3 October 2023: Highland Council

A Special Meeting of the Highland Council will take place in the Council Chamber, Council Headquarters, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness on Tuesday, 3 October 2023 at 9.30 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

Stewart Fraser
Head of Legal and Governance 

BUSINESS

1. Calling of the Roll and Apologies for Absence
A’ 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. Membership of the Council
 Ballrachd na Comhairle

The Council is advised that the result of the By-Election for Ward 7 (which will be held on 28 September) will follow. 

4. Minutes
 Geàrr-chunntas

There is circulated, for approval, Minutes of the Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green Freeport Monitoring Group held on 18 August and 22 September 2023.

5. Update on Progress of Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green Freeport 
Cunntas às Ùr mu Adhartas air Saor-phort Uaine Inbhir Nis agus Chaolas Chromba 
   
There will follow Report No. HC/39/23 by the Executive Chief Officer Infrastructure, Environment and Economy.

6. Exclusion of the Public
Às-dùnadh a’ Phobaill

The Council is asked to resolve that, under Section 50A(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, the public should be excluded from the meeting for the following item on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 6 and 9 of Part 1 of Schedule 7A of the Act.

7. Outline Business Case - Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green Freeport  
Dreachd Chùis Gnothachais – Saor-phort Uaine Inbhir Nis agus Chaolas Chromba
   
There will follow to Members only Report HC/40/23 by the Executive Chief Officer Infrastructure, Environment and Economy.
 

In relation to the agenda and papers circulated for the above Special Meeting of the Highland Council, please find the undernoted:-    

Agenda Item 5

Update on Progress of Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green Freeport
Cunntas às Ùr mu Adhartas air Saor-phort Uaine Inbhir Nis agus Chaolas Chromba 

There is circulated Report No. HC/39/23 by the Executive Chief Officer Infrastructure, Environment and Economy.

The Council is invited to:-

i)   note the Executive Summary of the Green Freeport Outline Business Case (OBC) as set out in Appendix 1 of the report and the environmental, social and economic benefits which are expected to be achieved for the region;
ii)  note the Council’s role and responsibilities in the preparing the OBC, including as Accountable Body, as summarised in Section 4 of the report; and
iii) note that the OBC has been subject to discussion with the Members’ Monitoring Group, with the Minutes of the 22 September meeting available under a separate item to this Council meeting.

Confidential Agenda Item 7

Outline Business Case - Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green Freeport
Dreachd Chùis Gnothachais – Saor-phort Uaine Inbhir Nis agus Chaolas Chromba                                              

There is circulated to Members only Report HC/40/23 by the Executive Chief Officer Infrastructure, Environment and Economy.

The Council is invited to agree the recommendation.

Yours faithfully

Stewart Fraser
Head of Legal and Governance