Agendas, reports and minutes

A meeting of the Highland Council will be held in the Council Chamber, Council Headquarters, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness on Thursday 30 October 2025 at 9.35am.

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. Medium Term Financial Plan Update
Cunntas às Ùr mun Phlana Ionmhais Meadhan-ùine

There is circulated Report No. HC/30/25 by the Chief Officer – Corporate Finance. 

The Council is asked to:-

i.   note the update provided regarding the Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP) as set out in the report;
ii.  note the updated financial gap forecast with a minimum estimated level of £36.7m over three financial years;
iii. note the range of risks, assumptions and uncertainties as relate to the MTFP, and related actions and mitigations;
iv.  consider and agree the timetable as set out in section 10 of the report; and
v.   agree that a further MTFP update report is considered by the Council at its meeting on 11 December 2025.

4. Highland Community Planning Partnership 2024 – 2025 Annual Report 
Aithisg Bhliadhnail 2024–2025 Com-pàirteachas Planadh Coimhearsnachd na Gàidhealtachd 

There is circulated Report No. HC/31/25 by the Chief Executive. 

The Council is asked to consider and note the Highland Outcome Improvement Plan Annual Update for 2024-2025 which can be found at Appendix 1 of the report.

5. Highland Investment Plan – Progress Update
Plana Tasgaidh na Gàidhealtachd - Cunntas Adhartais

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

The Council is asked to:-

i.   scrutinise and approve the continuing work on progressing Phase 1 of the Highland Investment Programme (HIP), the procurement and delivery of the major projects, conducting place-based reviews and developing masterplans, all as outlined in sections 6 to 8 of the report;
ii.  agree that capital funding totalling £2.6M is allocated to Community, Sports, and Leisure projects and developments as set out in paragraphs 9.2 to 9.7 of the report;
iii. agree that capital funding of £1.2M is allocated to enable the Tain Royal Academy Community Complex (TRACC) to be retained as a separate, standalone building for a period of up to 5 years once the new Tain Campus building is operational as set out in Section 10 of the report;
iv.  scrutinise and approve the work to date in developing a Community Benefits Plan as set out in Section 11 of the report;
v.   scrutinise and approve the work to date in considering the potential development of a Construction Skills Academy as set out in Section 12 of the report;
vi.  scrutinise and approve the work to date in progressing various strategic initiatives related to the Highland Housing Challenge as set out in Section 13 of the report; and
vii. agree that, to support the delivery of the Lochaber Care project, a masterplan be prepared for the Blar Mhor site in Fort William to identify available development land and infrastructure constraints as set out in Section 14 of the report.

6. Developing a Future Operating Model for the Highland Council    
A’ Leasachadh Modail Obrachaidh do Chomhairle na Gàidhealtachd airson an Ama ri Teachd  

There is circulated Report No. HC/33/25 by the Assistant Chief Executive – Corporate. 

The Council is asked to:-

i.    note the work and progress undertaken to date;
ii.   agree the definition, vision and design principles for the Future Operating Model (FOM) as detailed in section 7 of the report; 
iii.  approve the FOM Assessment Framework for assessing service delivery and service change with alignment with the FOM as detailed in section 7 and Appendix 4 of the report;   
iv.   note the range of related policies as detailed at Section 8 of the report designed and updated since 2024 to support the delivery of FOM;  
v.    note the appointment of a Programme Manager and that three dedicated teams will be created and located across Highland supported by the funding (£0.500m) approved by Members on 6 March 2025; 
vi.   agree the initial series of sites and projects for FOM as detailed at Section 8 of the report;
vii.  approve further discussions to take place with Ward Members to inform the rollout of FOM across all areas; and
viii. note the initial performance metrics as detailed at Section 9 of the report to support project evaluation, governance and scrutiny and that these will continue to be reviewed as informed by the ongoing engagement and delivery of FOM.

7. Visitor Levy Update Report
Aithisg Ùrachaidh mu Chìs Luchd-tadhail

There is circulated Joint Report No. HC/34/25 by the Assistant Chief Executives – Place and Corporate. 

The Council is asked to consider and note the report as agreed by Council on 18 September 2025.

8. Review of the Scheme of Delegation
Cunntas às Ùr mun Sgeama Thiomnaidh

There is circulated Report No. HC/35/25 by the Chief Officer – Legal and Corporate Governance.

The Council is asked to agree the changes to the Scheme of Delegation as detailed in Appendix 1 of the report.

9. Annual Review of Standing Orders Relating to the Conduct of Meetings 
Ath-sgrùdadh air Òrdughan Seasmhach a’ Buntainn ri Stiùireadh Choinneamhan 

There is circulated Report No. HC/36/25 by the Chief Officer – Legal and Corporate Governance.

The Council is asked to approve the revised wording of Standing Orders Relating to the Conduct of Meetings as set out in Appendix 1 of the report.

10. Membership of the Council 
Ballrachd na Comhairle

The Council is asked to note that Ms Sarah Fanet has tendered her resignation as a Highland Council Member with effect from 20 October 2025 and a By-election for Ward 21 (Fort William and Ardnamurchan) will be held on 11 December 2025.

The Council is also advised that, following By-Elections for Wards 7 (Tain and Easter Ross) and 11 (Caol and Mallaig) held on 25 September 2025, the undernoted were elected as Members of the Council: 

Ward 7: Ms Connie Ramsay
Ward 11: Mr Sammy Cameron

The political make-up of the Council is now as follows:-

SNP – 19 / Highland Independent – 16 / Scottish Liberal Democrats – 16 / Highland Alliance – 9 / Scottish Conservative and Unionist – 6 / Scottish Green Party – 3 / Labour – 2 / Alba – 1 / Non-Aligned – 1 / Vacant – 1.

The formula in respect of the number of places on Strategic Committees is now  5/4/4/3/2.

11. Membership of Committees, etc
Ballrachd air Comataidhean, msaa                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                                                                                                            
The Council is asked to:

i.  agree the appointments to Committees as tabled;
ii. appoint a Vice Chair of Climate Change Committee.

12. 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 18 September 2025.

13. Confirmation of Minutes 
Daingneachadh a’ Gheàrr-chunntais
                                                               
There are submitted for confirmation as a correct record the Minutes of the Special Meeting of the Council held on 18 September 2025 and the Meeting held on 18 September 2025 (pp.2205-2242) as contained in the Volume which has been circulated separately.

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

Minutes of Meetings not included in the Volume are as follows:-    

I.   Highland and Western Isles Valuation Joint Board – for noting – held on  10 June 2025 (approved by the Board on 7 October 2025); 
ii.  Community Planning Board – for noting – held on 6 June 2025 (approved by the Board on 19 September 2025); 
iii. Investment Sub Committee – for approval – held on 26 September 2025; and 
iv.  Area Committees Review Working Group – for approval - held on 17 September 2025 and 9 October 2025.

15. Question 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.

16. 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.