Agendas, reports and minutes

A meeting of the Communities and Place Committee will take place in the Council Chamber, Council Headquarters, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness on Thursday 29 January 2026 at 9.30 am.

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

4. Police Performance Report
Aithisg Coileanaidh Poileis

Under the Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012, the Local Authority has responsibility for monitoring and scrutinising performance of Police Scotland against the Local Policing Plan for their area.  Each Local Plan must be approved by the Local Authority and reviewed every three years.  The current Local Plan was approved by the Committee in May 2023.

There is circulated Report No CP/01/26 by the Divisional Commander, Police Scotland.

The Committee is invited to scrutinise and note progress made against the objectives set within the Highland Local Policing Plan 2023–2026 Year 1, attached as Annex A to the report, for the period covering 1 April 2025 to 31 December 2025.
 

5. Revenue Budget Monitoring Report to 30 November 2025    
Aithisg Sgrùdaidh Buidseat Teachd-a-steach gu 30 Samhain 2025

There is circulated Report No CP/02/26 by the Assistant Chief Executive – Place.

The Committee is invited to:-

i.   scrutinise and approve the current financial position for Quarter 3 2025/26 as set out in the report and Appendices 1 and 2 of the report;
ii.  scrutinise and approve the forecast financial position for 2025/26 as set out in the report and Appendices 1 and 2 of the report;
iii. consider and note the explanations provided for any material variances and actions taken or proposed; and
iv.  consider and note the update provided regarding savings delivery.

6. Capital Budget Monitoring Report for the period Q3 2025/26    
Aithisg Sgrùdaidh Buidseat Calpa airson na h-ùine R3 2025/26

There is circulated Report No CP/03/26 by the Assistant Chief Executive – Place.

The Committee is invited to:- 

i.  scrutinise and approve the forecast financial position for the year 2025/26 as set out in the report and Appendix 1 of the report; and
ii. consider and note the explanations provided for any material variances and actions taken or proposed.

7. Environmental Health – Contaminated Land Strategy Review    
Slàinte Àrainneachdail – Ath-sgrùdadh Ro-innleachd Talaimh Thruaillte 

There is circulated Report No CP/04/26 by the Assistant Chief Executive – Place.

The Committee is invited to:-

i.  note the work being carried out by the Council to meet its statutory obligations under Part IIA of the Environmental Protection Act; and
ii. approve the revised Strategy for the Inspection of Contaminated Land.

8. Performance Reporting for Q3 October 2025 to December 2025    
Aithris Coileanaidh airson R3 Dàmhair 2025 gu Dùbhlachd 2025

There is circulated Report No CP/05/26 by the Assistant Chief Executive – Place.

The Committee is invited to:-

i.   scrutinise and note the Service’s performance information;
ii.  note the changes to presentation of the Communities and Place Service data in sections 6 of the report in order to more clearly show alignment with Performance Plan commitments; and
iii. note the inclusion of Statutory Performance Indicators outwith the Performance Plan to further support transparency and scrutiny of performance reporting.

9. Bereavement Services Report     
Aithisg Seirbheisean Bàis

There is circulated Report No CP/06/26 by the Assistant Chief Executive – Place.

The Committee is invited to note:-

i.  the progress of current projects on the burial ground extension programme; and
ii. the progress of the Inverness Crematorium refurbishment project.