Agendas, reports and minutes

A meeting of the Economy and Infrastructure Committee will take place in the Council Chamber, Council Headquarters, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness on Thursday, 4 May 2023 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 Legal and Governance

1. Calling of the Roll and Apologies for Absence
Gairm a’ Chlàir agus Leisgeulan

2. Declarations of Interest/Transparency Statement
Foillseachaidhean Com-pàirt/ Aithris Fhollaiseachd

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. Good News 
Naidheachdan Matha

4. Presentation – Inverness Castle Visitor Experience
Taisbeanadh – Turas tro Chaisteal Inbhir Nis

The Senior Responsible Officer for the Project, Mr Allan Maguire, will give a brief update on the progress of the construction work to date.  The construction update will be followed by a short film presented by Mr Chris Mather, Chief Executive of Mather & Co, who have used stories and content from all areas of the Highlands to design the visitor experience within the Castle and in its grounds on the esplanade.  The film will show Members how the design of the visitor experience is progressing.

5. Inverness and Highland City-Region Deal Annual Report
Aithisg Bhliadhnail Cùmhnant Baile-Roinne Inbhir Nis agus na Gàidhealtachd

There is circulated Report No. ECI/19/2023 dated 11 April 2023 by the Interim Depute Chief Executive.

The Committee is invited to approve the report as a record of the activity and delivery during 2021/22.

6. Nairn Business Improvement District (BID) Renewal    
Ùrachadh Roinn Leasachadh Gnothachais Inbhir Narann

There is circulated Report No. ECI/20/2023 dated 11 April 2023 by the Interim Depute Chief Executive.

The Committee is invited to:-

i.  approve the assessment made in Appendix 1 of the report relative to the Nairn BID Proposal; and 
ii. agree not to exercise the Council’s right of veto.

7. Community Regeneration Programme    
Prògram Ath-bheòthachadh Coimhearsnachd

There is circulated Report No. ECI/21/2023 dated 14 April 2023 by the Interim Depute Chief Executive.

The Committee is invited to:-

i.   note work underway to develop and extend the Highland approach to Community Regeneration including the preparation of Area Place Based Plans and inclusion of UK Shared Prosperity Fund into the Community Regeneration Programme;
ii.  agree arrangements, as detailed in Appendices 1,2,3 and 4 of the report, for the management of the Highland Coastal Communities Fund, the Place Based Investment Programme, the Community Led Local Development Programme and the UK Shared Prosperity Fund;
iii. agree the process for dealing with other funds over and above those included in this report, as outlined in Appendix 5 of the report; and
iv.  agree to homologate the decision to submit two applications to the Scottish Government’s Islands Infrastructure Fund as outlined at paragraph 5.8 of the report.

8. Employability Services    
Seirbheisean So-fhastachd

There is circulated Report No. ECI/22/2023 dated 18 April 2023 by the Interim Depute Chief Executive.

The Committee is invited to:-

i.   note the ‘No One Left Behind’ policy and financial agenda which is supporting the design and development of a Highland unique employability service including the increasing focus on tackling child poverty and the drive to raise as many parents as possible out of poverty, including in-work poverty;
ii.  agree the Operational and Investment Plans for 2023/24; and 
iii. agree to the establishment of a Skills Challenge Fund to deliver the UKSPF Skills Interventions and request to partners on the Highland Economic Recovery Partnership to collaborate with the Council on the design and delivery of the Challenge Fund.

9. Performance Monitoring Quarter 4 to 31 March 2023    
Sgrùdadh Coileanaidh Cairteal 4 gu 31 Mart 2023

There is circulated Report No. ECI/23/2023 dated 4 April 2023 by the Interim Executive Chief Officer Infrastructure & Environment.

The Committee is invited to note and scrutinise the Directorate’s performance information.

10. Roads Strategic Capital Allocation    
Riarachadh Calpa Ro-innleachdail Rathaidean

There is circulated Report No. ECI/24/2023 dated 12 April 2023 by the Interim Executive Chief Officer Infrastructure & Environment.

The Committee is invited to:-

i.  approve the strategic capital allocation as set out in Appendix 1 of the report; and 
ii. note that schemes may require to be adjusted for operational reasons or following further discussion with local Members.

11. Highly Protected Marine Areas Consultation Response
Freagairt Co-chomhairleachadh nan Sgìrean Mara Fìor Ghlèidhte

There is circulated Report No. ECI/25/2023 dated 5 April 2023 by the Interim Executive Chief Officer Infrastructure & Environment.

The Committee is invited to:-

i.   note the details of the HPMAs and the proposals put forward by Scottish Government;
ii.  agree to homologate the Council’s response to the consultation; and
iii. consider and agree next steps proposed for engaging with the process.

12. The Flow Country Candidate World Heritage Site Planning Position Statement
Aithris air Suidheachadh Planaidh airson Làrach Dualchais na Cruinne airson nam Flòbhaichean

There is circulated Report No. ECI/26/2023 dated 3 April 2023 by the Interim Executive Chief Officer Infrastructure & Environment.

The Committee is invited to approve The Flow Country World Heritage Site Planning Position Statement within Appendix 1 of the report.

13. Highland Council Airfields
Raointean-adhair Chomhairle na Gàidhealtachd

There is circulated Report No. ECI/27/2023 dated 3 April 2023 by the Interim Executive Chief Officer Infrastructure & Environment.

The Committee is invited to:-

i.   note that the current resource committed to the operation and maintenance of the airfields is not sufficient to meet all of the maintenance liabilities and legal requirements;
ii.  note that in light of this a decision is required as to the future operation and management of Dornoch, Plockton and Ashaig airfields;
iii. approve a Risk Register presented as Appendix 1 of the report and the ongoing plan to address and reduce risk across the airfields e.g. by updating signage and repairing boundary markers;
iv.  approve the implementation of online PPR system at Ashaig and Dornoch, based on the conclusions presented in Appendix 2 of the report; 
v.   agree that the Council should continue to operate Ashaig airfield in a manner which meets all necessary legal obligations and ensures the airfield is maintained to a level which will support operation of commercial services until such time as further developments with regards to scheduled air services are made;
vi.  agree that the Council should seek to offer a lease on Dornoch airfield to one of the interested parties in the local community; and 
vii. agree that the Council should explore opportunities for either the sale or the long-term lease of Plockton airfield. 

14. Establishing a Short-Term Let Control Area for Ward 20: Badenoch and Strathspey    
A’ stèidheachadh Sgìre Smachd Màil Gheàrr-ùine airson Uàrd 20: Bàideanach agus Srath Spè

There is circulated Report No. ECI/28/2023 dated 31March 2023 by the Interim Executive Chief Officer Infrastructure & Environment.

The Committee is invited to-

i.  based on the Scottish Ministers approval of the Council’s application to establish a Short-Term Let Control Area for Ward 20 (Badenoch and Strathspey), agree:-

a. to delegate authority to officers to undertake the final legislative arrangements to establish the Short-Term Let Control Area for Ward 20 (Badenoch and Strathspey), including the necessary press advertisement, notification of interested parties and other publication work;
b. for Officers to hold information session(s) to inform existing (& perspective) operators of the requirements the Control Area has across Ward 20 (Badenoch and Strathspey); and 
c. that the commencement date of the Short-Term Let Control Area for Ward 20 (Badenoch and Strathspey) will be 18 June 2023.

ii. note the consultation feedback and the potential implications the draft Non-statutory Planning policy will have on the determination of planning applications for Short-term Secondary lets, as set out in Appendix 2 and summarised in Section 6 of this Report and agree to adopt the draft Non-statutory Planning policy (as amended) (Appendix 3) as a material consideration in the determination of planning applications for Short-term Secondary let planning applications.

15. Culture and Speed Limit Compliance
Cultar agus Gèilleadh ri Crìoch-astair

There is circulated Report No. ECI/29/2023 dated 20 March 2023 by the Interim Executive Chief Officer Infrastructure & Environment.

The Committee is invited to note the contents of this report.

16. Developer Contributions
Tabhartasan Luchd-leasachaidh

There is circulated Report No. ECI/30/2023 dated 18 April 2023 by the Interim Executive Chief Officer Infrastructure & Environment.

The Committee is invited to:-

i.   note the requirement for this factual update to more fairly reflect updated costs for school and community facility developer contribution rates;
ii.  agree the updated school and community facility developer contribution rates and note the updated evidence and refinements for calculating school contributions;
iii. note that these costs and factors will be applied to all planning advice and new planning applications received from the date of the committee onwards; and
iv.  note that a full review of Developer Contributions Supplementary Guidance and parent developer contributions policy will be carried as part of the new Highland Local Development Plan (HLDP) in compliance with new national policies.

17. Scottish Road Maintenance Condition Survey 2022/23
Suirbhidh Staid Obair-càraidh Rathaidean na h-Alba 2022/23

There is circulated Report No. ECI/31/2023 dated 14 April 2023 by the Interim Executive Chief Officer Infrastructure & Environment.

The Committee is invited to:-

i.   note the results of the Scottish Road Maintenance Condition Survey for 2022/23 and that our relative ranking has improved from 26th to 25th position amongst Scottish Local Authorities, with a road condition index (RCI) of 36.5% which represents the percentage of the road network which is considered to be in need of maintenance treatment;   
ii.  agree that the overall Road Condition Indicator result for Highland can be published on the Council’s website before a paper is presented to Committee, due to the increasing number of requests for information that have been received from Members, the public and the press; and 
iii. agree to utilise the report as a useful source of information while determining the future capital allocation programme, noting that without sustained funding, the condition of the road network will deteriorate and, as such, our ranking amongst the other Scottish Local Authorities may drop.

18. Membership of Committees, Working Groups, Outside Bodies etc
Ballrachd Chomataidhean, Bhuidhnean-obrach, Bhuidhnean air an Taobh A-muigh etc

The Committee is invited to agree:-

i.   that Mr J Bruce replace Mr A Jarvie on City Region Deal Monitoring Group as put forward by the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Group;
ii.  to appoint a Member to represent the Council on the Highland Strategic Local Advisory Group; and
iii. to appoint one Highland Council director to the board of Tornagrain Conservation Trust as the Highland Council’s representative.

19. Minutes     
Geàrr-chunntas

There are circulated for noting Minutes of the Planning Applications Committees (PAC) as follows:-

i.   North PAC – 6 December 2022; 
ii.  South PAC – 13 December 2022;
iii. North PAC – 25 January 2023;
iv.  South PAC – 8 February 2023;
v.   North PAC – 7 March 2023;

and, for approval:-

vi. Harbours Management Board – 29 March 2023;

20. 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 in the reports.

21. Property Transactions Monitoring Report
Aithisg Sgrùdaidh Ghnothachasan Seilbhe

There is circulated to Members only Report No. ECI/32/2023 dated 31 March 2023 by the Interim Depute Chief Executive.

The Committee is invited to note the recommendations as detailed in the report.

22. Housing Development Initiatives
Iomairtean Leasachaidh Taigheadais

There is circulated to Members only Report No. ECI/33/2023 dated 5 April 2023 by the Interim Depute Chief Executive.

The Committee is invited to agree the recommendations as detailed in the report.

23. Land and Property
Fearann agus Cuid-seilbhe

There is circulated to Members only Report No. ECI/34/2023 dated 31 March 2023 by the Interim Depute Chief Executive.

The Committee is invited to agree the recommendations as detailed in the report.