Agendas, reports and minutes

A meeting of the Highland Council will be held in the Council Chamber, Council Headquarters, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness on Thursday 15 May 2025 at 9.35am.

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 
Chief Officer - Legal and Corporate 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. Operational Delivery Plan 2024-2027 - Annual Report    
Plana Lìbhrigidh Obrachail 2024–2027 – Aithisg Bhliadhnail

There is circulated Report No. HC/11/25 by the Chief Executive.

The Council is asked to:-

i.   scrutinise the report and approve the progress of the Operational Delivery Plan;
ii.  approve the adjustments to portfolio construction within the plan which are provided at section 9 and Appendix 4 of the report;
iii. approve the reporting schedule for 2027/28 at Appendix 5 to the report;
iv.  note that project reports will continue to be submitted to strategic committees for scrutiny; and
v.   agree that further drawdown of £5.6m from Council earmarked reserves to support the NHS Highland Adult Social Care budget and address the forecast overspend position in 2024/25.

4. Highland Investment Plan
Plana Tasgaidh na Gàidhealtachd

There is circulated Joint Report No. HC/12/25 by the Assistant Chief Executive – Place and Assistant Chief Executive - Corporate.

The Council is asked to:- 

i.  note the update provided regarding the consolidated Highland Investment Plan and estimated £756m of net investment over the 5-year period; and
ii. agree that officers progress actions to ensure the programme is managed within the overall funding envelope, as described within Section 7 of the report.

5. Review of the Highland Scheme of Establishment for Community Councils 2024/25 – Phase 1 Feedback
Ath-sgrùdadh air Sgeama na Gàidhealtachd airson a Bhith a’ Stèidheachadh Chomhairlean Coimhearsnachd 2024/25 – Fios Air Ais Ìre 1

There is circulated Report No. HC/13/25 by the Assistant Chief Executive – Place.

The Council is asked to:-

i.  note the feedback received during the phase 1 consultation as part of the review of the Community Council Scheme; and
ii. agree the following for proceeding to phase 2 consultation:-
•  revised phase 1 boundary proposals set out at 7.3 of the report;
•  new boundary proposals received as part of phase 1 at 7.4 of the report;
•  recommendations for amending the existing Scheme proposals set out at 8.3 of the report; and
•  new proposals to amend the Scheme set out at 8.4 of the report and detailed at Appendix 2 to the report.

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 item 7 only 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.North of Scotland Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Partnership
Com-pàirteachas Bun-structar Teàirrdsidh Charbadan Dealain Ceann a Tuath na h-Alba

There is circulated to Members only Report No. HC/14/25 by the Assistant Chief Executive – Place.

The Council is asked to agree the recommendations as set out in the report.

8. Decisions of Standards Commission for Scotland – Hearings
Co-Cdhùnaidhean Coimisean Inbhean na h-Alba – Èisteachd 

(a) Hearing – 26 March 2025

There is circulated Report No. HC/15/25 by the Chief Officer – Legal and Corporate Governance/Monitoring Officer.

The Council is invited to consider and note the decision of the Standards Commission of Scotland.

(b) Hearing – 15 April 2025

There is circulated  Report No. HC/16/25 by the Chief Officer – Legal and Corporate Governance/Monitoring Officer.

The Council is invited to consider and note the decision of the Standards Commission of Scotland.

9. Appointment of Office Bearers
Cur an Dreuchd Luchd-oifis

Following the resignation of Mr Calum Munro as a Highland Council Member, nominations are invited for the following:-

i.  Vice Chair of Corporate Resources Committee; and
ii. Chair of Gaelic Committee.

10. Membership of the Council 
Ballrachd na Comhairle

The Council is asked to note that Ms Maxine Smith has tendered her resignation as a Highland Council Member with effect from 30 April 2025 and a By-election for Ward 6 (Cromarty Firth) will be held on 19 June 2025.

11. Membership of Committees, etc
Ballrachd air Comataidhean, msaa                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                                                                                                            
The Council is asked to:-

i.    appoint one Member to the Pensions Board; 
ii.   agree the appointments to Committees as tabled;
iii.  agree the appointment of Members to the Area Committees Review Working Group and Poverty and Equality Commission as tabled; and
iv.    note that for:
a.  Ward 6 (Cromarty Firth), Mr J Edmondson is the substantive member of the North Planning Applications Committee and Mr S Coghill is the substitute; and
b.  Ward 21 (Fort William and Ardnamurchan), Mrs K Willis is the substantive member on the South Planning Applications Committee and Mr A Baxter is the substitute member.

12. Timetable of Meetings
Clàr-ama Choinneamhan 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                            
The Council is asked to agree the calendar of meetings from 1 April to 30 June 2026 as circulated.

13. Deeds Executed
Sgrìobhainnean Lagha a Bhuilicheadh

There is circulated for noting a list of deeds and other documents executed on behalf of the Council since the meeting held on 27 March 2025.

14. Confirmation of Minutes
Daingneachadh a’ Gheàrr-chunntais
                                                               
There are submitted for confirmation as a correct record the Minutes of Meeting of the Council held on 27 March 2025 (pp.1813-1843) as contained in the Volume which has been circulated separately.

15. Minutes of Meetings of Committees
Geàrr-chunntasan Choinneamhan Chomataidhean

There are 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:-

Badenoch and Strathspey Area Committee - 28 April 2025

Starred Item as follows:-

Item 4 Housing Performance Report - AGREED to request that options for a local housing allocations policy be explored for Badenoch and Strathspey to ensure local housing need in the Area was being met.

Wester Ross, Strathpeffer & Lochalsh Committee Caithness Committe - 28 April 2025
Caithness Committee - 28 April 2025

Minutes of Meetings not included in the Volume are as follows:-    

i.   Highland and Western Isles Valuation Joint Board – for noting – held on  20 November 2024 (approved by the Board on 18 February 2025); 
ii.  Chief Officer Recruitment Panel – for noting – held on 3 April 2025; and
iii. Investment Sub Committee – for approval – held on 7 May 2025.

16. Question Time  Booklet A
Àm Ceiste     

There is circulated separately in Booklet A Member Questions received by the Chief Officer - Legal and Corporate Governance.  

For Member Questions, one supplementary question will be allowed in each case which will be answered by the recipient of the original question.

17. Notices of Motion Booklet A
Brathan Gluasaid                                       

There is circulated separately in Booklet A Notices of Motion received by the Chief Officer - Legal and Corporate Governance.