28 May 2026: Economy and Infrastructure Committee

A meeting of the Economy and Infrastructure Committee will take place in the Council Chamber, Council Headquarters, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness on Thursday, 28 May 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. Developer Contributions
Tabhartasan Luchd-leasachaidh

There is circulated Report No. ECI/13/26 by the Assistant Chief Executive - Place.

The Committee is invited to:-

i.   note the updated explanation of how developer contributions operate, including the policy basis and requirements;
ii.  note alignment with National Planning Framework 4 and the Council’s adopted Supplementary Guidance;
iii. note the current balances of all active Developer Contribution pots for information; 
iv.  note Developer Contribution drawdowns during the 2025/26 financial year; and 
v.   agree that an update report is brought back to Committee as soon as practicable following the end of the 2026/27 financial year.

5. Flow Country World Heritage Site – Article 4 Direction    
Làrach Dualchas na Cruinne anns na Flobhachan – Stiùireadh Alt 4 

There is circulated Report No. ECI/14/26 by the Assistant Chief Executive - Place.

The Committee is invited to agree:-

i.  that the proposed Article 4 Direction, to be made under the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (Scotland) Order 1992 as amended, will cover the whole of the area within the boundary of The Flow Country World Heritage Site;
ii.  to the extended list of Classes of Permitted Development proposed to be removed by the Article 4 Direction, being Classes 8, 14, 15, 18A, 19, 20, 22, 22A, 22B, 27, 38, 39, 40, 53, 54, 55 and 67 of Schedule 1 of the Order;
iii. that officers collate the documentation for the proposed Article 4 Direction and statement of the planning authority’s reasons for making the Direction, in line with the report, and submit those documents to Scottish Ministers for approval; and 
iv.  that subject to gaining Scottish Ministers’ approval of the proposed Article 4 Direction (with or without modifications), officers undertake the subsequent administrative steps required to implement it.

6. Play Sufficiency Assessment – Consultation Outcomes
Measadh Foghantas Cluiche – Builean Co-chomhairleachaidh 

There is circulated Report No. ECI/15/26 by the Assistant Chief Executive - Place.

The Committee is invited to:-

vi.    approve the finalised PSA Report in Appendix 2 of the report, noting the changes incorporated in the PSA Report and associated Map following public consultation as summarised in Section 7 of the report;
vii.    agree that the finalised PSA along with the consultation feedback will be available as part of the evidence to inform future budgeting, funding bids and investment decisions in the context of Council’s Play Park Strategy; and 
viii.    note that, following approval, the finalised PSA Report will be submitted to the Directorate for Planning and Environmental Appeals (DPEA) as part of the submission of the Evidence Report for Gate Check and will be used to inform the preparation of the Highland Local Development Plan (HLDP).

7. Public Transport Strategy
Ro-innleachd Còmhdhalach Poblaich

There is circulated Report No. ECI/16/26 by the Assistant Chief Executive - Place.

The Committee is invited to:-

i.   approve the draft Public Transport Strategy attached within Appendix 2 of the report, for consultation;
ii.  note that within the overall draft strategy, work is proceeding to develop sub-strategies for community transport and public transport information;
iii. agree that bids for community transport grants for the three years commencing in April 2027 be invited, and recommendations for award made to the Committee in November 2026; and 
iv.  agree that a timescale for public and school transport contract renewal is developed, with existing contracts being extended in some areas where achievable, to create a more phased renewal programme.

8. Nature Restoration Fund
Maoin Ath-stèidheachadh Nàdair

There is circulated Report No. ECI/17/26 by the Assistant Chief Executive - Place.

The Committee is invited to:-

i.    note allocation and spend progress to date;
ii.    agree to continue to use existing allocation and governance structures for any future allocation(s);
iii.    agree to target funds to in-house council projects if NRF allocation is significantly reduced; and 
iv.    agree to continue to delegate decision making to the Assistant Chief Executive – Place in consultation with the Chair of this Committee.

9. Ardersier Local Nature Reserve Declaration
Dearbhadh Tèarmann Nàdair Ionadail Àird nan Saor
 
There is circulated Report No. ECI/18/26 by the Assistant Chief Executive - Place.

The Committee is invited to agree:-

I.  that the proposed area shown in Appendix 2 of the report be declared the Ardersier Common Local Nature Reserve; and 
ii. to delegate authority to the Assistant Chief Executive – Place, in consultation with the Chair and Vice Chair of this Committee, to conclude, and thereafter declare in pursuance of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949 the area to be managed as a Local Nature Reserve.

10. UK Shared Prosperity Fund – Delivery Plan Update
Maoin Soirbheachais Cho-roinnte na Ra – Cunntas mun Phlana Lìbhrigidh 

There is circulated Report No. ECI/19/26 by the Assistant Chief Executive - Place.

The Committee is invited to note the 2025/26 UKSPF Delivery Plan progress.

11. Dark Skies Draft Planning Policy
Dreachd Phoileasaidh Dealbhachaidh nan Iarmailtean Dorcha 

There is circulated Report No. ECI20/26 by the Assistant Chief Executive - Place.

The Committee is invited to:-

I.   note the benefits of reducing light pollution outlined in section 5 of the report;
ii.  note the practicalities of achieving such a reduction and the range of policy and guidance options available to the Council as outlined in section 6 of the report; and 
iii. agree that officers formulate and consult on a specific light pollution reduction policy within the new Highland Local Development Plan and that interim technical guidance be brought to this committee for approval before the end of this calendar year.

12. Community Regeneration Fund – Allocation of HCCF Tranche 7 and CRF Review 
Maoin Ath-nuadhachadh Coimhearsnachd – Riarachadh Earrainn 7 HCCF agus Aithisg Ath-sgrùdaidh CRF

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

The Committee is invited to:-

i.  consider and agree the Scottish Crown Estate Net Revenue allocation to local area committees as set out within Appendix 1 of the report; and
ii. note the CRF Brochure attached within Appendix 2 and the full list of funded projects within Appendix 3 of the report.

13.Strategic Tourism Infrastructure Development Plan – Update and Amendment Report
Plana Leasachaidh Bun-structair Turasachd Ro-innleachdail – Aithisg Ùrachaidh is Atharrachaidh 

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

The Committee is invited to:-

I.   note the positive progress being made in delivering the Strategic Tourism Infrastructure Development Plan (STIDP) and in securing Rural Tourism Infrastructure Fund support for vital projects across the Highland area; 
ii.  agree to the following amendments to the STIDP:-
a. Reclassification of Whaligoe Steps to a ‘Tier 1’ project and the creation of a corresponding ‘hotspot’, as set out in Section 6 and Appendix 1 of the report; and 
b. Slight eastern expansion of ‘Hotspot 1: Glen Etive & Glencoe’ and the identification of an additional Tier 1 project at the Devil’s Staircase (Altnafeadh, Glencoe), as set out in Section 6 and Appendix 1 of the report; and 
iii. note the intent to develop a Sustainable Tourism Strategy Delivery Programme, which will incorporate the revised content of the Strategic Tourism Infrastructure Development Plan (STIDP) and, in due course, supersede it.

14. Place Cluster Workforce Plan Annual Progress Report
Aithisg Adhartais Bhliadhnail Plana Feachd-obrach na Buidhne Àite 

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

The Committee is invited to note the Place Cluster workforce planning progress report.

15. Delivery Plan Budget Monitoring and Progress Update – My Highland ( Future Reconfiguring our Asset Base and Net Zero, Energy Investment and innovation – Q4 2025/26)
Sgrùdadh Buidseit agus Cunntas air Adhartas a’ Phlana Lìbhrigidh – M’ Am Ri Teachd  anns à  Ghàidhealtachd

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

The Committee is invited to scrutinise and note the Delivery Project updates provided in this report.

16. Performance Monitoring Report Q4 2025/26
Aithisg Sgrùdadh Coileanaidh R4 2025/26

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

The Committee is invited to:-

i.    scrutinise and note the service performance information; and 
ii.    note the change to Freedom of Information reporting to align with Chief Officer structure

17. Minutes 
Geàrr-chunntas

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

i.   South PAC – 3 December 2025;
ii.  South PAC – 18 December 2025;
iii. North PAC – 21 January 2026; 
iv.  South PAC – 5 February 2026;
v.   South PAC – 18 February 2026;
vi.  North PAC – 11 March 2026;
vii. South PAC – 1 April 2026;

and, for approval:-

viii. City Region Deal Monitoring Group held on 3 February 2026;
ix.   Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green Freeport Monitoring Group held on the 2 April 2026; and
x.    Harbours Management Board held on 22 May 2026. (To Follow)