Agendas, reports and minutes

A meeting of the Easter Ross Area Committee will take place remotely on Thursday, 17 February 2022 at 10.00am. 

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 provide some information on the nature of the interest and leave the meeting at the appropriate time.  Advice may be sought from officers prior to the meeting taking place.

3. Police – Area Performance Summary Report            
Poileas – Geàrr-Aithisg Coileanadh Sgìreil

There is circulated Report No ERA/01/22 dated 3 February 2022 by Chief Inspector Kevin MacLeod, (North Highland Area Command).

The Committee is invited to note progress made against the objectives set within the Highland Local Policing Plan 2020-2023 Year 2, attached as Annex A to this report, for the period covering 01 April 2021 - 31 December 2021.

4. Highland Coastal Communities Fund – Assessment of Applications
Maoin Coimhearsnachdan Cladaich na Gàidhealtachd – Measadh Iarrtasan

There is circulated Report No ERA/02/22 dated 1 February 2022 by the Executive Chief Officer, Infrastructure, Environment & Economy.

The Committee is invited to consider the application presented for funding and agree whether to approve, defer or reject the application. An approval of funding should detail the amount approved and outline any conditions of funding that Members wish to attach to the approval over and above the required technical conditions.  A deferral would allow an applicant to resubmit the current application at a future date with updated information.  A rejection would mean that the application will not proceed and any future application to the fund should be brought forward initially as a new expression of interest.  

5. Placed Based Investment Programme 
Prògram Tasgaidh Stèidhichte air Àite  

There is circulated Report No ERA/03/22 dated 10 February 2022 by the Executive Chief Officer, Infrastructure, Environment & Economy.

The Committee is asked to 

i. agree to investing £2,887.64 in the TCF Shore Road project, Invergordon;

ii. agree to investing £30,000 in CCTV infrastructure in Alness town centre;

iii. agree to investing £35,000 in CCTV infrastructure in Invergordon town centre;

iv. agree to investing £40,000 in new public convenience provision in Evanton;

v. agree to investing £14,948 in Teandallon Play Area, Evanton;

vi. agree to holding £17,319.36 as contingency for Ward 6 projects;

vii. consider the two proposals for Tain and agree which project(s) is to benefit from Place Based Investment Programme investment and the value of funds to be offered;

viii. grant delegated authority to the Executive Chief Officer Infrastructure, Environment & Economy in consultation with the Area Committee Chair to allocate any uncommitted PBIP grant to approved PBIP beneficiaries in the event that additional investment is required; and   

ix. agree that the Council write to the Scottish Government to request permission to carry over the value of any uncommitted PBIP grant into 2022/23.

6. Highland Council Place Based Funds
Maoinean Chomhairle na Gàidhealtachd Stèidhichte air Àite 

There is circulated Report No ERA/04/22 dated 31 January 2022 by the Executive Chief Officer, Communities and Place

The Committee is invited to consider and approve the proposed applications and funding allocations.

7. Area Roads Capital Programme 2022-23
Prògram Calpa Rathaidean Sgìreil 2022-23          

There is circulated Report No ERA/05/22 dated 11 January 2022 by the Executive Chief Officer, Infrastructure, Environment & Economy.

The Committee is invited to approve the proposed 2022/23 Area Roads Capital Programme for Easter Ross Area.

8. Bridgend Primary School, Alness – Traffic Calming on Caplich Road and Ardross Road 
Bun-Sgoil Cheann na Drochaide, Alanais – Socrachadh Trafaig air Rathad na Caplaich agus Rathad Àird Rois 

There is circulated Report No ERA/06/22 dated 28 January 2022 by the Executive Chief Officer, Infrastructure, Environment & Economy.

The Committee is invited to:

i. note the background to the proposed traffic calming measures and the representations received; 

ii. approve the construction of the associated traffic calming; and

iii. note the intention to monitor the area after the construction including commissioning a traffic survey at the junction of Caplich Road/Perrins Road to determine the effectiveness of the new road layout and traffic calming measures.

9. Housing Performance Report
Aithisg Choileanaidh Taigheadais  

There is circulated Report No ERA/07/22 dated 3 February 2022 by the Executive Chief Officer, Housing and Property.

The Committee is invited to consider the information provided on housing performance in the period 1 April 2021 to 31 December 2021.

10. Garage Rents
Màil Gharaidsean 

There is circulated Report No ERA/08/22 dated 3 February 2022 by the Executive Chief Officer, Housing and Property.

The Committee is invited to agree a level of rent increase to apply to Easter Ross Garages and Garage Sites.

11. Invergordon Common Good Fund
Maoin Math Coitcheann Inbhir Ghòrdain                                                                         

There is circulated Report No ERA/09/22 dated 8 February 2022 by the Executive Chief Officer, Resources and Finance and Executive Chief Officer, Community and Place. 

The Committee is invited to: 

i. note the Invergordon Common Good Fund Annual Report for 2020/22;

ii. note the position of the Invergordon Common Good Fund, as shown in the 2021 Quarter 3 monitoring statement;

iii. approve the proposed budget for 2022/23; and

iv. consider and agree one of the following two options:

a. Option 1: to commence a statutory consultation to sell the Bouchardon Bust to repair the Town Hall. Said sale to be conditional on a robust business case; or 

b. Option 2: to recommend to Highland Council to dispose of Invergordon Town Hall by sale.  This follows the concluded consultation regarding disposal and would include a requirement for approval from the Sheriff Court as it is an inalienable asset.

12. Tain Common Good Fund
Maoin Math Coitcheann Bhaile Dhubhthaich 

There is circulated Report No ERA/10/22 dated 3 February 2022 by the Executive Chief Officer, Resources and Finance and Executive Chief Officer, Community and Place. 

The Committee is invited to:

i. consider the Tain Common Good Fund Annual Report for 2020/21;

ii. consider the position of the Tain Common Good Fund, as shown in the 2021 Quarter 3 monitoring statement; and

iii. approve the proposed budget for 2022/23.

13. Minutes 
Geàrr-chunntas

There is circulated for noting Minutes of Meeting of the Easter Ross Area Committee held on 18 November 2021.