Agendas, reports and minutes

A hybrid meeting of the Sutherland County Committee will take place in the Chamber, Council Offices, Drummuie, Golspie on Tuesday 23 January 2024 at 10.30 a.m.

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                                                  
Poileas – Geàrr-chunntas air Coileanadh Sgìreil

There will follow Report No SCC/01/24 by the North Area Commander.
            
4. Area Roads Capital Programme 2024/25
Prògram Calpa Rathaidean Sgìreil 2024/25

There is circulated Report No SCC/02/24 by the Executive Chief Officer Infrastructure, Environment and Economy. 

The Committee is invited to approve the proposed prioritised Area Roads Capital Programme for the Sutherland Area.    
        
5. Housing Revenue Account: Garage Rents 2024/2025                           
Cunntas Teachd-a-steach Taigheadais: Màil Gharaidsean 2024/25

There is circulated Report No SCC/03/24 by the Executive Chief Officer Housing and Property.

The Committee is invited to agree a level of rent increase to apply to Sutherland Garages and Garage Sites.    
        
6. Community Regeneration Funding – Assessment of Applications
Maoineachadh Ath-nuadhachadh Coimhearsnachd – Measadh Iarrtasan

There is circulated Report No SCC/04/24 by the Executive Chief Officer Infrastructure, Environment and Economy. 

The Committee is invited to:

i.    consider the applications presented 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 or for the project to be approved subject to further funding becoming available.  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;
ii.    agree the approved CRF grant award for each application up to the value of the available area allocation; and
iii.    If there is a balance of funding remaining, agree to ringfence remaining grant within the 2023/24 allocation to deliver area priorities identified through work to develop an area-based plan, subject to full applications being brought to a future committee meeting for consideration.      
        
7. Dornoch Business Improvement District – Member Appointment
Roinn Leasachadh Gnothachais Dhòrnaich – Cur Ball an Dreuchd

Following the successful ballot in favour of the creation of a Business Improvement District in Dornoch, a new Dornoch BID company is being established with a Board comprising representatives from Dornoch businesses. There is also a place on the Board for a Highland Council representative. 

The Committee is therefore asked to appoint 1 Member from the East Sutherland and Edderton Ward as detailed.    
        
8. Dornoch Common Good - Annual Report 2022/23, Proposed Budget 2024/25 and Quarterly Monitoring Statement 2023/24
Math Coitcheann Dhòrnaich – Aithisg Bhliadhnail 2022/23, Buidseat ga Mholadh airson 2024/25 agus Aithris Sgrùdaidh Ràitheil 2023/24

There is circulated Report No SCC/05/24 by the Executive Chief Officer Communities and Place and Head of Corporate Finance.

The Committee is invited to:-

i.    consider and agree the Dornoch Good Fund Statement of Accounts (Appendix 1) and Quarter 4 monitoring report for 2022/23 (Appendix 2), subject to the approval of the 2022/23 Highland Council accounts; 
ii.    consider the position of the Dornoch Common Good Fund, as shown in the Q3 monitoring statement (Appendix 3) against budget for 2023/24; and
iii.    agree the Dornoch Common Good Fund Annual Budget for 2024/25 (Appendix 4).    
        
9. Ward Discretionary Awards
Duaisean fo Ùghdarras Uàird

North, West and Central Sutherland Ward Discretionary Budget applications approved 1 April 2023 – 31 March 2024

The Committee is asked to note that the following North, West and Central Sutherland Ward Discretionary Budget applications have been approved since 1 April 2023: 

Lairg Community Council - Lairg Bird Hide upgrade    £2,000.00
Sutherland Women's Football Club - Transport Funds     £800.00 
Farr Youth Development – High Life Highland - Day Trip to Durness     £240.00      
The Sutherland Community Partnership - Community Learning Exchange     £500.00          
Kyle of Sutherland Development Trust - Kyle Feeds     £1,000.00       
Lairg & District Community Initiative - Replace Flag Pole     £500.00         
North West Training Centre - Learning Programme 23-24    £1,750.00 
TYKES - Programme of Residential Respite     £1,240.00 
Farr Edge 2000 - Continue Service    £2,500.00 
Culrain Hall – Heating upgrade     £1,200.00 
Scourie Community Devt Co. – Safe Parking for Affordable Housing and School     £1,000.00 
North West Schools PC – Extra-curricular Activities     £1,000.00 
East Sutherland Schools Sports Association – Transport     £1,000.00 
Total   £14,730.00

East Sutherland and Edderton Ward Discretionary Budget applications approved 1 April 2023 – 31 March 2024

The Committee is asked to note that the following East Sutherland and Edderton Ward Discretionary Budget applications have been approved since 1 April 2023:

Clyne Heritage Society – Aultcraggie Roundhouses Archaeological Excavation     £500.00 
Dornoch Bowling Club – Victorian Benches     £700.00 
East Sutherland Camera Club – Highland Challenge 2023     £600.00 
Sutherland Women's Football Club - Transport Funds     £800.00 
Go Golspie - Caretaker Post     £500.00 
The Sutherland Community Partnership - Community Learning Exchange     £500.00 
Dornoch Academy - Edinburgh Book Festival Literacy Trip     £1,175.00 
The Embo Trust - Old School Reset     £600.00 
HLH - Dornoch Youth Services Summer Activity Programme     £1,000.00 
Tykes - Programme of Respite Residential    £3,000.00
Embo Trust (Urras Euraboil) - Embo Community Centre Resilience         £ 999.99
East Sutherland Schools Sports Association – Transport     £2,560.00 
Golspie Youth Action Project - Office    £2,215.00
Helmsdale PS Parent Council – Crossing Patroller Shed     £850.00
Total    £15,999.99
        
10. Minutes
Geàrr-chunntas

There is circulated for noting Minutes of the Sutherland County Committee held on 31 October 2023, which were approved by the Council on 14 December 2023.