided by Inverness BID representatives and the on­going development of partnership working.

4. Scottish Fire and Rescue Service – Area Performance Summary
Seirbheis Smàlaidh agus Teasairginn na h-Alba – Geàrr-chunntas Coileanadh Sgìreil

There is circulated Report No CIA/48/18 dated 1 November 2018 by the Local Senior Officer for Highland.

The Committee is invited to comment on and scrutinise the City of Inverness Performance Report for Q1 and Q2 of 2018-19 as circulated.

5. Delivering Local Priorities – City of Inverness and Area
Prìomhachasan Baile Inbhir Nis

There is circulated Joint Report No CIA/49/18 dated 31 October 2018 by the Director of Development and Infrastructure and Inverness City Area Manager.

The Committee is invited to note:-

1. the links between the Council’s Programme and the City Priorities; and
2. the progress being made on delivering the City Priorities and related projects.

6. activeinverness: Wayfinding Strategy for Inverness City Centre
Pròiseactan Wayfinding

There is circulated Report No CIA/50/18 dated 8 November 2018 by the Director of Development and Infrastructure.

The Committee is invited to:-

1. agree that the Wayfinding Strategy for Inverness City Centre at Appendix 1 of the report be adopted by the Council as a Non-Statutory Planning Advice Note;
2. note the comments received during the public consultation on the Wayfinding Strategy for Inverness City Centre; and
3. agree the recommended Council responses contained in Appendix 4 of the report.

7. Riverside Way – Way Forward
Pròiseact Dealbhaidh Slighe na h-Aibhne

There is circulated Joint Report No. CIA/51/18 dated 7 November 2018 by the Director of Development and Infrastructure and the Chief Executive of High Life Highland.

The Committee is invited to:-

1. note the contents of the report, including the background, engagement and feedback;
2. agree to delegate the Director of Development and Infrastructure, in consultation with the Provost and Depute Provost, to prepare and publish a series of Draft Road Traffic Regulation Orders covering the following proposals:
   1. Inverness Riverside Area 20mph Speed Limit Order 
   2. Inverness Riverside - Ness Walk and Bught Road One Way Order
   3. Inverness Riverside – Ness Walk and Bught Road Redetermination Order
   4. Inverness Riverside Area Event Traffic Management Order

and to make the orders where there are no valid sustained objections.

3. note that where there are valid and sustained objections an update report will be submitted to a future Committee; and
4. subject to the making of the Road Traffic Regulation Orders, agree to delegate the Director of Development and Infrastructure to further develop and implement the works associated with implementing the Road Traffic Regulation Orders.

8. Inverness City Centre Trade Waste Policy
Poileasaidh Sgudal Malairt Meadhan Baile Inbhir Nis

There is circulated Report No. CIA/52/18 dated 1 November 2018 by the Director of Community Services.

The Committee is invited to:-

1. note the results of the public consultation and review of the Trade Waste Policy as outlined within the report; and
2. approve the recommendation to extend the time for the morning uplift window within the Trade Waste Policy as detailed within the report.

9. Housing Revenue Account Capital Programme 2019-2021
 Prògram Calpa Cunntas Teachd-a-steach Taigheadais 2019-2021

There is circulated Report No. CIA/53/18 dated 5 November 2018 by the Director of Community Services.

The Committee is invited to:-

1. note the allocation of resources to Inverness Area as set out in Appendix 1 of the report;
2. note the investment priorities as set out in section 4.2 of the report;
3. agree the proposed two year HRA Capital Programme for Inverness for 2019-21 as set out in Appendix 2 of the report; and
4. note that updates on the Housing Revenue Account Capital Programme will continue to be provided through ward briefings. 

10. Inverness and Nairn Local Access Forum Appointments
Cur an Dreuchd gu Fòram Inntrigidh Ionadail Inbhir Nis agus Inbhir    Narann

There is circulated Report No. CIA/54/18 dated 16 October 2018 by the Director of Development and Infrastructure.

The Committee is invited to consider the applications submitted to fill the access taker vacancy on the Local Access Forum and to approve the appointment of the preferred candidate.

11. Inverness Townscape Heritage Project
Pròiseact Dualchais Cruth-baile Inbhir Nis

The Inverness Townscape Heritage (TH) Project has been established to encourage regeneration of the historic built environment within Academy Street to improve the quality of life for those people who live, work and visit there and businesses that trade there.  The TH Project Partnership, which consists of a Partnership Board and Grant Sub-Committee, has been set up to direct and monitor the 5 year delivery and implementation phase from January 2016 to January 2021.

The TH Partnership Board is chaired by the Highland Council and will:-

• direct activity and monitor progress to fulfil the objectives of the project in accordance with the Heritage Lottery Fund and Historic Environment Scotland grant terms; and
• provide effective liaison with their representative bodies and act as ambassador for the TH Project.

The TH Grant Sub-committee will:-

• receive and evaluate grant applications and Officer recommendations.
• agree and submit recommendations on all grant applications for the TH Partnership’s consideration and determination.

The Committee is invited to appoint one member as Chair of the TH Partnership Board.

The Committee is advised that should they appoint a Member who sits on the TH Partnership Grants Sub Committee (Councillors Ms J Campbell and Mr R MacWilliam) that an alternative representative to this Sub Committee will also be required.

12. Appointments to Sub-Committee, Working Groups etc
Cur an Dreuchd gu Fo-Chomataidhean, Buidhnean-obrach is eile

Following the resignation of Mrs E McAllister, the Committee is invited to approve the membership of the following Sub-Committees, Working Groups etc –

1. Inverness City Arts Working Group (ICArts)
2. Events and Festivals Working Group

13. Inverness Airport Consultative Committee
Comataidh Cho-chomhairleachaidh Port-adhair Inbhir Nis

The Committee is invited to note that the Provost has been invited to attend this group which acts as a liaison between the community and airport management.

14. Homologation of New Street Names
Aontachadh Ainmean Ùra Sràide

There is circulated Report No CIA/55/18 dated 8 February 2018 by the Inverness City Area Manager.

The Committee is invited to homologate the naming of new streets for the new housing developments in the Ness-side, Hilton, Culloden and Smithton areas of Inverness as detailed in the report.

15. Inverness Common Good Fund
Maoin Math Coitcheann Inbhir Nis

a) Inverness Common Good Fund Annual Report 2017/18
Aithisg Bhliadhnail Maoin Math Coitcheann Inbhir Nis 2017/18

There is circulated Report No. CIA/56/18 dated 1 November 20187 by the Director of Corporate Resources/Deputy Chief Executive and the Inverness City Area Manager. 

The Committee is asked to consider the final monitoring report and balance sheet for the Inverness Common Good Fund as at 31 March 2018.

b) Financial Monitoring
Sgrùdadh Ionmhasail

There is circulated Report No. CIA/57/18 dated 5 November 2018 by the Inverness City Area Manager.

The Committee is invited to consider the financial monitoring report to 1 November 2018 and note that overall expenditure is within agreed budgets.

c) Grants and Capital Projects
Tabhartasan agus Pròiseactan Calpa

There is circulated Report No. CIA/58/18 dated 12 November 2018 by the Inverness City Area Manager.

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

The Committee is invited to:-

1. consider the applications for funding;
2. consider the application from Inverness BID for £59,777 towards the City of Inverness Annual Floral Displays 2019;
3. scrutinise the current status of capital projects;
4. agree to the transfer of £35,250 from the Conference Support Budget to the Grants Budget;
5. agree the extra costs incurred of £9,358 for the Ness Islands Bridge Work, to be funded from the Other Properties Budget.

16. Discretionary Scheme for Winter Payments 2019/20
Sgeama Pàigheadh Geamhraidh – Ath-sgrùdadh

There is circulated Joint Report No. CIA/59/18 dated 13 November 2018 by the Depute Chief Executive/Director of Corporate Resources and Inverness City Area Manager.

The Committee is invited to agree the following recommendations for the 2019/20 Inverness Winter Payments Discretionary Scheme and are reminded of the original focus of this Scheme:-

1. an increase in a single tier payment from £82 to be made in accordance with the increase in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) to those applicants that satisfy the eligibility criteria for the 2019/20 scheme. This is the only increase in payment recommended and will be submitted to the June 2019 Committee for Members’ consideration;
2. there is an anticipated increase in budget from £132,000 to take into account the anticipated CPI increase which may result in an increase in payment for 2019/20.  The recommendation for the budget for 2019/20 will be presented at the City of Inverness Common Good Fund Grants Sub-Committee in June 2019;
3. the criteria to be utilised for the 2019/20 scheme as set out in paragraphs 4.1 to 4.4 of the report. As set out in Appendix 2 of the report, in addition to a one-off discretionary payment from The Inverness Winter Payments Scheme, the same recipients may also be eligible for:
   ​​​​

 

• £300 maximum payment  from the UK Government’s Winter Fuel Payment;
• £25 for each 7 day period where the criteria is met for the UK Government’s Cold Weather Payments; and
• £140 Warm Home Discount from the household’s utility bill.

 

4. this discretionary scheme is to be made available to residents in the City of Inverness and the Landward areas of the seven City Wards;
5. to promote payment by BACS for this scheme as this is the most secure method of payment for recipients of the payment and the Council alike;
6. a change to the criteria resulting in a higher number of qualifying applicants and an increase to the payment amount (in addition to the anticipated CPI increase) would mean an increase in the budget.  Payment for this scheme is coupled with the level of payments made via the UK Government’s schemes as set out in recommendation iii detailed above.  Officers’ recommendations are to adopt the criteria detailed in Section 4 of the report and increase the payment in line with the CPI increase; and
7. to manage all related expenditure in a manner that safeguards the Common Good Fund’s assets and ensures this important scheme remains sustainable.

17. Traffic Order Amendments
Atharrachaidhean Òrdughan Trafaig

There is circulated Report No. CIA/60/18 dated 9 November 2018 by the Director of Community Services.

The Committee is invited to note the updates on Inverness traffic management issues.

18. Castle Wynd, Eastgate and Bridge Street - Proposed Alterations to Taxi Ranks
Caigeann a’ Chaisteil, Am Bothar an Ear agus Sràid na Drochaid – Atharrachaidhean gam Moladh a thaobh Raointean Tagsaidh

There is circulated Joint Report No. CIA//18 dated 9 November 2018 by the Inverness City Area Manager and the Director of Community Services.

The Committee is invited to note the status of the provision of a night time Taxi rank in Eastgate Inverness.

19. Inverness Local Holidays 2019/20
Saor-làithean Ionadail Inbhir Nis 2019/20

2019

Tuesday 1 January (New Year’s Day)
Wednesday 2 January
Monday 4 February
Monday 4 March
Monday 22 April (Easter Monday)
Monday 6 May (May Day)
Monday 1 July
Monday 7 October
Monday 4 November
Wednesday 25 December (Christmas Day)
Thursday 26 December (Boxing Day)

2020

Wednesday 1 January (New Year’s Day)
Thursday 2 January
Monday 3 February
Monday 2 March
Monday 13 April (Easter Monday)
Monday 4 May (May Day)
Monday 6 July
Monday 5 October
Monday 2 November
Friday 25 December (Christmas Day)
Monday 28 December (Boxing Day Holiday)

The Committee is invited to agree the above dates as Local Holidays for the City of Inverness for years 2019 and 2020.

20. Minutes
Geàrr-chunntas

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

1. City of Inverness Area Committee held on 30 August 2018 for noting;
2. Victorian Market Stakeholder Group held on 7 August 2018 for noting;
3. Victorian Market Stakeholder Group held on 11 September 2018 for noting;
4. Inverness City Arts Working Group held on 2 November 2018 for approval;
5. Inverness Common Good Fund Sub-Committee held on 29 October 2018 for approval; and
6. Inverness Events and Festivals Working Group held on 10 September 2018 for approval).