Agendas, reports and minutes

A meeting of the Gaelic Committee will take place in the Council Chamber, Council Headquarters, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness on Wednesday, 25 February 2026 at 2pm.

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

2. Declarations of Interest/Transparency Statement

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

The Committee is asked to note the good news as presented.

4. BLAS 2025 Events and Economic, Linguistical and Cultural Impact

There is circulated Report No. G/1/26 by the Assistant Chief Executive – People and there will be a presentation by Mr Calum Alex Macmillan, Chief Executive, Fèisean nan Gàidheal.

The Committee is invited to:-

i. agree the continuation of annual funding for the BLAS festival, noting that all future allocations remain subject to the Council’s annual budget review and external funding constraints;
ii. note that the festival’s ability to secure external funding is dependent on The Highland Council providing ongoing annual support. Any reduction or withdrawal of this funding would place the wider funding package at risk;
iii. agree to support work on community ownership of Blas with the local promoters and revenue sharing to boost local engagement;
iv. agree to encourage that Fèisean nan Gàidheal (FnanG) undertake research with their network of promoters to ensure that the promoters have a voice in the programming;
v. agree to continue to enhance the metrics for economic impact and Gaelic-language indicators in line with the outcomes of the Gaelic Language Plan;
vi. agree to continue to strengthen the links between The Highland Council and the Blas Festival organisers for 2026 event;
vii. note the work undertaken by FnanG, and An Comunn Gàidhealach with support from Highland Council and Bòrd na Gàidhlig regarding Mòd Academy which took place in Schools across the Lochaber Area in the lead up to the Lochaber Mòd. (Appendix 1); and
viii. agree that the Mòd Academy initiative forms part of the Mòd Loch Abar 2025 legacy project.

5. Economic, Linguistic and Cultural Benefits of the Lochaber Royal National Mòd 2025

There is circulated Report No. G/2/26 by the Assistant Chief Executive – People and there will be a presentation by Mr James Adam, Director, Tourism Resources Company, on behalf of An Comunn Gàidhealach.

The Committee is invited to:-

i. discuss and note the details included in the presentation and within the report;
ii. note that the 2029 Mòd will take place in the Highland area; and
iii. agree that Officers liaise with An Comunn Gàidhealach Officials to prepare a refreshed Service Delivery Agreement.

6. PRMS Report: Progress against Gaelic Language Plan 2024–29

There is circulated Report No. G/3/26 by the Assistant Chief Executive – People.

The Committee is invited to note the report. 

7. Gaelic Education

There is circulated Report No. G/4/26 by the Assistant Chief Executive – People.

The Committee is invited to note:-

i. the commitment to Gaelic specific Career Long Professional Learning (CLPL) focused workstreams alongside partnership working with Education Scotland, Bòrd na Gàidhlig, and other national bodies to strengthen professional learning pathways, develop high‑quality learning resources, and align work with national Gaelic education priorities;
ii. the positive impact of recent school improvement attainment and achievement focused actions to encourage continued monitoring and evaluation of Gaelic initiatives in schools and their impact and effectiveness; and 
iii. the Scottish Government Gaelic Capital awards and their contribution to improving Gaelic curriculum outcomes for pupils.

8. Internal Gaelic Skills Survey

There is circulated Report No. G/5/26 by the Assistant Chief Executive – People.

The Committee is invited to:-

i. note the findings of the Gaelic Skills Survey;
ii. agree to implement the proposed action plan to address training needs and increase Gaelic visibility in the workplace; and
iii. agree to support the development of flexible and accessible Gaelic learning opportunities for staff.