Agendas, reports and minutes

A meeting of the Highland Council will be held in the Council Chamber, Council Headquarters, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness on Thursday 27 June 2024 at 10.05am.

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 
Head of Legal and 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. Confirmation of Minutes 
Daingneachadh a’ Gheàrr-chunntais
                                                               
There are submitted for confirmation as a correct record the Minutes of Meeting of the Council held on 9 May 2024  as contained in the Volume which has been circulated separately.

4. Minutes of Meetings of Committees
Geàrr-chunntasan Choinneamhan Chomataidhean

There are submitted for confirmation as correct records, for information as regards delegated business and for approval as appropriate, the Minutes of Meetings of Committees contained in Volume circulated separately as undernoted:-

* Black Isle and Easter Ross Committee 13 May 2024

Starred Item as follows:-

Item 5 – Invergordon Common Good Fund – Consultation on the Proposal to sell the Bust of Sir John Gordon – agreed to recommend to the Council that the proposal to dispose of the bust of Sir John Gordon by sale should go ahead.

https://www.highland.gov.uk/meetings/meeting/4969/black_isle_and_easter_ross_area_committee

Nairnshire Committee 13 May 2024
Lochaber Area Committee 14 May 2024
Sutherland County Committee 14 May 2024
Health, Social Care and Wellbeing Committee 16 May 2024
* Caithness Committee 20 May 2024

Starred Item as follows:-

Item 9 – Wick Common Good Fund - Consultation on Proposal to Dispose by Ribbon Leases of Small Parcels of Common Good Land at Riverside Park (south of River Wick – agreed to recommend to the Council that the proposal should go ahead.

Caithness Committee | The Highland Council

Dingwall, Seaforth Committee 20 May 2024
Wester Ross, Strathpeffer & Lochalsh Committee 20 May 2024
Communities and Place Committee 22 May 2024
Climate Change Committee 23 May 2024
City of Inverness Area Committee 27 May 2024
Gaelic Committee 29 May 2024
Comataidh na Gaidhlig 29 An Ceitean
Education Committee 30 May 2024
Badenoch and Strathspey Area Committee 3 June 2024
Isle of Skye and Raasay Committee 3 June 2024
Corporate Resources Committee 6 June 2024
* Economy & Infrastructure Committee (Special) 11 June 2024

Starred Item as follows:-

Item 5 – Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green Freeport Full Business Case – agreed  to recommend that Council approve the Full Business Case (FBC) for the Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green Freeport (ICFGF) as shown in Appendix 1 of the report to allow for submission to the UK and Scottish Governments.

Economy and Infrastructure Committee | The Highland Council

Audit Committee 13 June 2024
Nairnshire Committee (Special) 24 June 2024 To follow    
Pensions Committee (Special) 24 June 2024 To follow

Minutes of Meetings not included in the Volume are as follows:-    

i.   Redesign Board – for approval – held on 29 May 2024 ; 
ii.  Highland and Western Isles Valuation Joint Board – for noting – held on  9 February 2024 (approved by the Board on 20 June 2024) (to follow); 
iii. Community Planning Board – for noting – held on 1 March 2024 (approved by the Board on 5 June 2024) ;    
iv.  Recruitment Panel: Assistance Chief Executives – for approval – held on 29 April 2024; and
v.   Investment Sub Committee – for noting – held on 20 March 2024 and 28 May 2024 for approval.

5. Question Time    
Àm Ceiste 

The following Questions have been received by the Head of Legal and Governance.

Public Question

(1) Mr D Garvie

To the Leader

SSEN has submerged the Highland Council area in a multiplicity of different network enhancement proposals.  Although all are inter-connected in some way or another, and although many will have a mutually cumulative combined effect, there has been no presentation from SSEN of the combined effect – over the whole area – of all its proposals.

SSEN is a large corporation with many paid employees and experts engaged full-time in preparing these proposals.  Adversely affected communities have good reason to contest many of the claims made by SSEN in its presentation of its proposals.  Communities only have unpaid volunteers, many giving up significant amounts of personal time, and without the benefit of the expert technical and legal input which SSEN has to hand.  It seems therefore that the planning process is inherently flawed and biased, and will remain so unless the consultation process is changed to support local community groups to enable them to engage more effectively.

How does Highland Council intend to ensure that adequate focus and attention is given to the inputs from affected communities – which are the lifeblood of the Highland Council’s area – in its objective assessment of whether  planning permission should be granted for each of SSEN’s many proposed developments?

(2) Ms D Peacock

To the Leader

Context: SSEN has a statutory obligation to conduct “meaningful consultation” with stakeholders who might be affected by its proposed developments. The Scottish Government states that “Engaging with citizens and stakeholder organisations in order to influence policy making is a key part of the Scottish Approach and is fully supported by ministers”. The Gunning Principles were established in 1985 to provide some definition of what is required to constitute “meaningful consultation”.

SSEN has consistently failed to follow these principles and has NOT conducted “meaningful consultation”. Instead, it has been applying a wilful policy of “decide and defend”. On 12th March 2024 five Community Councils in the Beauly area refused to continue to participate in routine liaison meetings with SSEN – which had been going on for more than 10 years – due to the superficial nature of SSEN’s approach to meaningful consultation. SSEN’s failure to consult meaningfully was also highlighted and recognised during the debate following Motion S6M-12842 in the Scottish Parliament on 15th April 2024.

How does Highland Council propose to address the consequences of SSEN’s failure to follow its statutory duty to conduct meaningful consultation, as this failure on SSEN’s part has left communities without any effective input to assessment of what may – or what may not – be acceptable in development of the electricity distribution network necessary to meet foreseeable future energy demand?

(3) Mr I Lyons

To the Leader

Tourism is a vital source of income, of employment, and of economic activity in the Scottish Highlands and Islands.  The Draft Sustainable Tourism Strategy discussed at the Highland Council meeting on 2nd May 2024 confirmed that tourism attracts circa 7 million visitors per annum to the region, generates around £1.6 billion of economic income, and supports around 25,000 jobs.  The Draft Strategy also places much emphasis on the importance of the unspoiled natural environment in making the most of current and future tourism opportunities.  According to the Nation Brands Index 2023, “… a country’s natural beauty is the most important reputational aspect driving the desire to visit a nation.”  

Given the economic importance of tourism for the area, and the significance of our unspoiled natural environment to continuing to attract visitors to the area:

What steps has the council taken to measure and mitigate the impact of the proposed new electricity supply infrastructure including the multiple new overhead pylon lines and new substation proposals, on the communities affected – particularly in relation to business and employment opportunities for the local businesses that rely on tourism.

Member Questions

One supplementary question will be allowed in each case which will be answered by the recipient of the original question.

(4) Mr A Christie

To the Leader

At Council on the 9th May I asked what processes and briefings you could put in place to ensure that all Councillors were up to date with what is happening at Cosla. You undertook to look into the matter and I should be grateful if you could now update us all as to what solutions you have to address this matter.

(5) Mr A Christie

To the Leader

Please could the leader detail by school establishment all vacant teaching posts?

(6) Mr P Logue

To the Chair of Economy and Infrastructure

What is the Council’s position is on the spacing of caravans on council premises, including car parks, bearing in mind SFRS guidance stating that caravans should be at least 6 metres apart and well away from parked cars.

(7) Mr R Stewart

To the Chair of Education

In Light of the Cass Report's recommendations on the best-evidenced care for gender-distressed children, could the Chair of Education address whether the council will now withdraw the Scottish Government’s “Supporting Transgender Pupils in Schools: Guidance for Scottish Schools,” which advises affirmation for gender distressed children and leads to staff socially transitioning children, and issue new guidance?

(8) Mr D Gregg

To the Chair of Education

One of my residents requested a deferral for their child starting primary school. 

Two months later, they asked for a timetable for when they’d get a decision. Two months later, they finally got a response confirming deferral had been approved. 

By this time, their child had started the transition process to secondary school, despite the parents wishes for deferral. The length of time, and lack of adequate communication from the council, has distressed them and their child at a very important time of their child’s life. It is unacceptable it took four months to give these parents a decision, and unacceptable to not even give them a date for when they might hear.

Please could the council provide details of the average length of time it is taking us to process parental requests for deferring their child’s entry into P1 either by ASG, or an alternative geographic breakdown if more convenient.

(9) Mr R Gale

To the Chair of Education

Following the release of the joint statement (see below) from the various teaching unions relating to the call upon the Scottish Government and Local Authorities to ensure that the needs of our most vulnerable children are fully met. Can you confirm that you endorse their efforts on this matter and agree with the views they have put forward in the statement?

Joint Statement on Additional Support Needs (ASN)

We support the Scottish Government's commitment to ‘getting it right for every child’ to provide all children, young people and their families with the right support at the right time; so that every child and young person in Scotland can reach their full potential. 

1 The Education (ASL) (Scotland) Act 2004 places various duties on education authorities related to the provision of school education for children and young people with additional support needs belonging to their area. Education authorities must:

• make adequate and efficient provision for the additional support required for each child or young person with additional support needs for whose school education they are responsible. 
• make arrangements to identify additional support needs. 
• keep under consideration the additional support needs identified and the adequacy of support provided to meet the needs of each child or young person. 

2 We, the undersigned, record our concern that the proportion of Scotland’s pupils with an identified Additional Support Need (ASN) has risen from 6.5% in 2009 to 37% in 2023 without a corresponding increase in resources to support this level of need. We have seen the level and complexity of additional support needs grow, whilst poverty continues to extend its crippling grip across families in Scotland, intensifying in the midst of the cost-of-living crisis, with hunger, fuel and digital poverty now impacting more than one in three children in some areas. We believe that the Scottish Government has not provided sufficient funding to allow local authorities to make adequate and efficient provision for the additional support required for each child or young person with additional support needs. 
3 The current climate of under-investment in Additional Support for Learning is now having an impact across the whole learning population and is detrimental to the wellbeing of children and young people; the wellbeing of school staff; and the educational experience for many pupils. 

The final report of the National Discussion on Education highlighted the imperative for ‘adequate sustained funding to provide staffing and specialist resources to be able to achieve the commitment to inclusivity and [meet] the needs of each learner, with a particular urgency for children and young people identified as having Additional Support Needs’. Yet we continue to witness efforts to evade discourse around the crucial issue of resourcing. 

The Scottish Government and education authorities must face up to the challenge and invest in Scottish Education to deliver the promises of inclusive practice made to young people and their families twenty years ago and which continues to be framed in current legislation. 

We call on the Scottish Government and all education authorities to put in place the requisite additional staffing and resources to fully implement the relevant legal duties and commitments in practice for all pupils with additional support needs, and in so doing, improve the quality of education provision and wellbeing for those children and young people, and improve the working conditions, health, safety and wellbeing of the teachers and support staff who work with them.

1 https://www.gov.scot/policies/girfec/ 
2 https://www.gov.scot/publications/supporting-childrens-learning-statutory-guidance-educationadditional-support-learning-scotland/pages/2/ 

Co-signatories of the Joint Statement on ASN.

AHDS: Greg Dempster, General Secretary 
Connect: Gavin Yates, Executive Director
EIS: Andrea Bradley, General Secretary 
Glasgow City Parents Group: Leanne McGuire, Chairperson 
GMB: Keir Greenaway, Scotland senior organiser in public services 
NASUWT: Mike Corbett, NASUWT Scotland Official
NPFS: Cheryl Burnett, Chair, NPFS
SLS: Graham Hutton, General Secretary 
SSTA: Seamus Searson, General Secretary 
UNISON Lilian Macer, Scotland Regional Secretary 
UNITE Graham McNab, Lead Officer, Local Authorities.

(10) Mr A Graham

To the Leader

Charleston Academy: The inclusion of the Academy in the Highland Investment Plan as a Phase One, Years 1-10 project with potential delivery within 3 to 5 years, subject to the availability and profiling of funding, was very encouraging after the acute disappointment when the Capital Programme was revised in September 2023.

Can you advise what steps are now being taken with the design and construction in order to achieve delivery within the 3 to 5 years’ timescale? 

(11) Mr Ballance 

To the Leader

Have you signed the Highland NHS’ Charter for Climate, Nature and Health?

(12) Mrs I MacKenzie

To the Leader

I ask that the Highland Council consider installing bins for compostable items situated in Inverness, which then can be put to a composting site here, the compost can then be used locally. As all compostable items are either currently put to general waste or cups are collected at additional cost and sent down the road to Central belt or further.

(13) Mr R MacKintosh

To the Leader

Please list the annual amount spent by Highland Council from its own funds, annually, each year from 2021 and for 2019/20, the last year before covid.

6. Membership of the Council
Ballrachd na Comhairle

The Council is advised that, following the By-Election for Ward 7 held on 13 June 2024, Ms Laura Dundas was elected as a Member of the Council.  

The Council is advised that:- 

i.  Mrs E McAllister has tendered her resignation as a Member of the Council with effect from 28 June 2024; and
ii. Mrs P Munro and Ms M Nolan have tendered their resignations as Members of the Council with effect from 31 July 2024.

In this regard, a By-Election for Ward 14 (Inverness Central) will be held on Thursday 26 September 2024 and for Ward 6 (Cromarty Firth) on a date to be confirmed.

7. Membership of Committees etc
Ballrachd Chomataidhean msaa 

As a result of the By-Election the political make-up of the Council is now as follows:-

SNP – 21 / Highland Independent – 18 / Scottish Liberal Democrats – 14 / Scottish Conservative and Unionist – 8 / Highland Alliance – 5 / Scottish Green Party – 4 / Labour – 2 / Alba Party – 1 / Non-Aligned - 1.

The formula in respect of the number of places on Strategic Committees remains as 5/5/4/2/2.

8. Appointments
Cur an Dreuchd

(a) Highland Opportunity (Investments) Limited    

Following the resignation from the Company of Mr A MacDonald, the Council is asked to agree the appointment of a new Director for Highland Opportunity (Investments) Limited.

(b) Inverness Cromarty Firth Green Freeport Monitoring Group    

The Council is asked to agree that Mrs A MacLean replace Ms M Nolan on the Inverness Cromarty Firth Green Freeport Monitoring Group, as requested by the Scottish Liberal Democrat Group.

9. Annual Accounts for the year to 31 March 2024 and Near-final revenue outturn for the year    
Cunntasan bliadhnail airson na bliadhna gu 31 Màrt 2024 agus aithisg fìor chosgais faisg air deireannach airson na bliadhna 

There will follow Report No. HC/17/24 by the Assistant Chief Executive – Corporate.

10. Social Values Charter for Renewables Investment
Cairt Luachan Sòisealta airson Tasgadh So-ùrachaidh

There is circulated Report No. HC/18/24 by the Assistant Chief Executive – Place.

The Council is asked to agree the:-

i.   Social Value Charter for Renewables Investment set out at Appendix 1 to the report; 
ii.  immediate use of this Charter in all engagement with renewable energy investors in Highland; and
iii. next steps to progressing this approach and that a paper on the development of the Strategic Partnership and funding management models will be prepared and agreed by the Economy and Infrastructure Committee as soon as practicable.

11. Highland Investment Plan – Next Steps    
Plana Tasgaidh na Gàidhealtachd – Ath Cheumannan

There is circulated Report No. HC/19/24 by the Assistant Chief Executive – Place.

The Council is asked to:-

i.    note the Highland Investment Plan Communication Process as detailed at section 4 of the report and attached as Appendix 1 to the report;
ii.   note the local engagement process with communities and partners as set out in section 5 of the report and attached as Appendix 2 to the report, to deliver inclusive, sustainable project outcomes;
iii.  note the place-based master-planning approach being applied to support the option appraisal process for delivering new Community Points of Delivery (PODs), across Highland, as referenced throughout section 6 of the report, along with the visual design slides attached as Appendix 3 to the report;
iv.   agree the additional funding for the Nairn Academy project as outlined in Paragraph 6.2.4 of the report;
v.    agree the additional funding for the essential works at Beauly Primary and St Clement’s Schools and the access road at Dunvegan Primary School as outlined in Paragraph 6.2.6 of the report; 
vi.   agree the priorities and timescales for the Phase 1 Community POD locations at Dingwall and Thurso as outlined in Paragraph 6.4.6 of the report;
vii.  agree the roads and infrastructure funding allocations as set out in in section 7 (Table 4) of the report, noting that schemes may require to be adjusted throughout the duration of the programme for operational reasons; 
viii. agree the re-profiled Capital Programme to reflect changes since September 2023 as detailed in Section 8 and Appendix 4 of the report; and
ix.   note the work being done to develop options for future procurement routes and that a further report will come forward when this work is complete.  

12. Adoption of Inner Moray Firth Local Development Plan 2     
Gabhail ri Plana Leasachaidh Ionadail Linne Mhoireibh A-staigh 2

There is circulated Report No. HC/20/24 by the Assistant Chief Executive – Place.

The Council is asked to agree to adopt the Inner Moray Firth Local Development Plan 2 incorporating the Reporters’ Modifications following the Plan’s Examination and the minor textual amendment required by the Scottish Government.

13. Declaring the Highland Housing Challenge and Identifying Solutions to Resolve It    
A’ Foillseachadh Dùbhlan Taigheadais na Gàidhealtachd agus a’ Comharrachadh Fhuasglaidhean

There is circulated Report No. HC/21/24 by Chief Executive.

The Council is asked to:-

i.   approve the establishment of the Highland Housing Challenge as described in the report;
ii.  note the illustrative financial position and initial modelling regarding the strategic approach to developing the HRA;
iii. approve that further modelling work be done to identify options for future rent modelling for the HRA;
iv.  note the challenges faced in developing meeting the Housing Needs Demand Assessment, as described in Appendix 1 to the report;
v.   approve the strategic objectives, which can be converted into a future Highland Housing Action Plan, as described in Appendix 3  to the report in draft form to be shared with key partners in a consultation exercise; and
vi.  approve the establishment of a summit to mobilise partners to support our work in meeting the Highland Housing Challenge.

14. Integrated Impact Assessment – New Approach and Process    
Measadh Buaidh Amalaichte – Dòigh-obrach agus Pròiseas Ùr

There is circulated Report No. HC/22/24 by the Chief Executive.

The Council is asked to:-

i.    note the new integrated approach to impact assessment that has been developed across the Council, including the development of a digital tool and training materials to support the process;

As a result of this new approach, Members are asked to consider the following changes and agree:-

ii.   the revised committee report format set out at Appendix 1 of the report, to support Members to fully consider any impacts identified;
iii.  that the Governance Review Steering Group will review Standing Orders, with a view to making recommendations to support the Council to comply with its legislative duties on consideration of impacts when decisions are being taken; and
iv.  that all Members should attend the impact assessment briefings in order to support them undertake their statutory duties.

15. Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004 (Remuneration) Amendment Regulations 2024    
iaghailtean Atharrachaidh 2024 Achd an Riaghaltais Ionadail 2024 (Pàigheadh)

a. Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004 (Remuneration) Amendment Regulations 2024

There is circulated Report No HC/23/24 by the Chief Executive.

The Council is asked to note:-

i.    the implementation of the Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004 (Remuneration) Amendment Regulations 2024 which will provide for an uplift in councillor remuneration for those roles specifically included in the regulations;
ii.   that separate agenda recommendations propose the same uplift applying to other senior councillors at the discretion of the Council; 
iii.  that to provide mechanisms for addressing any uplifts in future years, the next review of the scheme of delegation will consider revisions which could delegate authority to an appropriate officer to implement uplifts in accordance with the relevant regulations.

b.    Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004 (Remuneration) Amendment Regulations 2024 – Remuneration of Chair and Vice Chair of Communities and Place Committee

Members are asked to agree to uplift the remuneration of the Chair and Vice Chair of Communities and Place Committee by an equivalent percentage increase to that covered in the amended 2024 Regulations.

c.    Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004 (Remuneration) Amendment Regulations 2024 – Remuneration of  Chair and Vice Chair of Corporate Resources Committee

Members are asked to agree to uplift the remuneration of the Chair and Vice Chair of Corporate Resources Committee by an equivalent percentage increase to that covered in the amended 2024 Regulations.

d.    Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004 (Remuneration) Amendment Regulations 2024 – Remuneration of Chair and Vice Chair of Economy and Infrastructure Committee

Members are asked to agree to uplift the remuneration of the Chair and Vice Chair of Economy and Infrastructure Committee by an equivalent percentage increase to that covered in the amended 2024 Regulations.

e.    Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004 (Remuneration) Amendment Regulations 2024 – Remuneration of Chair and Vice Chair of Education Committee

Members are asked to agree to uplift the remuneration of the Chair and Vice Chair of Education Committee by an equivalent percentage increase to that covered in the amended 2024 Regulations.

f.    Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004 (Remuneration) Amendment Regulations 2024 – Remuneration of Chair and Vice Chair of Health, Social Care and Wellbeing Committee

Members are asked to agree to uplift the remuneration of the Chair and Vice Chair of Health, Social Care and Wellbeing Committee by an equivalent percentage increase to that covered in the amended 2024 Regulations.

g.    Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004 (Remuneration) Amendment Regulations 2024 – Remuneration of Chair and Vice Chair of Housing and Property Committee

Members are asked to agree to uplift the remuneration of the Chair and Vice Chair of Housing and Property Committee by an equivalent percentage increase to that covered in the amended 2024 Regulations.
h.    Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004 (Remuneration) Amendment Regulations 2024 – Remuneration of the Leader of Inverness and Area

Members are asked to agree to uplift the remuneration of the Leader of Inverness and Area by an equivalent percentage increase to that covered in the amended 2024 Regulations.

i.    Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004 (Remuneration) Amendment Regulations 2024 – Remuneration of Leader of the Opposition

Members are asked to agree to uplift the remuneration of the Leader of the Opposition by an equivalent percentage increase to that covered in the amended 2024 Regulations.

j.    Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004 (Remuneration) Amendment Regulations 2024 – Remuneration of Chair of Audit Committee

Members are asked to agree to uplift the remuneration of the Chair of Audit Committee by an equivalent percentage increase to that covered in the amended 2024 Regulations.

16. Highland Armed Forces and Veterans’ Community Covenant Annual Report
Cunntas às Ùr mu Chùmhnant Coimhearsnachd Feachdan na Gàidhealtachd

There is circulated Report No. HC/24/24 by the Assistant Chief Executive – Corporate.

The Council is asked to note the report.

17. Timetable of Meetings
Clàr-ama Choinneamhan airson

The Council is invited to agree that:-

i.     Climate Change Committee be moved from 3 October 2024 to 28 August 2024;
ii.    North Planning Applications Committee be moved from 10 September 2024 to 17 September 2024; and
iii.   Planning Review Body be moved to from 17 September 2024 to 24 September 2024.

The Council is also asked to note that special meetings of the Nairnshire Committee and Pensions Committee/Board were held the 24 June 2024.

18. Clerk to the Highland Licensing Board
Clèireach do Bhòrd Cheadachd na Gàidhealtachd

The Council is asked to agree the reappointment of Ms C McArthur as Clerk to the Highland Licensing Board.

19. Deeds Executed Sgrìobhainnean Lagha a Bhuilicheadh

There is circulated for noting a list of deeds and other documents executed on behalf of the Council since the meeting held on 9 May 2024.

20. Recess Powers
Cumhachdan Fosaidh

The Council is invited to agree that, during the recess period, powers should be granted to the Chief Executive and Assistant Chief Executives, in consultation with the Convener, Leader of the Council, relevant Committee Chair and the Leader of the Opposition, to deal with issues arising during that time and that a report should be prepared for the first meeting of the Council or relevant Committee following the period where these powers have been exercised.

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

The Council 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 item 22 only on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 1 of Part 1 of Schedule 7A of the Act.

22. Update on the Senior Management Team Restructure and Next Steps in Implementation    
Cunntas às Ùr mu Ath-structaradh an Àrd-Sgioba-Stiùiridh agus na h-Ath Cheumannan Buileachaidh

There is circulated to Members only Confidential Report No. HC/25/24 by the Chief Executive.

The Council is invited to agree the recommendations as set out in the report.

23. Notices of Motion
Brathan Gluasaid 

The following Notices of Motion have been received by the Head of Legal and Governance – 

With the launch of the Highland Investment Plan and the significant proposed investment across the Highlands it is incumbent on the Council that all expenditure is done in a responsible and prudent fashion. 

Given that this Council has current debt liabilities of £1.142B which is an increase of some £60M in Q4 alone and with a projected expenditure of £2B over the next 20 years this council will request that the Section 95 officer carries out an investigation into options on how future borrowing can be done in a fashion that will ensure, where possible, that all borrowing is repaid within the lifetime of the loan period. The findings and proposals of this to come back to a future Full Council meeting within this financial year.

The aim of this is to ensure that future borrowing by this Council will not result in a debt burden being left for future Councils and residents of the Highlands to address many years into the future.  

Signed:   Mr R Gale      Mr A Christie

Section 95 Officer assessment of financial implications:

This motion is not anticipated to have a financial implication to the Council.

URGENT ITEM

National Care Service Update    
Cunntas mun t-Seirbheis Chùraim Nàiseanta

There is circulated Report No. HC/26/24 by the Assistant Chief Executive – People.

The Council is asked to note:

i.    the proposed Stage 2 amendments to the National Care Service Bill set out in Appendix 1 to the report which will result in the introduction of a single model of integration and the consequent removal of the Lead Agency Model; and 
ii.    further updates providing clarity on the legal, financial and governance implications will come forward to future meetings of the Council.