Agendas, reports and minutes

A meeting of the City of Inverness Area Committee will be held in the Council Chamber, Council Headquarters, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness on Monday, 18 August 2025, at 10.00 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 Statemen
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 this Committee.

4.  Police – Area Performance Report
Poileas – Geàrr-aithisg Coileanadh Sgìreil

There is circulated Report No. CIA/27/2025 by the Chief Inspector Area Commander.

The Committee is invited to note the 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 2023 – 31 March 2025.

5.  City Strategy – City Centre Review
Ro-innleachd Cathair-bhaile – Ath-sgrùdadh Meadhan a’ Bhaile 

There is circulated Report No. CIA/28/25 by the Assistant Chief Executive – Place.

The Committee is invited to:-

i.    note the background to the opportunities to improve the built environment within the City Centre;
ii.    agree to support the principle of supporting efforts to improve the built environment; and
iii.    agree to hold a Members Workshop to develop options to be given further consideration by this committee in the context of available resources.

6.  Bus services in Inverness City
Seirbheisean Bhus Baile Inbhir Nis

There is circulated Report No. CIA/29/25 by the Assistant Chief Executive – Place.

The Committee is invited to:-

i.     note the recent changes to the Inverness bus service network;
ii.    comment on the priority needs for bus services in the City; and
iii.   agree to passenger needs being researched, in collaboration with Stagecoach, to support the developing Bus Service Improvement Partnership.

7.  Winter Service Plan 2025/26
Plana Seirbheis a’ Gheamhraidh 2025/26

There is circulated Report No. CIA/30/25 by the Assistant Chief Executive – Place.

The Committee is invited to approve the Winter Service Plan for 2025/26.

8.  Ardersier Public Conveniences
Goireasan Poblach Àird nan Saor

There is circulated Report No. CIA/31/25 by the Assistant Chief Executive – Place.

The Committee is invited to agree:-

i.    the closure of the Ardersier public convenience from 31 August 2025; and
ii.   to formal disposal of the asset, to allow the Ardersier public convenience be marketed for sale or made available for asset transfer. 

9.  Housing Performance Report – 1 April 2025 to 30 June 2025
Aithisg Coileanaidh Taigheadais – 1 Giblean 2025 gu 30 Ògmhios 2025

There is circulated Report No. CIA/32/25 by the Assistant Chief Executive – Place.

The Committee is invited to note the information provided on housing performance in the period 1 April 2025 – 30 June 2025.

10.  Inverness Common Good Fund
Maoin Math Coitcheann Inbhir Nis

a)  Financial Monitoring – Q4 2024/25 and Q1 Financial Monitoring for 2025/26
Sgrùdadh Ionmhasail - Cairteal 4 2024/25 agus Sgrùdadh Ionmhasail Cairteal 1 2025/26

There is circulated Report No. CIA/33/25 by the Assistant Chief Executive – Place.

The Committee is invited to scrutinise and note the final financial monitoring report as detailed in Appendix 1 of the report for the Inverness Common Good Fund for the year ended 31 March 2025 and also the financial monitoring report to 30 June 2025 as detailed in Appendix 2 of the report.

b)  Inverness Common Good Fund Sub-Committee Annual Report [2024/25]
Aithisg Bhliadhnail Fo-Chomataidh Maoin Math Coitcheann Inbhir Nis [2024/25]

There is circulated Report No. CIA/34/25 by the Assistant Chief Executive – Place.

The Committee is invited to note and scrutinise the work of the Inverness Common Good Fund Sub-Committee as described within the report.

c)  Grants Over £10,000 Report
Aithisg Thabhartasan Thar £10,000

There is circulated Report No. CIA/35/25 by the Assistant Chief Executive – Place.

The Committee is invited to:-

i.    consider the application detailed in Appendix 2 of the report noting that if approved, funding would be drawn down from the Community Regeneration Fund allocation to Inverness and Area;
ii.    consider the application for funding detailed in Appendix 3 of the report;
iii.    consider the applications for funding in support of our Town Twinning arrangements with Augsburg in Appendix 4 of the report noting that approval will require funds to be drawn down from reserve balances; and 
iv.    agree to transfer £0.030m from Other Grants to Poverty and Inequality.

11.  Repurposing Place Based Investment Funds – Ward 19.
Ag Ath-adhbharachadh Mhaoinean Tasgaidh Stèidhichte air Àite – Uàrd 19

The Committee is invited to approve the repurposing of £50k from the Place Based Investment Fund (PBIF), previously approved by the City of Inverness Area Committee in 2022, following support shown by Ward 19 Members for the use of their PBIF allocation. 

The funds were originally intended to support the creation of an outdoor community facility on the UHI campus.  However, UHI has since revised its proposals and has requested that the £50k PBIF allocation be repurposed for an indoor community project on campus instead. 

The revised proposal is being brought forward for the following reasons:

i.    an increase in costs associated with the groundworks required for the original project; and
ii.    the revised project will provide a more accessible indoor space, enabling a wider range of activities to be delivered on campus.  It will also support a more diverse group of users throughout the year.

12.  Ward Discretionary Budget Applications     
Iarrtasan Buidseat fo Ùghdarras Uàird 

The Committee is asked to note that the following City of Inverness Ward Discretionary Budget applications have been approved since 19 May 2025:-

Ward 12 
N/A

Ward 13 
Central Primary School: Polycrub Project £3,904

Ward 14 
Merkinch Football Academy: Merkinch Football League £1,500

Ward 15 
Inverness Royal Academy: Belgium Battlefield Trip £747.67
Inverness Royal Academy: Iceland Field Study Trip Travel Costs £845

Ward 16
Walker Park Bins £348

Ward 17 
Balloch Community Association SCIO: Radiator Replacement £3,144

Ward 19
N/A

13.  Minutes
Geàrr-chunntas

The following Minutes are circulated for noting or approval as appropriate:-

i.    City of Inverness Area Committee held on 19 May 2025 for noting; 
ii.    Inverness Common Good Fund Grants Sub-Committee held on 6 August 2025 for approval; and 
iii.    Inverness Events and Festivals Working Group held on 7 August 2025 for approval.