Committees

A meeting of the City of Inverness Area Committee will take place in the Council Chamber, Town House, Inverness on Monday, 21 October 2013 at 10.30 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

 

Michelle Morris
Assistant Chief Executive

 

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 indicate whether it is a financial or non-financial interest and include some information on the nature of the interest.  Advice may be sought from officers prior to the meeting taking place.

 

3.  Presentation – Inverness College/UHI
Taisbeanadh – Colaiste Inbhir Nis/UHI

 

A presentation will be undertaken by Ms Diane Rawlinson, Principal of Inverness College/UHI, outlining the priorities for the College and the significant new opportunities posed by the development of the UHI Campus site for the City.

 

4.  Land Use and Transport Priorities for Inverness
Cleachdadh Fearainn agus Prìomhachasan Còmhdhalach airson Inbhir Nis

 

There is circulated Joint Report No. CIA-52-13 (37kb pdf) dated 8 October 2013 by the Director of Planning and Development and the Director of Transport, Environmental and Community Services which recommends a procedure and process to identify land use and integrated transport priorities for improving the quality of the environment in Inverness City Centre and delivering a long term sustainable transport network.  Together these measures aim to maximise Inverness’s role as a modern and carbon-clever City, and its contribution to the Seven Cities initiative.  The report outlines a process for consulting with key groups and organisations on achieving these outcomes, including proposals/actions identified in existing transport and land use strategies.  The findings of the consultation meetings are intended to inform a review of the Inverness City Centre Development Brief, related transport strategies and the wider role of integrated transport throughout the Highlands.

 

The Committee is invited to:-

 

i.  contribute to the scoping and content of an integrated land use and transport
    strategy for Inverness City Centre;
ii. agree that officers consult with key partners and interested groups and
    organisations as identified in Table A to identify priorities and actions for
    transport and land use in the City Centre taking account of the opportunities
    identified in the Inverness City Centre Development Brief; and
iii. agree that officers take forward outputs from Members and consultation
    meetings to produce an action plan which can be reported back to this
    Committee in spring 2014 and incorporated in a review of the Inverness City
    Centre Development Brief and other Transport Strategies.

 

5.  City Development Officer Working Group (CDOWG) – Update Report
Còmhlan-obrach Oifigearan Leasachaidh Cathair-bhaile

 

There is circulated Report No. CIA-53-13 (27kb pdf) dated 5 October 2013 by the Director of Planning and Development which provides an update on the projects being co-ordinated through the City Development Officers Working Group.

 

The Committee is invited to note progress by the CDOWG on implementing the Inverness City Vision and the priority projects outlined in this report.

 

6.  Deprived Area Fund and Employability Activity
Seirbheis Cosnaidh Maoin Sgìre Bhochd

 

There is circulated Report No. CIA-54-13 (110kb pdf) dated 9 October 2013 by the Director of Planning and Development which outlines the revised Deprived Area Fund criteria approved by Planning, Environment and Development Committee on 14 August 2013 for the application of the Fund in 2014/15. The report identifies the implications of this in the City Area and asks Members to agree arrangements to develop a strategic approach to the use of the Fund over a three year period 2014-17.

 

The Committee is invited to:-

 

i.  approve that the mapping, appraisal of existing community activity and the
    applications be considered by the Common Good Fund Grants Sub-Committee
    to formulate a strategic approach and recommendations with a report back to
    the City Committee for its first meeting in 2014; and
ii. note the recent activities of the Inverness Employability Group.

 

7.  Community Planning and Partnership Working in Inverness
Obrachadh Chom-pàirteach ann an Inbhir Nis

 

There is circulated Report No. CIA-55-13 (29kb pdf) dated 22 September 2013 by the Corporate Manager which summarises the work of the Inverness Partnership and asks Members to consider its work in light of the current review of community planning arrangements taking place in Highland.

 

The Committee is invited to:-

 

i.  note the achievements of the Inverness Partnership and the key role that
    partnership working plays in community planning in Inverness; and
ii. agree to recommend to the Inverness Partnership that partnership priorities
    are kept under review to reflect the emerging themes of the Highland Public
    Services Partnership.

 

8.  Winter Maintenance Plan for 2013/14
Plana Gleidheadh Geamhraidh 2012/13

 

There is circulated Report No. CIA-56-13 (2018kb pdf) dated 3 October 2013 by the Director of Transport, Environmental and Community Services which invites Members to approve the Winter Maintenance Plan for Inverness City and Area for 2013/14.

 

The Committee is invited to approve the Winter Maintenance Plan for Inverness City and Area for 2013/14, which includes the priority road maps presented in Appendix B.

 

9.  Millburn Academy Associated School Group Overview
Sealladh Coitcheann air Buidheann Sgoiltean Co-cheangailte Acadamaidh Allt a’ Mhuilinn

 

There is circulated Report No. CIA-57-13 (82kb pdf) dated 9 October 2013 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport which provides an update of key information in relation to the schools within the Millburn Academy Associated School Group (ASG) and provides useful links to further information in relation to these schools.

 

The Committee is invited to scrutinise and note the content of the report.

 

10.  Housing and Property Services Performance Report – 1 April 2013 to 30 June 2013
Aithisg Dèanadais a thaobh Taigheadais – 1 Giblean 2012 gu 30 Ògmhios 2013

 

There is circulated Report No. CIA-58-13 (295kb pdf) dated 8 October 2013 by the Interim Director of Housing and Property which provides information on housing performance indicators for the first quarter of 2013/2014.

 

The Committee is invited to note the information provided on housing performance in quarter 1 covering 1 April 2013 to 30 June 2013.

 

11.  Inverness Common Good Fund
Maoin Math Coitcheann Inbhir Nis

 

a) Financial Monitoring to 30 September 2013

 

There is circulated Report No. CIA-59-13 (29kb pdf) dated 8 October 2013 by the Inverness City Manager which presents the expenditure monitoring position for the Inverness Common Good Fund at the 30 September 2013 and the projected year end position.

 

The Committee is invited to scrutinise the financial monitoring report.

 

b) Grant and Capital Projects

 

There is circulated Report No. CIA-60-13 (92kb pdf) dated 8 October 2013 by the Inverness City Manager which sets out the current applications for funding to be determined and the current status of capital projects.

 

In this connection, there is circulated separately a copy of supporting documentation as Booklet A (829kb pdf).

 

The Committee is invited to:-

 

i. consider the applications for funding and scrutinise the current status of capital
    projects; and
ii. approve the funding allocations recommended within Appendix 2.

 

c) River Ness District Fisheries Board

 

The Committee is invited to nominate one Member to sit as the representative for the interests of the Council (Inverness Common Good Fund) for a three year period.

 

12.  Inverness Common Good Fund Scheme for Winter Payments – Further Proposals for 2013/14
Molaidhean Sgeama Phàighidhean Geamhraidh Maoin Maith Choitchinn Inbhir Nis 2013/14 

 

There is circulated Joint Report No. CIA-61-13 (24kb pdf) dated 12 October 2013 by the Director of Finance and the Inverness City Manager which follows on from the revision of the Winter Payment Scheme for 2013/14 and the outcomes from the Inverness City Area Committee on 12 August 2013 when Members asked for more information on the implications of broadening the scope of qualification for citizens for the Winter Payment Scheme 2013 /2014.

 

The Committee is invited to agree to widen the scope for the Winter Payment Scheme for the City of Inverness and Landward areas of the seven City Wards agreed for the year 2013/14 on the following basis:-

 

i.  that the Scheme operates for Winter 2013/14 to include all people 90 years or
    over as at 28 February 2014 without any other qualification criteria being
    required;
ii. that the scheme also includes people who have received a Scottish Welfare
    Fund Crisis Grant payment, between 1 December 2013 and 28 February 2014
    inclusive; and
iii. that the sum set aside within the Inverness Common Good Fund revenue
    budget 2013/14 for the Winter Payment Scheme, be increased by £49K, to
    £106K.

 

13. Minutes
Geàrr-chunntas

 

There are circulated for noting or approval as appropriate, Minutes of the:-

 

i. City of Inverness Area Committee held on 12 August 2013 for noting;
ii. Inverness Partnership held on 16 August 2013 (21kb pdf) for approval;
iii. Inverness City Art Working Group held on 7 August 2013 (28kb pdf) for
    approval;
iv. Inverness Common Good Fund Grants Sub-Committee held on 
4 September (27kb pdf) and 30 September 2013 (95kb pdf) for approval; and
v. Inverness Events and Festivals Working Group held on 5 July 2013 (19kb pdf)
    and 13 September 2013 (16kb pdf) for approval.