Agenda
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A meeting of the Corporate Resources Committee will take place in the Council Chamber, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness on Thursday 19 March 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
The Committee is invited to note the good news as presented.
4. Appointment to Sub-Committees, Working Groups, etc
Cur an Dreuchd gu Fo-Chomataidhean, Buidhnean-obrach is eile
The Committee is asked to agree the revised membership of the Appeals and Disputes Committee the details of which will be tabled at the meeting.
5. Corporate Revenue and Capital Monitoring Report to 31 December 2025
Aithisg Teachd-a-steach Corporra agus Sgrùdadh Calpa gu 31 Dùbhlachd 2025
a. Corporate Revenue Monitoring to 31 December 2025
Sgrùdadh Teachd-a-steach Corporra gu 31 Dùbhlachd 2025
There is circulated Report No RES/01/26 by the Chief Officer - Corporate Finance.
The Committee is invited to:-
i. consider the forecast financial position for the year as set out in the report and appendices attached;
ii. consider the explanations provided for any material variances and actions taken or proposed;
iii. note the improvement in the forecast from Quarter 2 to Quarter 3;
iv. note the further adjustments and forecasts relating to 2025/26, arising as a result of budget decisions made by the Council on 5 March 2026;
v. consider the update provided regarding savings delivery; and
vi. agree to the one-off under-write of the Inverness Castle Experience year one (part year) costs as set out within the report, consisting of pre-opening costs, setup costs and initial off-peak opening period net costs.
b. Corporate Capital Monitoring Report to 31 December 2025
Aithisg Sgrùdadh Calpa Corporra gu 31 Dùbhlachd 2025
There is circulated Report No RES/02/26 by the Chief Officer - Corporate Finance.
The Committee is invited to scrutinise and consider the net spend for Q3 2025/26, the forecast year end outturn and the funding profile.
6. Treasury Management – Summary of Transactions to 31 December 2025
Rianachd Ionmhais – Geàrr-chunntas Ghnothaichean gu 31 Dùbhlachd 2025
There is circulated Report No RES/03/26 by the Chief Officer - Corporate Finance.
The Committee is invited to consider and note the Treasury Management - Summary of Transactions report for the period from 1 October 2025 to 31 December 2025.
7. Corporate Cluster Service Q3 2025-26
Seirbheis nam Buidhnean Corporra R3 2025–26
a. Revenue Budget Monitoring and Forecast Report
Aithisg Sgrùdadh Buidseat Teachd-a-steach agus Ro-aithris
There is circulated Report No RES/04/26 by the Assistant Chief Executive - Corporate.
The Committee is invited to:-
i. scrutinise and approve the forecast financial position for 2025/26 as set out in the report and Appendix 1 to the report;
ii. consider and note the explanations provided for any material variances and actions taken or proposed; and
iii. consider and note the update provided regarding savings delivery.
b. Performance Monitoring Q3 2025/26
Sgrùdadh Coileanaidh R3 2025/26
There is circulated Report No RES/05/26 by the Assistant Chief Executive - Corporate.
The Committee is invited to note the:-
i. performance information for the Corporate Cluster;
ii. change to absence reporting to align with Chief Officer structure;
iii. changes to presentation of Corporate Cluster data in sections 6-8 of the report in order to more clearly show alignment between Performance Indicators and Performance Plan commitments; and
iv. inclusion of SPI’s out with the Performance Plan to further support transparency and scrutiny of performance reporting.
8. Additional Bank Holiday
Saor-latha Banca a Bharrachd
There is circulated Report No RES/06/26 by the Assistant Chief Executive -Corporate.
The Committee is invited to approve option 2:
i. Monday 15 June 2026 is not granted as a bank holiday and services will continue to operate as a standard working day;
ii. Leave requests, where appropriate, be requested for 15 June 2026 following the standard process and granted on the basis there is a level of staffing which will maintain a safe service delivery. Leave will not apply to staff working in schools.
iii. Unauthorised absences will be dealt with through the normal disciplinary procedure.
9. Corporate Occupational Health, Safety, Welfare and Wellbeing Policy
Poileasaidh Slàinte, Sàbhailteachd, Sochair is Sunnd Dreuchdail Corporra
There is circulated Report No RES/07/26 by the Assistant Chief Executive -Corporate.
The Committee is invited to approve the Corporate Occupational Health, Safety, Welfare and Wellbeing Policy.
10. Smoke Free Workplace Policy
Poileasaidh Àite-obrach Saor o Smocadh
There is circulated Report No RES/08/26 by the Assistant Chief Executive -Corporate.
The Committee is invited to approve the Smoke Free Workplace Policy.
11. Secondment Policy and Guidance
Poileasaidh agus Stiùireadh Fo-fhastaidh
There is circulated Report No RES/09/26 by the Assistant Chief Executive -Corporate.
The Committee is invited to approve the updated Secondment Policy and Guidance.
12. Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy
Poileasaidh Inntinn Fhuadain
There is circulated Report No RES/10/26 by the Assistant Chief Executive -Corporate.
The Committee is invited to:-
i. approve the Artificial Intelligence Policy; and
ii. note the supporting guidance and templates provided in the report.
13. Future Operating Model Programme: Progress Update
Prògram Modail Obrachaidh an Ama ri Teachd: Cunntas air Adhartas
There is circulated Report No RES/11/26 by the Assistant Chief Executive -Corporate.
The Committee is invited to:-
i. note the progress to date;
ii. agree the next steps to be delivered by the Programme (as outlined at Section 7 of the report); and
iii. agree that progress reports will be presented to each Corporate Resources Committee unless / until Members of this Committee agree otherwise.
14. Investors in People Programme Update
Cunntas air Prògram Creideas nar Cosnaichean
There is circulated Report No RES/12/26 by the Assistant Chief Executive -Corporate.
The Committee is invited to note the progress of the Investors in People programme.
15. Insurance Arrangements
Ullachaidhean Àrachais
There is circulated Report No RES/13/26 by the Assistant Chief Executive -Corporate.
The Committee is invited to:-
i. scrutinise and consider the report;
ii. agree the future activities as set out at Section 9 of the report; and
iii. note that annual reports on Insurance will be presented to this Committee.
16. ICT Annual User Satisfaction Survey 2025-26
Suirbhidh Bhliadhnail Riarachas Luchd-cleachdaidh ICT 2025–26
There is circulated Report No RES/14/26 by the Assistant Chief Executive -Corporate.
The Committee is invited to note:-
i. the results of the 2025/26 survey, including at Section 7 of the report details of the key areas of strength and improvement opportunities; and
ii. that the scores remain positive overall and that the findings will be shared with Council Services, High Life Highland and the Valuation Joint Board to support collaborative service improvement planning.
17. Corporate Systems Update – HR & Payroll Programme
Cunntas air Siostaman Corporra – Prògram Ghoireasan Daonna & Rola Pàighidh
There is circulated Report No RES/15/26 by the Assistant Chief Executive -Corporate.
The Committee is invited to note the:-
i. updates and progress of the HR & Payroll Programme; and
ii. integrated impact assessment summary provided in section 4.5 of the report.
18. Delivery Plan Budget Monitoring & Progress Update
Sgrùdadh Buidseit & Cunntas air Adhartas a’ Phlana Lìbhrigidh
a. Corporate Solutions – Q3 25/26
Fuasglaidhean Corporra – R3 25/26
There is circulated Report No RES/16/26 by the Assistant Chief Executive -Corporate.
The Committee is invited to note the:-
i. progress on the projects covered in the report; and
ii. completion of the Service Improvement Solutions project.
b. Income Generation
Togail Teachd-a-steach
There is circulated Report No RES/17/26 by the Assistant Chief Executive -Corporate.
The Committee is invited to scrutinise and note the progress of each of the Income Generation Projects.
19. Minutes of Meetings
Geàrr-chunntasan Choinneamhan
The following Minutes of Meetings are circulated for:-
i. approval - Central Safety Committee held on 15 December 2025 and 9 March 2026;
ii. noting – Appeals and Disputes Sub-Committee held on 23 February 2026;
iii. approval - Staff Partnership Forum held on 26 February 2026; and
iv. noting – Non Domestic Rates Appeals Committee held on 27 February 2026.
20. Exclusion of the Public
Às-dùnadh a’ Phobaill
The Committee is asked to resolve that, under Section 50A(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, the public should be excluded from the meeting for the following item on the grounds that it involves the likely
disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 6 of Part 1 of Schedule 7A of the Act.
21. Sundry Debts
Fiachan Measgaichte
There is circulated Report No RES/18/26 by the Assistant Chief Executive - Corporate.
The Committee is asked to agree the recommendations as set out in the report.