4 November 2026: Housing and Property Committee

A meeting of the Housing and Property Committee will take place in the Council Chamber, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness on Wednesday 4 November 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.

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

The Committee is asked to note the good news as presented.

4. Housing Need and Demand Assessment
Measadh air Feumalachd is Iarrtas Taigheadais

There will be a presentation on the findings of the Housing Need and Demand Assessment by Donna Milton, Managing Director of Arneil Johnston.

The Committee is asked to note the presentation.

5. Property and Facilities Management Revenue Budget
Buidseat Teachd-a-steach Seirbheisean Seilbhe is Stiùireadh Ghoireasan

There is circulated Report No HP/34/26 by the Assistant Chief Executive – Place.

The Committee is invited to consider and note the:-

i. forecast financial position for 2026/27 as set out in the report and in Appendices 1 and 2 to the report; 
ii. explanations provided for any material variances and actions taken or proposed; and
iii. financial strategy document as set out in Appendix 3 to the report.

6. Property Capital Monitoring Statement
Aithris Sgrùdaidh Calpa Seilbhe

There is circulated Report No HP/35/26 by the Assistant Chief Executive – Place.

The Committee is invited to scrutinise and approve the:-

i. capital monitoring position for the 2026/27 financial year to 30 August 2026 and the forecast year-end position; and
ii. programme updates included in the report covering the School Estate Improvement and Property Capital programmes.

7. Housing Revenue Account (HRA) and Non-HRA Budget Monitoring Statement to 31 August 2026
Aithris Sgrùdaidh Buidseat Cunntas Teachd-a-steach Taigheadais agus Cunntas Teachd-a-steach Neo-thaigheadais gu 31 Lùnastal 2026

There is circulated Report No HP/36/26 by the Assistant Chief Executive – Place.

The Committee is invited to consider and note the:-

i. forecast financial position for 2026/27 as set out in the report and appendices to the report; and
ii. explanations provided for any material variances and actions taken or proposed.

8. Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Capital Monitoring to 31 August 2026
Aithisg Sgrùdaidh Calpa Cunntas Teachd-a-steach Taigheadais gu 31 Lùnastal 2026

There is circulated Report No HP/37/26 by the Assistant Chief Executive – Place.

The Committee is invited to scrutinise and approve the expenditure to 31 August 2026 and the projected outturn for the HRA Capital Programme 2026/27.

9. Local Housing Strategy and Strategy Housing Investment Plan Annual Update
Cunntas Bliadhnail air an Ro-innleachd Taigheadais Ionadail agus am Plana Tasgaidh Taigheadais Ro-innleachdail

There is circulated Report No HP/38/26 by the Assistant Chief Executive – Place. 

The Committee is invited to:-

i. note the progress made to date in achieving the agreed priorities in the Local Housing Strategy 2023-2028;
ii. consider and note that the Housing Need and Demand Assessment at Appendix 5 (which can be found separately at Booklet A) to the report has now been agreed by the housing market partnership and submitted to the Scottish Government for verification;
iii. note that the Housing Need and Demand Assessment will be made available to community partners to help facilitate their local plans for housing development and community place-making;
iv. approve the Strategic Housing Investment Plan 2027-2032 as attached as Appendix 2 to the report, for submission to the Scottish Government; and
v. note that an update on local projects in the Strategic Housing Investment Plan will be discussed with Members in Area Business Meetings.

10. Tenant Participation and Engagement Update 
Cunntas às Ùr mu Chom-pàirteachadh Luchd-màil

There is circulated Report No HP/39/26 by the Assistant Chief Executive – Place.

The Committee is invited to:-

i. note the continued commitment of tenant volunteers, resident groups and officers in supporting tenant participation and engagement activities across Highland;
ii. note the outcomes and achievements delivered by the Tenant Participation Team during the reporting period; and
iii. approve the Tenant Representative Process and Guidance Framework at Appendix 3 to the report and acknowledge the efforts of the existing tenant representatives and tenant volunteers in contribution to the review.

11. Empty Homes Update Report
Ro-innleachd Thaighean Falamh

There is circulated Report No HP/40/26 by the Assistant Chief Executive – Place.

The Committee is invited to:-

i. note the progress made in implementing the Highland Council Empty Homes Strategy;
ii. note the early findings from the implementation of the £1 million Empty Homes Challenge Fund and its role in supporting owners to return long-term empty properties to residential use; and
iii. approve the amendments to the Challenge Fund set out at section 11.4 which are intended to introduce greater flexibility to support owners seeking to bring empty homes back into use.

12. Housing Performance Report 1 April 2026 to 30 September 2026  
Aithisg Coileanaidh Taigheadais 1 Giblean 2026 gu 30 t-Sultain 2026

There is circulated Report No HP/41/26 by the Assistant Chief Executive – Place.

The Committee is invited to scrutinise and note the information provided on housing performance for the period 1 April 2026 – 30 September 2026.

13. Performance Monitoring Q2 2026/27
Sgrùdadh Coileanaidh R2 2026/27

There is circulated Report No HP/42/26 by the Assistant Chief Executive – Place.

The Committee is invited to note the:-

i. performance information for the Housing and Property Cluster; and
ii. additional Corporate Indicator: Mandatory Training.

14. Delivery Plan Budget Monitoring and Progress Update Q2 2026/27
Sgrùdadh Buidseit agus Cunntas Adhartais a’ Phlana Lìbhrigidh Q2 2026/27

There is circulated Report No HP/43/26 by the Assistant Chief Executive – Place.

The Committee is invited to note the:-

i. project/programme updates provided in the report; and
ii. revised format of this report, which includes the use of portfolio board project dashboards from the Performance and Risk Management system (PRMS), with accompanying project narrative sections aligned to the content of these.

15. Depot Transformation Programme
Prògram Cruth-atharrachaidh nan Ionadan-obrach

There is circulated Report No HP/44/26 by the Assistant Chief Executive – Place.

The Committee is invited to note:-

i. the Depot Transformation Programme Brief and Business Case at Appendices 2 and 3 to the report, and the priority locations identified at Paragraph 8.6 of the report;
ii. the work undertaken with operational services to develop and implement the associated Depot Transformation Programme, and to identify options and opportunities across the estate, in line with the Council’s Delivery Plan, as outlined in the report and appendices; and
iii. that options and recommendations for future changes across the estate may need to be referred to the Housing & Property Committee, in line with the Scheme of Delegation, and alongside engagement with local Members.

16. Exclusion of the Public
Às-dùnadh a’ Phobaill

The Committee 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 the following item on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 6 & 9 of Part 1 of Schedule 7A of the Act.

17. Land and Property
Fearann agus Seilbh

There is circulated to Members only Report No HP/45/26 by the Assistant Chief Executive – Place.

The Committee is invited to agree the recommendations as detailed in the report.

18. Property Transactions Monitoring
Aithisg Sgrùdaidh Ghnothachasan Seilbhe

There is circulated to Members only Report No HP/46/26 by the Assistant Chief Executive – Place.

The Committee is invited to note the recommendations as detailed in the report.