Agendas, reports and minutes

A meeting of the Highland Council will be held in the Council Chamber, Council Headquarters, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness on Thursday 11 December 2025 at 9.35am.

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. Notice of Amendment    
Brath Athararachaidh

There is circulated (Minute Volume Booklet) Minutes of the Meeting of the Education Committee of 19 November 2025.

With reference to these Minutes, the following Notice of Amendment has been received in accordance with Standing Order 14.

“We the undersigned, being Elected Members of the Highland Council, hereby refer to Council Item 7, Education Improvement Plan and Raising Attainment and Achievement Update, of the Education Committee on 19 November 2025 to Council.”

Signed:    Mr A Christie  Mr R Gale      Mr R Stewart      Mrs H Crawford
    Mr A Baxter    Ms C Ramsay    Dr M Gregson    Mr R Cross

In this connection, there is re-circulated Report No EDU/31/25 by the Assistant Chief Executive – People.

Please note that the following item will be taken at 2pm.

4. Highland Poverty and Equality Commission - Interim Report    
Aithisg Eadar-amail Coimisean Bochdainn is Co-ionannachd na Gàidhealtachd

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

The Council is asked to note the:-

i.  initial work of the Highland Poverty and Equality Commission; and 
ii. interim report from the Commission which can be found at Appendix 1 to the report.

5. Medium Term Financial Plan Update
Cunntas às Ùr mun Phlana Ionmhais Meadhan-ùine

There is circulated Report No. HC/39/25 by the Chief Officer - Corporate Finance. 

The Council is asked to note:-

i.   the update provided regarding the Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP) as set out in the report;
ii.  and consider the update regarding the UK Government Budget of 26 November 2025;
iii. the update on Scottish Government budget and grant settlement, including an expectation intimated by Scottish Government that a multi-year grant settlement is being planned for;
iv.  and consider the update regarding budget engagement over the coming months; and
v.   and consider actions being progressed regarding closing the budget gap.

6. Response to Scottish Government Consultation: The Future of Council Tax in Scotland
Co-chomhairleachadh Riaghaltas na h-Alba: Àm ri Teachd na Cìse Comhairle ann an Alba

There is circulated Report No. HC/40/25 by the Assistant Chief Executive - Corporate. 

The Council is asked to consider and agree the draft response to the consultation as detailed in Appendix 1 to the report.

7. Invest Highland – Growing the Highlands
Taisg sa Ghàidhealtachd

There is circulated Report No. HC/41/25 by the Assistant Chief Executive – Place.

The Council is asked to:-

i.   consider and agree the aims and purpose of Invest Highland as set out and articulated on the Invest Highland online platform;
ii.  agree the Invest Highland Prospectus set out at Appendix 2 of the report for use at Scottish Cities Week (20-22 January 2026) and at other inward investment forums over 2026, noting that updates will be made periodically to reflect emerging opportunities; 
iii. agree and note the use of the Beconnected online platform for local place priorities; and
iv.  agree a Member workshop on the Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green Freeport’s retained Non Domestic Rates Strategy will be held in January with a report on the Strategy to be considered at Economy and Infrastructure Committee on 12 February 2026.  

8. Visitor Levy – Next Steps
Cìs Luchd-tadhail – Na h-Ath Cheumannan

There is circulated Joint Report No. HC/42/25 by the Assistant Chief Executives – Place and Corporate. 

The Council is asked to:-

i.    note the strength of concern from stakeholders and accommodation providers regarding the complexities inherent with a percentage-based levy;
ii.   note, in response to the concerns received as set out in 2.1(i) of the report, the Convener’s letter to the Minister for Public Finance dated 12 February 2025 seeking discretionary powers to enable local authorities to choose between a flat rate or percentage rate, and the Minister’s response received 9 October 2025, as set out in Appendices 1 and 2 to the report respectively; 
iii.  note the letter from the Minister for Public Finance to Chief Executives and Senior Officers dated 18 September 2025. Appendix 3 to the report refers; 
iv.   note the Convener’s more recent letter dated 24 November 2025 to the Minister for Public Finance seeking clarity regarding the Scottish Government’s intentions for proposed flat and tiered flat rates. Appendix 4 to the report refers; 
v.    note the letter from the Minister for Public Finance to Council Leaders dated 2 December 2025 setting out the Scottish Government’s to introduce legislation early in the new year to give councils greater flexibility over how they design and implement a visitor levy.   Appendix 5 to the report refers; 
vi. note the Chief Officer – Revenues & Commercialisation will participate in Visitor Levy Implementation Forum as detailed in the Minister for Public Finance’s letter dated 2 December 2025 (Appendix 5); 
vii.  note The Diffley Partnership’s cross-cutting themes from the consultation based on a percentage rate levy; 
viii. agree to await the intended new primary legislation for either a single fixed amount or a range of fixed amounts for different purposes or areas, and thereafter for a report to be brought forward to a future meeting of the Highland Council to decide the way forward for Highland; 
ix.   agree that, should Members agree to 2.1(viii) of the report, that Highland Council would undertake a 12-week statutory consultation based on new proposals.  A report would then set out the findings from the statutory consultation and invite Members to decide whether to proceed with a Visitor Levy for Highland.  Should Members decide to proceed, then an 18-month implementation period would be required before a visitor levy could be implemented in Highland; and 
x.    note the potential uses of funds should a Visitor Levy be decided for Highland, noting that approval for use of funds would be sought in a future report to Council should a Visitor Levy be agreed for implementation. Appendix 6 to the report refers.

9. Highland Investment Plan – Establishing the Dingwall POD and Statutory Consultation Final Report on Relocation of St Clement’s Special School
Co-chomhairleachadh Reachdail: Ath-shuidheachadh Sgoil Naoimh Cliamhainn - Aithisg Dheireannach

There is circulated Report No HC/43/25 by the Assistant Chief Executive - People.

The Council is asked to:-

i.   note the progress being made with the place-based review for the Dingwall Community Points of Delivery (POD) as part of the Highland Investment Plan;
ii.  note the opportunities that will be provided for stakeholders and partners to engage in the design process;
iii. note the report from Education Scotland (Appendix 4 to the report) that recognises the Education benefits of locating St Clements School and Dingwall Primary School on the same site;
iv.  agree officers should fully discharge the recommendations from Education Scotland as set out in the Consultation Report at Appendix 2 to the report; and
v.   agree to relocate St Clement’s School to the site adjacent to Dingwall Primary School.

10. Decision of Standards Commission for Scotland – Hearing on 4 November 2025
Co-Cdhùnaidhean Coimisean Inbhean na h-Alba – Èisteachd 

There is circulated Report No. HC/44/25 by the Chief Officer - Legal and Corporate Governance/Monitoring Officer.

The Council is asked to consider and note the decision of the Standards Commission of Scotland.

11. Membership of Committees, etc
Ballrachd air Comataidhean, msaa

The Council is asked to:

i.  agree that Mrs L Kraft replace Mr P Oldham on Audit Committee; and
ii. note that Mr P Logue will replace Dr C Birt as substitute for North Planning Applications Committee.

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

Following the resignation on 18 November 2025 of Mrs I Mackenzie, the Council is asked to agree the appointment of a new Director for Eden Court Highlands.  

In this regard, there is circulated a copy of the Job Description.

13. Timetable of Meetings
Clàr-ama Choinneamhan 

The Council is asked to note that a Special Meeting of the City of Inverness Area Committee will be held on 7 January 2026.

14. Deeds Executed
Sgrìobhainnean Lagha a Bhuilicheadh

There is circulated for noting a list of deeds and other documents executed on behalf of the Council since the meeting held on 30 October 2025.

15. Confirmation of Minutes 
Daingneachadh a’ Gheàrr-chunntais

There are submitted for confirmation as a correct record the Minutes of Meeting of the Council held on 30 October 2025 and the Special meeting held on 6 November 2025 (pp.2284-2288) as contained in the Volume which has been circulated separately.

16. Minutes of Meetings of Committees
Geàrr-chunntasan Choinneamhan Chomataidhean

There are submitted for confirmation as correct records, for information as regards delegated business and for approval as appropriate, the Minutes of Meetings of Committees contained in Volume circulated separately as undernoted:-

Badenoch and Strathspey Area Committee -3 November 2025
Caithness Committee - 3 November 2025
Wester Ross, Strathpeffer & Lochalsh Committee - 3 November 2025
Housing and Property Committee - 5 November 2025
*Climate Change Committee - 5 November 2025

Starred Item as follows:- 

Item 4i Net Zero Programme Update – iii. AGREED TO RECOMMEND to the Council the approval of the project brief templates in Appendix 2 of the report for inclusion in the Council’s Net Zero Programme.

Item 5 Annual Report under the Public Bodies Climate Change Duties 2024/25 – AGREED TO RECOMMEND to the Council that the current carbon reduction targets be maintained until the evaluation of the carbon budgeting and analysis tools was complete. This would ensure future targets were informed by robust, data-led evidence, accurately reflecting the full impact of operational activities and avoiding the risk of setting unrealistic targets that could undermine engagement and progress toward Net Zero.

Item 6 Climate Change Impact Assessment Update - AGREED TO RECOMMEND to the Council the approval of the project brief template in Appendix 2 of the report for inclusion in the Council’s Net Zero Programme.

Climate Change Committee | The Highland Council
        
Communities and Place Committee - 6 November 2025
*Black Isle and Easter Ross Committee - 10 November 2025

Starred Item as follows:-

Item 7.b Rosemarkie Caravan Park - AGREED TO RECOMMEND to Full Council (see section 8 of the report) that the proposal should be APPROVED subject to Sheriff Court consent.

Black Isle and Easter Ross Area Committee | The Highland Council
        
*Lochaber Area Committee - 10 November 2025    

Starred Item as follows:-

Item 12 Notice of Motion

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.

Lochaber Committee | The Highland Council
        
Health, Social Care and Wellbeing Committee - 12 November 2025
Audit Committee - 12 November 2025
*Economy and Infrastructure Committee - 13 November 2025

Starred Item as follows:-

Item 7 Masterplan Consent Areas: Potential Sites

iii. AGREED 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.  AGREED 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.   AGREED 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.

Item 15 Appointment to Outside Bodies

HITRANS Tier 1 Ferry Users Consultation Groups

AGREED TO RECOMMEND  the following Members be appointed 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 – Mr T MacLennan;
ii.  Lochaber and Skye Group – covering the Small Isles, Mallaig, Armadale, Raasay, Kilchoan and Lochaline – Ms C Gillies ; and 
iii. Hebrides Group – covering Barra, North and South Uist, Harris, Lewis and links to Skye – Ms C Gillies.

Membership of the Harbours Management Board

AGREED TO RECOMMEND Mr R Cross be appointed as a member of the Harbours Management Board.

Economy and Infrastructure Committee | The Highland Council
        
City of Inverness Area Committee - 17 November 2025
Education Committee - 19 November 2025
Corporate Resources Committee - 20 November 2025
Nairnshire Committee - 24 November 2025
Dingwall, Seaforth Committee -27 November 2025
Isle of Skye and Raasay Committee - 1 December 2025
Sutherland County Committee - 1 December 2025
Pensions Committee (Special) - 5 December 2025

Minutes of Meetings not included in the Volume are as follows:-    

i. Community Planning Board – for noting – held on 19 September 2025 (approved by the Board on 5 December 2025); and
ii. Redesign Board – for approval – held on 20 November 2025 .

17. Question Time - Booklet A
Àm Ceiste 

There is circulated separately in Booklet A Public and Members Questions received by the Chief Officer - Legal and Corporate Governance.  

For Member Questions, one supplementary question will be allowed in each case which will be answered by the recipient of the original question.

18. Notices of Motion - Booklet A
Brathan Gluasaid 

There is circulated separately in Booklet A Notices of Motion received by the Chief Officer - Legal and Corporate Governance.