Agendas, reports and minutes

A meeting of the Communities and Place Committee will take place in the Council Chamber, Council Headquarters, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness on Thursday 14 August 2025 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
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. Recess Powers
Cumhachdan Fosaidh 

The Committee is asked to note that the recess powers granted by the Council at its meeting on 26 June 2025 have not been exercised in relation to the business of the Communities and Place Committee.

4. Good News
Naidheachdan Matha

5. Police Performance Report    
Aithisg Coileanaidh Poileis

Under the Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012, the Local Authority has responsibility for monitoring and scrutinising performance of Police Scotland against the Local Policing Plan for their area.  Each Local Plan must be approved by the Local Authority and reviewed every three years.  The current Local Plan was approved by the Committee in May 2023.

There is circulated Report No CP/13/25 by the Divisional Commander, Police Scotland.

The Committee is invited to scrutinise and note progress made against the objectives set within the Highland Local Policing Plan 2023–2026 Year 1, attached as Annex A to the report, for the period covering 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025.

6. Revenue Budget Monitoring Report for the period Q4 2024/25     
and Q1 2025/26
Aithisg Sgrùdaidh Buidseit Teachd-a-steach airson R4 2024/25    

There is circulated Report No CP/14/25 by the Assistant Chief Executive – Place.

The Committee is invited to:-

I.   scrutinise and approve the final budget position for 2024/25 as set out in the report and Appendices 1 and 2 of the report;
ii.  scrutinise and approve the forecast financial position for 2025/26 as set out in the report and Appendices 3 and 4 of the report;
iii. consider and note the explanations provided for any material variances and actions taken or proposed; and
iv.  consider and note the update provided regarding savings delivery.

7. Capital Budget Monitoring Report for the periods Q4 2024/25 and Q1 2025/26
Aithisg Sgrùdaidh Buidseit Calpa airson R4 2024/25 agus R1 2025/26
    
There is circulated Report No CP/15/25 by the Assistant Chief Executive – Place.

The Committee is invited to:-

I.   scrutinise and approve the outturn for the year 2024/25 as set out in the report and Appendix 1 of the report;
ii.  scrutinise and approve the forecast financial position for the year 2025/26 as set out in the report and Appendix 2 of the report; and
iii. consider and note the explanations provided for any material variances and actions taken or proposed.

8. Highland Local Child Poverty Action Report – 2024/25    
Aithisg Gnìomh Bochdainn Chloinne Ionadail na Gàidhealtachd – 2024/25

There is circulated Report No CP/16/25 by the Assistant Chief Executive – Place.

The Committee is invited to:-

I.  consider and note the actions carried out in 2024/25 as set out in Section 2 of Highland’s Child Poverty Action Report in Appendix 2 of the report;
ii.  consider and agree the actions for delivery in 2025/26 as set out in Section 3 of the Action Report in Appendix 2 of the report; and
iii. note the activity to be undertaken during 2025/26 to review the priorities in line with the refresh of the Integrated Children’s Services Plan.

9. Customer Services Update    
Cunntas às Ùr mu Sheirbheisean Luchd-cleachdaidh

There is circulated Report No CP/17/25 by the Assistant Chief Executive – Place.

The Committee is invited to consider and note:-

I.  the work and performance of the customer service network; and 
ii. the improvement work completed and planned.

10. Waste Management Update    
Cunntas às Ùr mu Stiùireadh Sgudail

There is circulated Report No CP/18/25 by the Assistant Chief Executive – Place.

The Committee is invited to note:-

I.   the national work being undertaken to introduce a new Household Recycling Code of Practice;
ii.  updated information on the introduction of Waste Service change in Lochaber, including collection route optimisation;
iii. the progress being made on the new Waste Transfer Station infrastructure in Portree and Fort William; and
iv.  the position on the introduction of Industrial Waste Shredders.

11. Bereavement Services Update     
Cunntas às Ùr mu Sheirbheisean Caoidh

There is circulated Report No CP/19/25 by the Assistant Chief Executive – Place.

The Committee is invited to note:-

I.   the progress of current projects in the burial ground extension programme;
ii.  the progress of the current memorial safety programme; and
iii. the progress of the Inverness Crematorium refurbishment project.

12. Service Performance Reporting and Delivery Plan Reporting for Q1 April 2025 to June 2025
Aithris Coileanadh Seirbheis agus Aithris Plana Lìbhrigidh airson R1 Giblean 2025 gu Ògmhios 2025
    
There will follow Report No CP/20/25 by the Assistant Chief Executive – Place.