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, 2 May 2024 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

Business

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. Inverness Castle Experience Update
Cunntas mu Chaisteal Inbhir Nis

There is circulated Report No. ECI/10/2024 by the Executive Chief Officer Infrastructure, Environment and Economy.

In this regard a presentation will be undertaken at the meeting by Mr Kevin Smith, from Spider Entertainment, on the proposed visitor attraction.

The Committee is invited to:-

i.   note progress on the project;
ii.  note the Executive Summary of the Operating Plan; 
iii. agree to the use of £100,000 UK Government Shared Prosperity Fund for the training programme proposed in section 8.13 of the report; and 
iv.  agree to the proposed governance arrangements outlined in section 9.4 of the report, to commence in November 2024 once the Head of the Inverness Castle Experience has been appointed. 

5. Draft Sustainable Tourism Strategy
Dreachd Ro-innleachd Turasachd Sheasmhach

There is circulated Report No. ECI/11/2024 by the Executive Chief Officer Infrastructure, Environment and Economy.

The Committee is invited to:-

i.   note the work done in recent months in preparation of the draft Sustainable Tourism Strategy;
ii.  agree the contents of the draft Sustainable Tourism Strategy as set out in Appendix 1 of the report which has been developed for public consultation; and 
iii. agree the proposed approach to engagement as set out in Section 7 of the report and the proposal to refer a final draft strategy to a future Committee meeting for approval.  

6. Masterplan Consent Areas
Sgìrean Aonta a’ Phlana Mhaighstir

There is circulated Report No. ECI/12/2024 by the Executive Chief Officer Infrastructure, Environment and Economy.

The Committee is invited to :-

i.   agree the Council’s response to the current Scottish Government MCAs consultation as detailed within Appendix 1 of the report;
ii.  agree that the statement in Paragraph 5.3 of the report is published to indicate the Council’s intent, as required by the legislation; 
iii. note the potential application of the MCA model within Highland; and
iv.  agree that the Council continues to investigate the role of MCAs to address emerging development requirements, and that further reports on this matter will be brought to this Committee before any commitment is made.  

7. Performance Monitoring Report Q3 2023-24
Aithisg Sgrùdadh Coileanaidh R3 2023-24

There is circulated Report No. ECI/13/2024 by the Executive Chief Officer Infrastructure, Environment and Economy.

The Committee is invited to scrutinise the Service’s performance and risk information.

8. Active Travel and Road Safety Update
Cunntas às Ùr air Siubhal Gnìomhach agus Sàbhailteachd Rathaid

There is circulated Report No. ECI/14/2024 by the Executive Chief Officer Infrastructure, Environment and Economy.

The Committee is invited to:-

i.   approve the Draft Active Travel Strategy; 
ii.  note the Achievements of the Active Travel Team in 2023 – 2024 and the Active Travel Workflow Programme for 2024 – 2025;
iii. approve the Draft Road Safety Plan;
iv.  note the long-term reduction realised in all injury severity collisions in Highland within the lifecycle of the previous national casualty reduction targets which ran to 2020; and
v.   approve the adoption of the 2030 Casualty Reduction Targets and note the use of the Safe Systems Strategic approach to Road Safety and Casualty reduction in Highland that has been adopted with a view to delivering these reductions.

9. Service Workforce Plan Annual Progress
Adhartas Bliadhnail Plana Feachd-obrach Seirbheis

There is circulated Report No. ECI/15/2024 by the Executive Chief Officer Infrastructure, Environment and Economy.

The Committee is invited to note the four-year action plan and progress report.

10. In-house Bus Service
Seirbheis Bhusaichean Ion-Taigh

There is circulated Report No. ECI/16/2024 by the Executive Chief Officer Infrastructure, Environment and Economy.

The Committee is invited to:-

i.  note the financial and operational achievements of the in-house bus operation; and
ii. agree that a report be brought to a future committee on the implications of moving the operation to an Arm’s Length External Organisation.

11. Draft Ecology Strategy and Action Plan
Dreachd Ro-innleachd agus Plana-gnìomha Eag-eòlais

There is circulated Report No. ECI/17/2024 by the Executive Chief Officer Infrastructure, Environment and Economy.

The Committee is invited to:-

i.  note the content of the draft Ecology Strategy and Actions contained therein; and 
ii. approve the draft Ecology Strategy and Action Plan for an 8-week public consultation. 

12. Nature Restoration Fund Update
Cunntas mun Mhaoin Ath-nuadhachaidh Nàdair

There is circulated Report No. ECI/18/2024 by the Executive Chief Officer Infrastructure, Environment and Economy.

The Committee is invited to:-

i.   note update on 2023/24 Nature Restoration Fund (NRF) scheme; 
ii.  agree the funding proposals for the 2024/25 NRF scheme as set out in section 6 of the report; and 
iii. agree that funding decisions in respect of the 2024/25 NRF grant scheme be delegated as outlined in section 7 of the report.

13. Draft Biodiversity Planning Guidance 
Dreachd Stiùireadh Dealbhadh Bith-iomadachd

There is circulated Report No. ECI/19/2024 by the Executive Chief Officer Infrastructure, Environment and Economy.

The Committee is invited to:-

i.  adopt the revised Biodiversity Planning Guidance (BPG) as non-statutory planning guidance; and
ii. agree to the principle of the Council accepting financial payments to include a management fee to deliver biodiversity enhancement, as per 5.11-5.15 of the revised BPG, and that following the development of a detailed methodology and with the agreement of the Executive Chief Officer Infrastructure, Environment & Economy, this will be implemented as part of the BPG.

14. Biodiversity Duty Report 2021-2023
Aithisg Dleastanas Bith-iomadachd 2021-2023

There is circulated Report No. ECI/20/2024 by the Executive Chief Officer Infrastructure, Environment and Economy.

The Committee is invited to:-

i.  note the breadth of work undertaken across the Council to further the conservation of biodiversity; and 
ii. approve the Biodiversity Duty Report 2021-2023 for publication on the Council’s website. 

15. Wildfire Working Group
Buidheann-obrach Theintean Fiadhaich

There is circulated Report No. ECI/21/2024 by the Executive Chief Officer Infrastructure, Environment and Economy.

The Committee is invited to:-

i.   note background to wildfires, roles and responsibilities of lead agencies, the work of the Wildfire Working Group (WFWG), and Highland Council; 
ii.  note and agree the actions arising from WFWG, subject to funding being available to support those actions with a revenue implication; and
iii. agree to continue liaison with Partners involved in dealing with Wildfire responses.

16. Community Regeneration Fund
Maoin Ath-nuadhachadh Coimhearsnachd

There is circulated Report No. ECI/22/2024 by the Executive Chief Officer Infrastructure, Environment and Economy.

The Committee is invited to :-

i.  note that the current priority in the Community Regeneration Fund (CRF) programme is to address the outstanding unclaimed balance of funding sitting with approved projects; and to take steps when setting criteria, at assessment stage and when making grant award decisions to ensure that going forward this issue is not repeated; and
ii. agree to widen the remit of the CRF Strategic sub group as proposed in section 5.7 of the report.  

17. Islands Connectivity Plan Consultation
Co-chomhairleachadh air Plana Ceangal nan Eilean

There is circulated Report No. ECI/23/2024 by the Executive Chief Officer Infrastructure, Environment and Economy.

The Committee is invited to Comment on and approve the draft response which is attached as Appendix 1 within the report.

18. Flood Risk Management Policy
Poileasaidh Stiùireadh Cunnart Thuiltean

There is circulated Report No. ECI/24/2024 by the Executive Chief Officer Infrastructure, Environment and Economy.

The Committee is invited to :-

i.  approve the Flood Risk Management Policy as contained in Appendix 2 of the report which accords with the Flood Risk Management (Scotland) Act 2009; and
ii. note that the previous Flood Prevention Policy is now obsolete.

19. Abnormal Load Policy
Poileasaidh Luchd Neo-àbhaistich

There is circulated Report No. ECI/25/2024 by the Executive Chief Officer Infrastructure, Environment and Economy.

The Committee is invited to approve the Abnormal Load Policy as contained in Appendix 1 of the report.

20. Management of Sub-Standard Structures Policy
Stiùireadh Poileasaidh nan Structaran Fo-Ìre

There is circulated Report No. ECI/26/2024 by the Executive Chief Officer Infrastructure, Environment and Economy.

The Committee is invited to approve the Management of Sub-Standard Structures Policy as contained in Appendix 2 of the report, as a replacement for the existing policy.

21. Membership of the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions of Europe (CPMR) and North Sea Commission (NSC)
Ballrachd Co-labhaairt Roinnean Mara Iomallach na Roinn Eòrpa agus Coimisean a’ Chuain a Tuath

There is circulated Report No. ECI/27/2024 by the Executive Chief Officer Infrastructure, Environment and Economy.

The Committee is invited to agree whether to seek membership of the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions of Europe (CPMR) and North Sea Commission (NSC).

22. Appointment to the Flow Country Partnership
Cur an Dreuchd gu Com-pàirteachas nam Flobhachan

The Peatlands Partnership was formed at the end of 2006 following the completion of the EU LIFE funded Peatlands Project and aimed to develop and build on that project. The Partnership changed its name in 2021 to the Flow Country Partnership to emphasise the wider links in the landscape and its focus on the peatlands of Caithness and Sutherland.

The Committee is invited to appoint one Member, from the Caithness or Sutherland Areas as a Trustee of the Flow Country Partnership.

23. Minutes
Geàrr-chunntas

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

i.   North PAC –30 January 2024;
ii.  South PAC – 7 February 2024;
iii. North PAC– 5 March 2024;

and, for approval:-

iv.   Wildfires Working Group 16 February 2024 (pp.338-341);
v.    Inverness Cromarty Firth Green Freeport Monitoring Group of 22 February 2024 (pp.342-344); 
vi.   Harbours Management Board 23 February 2024 (pp.345-348);
vii.  Community Regeneration Strategic Fund Sub Group 27 March 2024 (pp.349-351); and 
viii. City Region Deal Monitoring Group of 25 April 2024 (to follow).

24. 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 Paragraphs 6 and 9 Part 1 of Schedule 7A of the Act.