Agendas, reports and minutes

A meeting of the Economy and Infrastructure Committee will take place in the Council Chamber, Council Headquarters, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness on Thursday, 13 November 2025 at 9.30am.

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. Good News
Naidheachdan Matha

4. Revenue Budget Monitoring Report for the period Q2 2025/26
Aithisg Sgrùdaidh Buidseit Teachd-a-steach airson Ràithe 2 2025/26

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

The Committee is invited to:-

i.   scrutinise and approve the forecast financial position for 2025/26 as set out in the report and Appendices 1 and 2 of the report; 
ii.  consider and note the explanations provided for any material variances and actions taken or proposed; and 
iii. consider and note the update provided regarding savings delivery.

5. Capital Monitoring Q2 2025/26
Sgrùdadh Calpa R2 2025/26

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

The Committee is invited to scrutinise and approve the financial position as of 30 September 2025 and note the estimated year end forecast.

6. Highland Local Development Plan - Progress Update
Plana Leasachadh Ionadail na Gàidhealtachd – Cunntas air Adhartas

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

The Committee is invited to:-

i.   note the progress to date on gathering, analysing, collating and reporting sufficient evidence to produce the new Highland Local Development Plan (HLDP), including public consultation on “topic” and “place” based evidence, further stakeholder engagement undertaken, the advancement of a number of key audits and assessments and progress on drafting of the Evidence Report itself;
ii.  note the next steps, including requirements for completion of the Evidence Report for approval by Committee and Full Council and subsequent submission to Scottish Ministers for independent Gate Check; and 
iii. agree the revised HLDP timeline as set out at paragraph 8.1 of the report, to be formally communicated through an updated Development Plan Scheme to be published by 31 January 2026.

7. Masterplan Consent Areas: Potential Sites
Sgìrean Aonta a’ Phlana Mhaighstir: Làraich airson a’ Chomhairleachaidh Phoblach Tùsail

There is circulated Report No. ECI/36/25 by the Assistant Chief Executive - Place.

The Committee is invited to:-

i.   note the corporate commitment, re-affirmed at Council in June 2025, to take forward three MCAs as part of the Highland Housing Challenge Partnership Action Plan;
ii.  note that the now published Call for Development Sites submissions to the Highland Local Development Plan process informed the selection of a “long-list” of potential MCA sites;
iii. agree to recommend to Council the “long-list” of potential Masterplan Consent Areas as listed in section 8 and mapped at Appendix 1 of the report, with a firm preference to progress sites at Essich Road, Embo and Ardersier;
iv. agree to recommend to Council that urgent work is carried out to identify a fourth preferred site on the west coast, in relative proximity to the Kishorn Yard, to support the ongoing investment in that area; and
v. agree to recommend to Council that the Council’s Scheme of Delegation with particular reference to the role of both E&I Committee and PACs be amended as set out in Appendix 2 of the report to reflect the proposed governance of the MCA process.

8. Road Structures Annual Report 2025
Aithisg Bhliadhnail Structaran Rathaid 2025

There is circulated Report No. ECI/37/25 by the Assistant Chief Executive - Place.

The Committee is invited to note:-

i.   the current position in Highland in relation to the number of structures inspections undertaken as in section 6.2 of the report;
ii.  the position of the Bridge Stock Condition Indicators in Highland as in section 7 of the report;
iii. the risks that are carried by the Council in relation to its road structure as in see section 3.3 of the report; and
iv. that due to insufficient funding for bridge schemes, some structures are to be put into ‘managed decline’ leading to eventual closure as in see section 9.7 of the report.

9. Section 37 Interim Report on Flood Risk Management Plan Actions 
Aithisg Eadar-amail Earrainn 37 mu Phlanaichean Gnìomha Stiùireadh Cunnart Thuiltean

There is circulated Report No. ECI/38/25 by the Assistant Chief Executive - Place.

The Committee is invited to:-

i.   note the contents of The Highland Council Actions table in Appendix 1 of the report with progress made on the Actions within the current Highland and Argyll Local Flood Risk Management Plan and the Findhorn, Nairn and Speyside Local Flood Risk Management Plan;
ii.  agree to make the Section 37 Interim Report for the Highland and Argyll Local Plan District available to the public on the Council’s website; and
iii. note that Moray Council will approve and publish the Section 37 Interim Report for the Findhorn, Nairn and Speyside Local Plan District. 

10. Inverness and Highland City Region Deal - 2024/25 Annual Report
Cùmhnant Baile Roinne Inbhir Nis agus na Gàidhealtachd – Aithisg Bhliadhnail 2024/25

There is circulated Report No. ECI/39/25 by the Assistant Chief Executive - Place.

The Committee is invited to note the IHCRD Annual Report as a record of the activity and delivery during 2024/25.

11. UK Shared Prosperity Fund – Delivery Plan Progress Update 2025/26    
Maoin Soirbheachas Co-roinnte na RA – Cunntas air Adhartas a’ Phlana Lìbhrigidh 2025/26

There is circulated Report No. ECI/40/25 by the Assistant Chief Executive - Place.

The Committee is invited to note the update on the 2025/26 UKSPF Delivery Plan.

12. Delivery Plan Budget Monitoring and Progress Update Q2 2025/26
Sgrùdadh Buidseit agus Cunntas air Adhartas a’ Phlana Lìbhrigidh R2 2025/26

There is circulated Report No. ECI/41/25 by the Assistant Chief Executive - Place.

The Committee is invited to scrutinise and note the report, including progress to date and next steps.

13. Performance Monitoring Report Q2 2025/26
Aithisg Sgrùdadh Coileanaidh R2 2025/26

There is circulated Report No. ECI/42/25 by the Assistant Chief Executive - Place.

The Committee is invited to scrutinise and note the Service’s performance information.

14. Appointment to Outside Bodies
Cur an Dreuchd gu Buidhnean air an Taobh A-muigh

a) HITRANS Tier 1 Ferry Users Consultation Groups
Buidhnean Co-chomhairleachaidh Luchd-cleachdaidh Aiseagan Ìre 1 HITRANS

The interests of ferry users were previously represented by the Scottish Executive’s Ferry Users Consultation Group. However, this was disbanded and a three-tier system was set up to cover issues at all levels from local through to national.

Following recent Members resignation, who had previously been appointed to represent the Council on the Argyll, Lochaber and Skye, and Hebrides Groups respectively, new appointments are required.

The Committee is invited to appoint Members to the following Tier 1 Ferry Users Consultation Groups established by HITRANS:

i.   Argyll Group – covering Oban, Colonsay, Iona, Lismore, Coll, Tiree, Barra, South Uist and Ardnamurchan – 1 Member required;
ii.  Lochaber and Skye Group – covering the Small Isles, Mallaig, Armadale, Raasay, Kilchoan and Lochaline – 1 Members required; and
iii. Hebrides Group – covering Barra, North and South Uist, Harris, Lewis and links to Skye – 1 Member required.

b) Flood Area Risk Management – Local Plan District Executive Steering Groups
Rianachd Cunnairt Cheàrnaidhean Thuiltean – Buidhnean Stiùiridh Gnìomhach Sgìre a’ Phlana Ionadail

The Highland Council are designated as the Lead Local Authority for the “Highland and Argyll Local Plan District” and as a Responsible Authority within the “Findhorn, Nairn and Speyside Local Plan District”, the latter Local Plan District being led by Moray Council. Executive Steering Groups for each Local Plan District help to direct and facilitate all work that results in the agreement of the Flood Risk Management Strategy and the delivery of the Flood Risk Management Plan.

Following the resignation of Ms S Fanet, the Committee is invited to appoint a Member to serve on both Executive Steering Groups.

15. Membership of the Harbours Management Board
Ballrachd Bòrd Stiùiridh nan Calachan

The Committee is asked to appoint Mr John Edmondson to replace Mrs Jan McEwan as a member of the Harbours Management Board.

16. Minutes
Geàrr-chunntas

There is circulated for noting Minutes of the Planning Applications Committees (PAC) for:-

i.   North PAC – 11 June 2025;
ii.  South PAC – 18 June 2025;
iii. North PAC – 6 August 2025;
iv. South PAC – 22 August 2025;

and, for approval:-

v.  Inverness Cromarty Firth Green Freeport Monitoring Group held on 2 September 2025.