A wide range of significant decisions affecting communities across Inverness and Area have been agreed by Members of The Highland Council’s City of Inverness Area Committee today (17 August 2026).
Chair of the City of Inverness Area Committee Cllr Ian Brown said:
“Individuals and communities in Inverness city and area will benefit from the diverse range of items discussed and decided upon by Members today at the City of Inverness Area Committee.
“From dispersal of grant funding allocations to the work of the Inverness Common Good Fund - many lives will be widely impacted.
“While we are still in the grip of summer and winter seems a distant prospect, Committee has agreed the Inverness Area Winter Policy and I cannot urge people enough to prepare for winter now and get your community self-help applications submitted if you want your community to be winter-resilient this year.
“Meanwhile I’d like to thank the individuals who responded to Short Term let Control Areas consultation and survey and Council staff across many services for the extensive and additional work they have put into the consultation.”
Get ready for winter now!
The Winter Service Plan for gritting roads and pavements in the City of Inverness and Area was approved by councillors for 332km primary routes (32%), 257km secondary routes (25%) and 448 other routes (43%). Staff will use seventeen gritter vehicles and 10 footpath tractors between the hours of 06:00 up to 21:00 weekdays and on Saturdays also beginning at 06:00 excluding school transport routes and difficult other routes.
Grit bins are placed at locations with steep gradients where there is no regular road or footpath gritting service. Requests for additional grit bins can be considered by the Council and community self-help applications can be made through local community councils. Winter Service information and guidance including gritting maps are on the council’s website at highland.gov.uk/gritting
Short Term Let Control Areas
Members considered and noted the extensive consultation feedback and the potential implications that a Short Term Let Control Area will have on communities within the City of Inverness and rural Inverness-shire.
Members agreed to recommend to the Economy and Infrastructure Committee that the proposed City of Inverness Short Term Let Control Area be progressed (and that rural Inverness-shire be included within the proposed Highland Rural Short Term Let Control Area) should any decision to submit a proposal for designation to Scottish Ministers be taken.
Community Regeneration Fund
An allocation of £61,759.40 Community Regeneration Funding for Inverness and Area was welcomed by Members for the financial year 2026/27. Committee also agreed that expressions of interest and assessment of applications will be made through the existing delegated powers of the Inverness Common Good Fund Sub Committee with final recommendations on funding awards made by the City of Inverness Area Committee.
Thanks to £35,000 of Community Regeneration Funding (CRF), the future of the Floral Clock on Castle Street, Inverness, has been secured. Members have agreed to fund the procurement and installation of a replacement clock mechanism via the CRF, noting the potential to retain the existing planted display.
The Common Good Fund Sub Committee will consider options for future landscaping, with a report on its recommendations due to be presented to the City of Inverness Area Committee in November 2026.
Inverness Burial Grounds
A feasibility study to determine how the green space provided by burial grounds within Inverness City Centre at Chapel Yard, Old High Church and Greyfriars might be used and enhanced, has got the go ahead following Members’ decision to award up to £20,000 from the Inverness Burial Grounds Commutation Fund. The study will be in partnership with the Inverness City Heritage Trust and subject to approval will be procured by competitive tender.
Councillors also approved £50,000 towards repairing the boundary fencing at Tomnahurich Cemetery in Inverness. These works will see the replacement of 200m of railings on Glenurquhart Road, and the refurbishment of another 300m of railings and the entrance gates and surrounding walls.