Agenda
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A meeting of the Communities and Place Committee will take place in the Council Chamber, Council Headquarters, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness on Thursday 13 August 2026 at 9.30 am.
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 Statements
Foillseachaidhean Com-pàirt/ Aithrisean 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. Recess Powers
Cumhachdan Fosaidh
The Committee is asked to note that the recess powers granted by the Council at its meeting on 25 June 2026 have not been exercised in relation to the business of the Communities and Place Committee.
4. Good News
Naidheachdan Matha
5. Police Performance Report
Aithisg Coileanaidh Poileis
Under the Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012, the Local Authority has responsibility for monitoring and scrutinising performance of Police Scotland against the Local Policing Plan for their area. Each Local Plan must be approved by the Local Authority and reviewed every three years. The current Local Plan was approved by the Committee in May 2023.
There is circulated Report No CP/15/26 by the Divisional Commander, Police Scotland.
The Committee is invited to scrutinise and note progress made against the objectives set within the Highland Local Policing Plan 2023–2026 Year 1, attached as Annex A to the report, for the period covering 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026.
6. Revenue Budget Final Outturn 2025/26 and Q1 Monitoring to 31 May 2026/27
Fìor Shuidheachadh Deireannach Buidseat Teachd-a-steach 2025/26 agus Sgrùdadh R1 gu 31 Cèitean 2026/27
There is circulated Report No CP/16/26 by the Assistant Chief Executive – Place.
The Committee is invited to:-
i. scrutinise and approve the current financial position for the Quarter 4 Outturn 2025/26 as set out in the report and Appendices 1 and 2 of the report;
ii. scrutinise and approve the forecast financial position for the period ending 31 May 2026/27 as set out in the report and Appendices 3 and 4 of the report;
iii. consider and note the explanations provided for any material variances and actions taken or proposed; and
iv. consider and note the update provided regarding savings delivery.
7. Capital Monitoring Report – Final Outturn 2025/26 and Q1 Monitoring to 31 May 2026/27
Fìor Shuidheachadh Deireannach Buidseat Calpa 2025/26 agus Sgrùdadh R1 gu 31 Cèitean 2026/27
There is circulated Report No CP/17/26 by the Assistant Chief Executive – Place.
The Committee is invited to:-
i. scrutinise and approve the outturn for the year 2025/26 as set out in the report at Appendix 1;
ii. scrutinise and approve the forecast financial position for the year 2026/27 as set out in the report and Appendix 2 of the report; and
iii. consider and note the explanations provided for any material variances and actions taken or proposed.
8. Highland Local Child Poverty Action Report 2025/26
Aithisg Gnìomh Bochdainn Chloinne Ionadail na Gàidhealtachd 2025/26
There is circulated Report No CP/18/26 by the Assistant Chief Executive – Place.
The Committee is invited to:-
i. consider and note the actions carried out in 2025/26 as set out in Section 2 of the Highland Child Poverty Action Report in Appendix 2 of the report;
ii. consider and agree the actions for delivery in 2026/27 as set out in Section 3 of the Action Report in Appendix 2 of the report; and
iii. agree to delegate funding authority for the Adopt and Adapt programme to the Assistant Chief Executive – Place, in consultation with the Chair of the Communities and Place Committee, in line with section 10 in the report.
9. Private Water Suppy Duties - Fees Review
Cìsean Solar Uisge Prìobhaideach – Ath-sgrùdadh Chìsean
There is circulated Report No CP/19/26 by the Assistant Chief Executive – Place.
The Committee is invited to approve:-
i. the revised fee structure for Regulated supplies (commercial and larger domestic supplies), the initial Risk Assessment fee changes from a one-off charge of £97 to a charge of £97 for the first hour and £50 for each additional hour; and
ii. the revised fee structure for Regulated supplies (commercial and larger domestic supplies), a new fee for the 5 yearly Risk Assessment Review of £75 for the first hour and £50 per additional hour.
10. Abandoned and Nuisance Vehicles Update
Cunntas às Ùr air Carbadan Trèigte is Draghail
There is circulated Report No CP/20/26 by the Assistant Chief Executive – Place.
The Committee is invited to:-
i. note the update from Environmental Health on abandoned vehicles including the data from 2025/26;
ii. approve the proposed Policy on Abandoned Vehicles;
iii. note the proposed improvements being considered to address abandoned vehicles by Environmental Health; and
iv. note the role of the Council and wider partners in addressing nuisance vehicles and proposed improvements.
11. Draft Greenspace Biodiversity Management Strategy 2026-2030
Dreachd Ro-innleachd Stiùiridh Bith-iomadachd Àite-uaine 2026–2030
There is circulated Report No CP/21/26 by the Assistant Chief Executive – Place.
The Committee is invited to:-
i. note the content of the draft Greenspace Biodiversity Management Strategy 2026-2030; and
ii. approve the draft Greenspace Biodiversity Management Strategy 2026-2030 for a 6-week public consultation.
12. Growing Our Future – Community Food Growing Annual Update
A’ Fàs ar n-Àm ri Teachd – Cunntas Bliadhnail mu Fhàs Biadh Coimhearsnachd
There is circulated Report No CP/22/26 by the Assistant Chief Executive – Place.
The Committee is invited to:-
i. consider and note the progress made to implement the Growing Our Future Strategy and deliver the Community Food Growing Action Plan; and
ii. agree the annual allotment reports for 2024 and 2025, as detailed at section 6.3 and Appendices 2 and 3 of the report.
13. Fleet Operations Update
Cunntas às Ùr air Obrachaidhean Cabhlaich
There is circulated Report No CP/23/26 by the Assistant Chief Executive – Place.
The Committee is invited to note:-
i. the outcome of the Fleet Compliance audit submitted to the Office of the Traffic Commissioner in May 2026;
ii. the decision letter following the Preliminary Hearing in January 2026;
iii. Fleet Operations performance against key compliance indicators for May 2026 and June 2026; and
iv. the position in relation to next steps and ongoing governance of Fleet compliance.
14. Customer Services Update
Cunntas às Ùr air Seirbheisean Luchd-cleachdaidh
There is circulated Report No CP/24/26 by the Assistant Chief Executive – Place.
The Committee is invited to consider and note:-
i. the work and performance of the customer service network; and
ii. the improvement work completed and planned.
15. Bereavement Services Update
Cunntas às Ùr air Seirbheisean Caoidh
There is circulated Report No CP/25/26 by the Assistant Chief Executive – Place.
The Committee is invited to note:-
i. the progress update on the ongoing memorial safety programme;
ii. the progress of the cremator replacement project at Inverness Crematorium;
iii. the progress of current projects within the burial ground extension programme; and
iv. the update on the Institute of Cemetery and Crematorium Management metal recycling scheme.
16. Performance Reporting for Quarter 1 2026/27
Aithris Coileanaidh airson Ràith 1 2026/27
There is circulated Report No CP/26/26 by the Assistant Chief Executive – Place.
The Committee is invited to scrutinise and note the service performance information.