Investment agreed for play parks and community projects, alongside funding decisions and a balanced approach to garage rent increases.
At the Black Isle and Easter Ross Area Committee held yesterday (11 May 2026), Members focused on key local investments, agreeing on recommendations for play park refurbishments, community regeneration projects and garage rents.
Investment in local play parks
The Committee agreed to allocate £93,390 from The Scottish Government Play Park Funding to refurbish three play parks within the Tain and Easter Ross Ward. This investment will fund the installation of new, accessible play equipment and safety surfacing at Grebe Crescent, Seaforth Court, and the Tain Links.
Councillor Lyndsey Johnston, Chair of the Black Isle and Easter Ross Area Committee, welcomed the investment: “This £93,390 allocation ensures that our young people will have access to safe, inclusive, and high-quality outdoor spaces. While we must be realistic about the delivery timeline, as there is a large volume of work to be completed across the Highlands, this remains a vital step forward. By upgrading the facilities at Grebe Crescent, Seaforth Court, and the Tain Links, we are actively encouraging outdoor play and supporting the long-term health and wellbeing of children in our communities.”
Community Regeneration Funding
Members also assessed five local funding applications submitted to the Community Regeneration Fund (CRF) for the 2025/26 period. The Committee prioritised applications that addressed local needs, build community resilience and develop local community facilities across the Black Isle and Easter Ross area.
Reflecting on the applications, Councillor Johnston stated: “The Community Regeneration fund empowers us to support grassroots projects that make a real difference. The applications reviewed today highlight the incredible drive within our communities to improve local resilience, upgrade vital spaces like Gro For You in Tain and North Kessock Village Hall, and foster sustainable economic growth across the region.
The approved projects which received funding, totalling £114,264.21 were:
- Gro For You (Farmer Jones) - Motorhome Facilities - £20,800
- Invergordon Development Trust – Development Officer - £40,780
- Seaboard Memorial Hall Ltd – Easter Ross Peninsula Local Place Plan - £24,000
- North Kessock Village Hall – Resilience Centre kitchen equipment - £28,684.21
The application for Royal British Legion, Invergordon Hall refurbishment was deferred for future consideration.
Garage Rents
The Committee reviewed the Housing Management Performance Report and considered the level of rent increase to apply to Black Isle and Easter Ross garage rents held on the Housing Revenue account for 2026/27.
Members reviewed options for an 8%, 9% or 10% rent increase, noting that any net additional rent income generated would be directly applied to increase the area repairs budget for garages and garage sites in 2026/27.
The Committee agreed an 8% increase. This means garage rents for 2026/27 will be:
| Ward | Council House Tenants | Private Tenants |
|---|---|---|
| Ward 6 | £12.83 | £15.40 |
| Ward 7 | £12.83 | £15.40 |
| Ward 9 | £12.83 | £15.41 |
In other updates
- Blairliath Grazings Solar PV Proposal: Following a statutory Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015 consultation, members of the Black Isle and Easter Ross Area Committee have approved recommendations to move forward with a solar PV proposal at Blairliath Grazings, Tain. The project, which involves a change of use for two Common Good properties, will now proceed to Full Council for final approval. If successful, the solar arrays are expected to generate a sustainable income source during the lifetime of the project including meeting the Council’s Net Zero ambitions.
- Bereavement Services: Members noted the progress being made in addressing ongoing challenges in identifying suitable land to extend burial ground capacity at facilities projected to have less than 10 years of remaining space, specifically at Alness, Portmahomack, Tarbat, Rosskeen and Tore.
You can watch a recording of the meeting on our YouTube channel.