11 May 2026: Lochaber Committee

A meeting of the Lochaber Committee will take place remotely on Monday, 11 May, 2026 at 10.30 a.m. 

Recording Notice: Please note this meeting will be recorded and uploaded to the Council’s YouTube channel.

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 & Corporate Governance

BUSINESS

1. Apologies for Absence/ 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. Police Scotland Local Committee Performance Report/ Aithisg Choileanaidh Comataidh Ionadail Poileas Alba

There is circulated Report No LA/19/26 by the Area Commander, Police Scotland.

The Committee is invited to note progress made against the objectives set within the Highland Local Policing Plan 2023–2026 Year 1 attached as Annex A to this report, for the period covering 01 April 2025 – 31 March 2026.

4. Fort William Common Good Fund - 2024/25 Annual Accounts and 2026/27 Proposed Budget/ Aithisg Sgrùdaidh Maoin Math Coitcheann a’ Ghearasdain

There is circulated Report No. LA/20/26 by the Assistant Chief Executive Place. 

Members are asked to:

i. consider and agree the FWCGF Statement of Accounts (Appendix 1) for 2024/25; and 

ii. approve the proposed budget for 2026/27 as set out in Appendix 2.

5. Community Regeneration Fund Assessment of Applications/ Measadh Iarrtasan Maoin Ath-bheòthachadh Coimhearsnachd

There is circulated Report No. LA/21/26 by the Assistant Chief Executive Place. 

Members are asked to:-

i. note  the Community Regeneration Funds currently available in Lochaber;

ii. consider the applications presented and agree whether to approve, defer or reject the application.  An approval of funding should detail the amount approved and outline any conditions of funding that Members wish to attach to the approval over and above the required technical conditions.  A deferral would allow the applicant to resubmit the current application at a future date with updated information or for the project to be approved subject to further funding becoming available.  A rejection would mean that the application will not proceed and any future application to the fund should be brought forward initially as a new expression of interest; and

iii. agree the approved CRF grant awards, subject to any conditions, for the applications up to the value of £231,558.89.

6. Lochaber Off-Street Parking Place Order Consideration of Objections

There is circulated Report No. LA/22/26 by the Assistant Chief Executive Place. 

Members are asked to:-

i. note the locations of the car parks in the proposed Variation Four Order;

ii. note the intention to remove West Bay, Mallaig (CP0089) car park from the Order;

iii. consider the impact assessment in Appendix 1;

iv. consider the outstanding objections received to The Highland Council (Off Street Parking Places) (Decriminalised Parking Enforcement and Consolidation) Variation Four Order 2025; and 

v. subject to 2.1 i-iv), Approve the making of the Parking Place Order.

7. Area Roads Capital Programme 2025/26 Update/ Prògram Calpa Rathaidean na Sgìre 2025/26

There is circulated Report No. LA/23/26 by the Assistant Chief Executive Place. 

Members are asked to:-

i. note the final budget allocation for Lochaber area for 2025/26;

ii. note the works completed on the approved list to date; and

iii. approve the additional works as completed which were identified and prioritised throughout the year.

8. Corran Ferry Update/ Cunntas air Aiseag a’ Chorrain

There is circulated Report No. LA/24/26 by the Assistant Chief Executive Place.

Members are asked to note the:-

i. Corran Ferry Infrastructure Improvement Scheme (CFIIS) & Corran Ferry New Electric Vessel (CFNEV) updates; and

ii. Corran Ferry Service update.

9. Housing Management Performance Report/  Aithisg Choileanaidh Càraidhean Thaighean

There is circulated Report No. LA/25/26 by the Assistant Chief Executive Place.

Members are asked to note the information provided on housing performance in the period 1 April 2025 – 31 March 2026.

10. Environmental Health - Annual Report & Activity 2025/26

There is circulated Report No. LA/26/26 by the Assistant Chief Executive Place. 

Members are asked to note and provide any feedback on:-

i. the scope and volume of work currently being delivered in the local area;

ii. local issues and current operational priorities;

iii. Highland wide issues impacting Environmental Health services; and

iv. the format and content of the report.

11. Ward Discretionary Fund 2025/26/ Buidseat fo Ùghdarras Uàird

The Committee is invited to note the following Ward Discretionary Fund grant awards since the last Committee meeting:-

Ward 11

HLH - Countryside Rangers - Dùthchas project - £900 

Loch Sheil Festival - Loch Sheil Festival "Shielings" - £510.92

Ward 21

HLH - Countryside Rangers - Dùthchas project - £900 

Nether Lochaber Community Council – Defibrillator - £1,000 

URRAM - Ev Charge point - £400 

Loch Sheil Festival - Loch Sheil Festival "Shielings" - £439.08 

Buzz project - venue costs Youth Drop in sessions - £1,000 

Island Park Group – Kinlochleven Gala Day - £1,185

Ewens Room - Wellbeing Explorers - £1,539.89

A full list of Ward Discretionary Budget awards for 2025/26 is available at:

https://www.highland.gov.uk/downloads/download/421/ward-discretionary-budgets-and-spend

12. Minutes/Geàrr-chunntas

There is circulated for information, Minutes of Meeting of the Lochaber Committee held on 26 January, 2026 which were approved by the Council on 26 March, 2026.