Agendas, reports and minutes

A Special meeting of the Highland Council will be held in the Council Chamber, Council Headquarters, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness on Thursday 29 May 2025 at 2.00pm.

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. Notice of Amendment (Planning) – Planning Application (PLN/026/25)
Brath Atharrachaidh (Dealbhadh) – Iarrta Dealbhaidh (PLN/026/25)

In order to participate Members will be required to have completed the planning training.  Members are also reminded that during determination of any planning application they must be present throughout the whole of that item in order to be entitled to participate.  

Applicant: Energiekontor UK Ltd. (24/02094/S36) (PLN/026/25)
Location: Land 1150M SW Of Tigh An Alt, Acheilidh, Rogart (Ward 04)
Nature of Development: Acheilidh Wind Farm - Erection and operation of a wind farm for a period of 35 years, comprising of 12 wind turbines with a maximum blade tip height of between 200m and 230m, battery energy storage system (BESS), access tracks, borrow pits, substation, control building, and ancillary infrastructure. 
Recommendation: Raise No Objection

The North Planning Applications Committee (NPAC) agreed to raise no objection for the above application at its meeting on 23 April 2025. The following Notice of Amendment was then received on 28 April 2028:

“We the undersigned, being Elected Members of the Highland Council, hereby declare our wish that the decision of the North Planning Applications Committee at its meeting on 23 April 2025 on the above applications (Agenda Item 5.2) be reviewed at the next scheduled meeting of the full Council.”

Signed:    Mr R Gale    Mr D Macpherson    Ms M Smith    Mr M Reiss
    Dr M Gregson    Mrs B Jarvie    Mr S Coghill    Mrs H Crawford
    Mrs T Robertson    Mr A Christie    Mrs J McEwan    Mr S Mackie
    Mr R Stewart    Mr A Graham    Mr J Grafton    Mr J McGillivray
    Mr J Edmondson    Mrs L Saggers    Mr A Jarvie    Mrs I MacKenzie
    Mrs M Paterson    Mrs L Dundas    Mr A Baxter    Miss M MacCallum
    Mr D McDonald            

In this context, there is circulated the following:

i.  Report No PLN/026/25, by the Area Planning Manager – North; and 
ii. copy of the draft Minute from the meeting of the North Planning Applications Committee held on 23 April 2025.

The Council is invited to consider the Notice of Amendment (Planning) and thereafter determine planning application PLN/026/25.

4. Digital Connectivity
Comas-ceangail Didseatach

There is circulated Joint Report No. HC/17/25 by the Assistant Chief Executive – Place and Assistant Chief Executive – Corporate.
  
The Council is asked to note the current position with regard to digital activity across the Highland Area and agree that the:-

i.  Council Leader writes to the UK Government to highlight the very real concerns expressed through the Convention of the Highlands and Islands about the potential impacts on households in the Highlands; and
ii. Council approach Highlands and Islands Enterprise and seek their support for the establishment and management of a short life officer task group to manage and mitigate issues in the run up and following the Radio Teleswitch Service RTS switch off in June 2025.