12 November 2026: Economy and Infrastructure Committee

Dear Member

A meeting of the Economy and Infrastructure Committee will take place in the Council Chamber, Council Headquarters, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness on
Thursday, 12 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

4. Revenue Budget Monitoring Report for the period Q2 2026/27    
Aithisg Sgrùdadh Buidseat Teachd-a-steach airson R2 2026/27

There is circulated Report No. ECI/37/26 by the Assistant Chief Executive - Place.

The Committee is invited to:-
i.   scrutinise and approve the forecast financial position for 2026/27 as set out in the report and Appendices 1 and 2 of the report; 
ii.  consider and note the explanations provided for any material variances and actions taken or proposed;
iii. consider and note the update provided regarding savings delivery as set out in Appendix 3 of the report; and 
iv.  consider and note the financial strategy document as set out within Appendix 4 of the report.

5. Capital Monitoring Report Q2 2026/27
Aithisg Sgrùdadh Calpa R2 2026/27

There is circulated Report No. ECI/38/26 by the Assistant Chief Executive - Place.

The Committee is invited to scrutinise and approve the financial position to 31 August 2026 and note the estimated year end forecast.

6. Designation of Inverness City and Highland Rural Short Term Let Control Areas    
Ainmeachadh Sgìrean Smachd Màil Ghoirid Baile Inbhir Nis agus Sgìrean Dùthchail na Gàidhealtachd

There is circulated Report No. ECI/39/26 by the Assistant Chief Executive - Place.

The Committee is invited to:-

i.   note that Scottish Ministers have approved the designation of the Inverness City and Highland Rural Short Term Let Control Areas;
ii.  approve the publication of the statutory notice for the designation of the Inverness City and Highland Rural Short Term Let Control Area in accordance with Regulation 9 of the Town and Country Planning (Short-Term Let Control Areas) (Scotland) Regulations 2021;
iii. agree that the Inverness City and Highland Rural Short Term Let Control Areas shall come into effect on 1 April 2027; and
iv.  agree to delegate authority to the Assistant Chief Executive – Place in consultation with the Chair and Vice Chair of the Economy and Infrastructure Committee to undertake all necessary actions associated with publication of the notice and implementation of the Control Areas.

7. Inverness & Highland City-Region Deal – 2025/26 Annual Report          
Cùmhnant Baile-Roinne Inbhir Nis & na Gàidhealtachd – Aithisg Bhliadhnail 2025/26 

There is circulated Report No. ECI/40/26 by the Assistant Chief Executive - Place.

The Committee is invited to note the IHCRD Annual Report as a record of the activity and delivery during 2025/26.

8. The Flow Country World Heritage Site - Management Plan and Setting Guidance
Làrach Dualchas na Cruinne anns na Flobhachan – Plana Stiùiridh agus Stiùireadh Suidheachaid

There is circulated Report No. ECI/41/26 by the Assistant Chief Executive - Place.

The Committee is invited to:-

i.   note the thorough formulation and consultation processes used in the production of the Management Plan;
ii.  agree to endorse The Flow Country World Heritage Site Management Plan, the Setting Definition Study and the Setting Guidance; and 
iii. note that there will be opportunity to consider planning policies for The Flow Country WHS and cross-reference to the Management Plan, within the new Highland Local Development Plan (HLDP).

9. Proposed Fisheries Management Measures for Inshore Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and Proposed Priority Marine Feature (PMF) Management Areas – Consultation Paper
Ceumannan Stiùiridh Iasgaich gam Moladh airson Sgìrean Glèidhte Mara ri Cladach agus Sgìrean Stiùiridh Prìomh-Fheart Mara gam Moladh – Pàipear Co-chomhairleachaidh 

There is circulated Report No. ECI/42/26 by the Assistant Chief Executive - Place.

The Committee is invited to:-

I.   note the Scottish Governments consultation, its relevance to Highland, the broad issues raised, engagement to date and the work of The Highland Council officers to date;
ii.  note that Members whose Wards are affected by the proposed MPA and PMF management areas will have the opportunity to engage directly with officers preparing the consultation response prior to submission; and
iii. agree to delegate final submission of the Council’s response to the Assistant Chief Executive - Place, in consultation with the Chair and Vice Chair of the Economy and Infrastructure Committee

10. Community Regeneration Fund – Allocation of HCCF Tranche 8 and Strategic Fund Framework
Maoin Ath-bheòthachadh Coimhearsnachd – Riarachadh HCCF Earrann 8 agus Frèam-obrach na Maoin Ro-innleachdail

There is circulated Report No. ECI/43/26 by the Assistant Chief Executive - Place.

The Committee is invited to:-

i.   note the allocation of £3,635,982 to The Highland Council from Scottish Crown Estate Net Revenues for 2026/27;
ii.  agree the distribution of Tranche 8 funding as detailed within Appendix 1 of this report;
iii. agree that a proportion of funding continues to be retained for strategic investment purposes;
iv.  approve the Strategic Fund Framework set out in Sections 6 and 7 of this report;
v.   agree that Council-led projects seeking CRF support will normally be considered through the Strategic Fund; and
vi.  agree the proposed governance arrangements for Strategic Fund investment decisions

11.  Business Gateway Highland: Annual Performance and Delivery Update 2025/26
Slighe Gnothachais na Gàidhealtachd: Cunntas às Ùr air Coileanadh agus Lìbhrigeadh Bliadhnail 2025/26

There is circulated Report No. ECI/44/26 by the Assistant Chief Executive - Place.

The Committee is invited to:-

i.   note the performance of Business Gateway Highland during 2025/26;
ii.  note the contribution made by the service towards supporting business start-up activity, business growth and economic resilience across Highland;
iii. note the role of Business Gateway Highland as the Council's principal business support service and its contribution to wider economic development and business growth across Highland; and 
iv.  agree that officers continue to work with the Business Gateway National Unit, COSLA, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and other partners to maximise business support opportunities and external funding available to Highland businesses.

12. Community Transport Grants 2027-2030 - Award Recommendations and Strategic Context Report
Tabhartasan Còmhdhail Coimhearsnachd 2027–2030 – Molaidhean Duaise agus Aithisg Co-theacsa Ro-innleachdail  

There is circulated Report No. ECI/45/26 by the Assistant Chief Executive - Place.

The Committee is invited to:-

i.    approve the grant award recommendations as set out in Table 1 of the report, Paragraph 6.4 with awards proposed to 34 Community Transport groups, including seven new grant recipient organisations;
ii.   note that the previously separate allocation for training and repairs has been incorporated into the main Community Transport Grant programme, with the £7,000 allocation redistributed through the recommended grant awards.  In light of alternative training funding opportunities and existing arrangements for repair and maintenance costs, this approach enables greater direct support for Community Transport service delivery while remaining within the approved budget allocation;
iii. note the established and increasingly significant role of Community Transport in enabling connectivity, accessibility and community resilience across Highland, and recognise the opportunities arising from its continued development and integration within the wider transport network; and 
iv.  note the strategic observations arising from the grant assessment process and their potential to inform the future development of a Community Transport Strategy for Highland, reflecting the direction set out within the Public Transport Strategy approved by the Economy and Infrastructure Committee in May 2026.

13. Car Parking Policy Update    
Cunntas às Ùr air Poileasaidh Parcadh Chàraichean 

There will follow Report No. ECI/46/26 by the Assistant Chief Executive - Place.

14. D&E Coaches Update and Final Audited Accounts 2025-26 Report
Aithisg Ùrachaidh D&E Coaches agus na Cunntasan Deireannach Sgrùdaichte 2025/26

There is circulated Report No. ECI/47/26 by the Assistant Chief Executive - Place.

The Committee is invited to note the finalised accounts for D& E Coaches Limited for the Period 2025/26.

15. Road Structures Annual Report 2026
Aithisg Bhliadhnail Structaran Rathaid 2026 

There is circulated Report No. ECI/48/26 by the Assistant Chief Executive - Place.

The Committee is invited to note:-

i.   the current position in Highland in relation to the number of structures inspections undertaken as in section 6.2 of the report;
ii.  the position of the Bridge Stock Condition Indicators in Highland as in section 7 of the report; and 
iii. the risks that are carried by the Council in relation to its road structures as in section 3.3 of the report.

16. Flood Risk Management Priorities - 2026/27 Scottish Government Capital Funding Allocations
Prìomhachasan Stiùiridh Cunnart Thuiltean – Riarachaidhean Maoineachadh Calpa Riaghaltas na h-Alba 2026/27 

There is circulated Report No. ECI/49/26 by the Assistant Chief Executive - Place.

The Committee is invited to:-

i.  note the level of additional capital allocations received this financial year; and
ii. agree the proposed measures for utilising that additional allocation.

17. Delivery Plan Budget Monitoring and Progress Update Q2 2026/27    
Sgrùdadh Buidseit agus Cunntas air Adhartas a’ Phlana Lìbhrigidh R2 2026/27 

There is circulated Report No. ECI/50/26 by the Assistant Chief Executive - Place.

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

18. Performance Monitoring Report Q2 2026/27
Aithisg Sgrùdadh Coileanaidh R2 2026/27

There is circulated Report No. ECI/51/26 by the Assistant Chief Executive - Place.

The Committee is invited to scrutinise and note the performance information.
    
19. Minutes
Geàrr-chunntas

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

i.   North PAC –10 June 2026; 
ii.  North PAC – 5 August 2026;
iii. South PAC – 6 August 2026;
iv.  Joint NPC & SPAC – 9 September 2026;

and, for approval:-

v.   City Region Deal Monitoring Group held on 3 September 2026 (pp.492-493);
vi.  Harbours Management Board held on 11 September 2026 (pp.494-498); and
vii. Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green Freeport Monitoring Group held on the 28 August 2026 and 20 October 2026.