Agendas, reports and minutes

Dear Member

A meeting of the Economy and Infrastructure Committee will take place in the Council Chamber, Council Headquarters, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness on
Thursday, 12 February 2026 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. Short Term Let Control Area
Sgìre Smachd Màil Gheàrr-ùine

There is circulated Report No. ECI/01/26 by the Assistant Chief Executive - Place.

The Committee is invited to:-

I.   note that the Area Committees of Lochaber, Sutherland, City of Inverness Area, Skye and Raasay and Wester Ross, Strathpeffer and Lochalsh have agreed to continue the process of considering designating Short Term Let Control Area covering all or part of their area;
ii.  note that the process of designating further Short Term Let Control Areas requires consultation on the Planning Authority’s statement of reasons, and that in Inverness City, Short Term Lets display different characteristics and present different issues relative to those in rural areas, which warrants consultation on a different statement of reasons;
iii. agree that officers undertake the Short Term Let Control Area consultation for two distinct Short Term Let Control Areas as shown within Appendix 2 of the report, one corresponding to Inverness City, and one for the wider rural areas within Lochaber, Sutherland, Skye and Raasay, Wester Ross, Strathpeffer and Lochalsh, and Inverness-shire; 
iv.  agree that progressing with consideration of a STLCA enables communities within the area to participate in that consultation; and
v.   agree that following consultation as specified in recommendation number iii., officers bring back a further report to Committee, summarising the feedback so that Members can decide whether to continue with submission to Scottish Government Ministers.

5. Revenue Budget Monitoring Report for the period Q3 2025/26
Aithisg Sgrùdaidh Buidseat Teachd-a-steach airson na h-ùine R3 2025/26

There is circulated Report No. ECI/02/26 by the Assistant Chief Executive - Place.

The Committee is invited to note the:-

i.   forecast financial position for the year as set out in the report and Appendices 1 and 2 of the report;
ii.  explanations provided for any material variances and actions taken or proposed; and
iii. update provided regarding savings delivery as detailed within Appendix 3 of the report.

6. Capital Monitoring Report Q3 2025/26
Aithisg Sgrùdaidh Calpa R3 2025/26

There is circulated Report No. ECI/03/26 by the Assistant Chief Executive - Place.

The Committee is invited to scrutinise and approve the financial position to 31 December 2025 and note the estimated year end forecast.

7. Roads Capital Allocations
Riarachaidhean Calpa Rathaidean

There is circulated Report No. ECI/04/26 by the Assistant Chief Executive - Place.

The Committee is invited to:-

i.   agree the funding allocations in Table 2 of the report;
ii.  agree the specific projects from the road’s contingency allocation, as detailed in Table 3 of the report;
iii. agree that agreement on additional schemes proposed for funding from the contingency allocation will be delegated to the Assistant Chief Executive - Place, in consultation with the Committee Chair and Vice Chair; and
iv.  note the indicative allocations in Table 4 of the report and agree they will be updated with any adjusted for any carry forwards and using the same methodology as last year, once the Scottish Road Maintenance Condition Survey results are available. 

8. Highland Local Development Plan - Progress Update (Part 2)
Plana Leasachadh Ionadail na Gàidhealtachd – Cunntas Adhartais (Pàirt 2)

There is circulated Report No. ECI/05/26 by the Assistant Chief Executive - Place.

The Committee is invited to:-

i.  note progress on gathering, analysing, and reporting sufficient evidence to produce the new Highland Local Development Plan (HLDP), including ongoing engagement with the public, Scottish Government and other stakeholders;
ii. note the next steps, including requirements for completion of the Evidence Report documentation for approval by Full Council and subsequent submission to Scottish Ministers for independent Gate Check; and
iii. agree the content of the remaining chapters of the Evidence Report as summarised in Section 7 of this report.

9. The Flow Country World Heritage Site – Progress Report
Làrach Dualchas na Cruinne anns na Flobhachan – Aithisg Adhartais

There is circulated Report No. ECI/06/26 by the Assistant Chief Executive - Place.

The Committee is invited to:-

i.  note progress made and future proposals in relation to The Flow Country World Heritage Site; and
ii. agree the proposed timeline for future reports in relation to planning and development within and close to the Site.

10. Local Transport Strategy Delivery Plan
Plana Lìbhrigidh Ro-innleachd Còmhdhalach Ionadail

There is circulated Report No. ECI/07/26 by the Assistant Chief Executive - Place.

The Committee is invited to approve the:-

i.  Local Transport Strategy 2025 – 2035 Delivery Plan; and
ii. Local Transport Strategy 2025 – 2035 Progress Update Template, which includes the Monitoring and Evaluation programme from the LTS.

11. Highland Council – In-house Bus Service    
Comhairle na Gàidhealtachd – Seirbheis Bhusaichean an Ùghdarrais

There is circulated Report No. ECI/08/26 by the Assistant Chief Executive - Place.

The Committee is invited to:-

i.  note the progress of the in-house bus service; and
ii. agree the work to develop a new operating model for Highland Council Bus and Coach services with a report to be brought to the Council meeting May 2026.

12. Seasonal Access Rangers Annual Report 2025
Aithisg Bhliadhnail Maoir-dhùthcha Inntrigidh Ràitheil 2025

There is circulated Report No. ECI/09/26 by the Assistant Chief Executive - Place.

The Committee is invited to:-

i.  note the information provided by the report; and  
ii. agree the Access Ranger Annual Report 2025 for distribution to stakeholders and interested parties.

13. Beinn Tharsuinn Windfarm Community Limited Annual Accounts 2024/25
Cunntasan Bliadhnail Coimhearsnachd Tuathanas-gaoithe na Beinne Tarsainn Earranta 2024/25     

There is circulated Report No. ECI/10/26 by the Assistant Chief Executive - Place.

The Committee is invited to:-

i.   note the activities of Beinn Tharsuinn Windfarm Community Limited;
ii.  agree, on behalf of Highland Council, the Financial Statement of Beinn
Tharsuinn Windfarm Community Limited for year ending 31 March 2025; and
iii. agree to write once again to Scottish Power seeking an uplift in community benefit contribution from this scheme

14. Delivery Plan Budget Monitoring and Progress Update Q3 2025/26 
Sgrùdadh Buidseit is Cunntas Adhartais a’ Phlana Lìbhrigidh R3 2025/26

There is circulated Report No. ECI/11/26 by the Assistant Chief Executive - Place.

The Committee is invited to:-

i.   note the progress provided in the Utility Scale Solar PV Programme and Project for updates in the report;
ii.  approve the closure of the Solar PV Commercial Estate project as recommended by the Net Zero Portfolio Board; and 
iii. note the progress on delivering an Investment Pipeline in compliance with the Council Delivery Plan 2024-2027.  

15. Performance Monitoring Report Q3 2025-26
Aithisg Sgrùdadh Coileanaidh R3 2025–26

There is circulated Report No. ECI/12/26 by the Assistant Chief Executive - Place.

The Committee is invited to:-

i.   scrutinise and agree the Service’s performance information; 
ii.  note the changes to presentation of the Economy and Infrastructure Service data in section 6 of the report in order to more clearly show alignment with Performance Plan commitments; and
iii. note the inclusion of SPI’s out with the Performance Plan to further support transparency and scrutiny of performance reporting.

16. Minutes
Geàrr-chunntas

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

i.   North PAC – 12 September 2025; 
ii.  South PAC – 8 October 2025;
iii. North PAC– 26 November 2025;
iv.  North PAC– 17 December2025;

and, for approval:-

v.    City Region Deal Monitoring Group held on 4 November 2025;
vi.   Harbours Management Board held on 28 November 2025; 
vii.  Community Regeneration Fund Strategic Sub Group held on 20 January 2026; and
viii. Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green Freeport Monitoring Group held on the 23 January 2026.