1 The Highland Council No. 16 2020/2021 Minutes of Special Meeting of the Highland Council held REMOTELY on Wednesday, 28 October 2020 at 9.00am. 1. Calling of the Roll and Apologies for Absence Present: Mr G Adam Mrs D Mackay Mr B Allan Mr D Mackay Mr R Balfour Mr W MacKay Mrs J Barclay Mr G MacKenzie Mr A Baxter Mrs I MacKenzie Mr B Boyd Mr S Mackie Mr R Bremner Mr A Mackinnon Mr I Brown Ms A MacLean Mr J Bruce Mr C MacLeod Mrs C Caddick Mr D MacLeod Mrs I Campbell Mr D Macpherson Miss J Campbell Mr R MacWilliam Mrs G Campbell-Sinclair Mrs B McAllister Mrs H Carmichael Mr J McGillivray Mr A Christie Mr N McLean Mr I Cockburn Mr H Morrison Mrs M Cockburn Mr C Munro Ms K Currie Ms L Munro Mrs M Davidson Ms P Munro Mr J Finlayson Mrs M Paterson Mr M Finlayson Mr I Ramon Mr C Fraser Mr M Reiss Mr L Fraser Mr A Rhind Mr R Gale Mr D Rixson Mr J Gordon Mrs F Robertson Mr K Gowans Mrs T Robertson Mr A Graham Ms E Roddick Mr J Gray Mr K Rosie Mrs P Hadley Mr G Ross Mr T Heggie Mr P Saggers Mr A Henderson Mr A Sinclair Mr A Jarvie Ms N Sinclair Ms E Knox Mr C Smith Mr B Lobban Ms M Smith Mr D Louden Mr B Thompson Mrs L MacDonald Mrs C Wilson Mr A MacInnes In Attendance: Chief Executive Executive Chief Officer, Performance & Executive Chief Officer, Infrastructure & Governance Environment Executive Chief Officer, Communities & Executive Chief Officer, Property & Housing Place Executive Chief Officer, Resources & Executive Chief Officer, Education & Finance Learning Executive Chief Officer, Health & Social Care Executive Chief Officer, Transformation & Economy 2 Mr B Lobban in the Chair Apologies for absence were intimated on behalf of Mr B Allan, Mrs J Barclay, Dr I Cockburn, Mrs M Cockburn, Ms Kirsteen Currie, Mr L Fraser, Mr W Mackay, Mr C Macleod Mr D Macleod, Mr N McLean, Ms P Munro, Mrs M Paterson, Mrs F Robertson, Ms E Roddick, Mr A Sinclair and Mr C Smith. 2. Declarations of Interest The Council NOTED the following declarations of interest:- Item 3 – Mr A Baxter, Mr R Bremner, Mrs C Caddick, Mr A Christie, Miss J Campbell, Mr A Henderson, Mrs D Mackay, Mr B Lobban, Mrs I Mackenzie, Mr B Thompson and Mrs C Wilson (all Financial) Item 3 – Mr G Adam, Mr A Baxter, Mrs H Carmichael, Mr M Finlayson, Mr C Fraser, Mr K Gowans, Mr T Heggie, Mr A Jarvie, Mr D Louden, Mr H Morrison, Mr C Munro, Mr D Rixson, Mr P Saggers, Mrs M Smith and Mr B Thompson (all Non-Financial) 3. Scotland’s Strategic Framework for Covid-19 Declarations of Interest The following Members declared non-financial interests in this item but, having applied the test outlined in Paragraphs 5.2 and 5.3 of the Councillors’ Code of Conduct, concluded that their interests did not preclude them from taking part in the discussion:- Mr D Rixson - as the Council representative on Isle of Rum Community Trust and the secretary of the Mallaig Heritage Centre Ms M Smith - as a Board member of Albyn Housing Association Mr B Thompson, Mr T Heggie and Mr A Jarvie – as Directors of High Life Highland Mr K Gowans - on the basis of a a family member being an employee of High Life Highland Mr G Adam - as a director of a glamping company Mr A Baxter - as a directoral trustree of a number of tourism related organizations Mr C Fraser - as a trustee of the Cromarty Court House and Cromarty Harbour Trust The following Members declared financial interests but, having applied the test outlined in Paragraphs 5.2 and 5.3 of the Councillors’ Code of Conduct, concluded that their interests did not preclude them from taking part in the discussion:- Mr R Bremner - as a B&B owner Mrs D Mackay - as a member of the NHS Highland Board Mr A Christie - as a non-Executive Director of NHS Highland Mr B Lobban - as a director of a company involved in the sports and leisure sector Mr G Adam - as part owner of two self-catering units Mr P Saggers and Mrs H Carmichael - as a board members of the Nairn BID Ms C Wilson - on the basis of family ownership of a High Street business and a family interest in a self-catering business 3 Mr A Henderson - as an accommodation provider Miss J Campbell - as the owner of an Airbnb property Mrs M Smith - as the owner of Excursions Ltd and beauty salons Mr D Louden - on the basis of renting out rooms to students during placements in Tain Mr B Thompson - as the owner of a financial outdoor sports company in Lochaber Mrs C Caddick - on the basis of having a share in a property in Aviemore Mr A Baxter - as a qualified tourist guide Mr H Morrison - as an owner of Smoo Caves in Durness Ms I Mackenzie - on the basis of a family connection to a B&B business Mr M Finlayson – as a partner of a small business to do with exhibitions supplying tourist related items Mr C Munro - as the joint owner of a self-catering business Mr C Macleod – as the owner of a small retailer It was confirmed that this Special Meeting of the Council had been arranged to allow all Members to come together to formally consider and debate Scotland’s Strategic Framework for Covid-19. In this regard, views were being sought around four headline areas – (i) Public Health and Wellbeing, (ii) Travel and Socialising Restrictions and Associated Economic Impacts, (iii) Financial and Welfare Impacts and (iv) Internal and External Communications. During discussion, Members raised the following issues:- • it was noted that the Council had been given a very short timescale by the Scottish Government to comment on the four issues which had been contained in the briefing/consultation paper; • although it was considered likely that the Highland area would be placed in Tier 1 by the Scottish Government, it was still important that the Council took this opportunity to comment on the proposed tier system; • above all, clarity of message would be crucial in order that everyone was aware of what acceptable within the individual tiers across Scotland; • it was noted that areas could move up or down the tier system as part of a weekly review system which was to be put in place; • it was anticipated that there would be strong guidance from the Scottish Government in relation to travel across areas which could be in different tiers and there was concern in relation to what this might mean for the hospitality sector in the Highlands; • it was felt that special consideration had to be given as to whether some form of home visiting could be maintained, especially in rural areas where loneliness could be a significant issue amongst the elderly in particular; • there had been significant joint working arrangements in place with the Director of Public Health in the Highlands over recent months and it was felt that information in this regard should be circulated to all Members of the Council; • thanks should be conveyed to the Scottish Government for the opportunity to comment on the proposals on behalf of constituents across the area; • it was noted that the SNP Group would also submit their own comments on the consultation paper directly to the Scottish Government; • it had to be highlighted that there had been a significant number of positive tests for Covid-19 across the Highlands and as such there was concern that there would be any relaxing of restrictions which might allow the virus to spread more widely; 4 • it was also worrying that there could be an increase of travel into the Highlands from those in higher tiers which could have a detrimental effect on local areas; • a robust testing system in the Highlands was essential both now and in the coming months; • economic considerations were very important but they could not detract from the need to preserve public health across the area; • it was vital that future messaging on the different tiers across Scotland was clear and easily understood by all; • in relation to local variations, it was suggested that there should be adaptability and flexibility within each individual tier in the coming months if and when necessary; • there should be key links in place in regard to the recovery of local businesses, including information on how specific issues would be captured and analysed; • the joint work currently being undertaken with NHS Highland had to be maintained and it was felt that joint press releases in future would be helpful; • clear guidelines in relation to the parameters of Tier 1 were imperative and, in contrast to other views expressed, it was felt that there should be no local variations allowed as this could confuse the messaging for the public; • the thresholds needed for moving between tiers had to be clearly understood by all; • there was a need for further and more detailed information on the support available for businesses and this should also include an update on the position relating to the Barnett consequentials; • it was felt that there should be an explanation on the rationale for the time restrictions which had been put in place for some parts of the hospitality sector and an assessment of how successful this had been; • it would be particularly important for the rules around in-home socialising to be very clear in the coming weeks; • it was imperative that the Council continued to work with all partners across the Highlands in order to support recovery whenever and wherever possible; • it had to be highlighted that the Highland economy relied heavily on the tourism sector and this had to be taken account of when responding to this consultation paper; • there needed to be caution when suggesting localised systems across the Highlands as this could lead to unintended consequences; • it was also a concern that there could be a situation which allowed unrestricted