25 June 2026: Highland Council

A meeting of the Highland Council will be held in the Council Chamber, Council Headquarters, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness on Thursday 25 June 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. Highland Poverty and Equality Commission: Call to Action
Coimisean Bochdainn is Co-ionannachd na Gàidhealtachd: Gairm gu Gnìomh

There will follow Report No. HC/16/26 the Assistant Chief Executive – Place.

4. Annual Accounts for the Year to 31 March 2026 and Revenue Capital Outturn for the Year
Cunntasan Bliadhnail airson na Bliadhna gu 31 Màrt 2026 agus Teachd-a-steach is Calpa Làithreach airson na Bliadhna

There is circulated Report No. HC/17/26 by the Chief Officer – Corporate Finance.

The Council is asked to:-

i. receive and approve for issue the unaudited Annual Accounts for the Highland Council, Highland Council Charitable Trust Funds and the Highland Council Pension Fund for the year ended 31 March 2026 and note that these will be presented to the appointed auditor by the prescribed date of the 30 June 2026;
ii. note the revenue and capital out-turn for the 2025/26 financial year, which are subject to audit, as set out in section 7 and 8 of the report; and
iii. note the budget management and control actions already in place and set out in past reports to Members, and further note the additional actions being implemented by Senior Management in recognition of the need to address financial risks.

5. Highland Investment Plan Update
Plana Tasgaidh na Gàidhealtachd

There is circulated Report No. HC/18/26 by the Assistant Chief Executive – Place.

The Council is asked to consider and approve the:-

i. updated consolidated Highland Investment Plan (HIP) covering five years as set out within Appendix 2 to the report; and 
ii. continuing work on progressing Phase 1 of the HIP and other major projects, conducting place-based reviews and developing masterplans, all as outlined in the report.

6. Highland Wealth Fund
Maoin Saidhbhreis na Gàidhealtachd

There will follow Report No. HC/19/26 by the Assistant Chief Executive – Place. 

7. Visitor Levy Update
Cunntas air Cìs Luchd-tadhail

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

The Council is asked to:-

i. note the passage of the Visitor Levy (Amendment) (Scotland) Act 2026 and that commencement of the new fixed amount powers is anticipated to be 22 July 2026.  Other amendments, including those relating to financial returns are anticipated to come into force in September 2026; 
ii. note the summary of the Visitor Levy (Amendment) (Scotland) Act 2026 as set out in section 6 of the report; 
iii. note that the Diffley Partnership, in collaboration with the Fraser of Allander Institute, has been appointed to undertake an Economic Impact Assessment (EIA) on the fixed rate options, with an anticipated completion in autumn 2026.  This EIA will provide comparative data and findings to the EIA previously undertaken by the Diffley Partnership and the Fraser of Allander Institute on a percentage-based levy, which is published on the Council’s website at this link;
iv. note the ongoing engagement with industry representatives to co-design a draft visitor levy scheme for Members’ consideration; 
v. note the briefing held for Members on 8 June 2026 and the broad range of matters discussed including the various options available for setting rates; practical considerations relating to the way in which a levy would operate and impacts on accommodation providers; and use of funds should a visitor levy be implemented; 
vi. agree that officers continue to progress the next phase of work, including engagement and co-production with industry and Members on the development of draft proposals; 
vii. agree that a further report be considered by Members as soon as is practicable following completion of further engagement with industry and Members recommending a proposed Visitor Levy scheme for consultation; and
viii. agree that following consultation, a report be considered by Members as soon as practicable setting out the way forward for Highland.  Should Members agree to implement a visitor levy, the statutory minimum18-month lead-in period would follow. 

8. UK City of Culture Bid 2029 - Update
Cultar Cathair-Bhaile na RA 2029 - Cunntas às Ùr

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

The Council is asked to note the update on the UK City of Culture 2029 bid for Inverness-Highland.

9. Highland Local Development Plan: Evidence Report
Plana Leasachadh Ionadail na Gàidhealtachd: Aithisg Fhianais

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

The Council is asked to:-

i. approve the Evidence Report for the Highland Local Development Plan  (HLDP) as set out at Appendix 1 and summarised at section 6 of the report;
ii. agree that officers undertake the statutory and other procedures required to submit the Evidence Report to Scottish Ministers and to progress it through Gate Check including responding to any factual amendment or other non-material matters requested by the Reporter;
iii. agree that the Assistant Chief Executive - Place, in consultation with the Convener of the Council and the Chair of the Economy and Infrastructure Committee:-
(a) update the Evidence Report to reflect the finalised Housing Need and Demand Assessment and make any other factual or other non-material updates prior to submission to Scottish Ministers;
(b) if necessary, respond to any Further Information Requests issued by the Reporter; and,
(c) if necessary, withdraw, amend and/or resubmit the Evidence Report.
iv. note that the subsequent HLDP preparation stage will include consideration of draft content by relevant Council committees in line with the Scheme of Delegation and that the Proposed Plan will require approval by Full Council before it is published for formal consultation.

10. Eden Court Highlands: Amendments to Memorandum and Articles of Association
Gàidhealtachd Chùirt an Easbaig: Atharrachaidhean dhan Mheòrachan is do na h-Artaigilean Companaidh

There is circulated Report No. HC/23/26 by the Chief Officer – Legal and Corporate Governance.

The Council is asked to agree that the:-

i. Highland Council, as a Member of Eden Court Highlands, approve the amendments to the Company’s Memorandum and Articles of Association as described in Section 5 of the report; and
ii. Chief Executive, or nominee, approve the text of the required Special Resolution and sign this on behalf of the Council.

11. Appointment of Office Bearers
Cur an Dreuchd Luchd-oifis

As Mr R Stewart has stood down as the Vice Chair of the Audit Committee, the Council is invited to appoint a new Vice Chair, usually a non-Administration Member.  The Vice Chair of the Audit Committee also sits on the Inverness and Highland City Region Deal and Inverness and Cromarty Firth Monitoring Groups.

12. Membership of Committees, etc
Ballrachd air Comataidhean, msaa

The Council is asked to agree that Mr B Boyd be replaced on the undernoted committees as follows:-

• Housing and Property Committee – Mrs J Hendry
• Audit Committee – Mrs K MacLean
• Climate Change Committee – Mrs K MacLean
• Redesign Board – (to be tabled)

13. Timetable of Meetings
Clàr-ama Choinneamhan 

The Council is asked to agree that a Special meeting of the Economy and Infrastructure Committee is held on Monday 28 September 2026.

14. 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 14 May 2026.

15. Recess Powers
Cumhachdan Fosaidh

The Council is invited to agree that, during the recess period, powers should be granted to the Chief Executive and Assistant Chief Executives, in consultation with the Convener, Leader of the Council, relevant Committee Chair and the Leader of the Opposition, to deal with issues arising during that time and that a report should be prepared for the first meeting of the Council or relevant Committee following the period where these powers have been exercised.

16. 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 14 May 2026 as contained in the Volume which has been circulated separately.

17. 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:-

*Black Isle and Easter Ross Committee - 11 May 2026

Starred Item as follows:-

Item 9: Common Good Consultation on the proposal to change the use of Blairliath Grazings – AGREED TO RECOMMEND to Council the proposal, having regard to the representations received and the best interests of the Tain Common Good Fund, should be APPROVED, for the reasons detailed in paragraph 8.3 of the report.

Lochaber Area Committee - 11 May 2026
City of Inverness Area Committee - 18 May 2026
Housing and Property Committee - 20 May 2026
*Climate Change Committee - 20 May 2026

Starred Item as follows:-

Item 5ii: Net Zero Thematic Group Update – Procurement & Community Wealth Building – AGREED TO RECOMMEND to the Council i) approval of the proposed approach to strengthening the Council’s carbon reporting, management and decision-support capability; and ii) that the Council progresses a 12-month managed engagement with Eden Seven, as set out in Section 6 of the report, to support delivery of this approach.

Item 6: Highland Climate Change Risk and Opportunity Assessment – AGREED TO RECOMMEND to the Council that the Highland Climate Change Risk and Opportunity Assessment and the Council’s internal cross-service engagement should be used to inform the next stage of the Council’s climate adaptation work, including the development of the Corporate Climate Risk and Opportunity Assessment and the Climate Change Adaptation Action Plan.

Communities and Place Committee - 21 May 2026
Dingwall and Seaforth Committee - 25 May 2026
Nairnshire Committee - 25 May 2026
Health, Social Care and Wellbeing Committee - 27 May 2026
*Audit Committee - 27 May 2026

Starred Item as follows:-

Item 8: Audit Committee Annual Report 2025/26 – AGREED TO RECOMMEND to Council the report to acknowledge that the necessary assurances had been provided by the Audit Committee to demonstrate that it had fulfilled its purpose and could demonstrate its impact for 2025/26.

Economy and Infrastructure Committee - 28 May 2026
Isle of Skye and Raasay Committee - 1 June 2026
Sutherland County Committee - 1 June 2026
*Education Committee    - 3 June 2026

Starred Item as follows:-

Item 5: Statutory Consultation: Relocation of Beauly Primary School – Final Report - AGREED TO RECOMMEND to the Council that Beauly Primary School be relocated from its current site to a new site west of Cnoc na Ràth, Beauly, as part of a new Community Point of Delivery.

Item 18: Membership of Educational Trust Fund Sub-Committee - AGREED TO RECOMMEND to the Council that Ms L Dundas be appointed to the Educational Trust Fund Sub-Committee.

*Gaelic Committee - 3 June 2026
*Comataidh na Gaidhlig - 3 An t-Og Mhios 2026

Starred Item as follows:-

Item 8: Scottish Languages Act - Areas of Linguistic Significance Progress Report - AGREED TO RECOMMEND to the Council that the Gaelic Committee’s Scheme of Delegation be amended to allocate responsibility for oversight of Gaelic Areas of Linguistic Significance designation processes.

*Corporate Resources Committee - 4 June 2026

Starred Item as follows:-

Item 5: Appointment to Sub-Committees, Working Groups etc – AGREED that Ms C Ramsay replace Ms M MacCallum on the Appeals and Disputes Sub Committee.

Item 6: Establishment of the Fuel Poverty Working Group - AGREED that Mr R Gale, Mr R Jones and Mrs K MacLean be appointed to the Fuel Poverty Working Group.

Minutes of Meetings not included in the Volume are as follows:-    

i. Highland and Western Isles Valuation Joint Board – for noting – held on  17 March 2026 (approved by the Board on 11 June 2026); 
ii. Community Planning Board – for noting – held on 10 March 2026 (approved by the Board on 12 June 2026);    
iii. Recruitment Panel: Chief Officer – for approval – held on 8 June 2026; and
iv. Redesign Board – for approval – held on 4 June 2026.

18. 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.

19. Notices of Motion
Brathan Gluasaid

There is circulated separately in Booklet A Notices of Motion received by the Chief Officer - Legal and Corporate Governance.