Agendas, reports and minutes

A hybrid meeting of the Sutherland County Committee will take place in the Chamber, Council Offices, Drummuie, Golspie on Monday 1 December 2025 at 10.00 a.m.

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 Local Performance Report
Aithisg Dèanadais Ionadail Seirbheis Smàlaidh is Teasairginn 
na h-Alba

There is circulated Report No SCC/26/25 by the Local Senior Officer for Highland.

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

4.  Invitation to Pay – Allocation of Income 2024-25
Cuireadh gus Pàigheadh – Riarachadh Teachd-a-steach 2024–25 

There is circulated Report No SCC/27/25 by the Assistant Chief Executive – Place.

The Committee is invited to: 

i.   note the earmarked funds for 2024/25 for this Committee from the Invitation to Pay Parking of £10,453.00;
ii.  note expenditure to date of income generated in 2022/23 and 2023/24 and the balance available following the addition of income earned in 2024/25;
iii. approve the process for the distribution of Invitation to Pay income in Sutherland;
iv.  note the distribution process will be reviewed in a year’s time; and
v.   approve delegated power for the authorisation of spend up to £10,000 to the Community Development Manager in consultation with local Members; while spend over £10,000 would be subject to Sutherland County Committee approval.    

5.  Sutherland Common Good Fund – Invitation to Pay Parking Scheme        
Maoin Math Coitcheann Chataibh – Sgeama Parcaidh Cuireadh gus Pàigheadh

There is circulated Report No SCC/28/25 by the Assistant Chief Executive – Place.

The Committee is invited to agree that £1124.80 costs incurred by the Council’s Parking Enforcement Team to operate the invitation to pay parking scheme at the Dornoch Beach car park is charged against the Sutherland Common Good Fun

6.  Short Term Lets Report 
Aithisg Mhàil Gheàrr-ùine

There is circulated Report No SCC/29/25 by the Assistant Chief Executive – Place.

The Committee is invited to: 

i.   note the evidence presented demonstrating the degree of prevalence of Short Term Lets within Sutherland;
ii.  note that this evidence, demonstrates that the housing market within parts of Sutherland, 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.  agree that the Sutherland Area Committee therefore seeks to progress with the process of considering the introduction of a Short Term Let Control Area covering all or part of the Sutherland Area; 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.

7.  Public Recreational Access on Hill of Edderton Report    
Aithisg mu Chothrom Inntrigidh dhan Phoball airson Cur-seachad air Cnoc Eadardain 

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

The Committee is invited to agree:

i.   that the Council will exercise its powers under Section 19 of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 to issue notice to the landowner(s) requiring the removal of all restrictive signs and the unlocking of pedestrian gates on core path RC15.10, where the path is a constructed and surfaced track. If the signs and locks are not removed within the specified notice period, the Council will take action to remove them; 
ii.  that the Council will seek the support of all parties (or their representatives) to engage an independent mediation service aimed at achieving a mutually acceptable outcome.  The remit of the mediation will include core paths and any other tracks or paths considered appropriate on the Hill of Edderton; and 
iii. that officers will report back to the committee once independent mediation has been concluded or earlier if not all parties have agreed to participate or if the process is discontinued.

8.   Community Regeneration Fund Report
Aithisg Maoin Ath-nuadhachadh Coimhearsnachd

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

The Committee is invited to:

i.  consider the CRF application presented and agree whether to approve, defer or reject each 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 or application; and
ii. agree the approved CRF grant award for the application up to the value of the available area allocation.      

9.  Housing Performance Report 1 April – 30 September 2025
Aithisg Coileanaidh Taigheadais 1 Giblean – 30 Sultain 2025 

There is circulated Report No SCC/32/25 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.

10.  Dornoch Common Good: DADCA Application
Math Coitcheann Dhòrnaich: Iarrtas DADCA

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

The Committee is invited to recommend that Full Council approves the £280,000 application from Dornoch and District Community Association (DADCA) for the new community centre project, subject to match funding and required permissions being in place.

11.  Dornoch Common Good Q2 2025-26 Monitoring Report 2025
Aithisg Sgrùdaidh 2025 R2 2025–26 Maoin Math Coitcheann Dhòrnaich 

There is circulated Report No SCC/34/25 by the Assistant Chief Executive – Place.

The Committee is invited to 

i.  scrutinise and note the Quarter 2 25/26 monitoring statement for the Dornoch Common Good Fund; and
ii. note the proposal to vary expenditure.

12.  Ward 1 & 4 Ward Discretionary Fund Approvals 25-26
Aontaidhean Maoin fo Ùghdarras Uàird 1 & 4 25–26

The Committee is invited to note the awards:

North, West & Central Sutherland Ward Discretionary Budget applications approved 1st April 2025 – 20th October 2025

Durness Community Council – Multimedia & TV Equipment    £1,400.00
Kyle of Sutherland Hub – Community Cycling Project   £1,000.00
Kyle of Sutherland Development Trust – Kyle Feeds   £1,000.00
Sutherland Sports Council – Supporting Sport in Sutherland  £1,000.00 
Scourie Community Development Company – Repopulating Scourie  £5,384.71
Community Food Initiatives North East – Fareshare in Highland  £3,585.00
Lochinver Weed Whackers – Lamp Post Planters    £750.00
Culag Community Woodlands Trust – Troll Bridge Restoration  £2,000.00
Culrain & District Hall Committee – New Door  £2,000.00
Bonar Bridge Community Hall – Running Costs £1,250.00
The Flow Country Partnership – Flowing Forward  £412.29
Poppy Wreaths    £99.00

East Sutherland & Edderton Ward Discretionary Budget applications approved 1st April 2025 – 20th October 2025

Golspie Youth Action project – Youth Club Core Costs   £1,500.00
Go Golspie Development Trust – Go Golspie Community Car Service  £2,000.00
Sutherland Sports Council – Supporting Sport in Sutherland  £1,000.00
Fèis Chataibh - Fèis an t-Samhraidh  £2,000.00
Embo Football Club – Football Pitch Development/Upgrade  £975.00
Community Food initiatives North East – Fareshare in Highland  £975.00
Golspie Sutherland FC – Season’s Transport  £1,000.00
Golspie High School – Higher Geography Field Trip  £1,598.00
The Flow Country Partnership – Flowing Forward  £412.29
Golspie high School – Small Schools Football Competition  £1,220.00
Poppy Wreaths    £99.00

13.  Minutes
Geàrr-chunntas

There is circulated for noting Minutes of the Sutherland County Committee held on 1 September 2025, which were approved by the Council on the 18 September 2025.