Agendas, reports and minutes

A meeting of the Corporate Resources Committee will take place in the Council Chamber, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness on Thursday 28 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 did not require to be exercised in relation to the business of the Corporate Resources Committee.

4.  Good News 
Naidheachdan Matha

The Committee is invited to note the good news as presented.

5.  Late Submission of Expenses Claims
A’ Cur A-steach airson Cosgaisean Anmoch

It had previously been agreed by the Corporate Resources Committee that late submissions of Elected Members expenses claims will be presented to the Committee for approval.

The Committee is asked to approve the following claims:

•    Mr C Ballance £103.42 for mileage in January 2025; and
•    Mr J Bruce £165.80 for mileage in February 2025.

6.  Appointments to Sub-Committees, Working Groups, etc
Cur an Dreuchd gu Fo-Chomataidhean, Buidhnean-obrach is eile

The Committee is invited to agree the following appointments:

•    Appeals and Disputes Committee – Mr G Mackenzie to be appointed and  Mr A Baxter to be removed;
•    Central Safety Committee – Mr K Gowans to be appointed; and 
•    Employment Release Sub-Committee – Mr R Bremner to be appointed and Mr A Baxter to be removed.

7.  Corporate Revenue and Capital Monitoring Report
Aithisg Teachd-a-steach Corporra agus Sgrùdadh

a.   Corporate Revenue Monitoring - Out-turn for 2024/25 and Quarter 1 for 2025/26
Sgrùdadh Teachd-a-steach Corporra – Fìor shuidheachadh airson 2024/25 agus Ràith 1 airson 2025/26 

There is circulated Report No RES/22/25 by the Chief Officer - Corporate Finance.  

The Committee is asked to consider the:

i. forecast financial position for the year as set out in the report and appendices attached;
ii. explanations provided for any material variances and actions taken or proposed; and
iii. update provided regarding savings delivery.

b.   Corporate Capital Monitoring - Out-turn for 2024/25 and Quarter 1 for 2025/26
    Sgrùdadh Calpa Corporra – Fìor Shuidheachadh airson 2024/25 agus Ràith 1 airson 2025/26

There is circulated Report No RES/23/25 by the Chief Officer - Corporate Finance.

The Committee is asked to scrutinise and consider the:

i.    near final outturn for the 2024/25 financial year; and
ii.    net spend for Q1 2025/26, the forecast year end outturn and the funding profile

8.   Corporate Cluster Budget Monitoring reports - out-turn for 2024/25 and Quarter 1 for 2025/26                                
Aithisgean Sgrùdadh Buidseit Buidhne Corporra – fìor shuidheachadh airson 2024/25 agus Ràith 1 airson 2025/26

There is circulated Report No RES/24/25 by the Assistant Chief Executive - Corporate.

The Committee is asked to:-

i.    scrutinise and approve the final budget position for 2024/25 as set out in the report and Appendix 1 to the report; 
ii.    scrutinise and approve the forecast financial position for 2025/26 as set out in the report and Appendix 2 to 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.

9.   Treasury Management
Rianachd Ionmhais

a.    Annual Treasury Management Report 2024/25
Aithisg Stiùiridh Bhliadhnail an Ionmhais – 2024/25

There is circulated Report No RES/25/25 by the Chief Officer - Corporate Finance.

The Committee is invited to consider and note the Annual Treasury Management Report for 2024/25.

b.  Summary of Transactions 
Geàrr-chunntas Ghnothaichean

There is circulated Report No RES/26/25 by the Chief Officer - Corporate Finance.

The Committee is invited to note the Treasury Management  - Summary of Transactions report for the period 1 April 2025 to 30 June 2025.

10.  Workplace Drug and Alcohol Support Policy and Guidance
Poileasaidh agus Stiùireadh Taic Dhrogaichean is Deoch Làidir san Àite-obrach

There is circulated Report No RES/27/25 by the  Assistant Chief Executive - Corporate.

The Committee is invited to approve the:-

i.    Workplace Drug and Alcohol Support Policy including the use of “With Cause” testing procedures; and
ii.   Workplace Drug and Alcohol Support Guidance for Managers.

11.  Annual Report on Citizens Advice Bureau Contract
Aithisg Bhliadhnail mu Chùmhnant Biùro Comhairleachadh a’ Phobaill

There is circulated Report No RES/28/25 by the Assistant Chief Executive - Corporate.

The Committee is asked to consider and note the undernoted performance: 

i.    over 23,000 residents were supported by the Council’s Welfare Support Team and Citizens Advice during 2024/25 with welfare, debt and housing advice services, resulting in more than 121,200 contacts (on average, 5 contacts per client). Assessing the volume of contacts offers valuable insights into workload and service throughout, providing essential context for evaluating the overall effectiveness and quality of the welfare services delivered;
ii.   financial gains for clients exceeded £27.7 million. This represents a £17.48 return for every £1 invested by the Council in these welfare services;
iii.  a total of £12.184m of debt (including £1.7m relating to mortgage/other secured loans) was presented by households seeking support to prioritise their bills, reduce and manage their debts, and wherever possible to lower the interest charges they were due to pay; and
iv.  support was provided for 2,256 clients (including social rented, private rented and homeowners) seeking housing-related advice, thus highlighting the demand for consistent accessible support on these critical issues.

12.  ICT User Satisfaction Survey 2024/25
Suirbhidh Sàsachd Luchd-cleachdaidh ICT 2024/25

There is circulated Report No RES/29/25 by the Assistant Chief Executive - Corporate.

The Committee is asked to:-  

i.    acknowledge and note the level of service improvement and increase in user satisfaction levels; and
ii.   agree that the approach of carrying out an internal annual ICT survey is an appropriate way to benchmark the service provided.

13.    Corporate Service – Performance Monitoring Quarter 1 2025/26
Seirbheis Chorporra - Sgrùdadh Coileanaidh Ràithe 1 2025/26
    
There is circulated Report No RES/30/25 by the Assistant Chief Executive - Corporate.

The Committee is asked to scrutinise and note the performance of the Corporate Cluster.

14.  Corporate Systems Update – HR Payroll and Pensions Programme
Ùrachadh air Siostaman Corporra - Prògram Pàighidh is Pheinnseanan HR

There is circulated Report No RES/31/25 by the Assistant Chief Executive - Corporate.

The Committee is asked to note the:-

i.    updates regarding the HR/Payroll and Pensions Programme; and
ii.   update regarding the Human Resources and Payroll, including the delivery of the HR Data & Process Enablement Project products and next steps resulting from this work.

15.    Delivery Plan – Corporate Solutions and Income Generation Portfolio Update
Plana Lìbhrigidh – Ùrachadh air Pasgan Fuasglaidhean Corporra agus Gineadh Teachd-a-steach

a.  Delivery Plan Budget Monitoring & Progress Update – Corporate Solutions
Sgrùdadh Buidseit & Cunntas air Adhartas a’ Phlana Lìbhrigidh – Freagairtean Corporra

There is circulated Report No RES/32/25 by the Assistant Chief Executive - Corporate.

The Committee is asked to consider and note progress on the projects covered in this report.

b.  Delivery Plan Budget Monitoring & Progress Update – Income Generation
Sgrùdadh Buidseit & Cunntas air Adhartas a’ Phlana Lìbhrigidh – Togail Teachd-a-steach

There is circulated Report No RES/33/25 by the Assistant Chief Executive - Corporate.

The Committee is asked to consider and note the progress of each of the Income Generation projects.

16.  Minutes of Meetings
Geàrr-chunntasan Choinneamhan

The following Minutes of Meetings are circulated for:

i.    noting – Appeals and Disputes Committee held on 23 May and 16 June 2025;
ii.   approval - Central Safety Committee held on 9 June 2025;
iii.  noting – Employment Release Sub Committee – 4 August 2025; and
iv.  approval - Staff Partnership Forum held on 21 August 2025.