Agendas, reports and minutes

A meeting of the Caithness Committee will take place remotely on Monday 3 November 2025 at 10.00am.

You are invited to attend the meeting and a note of the business to be considered is attached.

Recording Notice: This meeting will be recorded and uploaded to the Council’s YouTube channel.

Yours faithfully

Stewart Fraser
Chief Officer – Legal and Corporate Governance
 
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. Police – Area Performance Summary
Poileas – Geàrr-chunntas air Coileanadh Sgìreil

There will follow Report No CC//24/25 by the North Area Commander.

4. Housing Management Performance Report – 1 April 2025 to 30 September 2025
Aithisg Dèanadais Stiùireadh Taigheadais – 1 Giblean 2025 gu 30 an t-Sultainn 2025

There is circulated Report No CC/25/25 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 September 2025.

5. Short Term Let Control Area
Sgìre Smachd Màil Gheàrr-Ùine

There is circulated Report No CC/26/25 by the Assistant Chief Executive - Place.

The Committee is invited to:

i.   consider and note the evidence presented demonstrating the degree of prevalence of short term lets within Caithness;
ii.  note that this evidence, at this time, does not demonstrate that the housing market within Caithness specifically, is subject to any significant pressure caused by Short Term Lets at this time, that would warrant regulation through a Short Term Let Control Area;
iii. consider and agree that the Caithness Area Committee does not at this time wish to progress with the process of considering the introduction of a Short Term Let Control Area covering all or part of the Caithness Area; and
iv. agree to reconsider the evidence base regarding short term lets prevalence in Caithness within a further report brought to the Area Committee again at a future period, in 12 months time.

6. Bereavement Services – Project Updates
Seirbheisean Bàis – Cunntas às Ùr mu Phròiseactan

There is circulated Report No CC/27/25 by the Assistant Chief Executive - Place.

The Committee is invited to note the:

i.  current capacities and progress of burial ground extensions in the Caithness area; and
ii. challenges with identifying and developing suitable land for burial ground development.

7. Invitation to Pay Income
Teachd-a-steach bho Chuireadh gus Pàigheadh

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

The Committee is invited to note the earmarked funds for this Committee from the Invitation to Pay Parking of £10,876.19.

8. Allocation of Invitation to Pay Income in Caithness
Riarachadh Teachd-a-steach bho Chuireadh gus Pàigheadh ann an Gallaibh

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

The Committee is invited to:

i.  note the Invitation to Pay income from 2024/25 and the current balance of funds to date; and
ii. defer allocating Invitation to Pay funding to allow the establishment of a strategic pot to be used for future projects.

9. Wick Common Good Fund
Maoin Math Coitcheann Inbhir Ùige

a. Invitation to Pay Parking Scheme
Cuireadh Cosgaisean a Phàigheadh

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

The Committee is invited to agree:

i.  that £2,933.91 costs incurred by the Council’s Parking Enforcement Team to operate the invitation to pay parking scheme at the Wick Common Good sites is charged against the Wick Common Good Fund; and
ii. that the costs of signage maintenance be recovered from the Wick Comon Good Fund in the financial year 2026/27. 

b. Quarter 2 Monitoring
Sgrùdadh Ràith 2

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

The Committee is invited scrutinise and note the Quarter 2 2025/26 monitoring statement for the Wick Common Good Fund

10. Thurso Common Good Fund - Quarter 2 Monitoring
Maoin Math Coitcheann Inbhir Theòrsa - Sgrùdadh Ràith 2

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

The Committee is invited to scrutinise and note the Quarter 2 2025/26 monitoring statement for the Thurso Common Good Fund.

11. Ward Discretionary Awards
Duaisean fo Ùghdarras Uàird

Thurso and Northwest Caithness Ward Discretionary Budget applications approved 1st April 2025 – 15th October 2026

The Committee is asked to note that the following Thurso and Northwest Caithness Ward Discretionary Budget applications have been approved for the period 1st April 2025 – 15th October 2026.

Caithness Youth Pipe Band – Edinburgh Tartan Parade - £1000.00
Caithness Chamber of Commerce – Caithness Transport Forum - £500.00
Home Start Caithness – Summer Day Trip for Families in Need - £960.00
Highlife Highland – Active Schools Coaching & Equipment - £1,500.00
Thurso Football Academy – Professional Football Coaching Sessions - £750.00
Community Food initiatives North East – Fareshare in Highland - £2,314.00
Association of Caithness Community Councils – Village Officer Fund - £2,000.00
The Flow Country Partnership – Flowing Forward - £531.77

Wick and East Caithness Ward Discretionary Budget applications approved 1st April 2025 – 15th October 2026

The Committee is asked to note that the following Wick and East Caithness Ward Discretionary Budget applications have been approved for the period 1st April 2025 – 15th October 2026

Caithness Youth Pipe Band – Edinburgh Tartan Parade - £1000.00
Caithness Chamber of Commerce – Caithness Transport Forum - £500.00
Newton Park Parent Council – Newton Park Breakfast Club - £242.98
Highland Council – Step Forward Wick Youth Summer London Visit - £1,500.00
Thrumster Parent Council – ELC Container - £1,400.00
Royal Burgh of Wick Community Council – Town Works - £761.72
Community Food initiatives North East – Fareshare in Highland - £3,128.00
Association of Caithness Community Councils – Village Officer Fund - £3,500.00
The Flow Country Partnership – Flowing Forward - £531.77

12. Minutes
Geàrr-chunntas

There are circulated for noting Minutes of the Caithness Committee held on 4 August 2025 which were approved by the Council on 18 September 2025.