Agendas, reports and minutes

A meeting of the Economy and Infrastructure Committee will take place in the Council Chamber, Council Headquarters, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness on
Thursday, 21 August 2025 at 9.30am. 

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 Economy and Infrastructure Committee.

4. Good News 
Naidheachdan Matha

5. Revenue Budget Monitoring Report for the period Q4 2024/25 and Q1 2025/26
Aithisg Sgrùdadh Buidseit Teachd-a-steach airson na h-ùine R4 2024/25 agus R1 2025/26
    
There is circulated Report No. ECI/26/25 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.

6. Capital Monitoring Q4 2024/25 and Q1 2025/26    
Sgrùdadh Calpa R4 2024/25 agus R1 2025/26

There is circulated Report No. ECI/27/25 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 this report and Appendices 2 and 3 of the report; and
iii. consider and note the explanations provided for any material variances and actions taken or proposed.

7. Sustainable Transport Update    
Còmhdhail Sheasmhach – Cunntas Bliadhnail

There is circulated Report No. ECI/28/25 by the Assistant Chief Executive - Place.

The Committee is invited to:-

i.   note the progress made by the Sustainable Transport Team in delivering active and sustainable transport and road safety initiatives across the Highland area;
ii.  note the progress made to the 2020 national road casualty reduction targets;
iii. agree the successful securing of external funding to support low-carbon transport infrastructure and associated programme delivery; and
iv.  agree to endorse the continued delivery of active and sustainable transport and road safety initiatives aligned with the Council’s strategies and national priorities.

8. National Planning Improvement Framework: Improvement Action Plan 
Cùmhnant Baile Roinne Inbhir Nis agus na Gàidhealtachd – Aithisg Bhliadhnail 2024/25    

There is circulated Report No. ECI/29/25 by the Assistant Chief Executive - Place.

The Committee is invited note the content of the Performance Assessment contained within Appendix 1of the report and the Improvement Action Plan contained within Appendix 2 of the report.

9. Community Wealth Building Strategy 
Ro-innleachd Togail Beairteas Coimhearsnachd

There is circulated Report No. ECI/30/25 by the Assistant Chief Executive - Place.

The Committee is asked to:-

I.  agree, as set out in section 6 of the report, progress against the Community Wealth Building Action Plan; and 
ii. note the next steps in terms of embedding Community Wealth Building as an approach and updating the action plan.  

10. Delivery Plan Budget Monitoring and Progress Update Q1 2025-26 – Net Zero, Energy, Investment & Innovation (NZEII)                                                                 
Sgrùdadh Buidseit agus Cunntas air Adhartas a’ Phlana Lìbhrigidh R1 2025-26 – Neoni Lom, Lùth, Tasgadh & Ùr-ghnàthachadh

There is circulated Report No. ECI/31/25 by the Assistant Chief Executive - Place.

The Committee is asked to:-

i.   consider, scrutinise and approve progress to date of projects as outlined in this report;  
ii.  approve the progression of the Tain North and Tain South solar PV projects to Outline Business Case stage, including the commencement of planning, legal and financial due diligence; and
iii. agree that outcomes of this next phase will be reported back to Members ahead of any Final Investment Decision.

11. Performance Monitoring Report Q1 2025/26
Aithisg Sgrùdadh Coileanaidh R1 2025/26

There is circulated Report No. ECI/32/25 by the Assistant Chief Executive - Place.

The Committee is asked to scrutinise and note the Service’s performance information.

12. Membership of the Harbours Management Board
Ballrachd Bòrd Stiùiridh nan Calachan

The Committee is invited to appoint Mr W Mackay and Mr P Oldham as Members of the Harbours Management Board.

13. Minutes
Geàrr-chunntas

There is circulated for noting Minutes of the Planning Applications Committees (PAC) for:-

i.   North PAC – 23 April 2025;
ii.  South PAC –14 May 2025;
iii. North PAC– 11 June 2025; 

and, for approval:-

iv.  Harbours Management Board held on 23 May 2025
v.   Inverness Cromarty Firth Green Freeport Monitoring Group held on 12 June 2025.