Agendas, reports and minutes

A meeting of the Highland Council will be held in the Council Chamber, Council Headquarters, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness on Thursday 18 September 2025 at 10.00am or following the conclusion of the Special Meeting of the Highland Council (starting at 9.30am), whichever is the later.

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

Members are asked to note that the recess powers granted at the meeting on 26 June 2025 did not require to be used in relation to the full Council.

Item 4 below will be considered at 12.45pm.

4. Presentation - Poverty and Equality Commission    
Taisbeanadh - A’ Stèidheachadh Coimisean Bochdainn is Co-ionannachd

There will be a presentation by the Joint Chairs of the Poverty and Equality Commission, Ms Maggie Cunningham / Dr Jim McCormick.

5. Chief Social Work Officer Annual Report 2024/25
Aithisg Àrd-Oifigear Obrach Sòisealta 2024/25

There is circulated Report No. HC/24/25 by the Chief Social Work Officer.

The Council is asked to note and comment on the issues raised in the annual report and the implications for Social Work and Social Care services within Highland Council and NHS Highland.

6. Medium Term Financial Plan 2026/27 – 2028/29
Plana Ionmhasail Meadhan-Ùine 2026/27 – 2028/29

There is circulated Report No. HC/25/25 by the Chief Officer – Corporate Finance.

The Council is asked to:-

i.    consider the report and note the assumptions and forecasts within the existing March Medium-Term Financial Plan as at March 2025;
ii.    agree to commence the refresh and update of the Council’s Medium Term Financial Plan to cover the new rolling three-year period 2026/27 to 2028/29;
iii.    note the key risks, assumptions and forecasts that may have implications for, and need incorporated within, the refreshed Medium Term Financial Plan;
iv.    agree to the development, in parallel with the Medium-Term Financial Plan, of supplementary financial and other data to support a longer-term consideration of the Council’s financial position and to capture some of the longer-term economic changes and opportunities taking place in the Highlands; and
v.    agree that an updated Medium Term Financial Plan report is considered by the October Council, including a refreshed financial gap forecast.

7. Annual Corporate Performance Report 2024/25
Aithisg Choileanaidh Chorporra Bhliadhnail 2024/25

There is circulated Report No. HC/26/25 by the Chief Executive.

The Council is asked to:

i.    scrutinise and note the report at Appendix 2 to the report which outlines the performance for the period 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025; 
ii.    note that any data not yet available, including the Local Government Benchmarking Framework (LGBF) will be reported to Council at a later date once published; and
iii.    note the reference table at Appendix 1 to the report - Delivery Plan Projects and Programmes that link to Performance Plan Commitments.

8. Short Term Let Control Areas
Sgìrean Smachd Màil Gheàrr-Ùine

There is circulated Report No. HC/27/25 by the Assistant Chief Executive – Place.

The Council is asked to:-

note:-

i.    the options available in relation to introducing Short Term Let Control Areas within Highland;
ii.    the potential resource implications along with the evidence requirements;
iii.    that further evidence will be gathered through the ongoing Highland Local Development Plan work; and 

agree:- 

iv.    that it would be for the Area Committees to decide on whether to progress with the introduction of a Short Term Let Control Area covering all or part of their area;
v.    that the Economy and Infrastructure (E&I) Committee take the decision to formally commence the process with the evidence gathering and consultation;
vi.    that the E&I Committee, having taken into account the evidence and feedback, decide on whether or not to continue with the process; and
vii.    the final decision to designate a Short Term Let Control Area is for E&I Committee.

9. Skye Reinforcement Project - Update
Pròiseact Ath-neartachaidh an Eilein Sgitheanaich – Fios às Ùr

There is circulated Report No. HC/28/25 by the Assistant Chief Executive – Corporate.

The Council is asked to:-

i.    note that there are no grounds for judicial review which would have reasonable prospects of success;
ii.    agree that the Assistant Chief Executive – Place writes to Scottish Ministers, following consultation with Chief Officer – Legal and Corporate Governance and the Convener, to highlight the Council’s concerns with the inaccuracies within the decision and to the lack of response which was forthcoming from the Energy Consents Unit in respect of the Council’s request for an extension to report the further environmental information to the joint planning applications committee; and
iii.    note that the Scheme of Delegation was amended by Council at its meeting on 27 March 2025 (Item 9) to enable Officers to lodge holding objections with the Energy Consents Unit, following consultation with the Chair and Vice Chair of the relevant Planning Applications Committee which helps to minimise, as far as possible, the risk of this issue arising again in the future.

10. Highland Armed Forces and Veterans Covenant Report    
Cunntas às Ùr mu Chùmhnant Coimhearsnachd Feachdan na Gàidhealtachd

There is circulated Report No. HC/29/25 by the Assistant Chief Executive – Corporate.

The Council is asked to:-

i.    note the update on activities to support the Armed Forces Covenant; and
ii.    approve the establishment of a Highland Cadet Grant Scheme.

11. Appointments to Outside Bodies
Cur an Dreuchd gu Buidhnean air an Taobh A-muigh

The Council is asked to agree that Mr P Oldham be appointed to Scotland Excel Joint Committee.

12. Membership of Council  
Ballrachd na Comhairle

The Council is asked to note that Mr Andrew Baldrey has tendered his resignation as a Highland Council Member with effect from 31 July 2025 and a By-election for Ward 11 (Caol and Mallaig) will be held on 25 September 2025.

13. Membership of Committees, etc
Ballrachd air Comataidhean, msaa

The Council is asked to agree:

i.    to appoint a Vice Chair of Pensions Committee;
ii.    that Dr C Birt be appointed to Climate Change Committee and to replace Mr G MacKenzie on Pensions Board; 
iii.    that Mr I Brown be appointed to Inverness Cromarty Firth Green Freeport Monitoring Group; and
iv.    following the resignation of Mr M Reiss, Mr S Mackie be appointed as a substantive member of the North Planning Applications Committee with Mr R Gunn as the substitute.

14. Timetable of Meetings                                 
Clàr-ama Choinneamhan 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                         
The Council is asked to agree the calendar of meetings from 1 October to 31 December 2026 as circulated.

15. Deeds Executed
Sgrìobhainnean Lagha a Bhuilicheadh

There is circulated for noting a list of deeds and other documents executed on behalf of the Council since the meeting held on 26 June 2025.

16. Confirmation of Minutes
Daingneachadh a’ Gheàrr-chunntais
                                                               
There are submitted for confirmation as a correct record the Minutes of Meeting of the Council held on 26 June 2025 (pp.2013-2035) as contained in the Volume which has been circulated separately.

17. Minutes of Meetings of Committees
Geàrr-chunntasan Choinneamhan Chomataidhean

There are submitted for confirmation as correct records, for information as regards delegated business and for approval as appropriate, the Minutes of Meetings of Committees contained in Volume circulated separately as undernoted:-

Isle of Skye and Raasay Committee - 30 June 2025
Badenoch and Strathspey Area Committee - 4 August 2025
Caithness Committee - 4 August 2025
Wester Ross, Strathpeffer & Lochalsh Committee - 4 August 2025
Black Isle and Easter Ross Committee - 11 August 2025
Lochaber Area Committee - 11 August 2025
Housing and Property Committee - 13 August 2025
*Climate Change Committee - 13 August 2025

Starred Item as follows:-

Item 6.i Net Zero Programme Update – AGREED TO RECOMMEND to the Council the approval of the project brief templates in Appendix 2 of the report for inclusion in the Council’s Net Zero Programme.

Item 7 Climate Change Adaptation Strategy - AGREED TO RECOMMEND to the Council the approval of the Climate Change Adaptation Strategy set out at Appendix 2 of the report.

Communities and Place Committee - 14 August 2025
City of Inverness Area Committee - 18 August 2025
Health, Social Care and Wellbeing Committee - 20 August 2025
Audit Committee - 20 August 2025
Economy and Infrastructure Committee - 21 August 2025
Dingwall, Seaforth Committee - 25 August 2025
Nairnshire Committee - 25 August 2025
Education Committee - 27 August 2025
Gaelic Committee - 27 August 2025
Comataidh na Gaidhlig - 27 An Lunasdal 2025
Corporate Resources Committee - 28 August 2025
Sutherland County Committee - 1 September 2025
Isle of Skye and Raasay Committee - 1 September 2025
Pensions Committee - 4 September 2025

Minutes of Meetings not included in the Volume are the Redesign Board – for approval – held on 28 August 2025.

18. Questions Time - Booklet A
Àm Ceiste     

There is circulated separately in Booklet A, Public and Members Questions received by the Chief Officer - Legal and Corporate Governance.  

For Member Questions, one supplementary question will be allowed in each case which will be answered by the recipient of the original question.

19. Notices of Motion - Booklet A
Brathan Gluasaid     

There is circulated separately in Booklet A, Notices of Motion received by the Chief Officer - Legal and Corporate Governance.