Agendas, reports and minutes

City of Inverness Area Committee

Date: Monday, 26 September 2022

Agenda: Read the Agenda

A meeting of the City of Inverness Area Committee will take place in the Council Chamber, Council Headquarters, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness on Wednesday 14 September 2022 at 10.00 am.
 
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
 
 
Preliminaries
 
i.  William John Dingwall, Vice-President and Standard Bearer, Inverness Branch, Royal British Legion Scotland received a Medal of the Order of the British Empire for his voluntary service to veterans; and
ii. Lindsay Graham, Deputy Chair, Poverty and Inequality Commission Scotland received an Order of the British Empire for services to Tackling Children’s Food Insecurity.
 
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 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. Recess Powers
   Cumhachdan Fosaidh
 
The Committee is asked to note that the recess powers granted by the Council at its meeting on 30 June 2022 did not require to be exercised in relation to the business of the City of Inverness Area Committee.
 
4. Police – Area Performance Summary
    Poileas – Geàrr-chunntas air Coileanadh Sgìreil
 
There will follow Report No CIA/17/22 by the Inverness Area Commander.
 
5. Inverness Strategy Update
    Ro-innleachd Baile Inbhir Nis
 
There is circulated Report No. CIA/18/22 dated 29 August, 2022 by the Executive Chief Officer Infrastructure, Environment & Economy.
 
Members are asked to:- 
 
i   note the progress made to date, including the commitment to appointing a Project Manager to coordinate place-based work across Inverness;
ii. note and discuss the list of delivered, live and emerging projects set out in Appendix 1;
iii. agree for officers to undertake engagement on the Inverness Strategy incorporating outcomes / vision, the key projects, and a new masterplan for the City Centre, with feedback and next steps to be reported to a future Committee;
iv. agree that the Inverness One City, One Vision as set out in Appendix 2 is integrated into the overall vision for the city and that the projects being taken forward will be viewed in that context, and timescales, subject to funding opportunities being identified.
v. note that in advance of the consultation officers will brief the Community Planning Partnership on the work to date and the proposed consultation to ensure a collaborative cross-Council and cross-sector approach; and
vi. note that in partnership with Corporate Communications and Digital Services, Officers will develop a branding and communications strategy for the Inverness place-based work, including the development of a dedicated ‘Inverness portal’ webpage for all Inverness workstreams and consultations. 
 
Item 6 will be considered at 2.00pm
 
6. Notice of Motion 
    Brath Gluasaid
 
The following Notice of Motion has been received by the Head of Corporate Governance – 
 
(i) “The venue for Area Committee meetings is a decision for councillors.  The Town House has been the centre of Inverness local government for centuries and is well capable of continuing to fulfil this role.  The Committee resolves that meetings of Inverness City Area Committee return to the Town House forthwith”.
 
Signed:   Alex Graham      Alasdair Christie      Mr C Aitkin      Mrs T Robertson
 
7. Appointments to Outside Bodies
    Suidheachadh Dhreuchdan gu Buidhnean on Taobh A-muigh
 
The Committee is invited to approve the appointments to the following Outside Bodies – 
 
(i) Addictions Counselling Inverness – 2 Members
(ii) Dr Forbes Trust – Provost and 4 other Members 
(iii) Highland Disability Sport – 1 Member
(iv) Inverness and Nairn Local Access Forum – 2 Members
(v) Inverness BID – 1 Member (City Leader)
(vi) Inverness City Heritage Trust – 3 Members
(vii) Inverness Civic Trust – 2 Members
(viii) Inverness Community Safety Partnership – 1 Member
(ix) Inverness Festival Association – Provost and 4 other Members
(x) Inverness Partnership (Chair) – 1 Member (City Leader)
(xi) Visit Inverness Loch Ness – 1 Member (City Leader)
(xii) Inverness Town Twinning Committee – Provost and 4 other Members
(xiii) Inverness, Badenoch and Strathspey Citizens’ Advice Bureau – 1 Member
(xiv) Ness District Salmon Fisheries Board – 1 Member
(xv) Victorian Market Stakeholder Group – City Leader and 5 other Members
(xvi) City Area Development Group - 12 Members 
(xvii) East Inverness Sports Facilities Working Group - 7 Members
 
The Groups have been asked for their nominations for all of the above which will be tabled at the meeting. 
 
8. Inverness Common Good Fund: Discretionary Scheme for Winter Payments Plan 2022/23
    Maoin Math Coitcheann Inbhir Nis: Sgeama fo Ùghdarras airson Plana Pàighidhean Geamhraidh 2022/23
 
There is circulated Report No CIA/19/22 dated 20 July 2022 by the Executive Chief Officer Communities and Place.
 
The Committee is invited to agree the following recommendations for the 2022/23 Inverness Winter Payments Discretionary Scheme:-
 
i. Accept applications from 1 December 2022 to 28 February 2023 inclusive.
ii. Increase the single tier payment for those applicants that satisfy the eligibility criteria for the Scheme for 2022/23 by the 12-month (June 2022) Consumer Price Index (9.4%) to £97.  
iii. Provide a budget of £200,000 as agreed by Members at  Committee on 17th February 2022 to accommodate the continuing demand as a result of the cost of living crisis, ongoing welfare reforms and fluctuations in energy costs. Noting that payments for Landward Areas will be sourced from available income within the Inverness Benevolent Funds first, with the ICGF being utilised for the Landward Areas in the event that officers decide it financially prudent to do so. 
iv. Agree that the criteria utilised for the 2021/22 scheme as set out in paragraphs 11.2 to 11.6 shall be used as the basis for the 2022/23 scheme.  
v. Agree this discretionary scheme is to be made available to residents in the City of Inverness and the Landward areas of the seven City Wards.  
vi. Agree BACS payments are to be used for this discretionary scheme as this is the most secure method of payment for recipients of the payment and the Council alike.
vii. Note that for 2022/23 applications for grants to support Foodbank provision will be considered under the ICGF Grants Budget. All as more particularly referred to in Para 10 below
 
9. Winter Service Plan 2022/23
     Plana Seirbheis Geamhraidh 2022/23
 
There is circulated Report No. CIA/20/22 dated 17 August 2022 by the Executive Chief Officer Infrastructure, Environment & Economy.
 
The Committee are invited to:-
 
i. approve the Winter Service Plan for Inverness Area; and
ii. note that Covid-19 and driver’s hours regulations will potentially have an impact on the winter service provided.
 
10. Inverness Common Good Fund
      Maoin Math Coitcheann Inbhir Nis
 
a) Financial Monitoring
    Sgrùdadh Ionmhasail
 
There is circulated Report No CIA/21/22 dated 25 August 2022 by the Executive Chief Officer Communities and Place.
 
The Committee is invited to:-
 
i.  consider the financial monitoring report to 30 June 2022; and note that overall expenditure is within agreed budgets excepting the estimated outturns detailed in Appendices 1 and 2; and
ii. agree to homologate expenditure of £0.045m incurred in respect fly tipping at the Longman Landfill Site to date as outlined and note that additional works referred to will be undertaken and reported to Committee in due course.
 
b) Capital Projects Update Report 
   Aithisg às Ùr mu Phròiseactan Calpa
 
There is circulated joint Report No CIA/22/22 dated 23 August 2022 by the Executive Chief Officer Housing & Property and Executive Chief Officer Communities and Place.
 
The Committee is invited to scrutinise the current status of capital projects.
 
c) Inverness Common Good Fund Sub-Committee Annual Report 2021/22
    Aithisg Bhliadhnail Fo-Chomataidh Maoin Math Coitcheann Inbhir Nis 2021/22
 
There is circulated Report No CIA/23/22 dated 25 August 2022 by the Executive Chief Officer Communities and Place.
 
The Committee is invited to note and scrutinise the work of the Inverness Common Good Fund Sub Committee as described within the report.
 
d) Grant Applications over £10,000
    Iarrtasan Tabhartais thar £10,000
 
There is circulated Report No CIA/24/22 dated 22 August, 2022 by the Executive Chief Officer Communities and Place.
 
The Committee is invited to consider the applications for funding which are as follows:-  Free North Church;  City Decorative Lighting
 
11.    Appointment to Events and Festivals Working Group 
        Suidheachadh Dhreuchdan gu Buidheann-obrach nan Tachartasan is nam 
        Fèisean
 
The Committee is invited to appoint one Member to replace Mrs I MacKenzie on the Events and Festivals Working Group.
 
12. Inverness Local Holidays 2023/24
      Saor-làithean Ionadail Inbhir Nis 2023/24
 
2023
 
Monday 2 January 2023 (New Year’s Day)
Tuesday 3 January 2023 (2nd January Holiday)
Monday 6 February 2023
Monday 6 March 2023
Monday 10 April 2023 (Easter Monday)
Monday 1 May 2023 (May Day Holiday)
Monday 3 July 2023
Monday 2 October 2023
Monday 6 November 2023
Monday 25 December 2023 (Christmas Day)
Tuesday 26 December 2023 (Boxing Day)
 
2024
 
Monday 1 January 2024 (New Year’s Day)
Tuesday 2 January 2024 (2nd January Holiday)
Monday 5 February 2024
Monday 4 March 2024
Monday 1 April 2024 (Easter Monday)
Monday 6 May 2024 (May Day Holiday)
Monday 1 July 2024
Monday 7 October 2024
Monday 4 November 2024
Wednesday 25 December 2024 (Christmas Day)
Thursday 26 December 2024 (Boxing Day)
 
The Committee is invited to agree the above dates as Local Holidays for the City of Inverness for years 2023 and 2024.
 
13. Minutes
      Geàrr-chunntas
 
The following Minutes are circulated for noting or approval as appropriate:-
 
i. City of Inverness Area Committee held on 8 June 2022 for noting; 
ii. Inverness Common Good Fund Sub Committee on 27 June and 15 August 2022 for approval; and
iii. Events and Festivals Working Group on 15 August 2022 for approval.