Agendas, reports and minutes

A meeting of the Black Isle and Easter Ross Area Committee will take place remotely, on 10 November 2025, at 10 am.

Recording Notice: 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 and Corporate Governance

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.    Scottish Fire and Rescue Services Area Performance Report    
Aithisg Coileanaidh Sgìreil Seirbheis Smàlaidh is Teasairginn na h-Alba 

There is circulated Report No BIER/27/25 by the Local Senior Officer for Highland.

The Committee is invited to comment and scrutinise the attached Area Performance Report.

4.    Proposed Utility Scale Solar PV Array                     
Arraigh PV Grèine Meud Goireis ga Moladh 

There is circulated Report No. BIER/28/25 by the Assistant Chief Executive – Place.
The Committee is asked to:
i.    consider and note the contents of this report and decision by the Economy & Infrastructure (E&I) Committee Members;
ii.    agree for Officers to bring forward a detailed proposal to Members for the long-term benefits to the Tain Common Good, once available; and 
iii.    agree to run a Common Good Consultation on the change of use of both parcels of land for generation of renewable solar energy and report back to this Committee the outcomes of the consultation. 

5.    Short Term Lets Control Area                        
Smachd air Màil Gheàrr-ùine

There is circulated Report No. BIER/29/25 by the Assistant Chief Executive – Place.
The Committee is asked to:
i.    consider and note the evidence presented demonstrating the degree of prevalence of Short Term Lets within Black Isle and Easter Ross;
ii.    note that this evidence, at this time, does not demonstrate that the housing market within Black Isle and Easter Ross 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 Black Isle and Easter Ross Area Committee does not at this time seek to progress with the process of considering the introduction of a Short Term Let Control Area covering all or part of the Black Isle and Easter Ross Area; and
iv.    agree to reconsider the evidence base regarding short term lets prevalence in Black Isle and Easter Ross within a further report brought to the Area Committee again at a future period, in 12 months’ time.

6.    Housing Management Performance Report 
Aithisg Coileanaidh Stiùireadh Taigheadais                 

There is circulated Report No. BIER/30/25 by the Assistant Chief Executive – Place.

The Committee is asked to note the information provided on housing performance in the period 1 April 2025 – 30 September 2025.

7.    Common Good Fund Consultations                         
Co-chomhairleachaidhean Maoin Maith Choitchinn 

a.    Fortrose Golf Club Car Park                        
Pàirc-chàraichean Raon-goilf na Cananaich

There is circulated Report No. BIER/31/25 by the Assistant Chief Executive – Corporate and the Assistant Chief Executive – Place.

The Committee is asked to:

i.    note the process and outcome of the consultation as contained in section 6 and 7 and Appendix 1 of this report. 
ii.    consider the representations and responses as set out in Appendix 2, taking them into account whilst having regard to the views of the inhabitants of the former Burgh of Fortrose and Rosemarkie during the decision-making process.
iii.    decide the proposal should be either:
    Approved subject to Sheriff Court consent, or
    Rejected; and
iv.    approve the responses to the representations in Appendix 2 for publication on the Council’s website.
 
b.    Rosemarkie Caravan Park                        
Pàirc-chàraichean Raon-goilf Ros Maircnidh

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

The Committee is asked to:

i.    note the process and outcome of the consultation as contained in section 6 and 7 and Appendix 1 of this report;
ii.    consider the representations and responses as set out in Appendix 2, taking them into account whilst having regard to the views of the inhabitants of the former Burgh of Fortrose and Rosemarkie during the decision-making process;
iii.    recommend to Full Council (see section 8) that the proposal should be either:-
    Approved subject to Sheriff Court consent; or 
    Rejected; and 
iv.    approve the responses to the representations in Appendix 2 for publication on the Council’s website.
 
c.    East Church Hall                            
Talla na h-Eaglaise an Ear

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

The Committee is asked to: 

i.    note the process and outcome of the consultation as contained in section 6 and 7 and Appendix 1 of this report. 
ii.    consider the representations and responses as set out in Appendix 2, taking them into account whilst having regard to the views of the inhabitants of the former Burgh of Cromarty during the decision-making process;
iii.    recommend to Full Council (see section 8) that the proposal should be either:-
    Approved subject to Sheriff Court consent;
    Amended and a new consultation may be required, or
    Rejected; and
iv.    approve the responses to the representations in Appendix 2 for publication on the Council’s website.

8.    Common Good Funds
Maoin Maith Choitchinn

a.    Cromarty Common Good Fund                 
Maoin Math Coitcheann Chromba 

There is circulated Report No BIER/34/25 by the Assistant Chief Executive - Place.

    The Committee is asked to scrutinise and note the position of CCGF Fund as shown in the 2025/26 Quarter 2 Monitoring Statement.

b.    Fortrose and Rosemarkie Common Good Fund                
Maoin Math Coitcheann na Cananaich agus Ros Maircnidh 

There is circulated Report No BIER/35/25 by the Assistant Chief Executive - Place.

The Committee is asked to scrutinise and note the position of FRCGF Fund as shown in the 2025/26 Quarter 2 Monitoring Statement.

c.    Invergordon Common Good Fund                 
Maoin Math Coitcheann Inbhir Ghòrdain 

There is circulated Report No BIER/36/25 by the Assistant Chief Executive – Place.

Members are asked to scrutinise and note the Quarter 2 25/26 monitoring statement for the Invergordon Common Good Fund

d.    Tain Common Good Fund                          
Maoin Math Coitcheann Bhaile Dhubhthaich

There is circulated Report No BIER/37/25 by the Assistant Chief Executive – Place.

Members are asked to 

i.    scrutinise and note the Quarter 2 2025/26 monitoring statement for the Tain Common Good Fund; and 
ii.    approve a revised budget for 2025/26 for Tain Common Good Fund.

9.    Ward Discretionary Awards    
Duaisean fo Ùghdarras Uàird

There is circulated for noting, details of the Discretionary Budget applications that have been approved.

Cromarty Firth Ward Discretionary Budget applications approved 1st April 2025 – 31st October 2025

Alness Gala & Events – The Alness Gala	£2,000.00
Saltburn & Westwood Community Council – Annual Community Flowers	£700.00
Invergordon Lunch Club – Invergordon Lunch Club	£400.00
Highland Action for Little Ones – Bright Futures	£1,000.00
Community Food Initiatives North & East – Fareshare in Highland Poppy Wreaths Kiltearn Parish Church – Hot Water Upgrade	£3,340.00   £224.93 £600.00

Alness Gala & Events – The Alness Gala	£2,000.00
Saltburn & Westwood Community Council – Annual Community Flowers	£700.00
Invergordon Lunch Club – Invergordon Lunch Club	£400.00
Highland Action for Little Ones – Bright Futures	£1,000.00
Community Food Initiatives North & East – Fareshare in Highland Poppy Wreaths Kiltearn Parish Church – Hot Water Upgrade	£3,340.00   £224.93 £600.00

Tain and Easter Ross Ward Discretionary Budget applications approved 1st April 2025 – 31st October 2025

Tain YMCA – Assistance for Running Costs	£1,500.00
Tain Task Force – Tain Environmental Improvements Worker	£3,000.00
Seaboard Memorial Hall – Village Care Assistance Scheme Tain Gala Association – Talk Car Rally & Gala Community Food Initiatives North & East – Fareshare in Highland Poppy Wreaths	£3,500.00 £2,000.00 £164.00 £128.57

Black Isle Ward Discretionary Budget applications approved 1st April 2025 – 31st October 2025

Cromarty & District Community Council - Reed Loop Path Maintenance	£700.00
Go Flourish - Community Open Days	£773.00
Fortrose Academy - Young Enterprise Team Scottish Finals	£823.00
Black Isle Cares - Fortrose Community Larder	£400.00
Black Isle Cares - Meals at Home service	£300.00
Cromarty & District Community Council - Tidy up Townland	£580.00
Knockbain Community Council - North Kessock Community Youth Art Project Ferintosh Community Hall – Fence Replacement Raddery House LTD – Business Plan Killearn Public Hall – Upgrading Public Hall EPC Survey Community Food Initiatives North & East – Fareshare in Highland Chanonry Sailing Club – Accessibility & Changing Room Upgrade	£950.00 £700.00 £582.00 £126.00 £1,000.00 £920.00

10.    Community Regeneration Fund                                                          
Maoin Ath-bheothachadh Coimhearsnachd

There is circulated Report No BIER/38/25 by the Assistant Chief Executive – Place.
Members are asked to:
i.    consider the applications 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 an 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; and
ii.    agree the approved CRF grant award for each application up to the value of the available area allocation.

11.    Minutes    
Geàrr-chunntas

There is circulated for noting minutes of the meeting of the Black Isle and Easter Ross Area Committee held on 11 August 2025, which was approved by the Council on 18 September 2025.