Agenda
Read the Agenda
A meeting of the Highland Council will be held in the Council Chamber, Council Headquarters, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness on Thursday 14 May 2026 at 9.35am.
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. Operational Delivery Plan Annual Progress Report 2025/26
Aithisg Adhartais Bhliadhnail Plana an Lìbhrigidh Obrachail
There is circulated Report No. HC/11/26 by the Chief Executive.
The Council is asked to:-
i. scrutinise the report and approve the progress of the Operational Delivery Plan;
ii. approve the adjustments to the Operational Delivery Plan which are provided through section 9 of the report and Appendix 4 to the report;
iii. approve the reporting schedule for 26/27 at Appendix 5 to the report; and
iv. note that project reports will continue to be submitted to strategic committees for scrutiny.
4. Highland Housing Challenge - Update
Dùbhlan Taigheadais na Gàidhealtachd - Fios às Ùr
There is circulated Report No. HC/12/26 by the Assistant Chief Executive – Place.
The Council is asked to:-
I. agree the Empty Homes Challenge Fund, as set out at section 6 and appendices 2 and 3 of the report, for implementation by end May 2026;
ii. agree the approach being developed and progress made to develop Highland Mid-Market Homes and that a further report will be brought to Committee before the end of the calendar year, outlining the final proposed structure, governance arrangements and financial model, with a view to establishing Highland Mid-Market Homes as an Arms-Length Organisation for implementation in April 2027;
iii. note the results of the initial public engagement phase of the Masterplan consent areas at Appendix 5 to the report and that in response to the representations received, that the scale of each development proposal has been reduced and amended as defined at Appendix 6 to the report;
iv. agree to progress a Proposed Masterplan Consent Area Scheme (PMCAS) for each of the three MCA sites;
v. agree that each PMCAS be led by the Council but co-authored by the respective developer partner and representatives of the relevant, local community;
vi. note the updates outlined in section 9 of the report and detailed within Appendix 7 to the report, against the Highland Housing Challenge Partnership Action Plan; and
vii. agree a Round Table will be held with developers before the end of June 2026, to discuss opportunities to accelerate development in the Highlands.
5. Exclusion of the Public
Às-dùnadh a’ Phobaill
The Council 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 Items 6 and 7 only on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 6 and 9 of Part 1 of Schedule 7A of the Act.
6. Public Transport Proposal
Moladh Còmhdhail Phoblaich
There is circulated to Members only Confidential Report No. HC/13/26 by the Assistant Chief Executive – Place.
The Council is invited to agree the recommendations as set out in the report.
7. Bus Operating Model
Modail Obrach Bhusaichean
There is circulated to Members only Confidential Report No. HC/14/26 by the Assistant Chief Executive – Place.
The Council is invited to agree the recommendations as set out in the report.
8. UK City of Culture Bid 2029
Cultar Cathair-Bhaile na RA 2029
There is circulated Report No. HC/15/26 by the Assistant Chief Executive – Place.
The Council is asked to:-
i. note the update on the UK City of Culture 2029 application process and timetable;
ii. note that the Highland Council will act as Lead Partner and Accountable Body for the bid;
iii. note the appointment of a Bid Director under an exemption to Contract Standing Order 3.10, as set out in Paragraph 9.4 of the report;
iv. agree that a Cultural Assembly is convened in early summer 2026 as part of the preparation of the full UK City of Culture 2029 application;
v. agree that authority is delegated to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Convener, Leader and Leader of the Opposition of the Council, to undertake the actions required to implement and progress delivery of the Inverness-Highland UK City of Culture 2029 bid. This would include (but are not limited to):-
a. appointment of any additional external support to prepare the bid;
b. establish appropriate governance arrangements;
c. approval of expenditure relating to the development of the bid; and
d. submission of final application.
9. Timetable of Meetings
Clàr-ama Choinneamhan
The Council is asked to agree that the:-
i. Badenoch and Strathspey Area Committee, due to be held on 3 August 2026, be rescheduled to 31 August 2026; and
ii. Joint meetings of the North and South Planning Applications Committee be held on 9 and 10 September 2026.
10. Membership of Committees, etc
Ballrachd air Comataidhean, msaa
The Council is asked to agree the appointment of:-
i. Mr K Rosie to the Planning Review Body; and
ii. Mrs M Reid to the Inverness Cromarty Firth Green Free Port.
11. Deeds Executed
Sgrìobhainnean Lagha a Bhuilicheadh
There is circulated for noting a list of deeds and other documents executed on behalf of the Council since the meeting held on 26 March 2026.
12. Confirmation of Minutes
Daingneachadh a’ Gheàrr-chunntais
There are submitted for confirmation as a correct record the Minutes of Meeting of the Council held on 26 March 2026 as contained in the Volume which has been circulated separately.
13. Minutes of Meetings of Committees
Geàrr-chunntasan Choinneamhan Chomataidhean
There are submitted for confirmation as correct records, for information as regards delegated business and for approval as appropriate, the Minutes of Meetings of Committees contained in Volume circulated separately as undernoted:-
Meeting Date
Badenoch and Strathspey Area Committee 27 April 2026
Caithness Committee 27 April 2026
Wester Ross, Strathpeffer & Lochalsh Committee 27 April 2026
Minutes of Meetings not included in the Volume are as follows:-
i. Highland and Western Isles Valuation Joint Board – for noting – held on 16 December 2025 (approved by the Board on 17 March 2026).
14. Question Time
Àm Ceiste
There is circulated separately in Booklet A Member Questions received by the Chief Officer - Legal and Corporate Governance.
For Member Questions, one supplementary question will be allowed in each case which will be answered by the recipient of the original question.
15. Notices of Motion
Brathan Gluasaid
There is circulated separately, in Booklet A, Notices of Motion received by the Chief Officer - Legal and Corporate Governance.