Agendas, reports and minutes

A meeting of the Economy and Infrastructure Committee will take place REMOTELY on Wednesday 1 July 2020 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

Stewart Fraser
Head of Corporate Governance

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.  Good News 
Naidheachdan Matha

4.  National Planning Framework 4 and the Highland Development Plan Scheme        
Frèam Dealbhaidh Nàiseanta 4 agus Sgeama Plana Leasachaidh na Gàidhealtachd

There is circulated Report No. ECI/6/20 by the Executive Chief Officer Infrastructure and Environment.

The Committee is invited to:-

 i.     agree to homologate the responses that were submitted to Scottish Government’s NPF4 ‘Call for Ideas’ at Appendices 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the report;
 ii.     note the update on the emerging Indicative Regional Spatial Strategy (IRSS) for Highland and approve the next steps of engagement for finalising the IRSS, including a Member workshop, as set out at paragraph 4.4 of the report and at Appendix 5;
 iii.    approve the 2020 Development Plans Newsletter at Appendix 6 of the report – including the Council’s approach to engaging communities and partners while social distancing measures are in place - for publication, and submission to Scottish Ministers as the Council’s 2020 Development             Plan Scheme; and
 iv.     note the timescales for Member and community input to documents that may be relevant or of interest to the communities and areas that they cover.

5.  Spaces to People    
Raointean gu Daoine

There is circulated Report No. ECI/7/20 by the Executive Chief Officer Infrastructure and Environment.

The Committee is invited to note:-

 i.    the progress made to implement the initial Spaces for People Highland project; and
 ii.    the intention to submit additional funding bids for further interventions across Highland.

6.  Economic Recovery
Ath-shlànachadh Eaconamach

There will follow Report No. ECI/8/20 by the Executive Chief Officer Infrastructure and Environment.

7.  Corran Narrows Update    
Aiseag a’ Chorrain

There is circulated Report No. ECI/9/20 by the Executive Chief Officer Infrastructure and Environment.

i.     note the information in the following reports – 
      - Corran Ferry Options Appraisal (Item 20 in background papers)
      - Corran Ferry Project (Outline Business Case) (Appendix 1)
      - Ferry replacement Vessel and Fixed link Timeline (Appendix 2)
      - Fixed Link Crossing Up-date (Appendix 3);
ii.     approve that the Highland Council is content to ‘approach’ Transport Scotland regarding a transfer of responsibility based on the principles set out in the Scottish Ferries Plan;
iii.    approve that a private operator running the service should be rejected for further consideration. (As agreed at HMB 2020/02/25);
iv.    approve the preferred vessel and infrastructure option (Roll-on Roll-off) with a view to reducing optimism bias and establishing greater cost certainty prior to any procurement. (As agreed at HMB 2019/11/13);
v.     support the concept of a 5-year Ferry plan to ensure that the current model is sustainable. Costed items will be brought back to EDI committee seeking approval; and
vi.    note the requirement for the setting up of a Corran Narrows Options Working Group, based on similar criteria used for the Stromeferry Options Working Group.

8.  Minutes 
Geàrr-chunntas

There is circulated separately in Booklet A for noting Minutes of the Planning Applications Committees (PAC) for:-

 i.     South PAC – 28 January 2020;
 ii.     North PAC – 3 March 2020;
 iii.    South PAC – 10 March 2020; 
 iv.     North PAC – 21 April 2020;

and, for approval:-

v.    Stromeferry Working Group of 21 February 2020;
vi.    Harbours Management Board of 25 February 2020.

9.  Exclusion of the Public
Às-dùnadh a’ Phobaill 

The Committee is asked to resolve that, under Section 50A (4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part 1 of Schedule 7A of the Act, the relevant paragraphs being shown.

10. Uig Harbour Redevelopment – Grant Funding and Contract Award    
Ath-leasachadh Caladh Ùige – Maoineachadh Tabhartais agus Duais Cunnraidh

Paragraph 9

There is circulated to Members only Report No. ECI/10/20 by the Executive Chief Officer Infrastructure and Environment

The Committee is invited to approve the recommendations contained within the report.

11. Property Transactions Monitoring Report                                                     
Aithisg Sgrùdaidh Ghnothachasan Seilbhe

Paragraphs 6 and 9 

There is circulated to Members only Report No. ECI/11/by the Executive Chief Officer Infrastructure and Environment.

The Committee is invited to approve the recommendations contained within the report.

12. Housing Development Initiatives                                                                
Iomairtean Leasachaidh Taigheadais

Paragraphs 6 and 9 

There is circulated to Members only Report No. ECI/12/20 by the Executive Chief Officer Infrastructure and Environment.

The Committee is invited to approve the recommendations contained within the report.