Agendas, reports and minutes

Lochaber Committee

Date: Monday, 10 November 2025

Agenda: Read the Agenda

A meeting of the Lochaber Committee will take place remotely on Monday, 10 November, 2025 at 10.30 a.m. 
 
Recording Notice: Please note this meeting will be recorded and uploaded to the Council’s YouTube channel.
 
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 & Corporate Governance
 
BUSINESS
 
1. Apologies for Absence
    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 Scotland Local Committee Performance Report
    Aithisg Choileanaidh Comataidh Ionadail Poileas Alba
 
There is circulated Report No LA/27/25 by the Area Commander, Police Scotland.
 
The Committee is invited to note progress made against the objectives set within the Highland Local Policing Plan 2023–2026 Year 1 attached as Annex A to this report, for the period covering 01 April 2025 – 30 September 2025.
 
4. Community Regeneration Fund Assessment of Applications
    Measadh Iarrtasan Maoin Ath-bheòthachaidh Coimhearsnachd
 
There is circulated Report No LA/28/25 by the Assistant Chief Executive – Place.   
 
Members are asked to consider the application presented and agree whether to approve, defer or reject the application.  An approval of funding should detail the amount approved and outline any conditions of funding that Members wish to attach to the approval over and above the required technical conditions.  A deferral would allow the applicant to resubmit the current application at a future date with updated information or for the project to be approved subject to further funding becoming available.  A rejection would mean that the application will not proceed and any future application to the fund should be brought forward initially as a new expression of interest.
 
5. Short Term Let Control Area
    Sgìre Smachd Màil Gheàrr-ùine
 
There is circulated Report No. LA/29/25 by the Assistant Chief Executive – Place.
 
Members are asked to:-
 
i. consider and note the evidence presented demonstrating the degree of prevalence of Short Term Lets within Lochaber;
ii. note that this evidence, demonstrates that the housing market within parts of Lochaber, is subject to significant pressure, exacerbated by high rates of potential dwellings being converted to Short Term Lets;
iii. note that the designation of any new Short Term Let Control Area will have no retrospective impact on existing Short Term Lets where no material change of use had occurred at the time of establishment and will therefore only require planning permission from new Short Term Lets established after a Short Term Let Control Area comes into force;
iv. note that should the Economy and Infrastructure (E&I) Committee formally commence the process of introducing a Short Term Let Control Area, this will initiate a process of further evidence gathering and public consultation with communities;
v. consider and agree that the Lochaber Area Committee therefore seeks to progress the consideration of a Short Term Let Control Area covering all or part of the Lochaber Area and in so doing; and
vi. agree that progressing with consideration of a Short Term Let Control Area enables communities within the area to participate in that consultation at the appropriate stage.
 
6. Fort William Common Good Fund – Parking Costs
    Maoin Math Coitcheann a’ Ghearasdain – Cosgaisean Parcaidh
 
There is circulated Report No. LA/30/25 by the Assistant Chief Executive – Place.  
 
Members are asked to agree that £4249.55 costs incurred by the Council’s Parking Enforcement Team to operate the paid parking scheme at the Fort William Common Good site is charged against the Fort William Common Good Fund.
 
7. Invitation to Pay Income
    Teachd a-steach bho Chuireadh gus Pàigheadh
 
There is circulated Report No. LA/31/25 by the Assistant Chief Executive – Place. 
 
Members are asked to note the earmarked funds for this Committee from the Invitation to pay Parking of £8,593.91.
 
8. Bereavement Services Project updates
    Cunntasan às Ùr mu Phròiseact nan Seirbheisean Bàis
 
There is circulated Report No. LA/32/25 by the Assistant Chief Executive – Place. 
 
Members are asked to note:
 
i. the current capacities and progress of burial ground extensions in the Lochaber area; and 
ii. the challenges with identifying and developing suitable land for burial ground development.
 
9. Housing Management Performance Report
    Aithisg Choileanaidh Càraidhean Thaighean
 
There is circulated Report No. LA/33/25 by the Assistant Chief Executive – Place.
 
Members are asked to note the information provided on housing performance in the period 1 April 2025 – 30 September, 2025.
 
10. Corran Ferry Update
      Cunntas air Aiseag a’ Chorrain
 
There is circulated Report No. LA/34/25 by the Assistant Chief Executive – Place.
 
Members are asked to note the:-
 
i.  Corran Ferry Infrastructure Improvement Scheme & Corran Ferry New Electric Vessel updates; and
ii. Corran Ferry Service update.
 
11. Ward Discretionary Fund 2025/26
      Buidseat Fo Ùghdarras Uàird
 
The Committee is invited to note the following Ward Discretionary Fund grant awards since the last Committee meeting:-
 
Ward 11
CFINE - Fairshare in Highland - £1,200.00 
Lochaber Live - free family day - £600.00 
Achnacarry Bunarkaig & Clunes Community Group – New village hall project - £2,100.00 
Astley Hall Trust – Restructure of Hall Trust - £1,286.00 
 
Ward 21
CFINE - Fairshare in Highland - £530.00 
Fort William Marina & Shoreline CIC - Wrapping Fort William Pontoon Facility - £2,915.95 
Lochaber Live - free family day - £900.00  
HC Gaelic Team - Additional ferry crossings Mod - £1,000.00
 
12. Notice of Motion
      Brathan Gluasaid
 
The following Notice of Motion has been received by the Chief Officer Legal and Corporate Governance –
 
Escape of Farmed Salmon from Gorsten Fish Farm, Loch Linnhe
 
The Lochaber Committee expresses its deep concern at the recent large-scale escape of an estimated 75,000 farmed salmon from the Mowi-operated Gorsten Fish Farm in Upper Loch Linnhe following damage to the site during Storm Amy.
 
This incident represents one of the most significant escapes in Scottish aquaculture in recent years. Experts have warned that even a small proportion of these fish surviving in the wild could have a long-term impact on Lochaber’s delicate river systems, including the Sallachan, Kaichnish, Lochy, Lundy, Loy and Nevis, by:
 
• introducing maladapted genetic material into already endangered wild salmon stocks;
• spreading disease and parasites such as sea-lice; and
• competing with native species for food and habitat.
 
The Committee notes that:
 
• The BBC and scientific experts have highlighted the risk that inter-breeding between farmed and wild salmon could cause “major genetic changes” in wild populations;
• Previous Scottish Parliament committee reports have identified under-regulation of fish farming, a lack of transparency, and the need for a robust penalty system for escapes—yet such measures are not expected to be implemented until 2026/27;
• Similar incidents at Colonsay, Kames and Loch Shin demonstrate that lessons are not being learned across the industry.
 
Accordingly, the Committee resolves that:
 
1. The Area Chair should write to Mowi Scotland requesting:
full disclosure of the number, size and age of escaped fish;
details of the company’s emergency and preventative procedures;
what steps are being taken to recover escaped stock and mitigate the ecological impact.
2. The Area Chair should write to Marine Scotland, NatureScot, SEPA, and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency to ask what investigations and enforcement actions are under way and how they intend to strengthen monitoring of aquaculture operations in Lochaber.
3.The Leader of The Highland Council should write to the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands urging that:
the Scottish Government bring forward its planned penalty regime for farmed fish escapes without delay; greater resources be provided for environmental inspection and regulation; any proposals for new or expanded aquaculture developments in Loch Linnhe be paused pending a full environmental assessment of cumulative impact.
 
The Committee further agrees to refer this issue to the Economy and Infrastructure Committee for wider consideration of the implications for marine environmental management and regulatory reform across the Highlands.
 
Signed: Mr A Baxter Mr J Grafton
 
Section 95 Officer assessment of financial implications:
 
This motion is not anticipated to have a financial implication to the Council.  
 
Integrated Impact Assessment:
 

Area for Assessment

Assessment Summary

Equality

No impact

 

Poverty

No impact

 

Human Rights

No impact

 

Children’s Rights

No impact

 

Data Rights

No impact

 

Rural/Island

No impact

 

Climate Change

No impact

 

Summary of Assessment:

A summary of the integrated screening is outlined above.  The motion requests that the Council writes to a range of parties to raise concerns regarding the Gorsten Fish Farm.  There is therefore no direct impact as a result of the motion.
 
13. Minutes
      Geàrr-chunntas
 
There is circulated for information, Minutes of Meeting of the Lochaber Committee held on 11 August, 2025 which were approved by the Council on 18 September, 2025.
 
14. Exclusion of the Public
      Às-dùnadh a’ Phobaill
 
The Committee is asked to resolve that, under Section 50A(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, the public should be excluded from the meeting for the following item on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 6 & 9 of Part 1 of Schedule 7A of the Act.
 
15. Amenity Issues – Middle Street, Fort William
      Cùisean Goireis – Sràid a’ Mheadhain, An Gearasdan
 
There is circulated to Members only Report No. LA/35/25 by the Assistant Chief Executive – Place. 
 
Members are asked to consider the recommendation.