Volume of Minutes

411 The Highland Council No. 6 2018/2019 Minutes of Meeting of the Highland Council held in the Council Chamber, Council Headquarters, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness on Thursday, 13 December 2018 at 10.35am. 1. Calling of the Roll and Apologies for Absence A’ Gairm a’ Chlàir agus Leisgeulan Present: Mr G Adam Mr A MacInnes Mr R Balfour Mrs D Mackay Mrs J Barclay Mr D Mackay Mr A Baxter Mr W MacKay (V/C) Mr B Boyd Mr G MacKenzie Mr R Bremner Mrs I MacKenzie Mr I Brown Mr S Mackie Mr J Bruce Mr A Mackinnon Mrs C Caddick Mrs A MacLean Miss J Campbell Mr C MacLeod Mrs I Campbell Mr D MacLeod Mrs G Campbell-Sinclair Mr D Macpherson Mr A Christie Mr R MacWilliam Dr I Cockburn Mrs B McAllister Mrs M Cockburn Mr J McGillivray (V/C) Ms K Currie Mr N McLean Mrs M Davidson Mr H Morrison Mr J Finlayson Ms L Munro Mr M Finlayson Mrs P Munro Mr C Fraser Mrs M Paterson Mr L Fraser Mr I Ramon Mr R Gale Mr M Reiss Mr J Gordon Mr A Rhind (am only) Mr K Gowans Mr D Rixson Mr A Graham Mrs F Robertson Mr J Gray Mrs T Robertson Ms P Hadley Mr K Rosie Mr T Heggie Mr G Ross Mr A Henderson Mr P Saggers Mr A Jarvie Mr A Sinclair Ms E Knox Ms N Sinclair Mr R Laird Mr C Smith Mr B Lobban Ms M Smith Mr D Louden Mr B Thompson Mrs L MacDonald Ms C Wilson (am only) Mr R MacDonald Also in Attendance: Miss E Leitch, Youth Convener In Attendance: Chief Executive Depute Chief Executive/Director of Director of Development & Infrastructure Corporate Resources Interim Director of Care & Learning Director of Community Services 412 Mr B Lobban in the Chair 1. Calling the Roll and Apologies for Absence A’ Gairm a’ Chlàir agus Leisgeulan Apologies for absence were intimated on behalf of Mr B Allan, Mrs H Carmichael and Mr G Cruickshank. 2. Declarations of Interest Foillseachaidhean Com-pàirt The Council NOTED the following declarations of interest:- Item 5 – Mr A Christie (Financial) Item 9 – Mr A Christie (Financial) Item 16 – Mr G Adam, Mr R Bremner, Mrs I Campbell, Mrs C Caddick, Mr A Henderson, Mr R MacDonald, Mrs I Mackenzie, Mr C MacLeod, Mr H Morrison (all Financial) and Mr J Gordon (Financial and Non-Financial) Item 17 – Mr L Fraser and Mr D Rixson (Non-Financial) Item 18 – Mr A Christie (Financial) Prior to the commencement of formal business the Convener drew attention to the talent, skills and dedication of all Highland Council staff. He highlighted the excellent work being undertaken, which was not only achieving significant financial savings but also leading the way nationally and reinforcing the Council’s reputation across Scotland as a forward thinking and proactive local authority. The Convener listed a number of staff achievements/awards both at a national and UK level and detailed a number of collaborative initiatives being undertaken with partner organisations to deliver higher quality services for the Highlands. The Convener expressed appreciation and congratulated all staff for contributing to the success of the Council and this was supported by the Council. In conclusion, on behalf of the Council, the Convener welcomed Ms Donna Manson, Chief Executive to her first meeting of the Council in her new role. 3. Membership of the Council Ballrachd na Comhairle Members were advised that, following the By-Election held on Thursday, 6 December 2018, Mr A MacInnes, Proterra, Achintraid, Kishorn, Nr Strathcarron, Wester Ross, IV54 8XB had been elected as a Member of Ward 5 (Wester Ross, Strathpeffer and Lochalsh). In this regard, Mr MacInnes was welcomed to the Council and responded accordingly. 4. Presentation on Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) – Director of Public Health Taisbeanadh mu Eòlasan Leanabachd Mì-fhàbharach – Stiùiriche Slàinte Phoblach A presentation was undertaken by Dr Van Woerden, Director of Public Health on the Annual Report for 2018. Issues covered included the following:- • the estimated prevalence of adverse childhood events in NHS Highland; • resilience came from an ability to biologically and psychologically adapt to stress; • toxic stress and its impact on children’s ability to learn; • the long term health impacts of ACEs; • resilience could be improved later in life with support; 413 • a ‘cluster’ effect was sometimes observed where children were affected by a variety of ACEs; • the role of the public and third sectors to develop ‘trauma-informed’ services, for example language use and making people feel safe, and the need for cultural changes; • the importance of preventative work through investment in early years; • the risks and benefits around routinely enquiring about childhood adversity; and • the importance of creating resilient and compassionate communities. During discussion, Members raised the following issues:- • the report was welcomed by Members; • attention was drawn to the value of changing language, for example asking ‘what happened to you?’ instead of ‘what’s wrong with you?’, and referring to ‘survivors’ rather than ‘victims’; • a useful seminar had been held the previous evening for Members on the subject, and reference was made to the important work that was already ongoing to tackle ACEs; • there were more ACEs than the ten listed and all should be acknowledged in conversations; • individual responsibility within communities for children who might be suffering or at risk was emphasised; • it was clarified that the five year figures quoted in the report were likely to be the most recent five years for which data was available. Profiles of trends had been produced for the Community Planning Partnerships and could be provided to Members on request; • the next Public Health Annual Report was likely to cover wider mortality and morbidity; • in some communities public sector services had replaced family networks due to changing demographics; • reference was made to the third sector at times being more flexible and responsive than the public sector; • ACEs impacted on all areas of society and awareness raising was vital, as was achieving a correct balance between being open and inviting conversation without triggering traumatic memories; • the length of the report might be off-putting to some and a single A4 document with key messages would be helpful for raising awareness; • investment in tackling ACEs in the early years was also financially efficient as prevention of trauma could significantly reduce an individual’s health problems in later life, as could breaking the cycle of poverty; and • support was sought from Members for the twitter account @AceHighland and to continue to raise awareness and to promote the training of front line staff. The Council NOTED the presentation. 5. Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Aware Council Eòlasan Leanabachd Mì-fhàbharach Declaration of Interest – Mr A Christie declared a financial interest in this item as a Board Member of NHS Highland but, having applied the test outlined in Paragraphs 5.2 and 5.3 of the Councillors’ Code of Conduct, concluded that his interest did not preclude him from taking part in the discussion. There had been circulated Report No HC/48/18 dated 5 December 2018 by the Interim Director of Care and Learning. 414 The Council NOTED the report and the work currently undertaken by Highland Council Care and Learning Service and how this contributed to becoming an ACE-Aware Council. 6. Confirmation of Minutes Daingneachadh a’ Gheàrr-chunntais There had been submitted for confirmation as a correct record the Minutes of the Special Meeting of the Council held on 23 October and of the Meeting held on 25 October 2018 as contained in the Volume which had been circulated separately - which were APPROVED. 7. Minutes of Meetings of Committees Geàrr-chunntasan Choinneamhan Chomataidhean There had been submitted for confirmation as correct records, for information as regards delegated business and for approval as appropriate, the Minutes of Meetings of Committees contained in Volume circulated separately as undernoted:- Ross & Cromarty Committee, 1 November 2018 * Lochaber Area Committee, 7 November 2018 Environment, Development & Infrastructure Committee, 8 November 2018 Badenoch & Strathspey Area Committee, 14 November 2018 Sutherland County Committee, 15 November 2018 Caithness Committee, 20 November 2018 Corporate Resources Committee, 21 November 2018 City of Inverness Area Committee, 22 November 2018 Nairnshire Committee, 28 November 2018 Audit & Scrutiny Committee, 29 November 2018 Isle of Skye and Raasay Committee, 3 December 2018 Care, Learning & Housing Committee, 6 December 2018 The Minutes, having been moved and seconded were, except as undernoted, APPROVED – matters arising having been dealt with as follows:- *Starred Item: Item 7: PP 335-338: Car Parking in Lochaber During discussion, and with specific reference to the recommendation in relation to the Car Parking in Lochaber, the Chair of the Committee explained that the reason for the decision (the recommendation to Council) at the Lochaber Committee meeting was that they had been advised that the target set was a notional budget, the decision to implement two hours free car parking was within the remit of the Area Committee, and that this was a matter for which Members had discretion. He explained that the reason he was proceeding this matter (although due to the lapse in time/implementation he was now proposing that this be six weeks free car parking for two hours effective from 14 December 2018 as opposed six weeks running up to Christmas Eve) was to ensure that budget decisions were implemented fairly and equally across the whole of the Highlands. He acknowledged the budget impact of this but stated that Lochaber had generated £156,000 in car parking revenue compared to the previous year and the recommendation was also recognition of this on behalf of the local community.

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