Agendas, reports and minutes

A meeting of the Highland Council will be held in the Council Chamber, Council Headquarters, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness on Thursday 12 December 2024 at 10.00am or following the conclusion of the Special Meeting of the Highland Council (starting at 9.30am), whichever is the later.

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 
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. Medium Term Financial Plan: 2025/26 – 2027/28    
Plana Ionmhasail Meadhan-ùine 2025/26 gu 2027/28

There is circulated Report No. HC/41/24 by the Chief Officer – Corporate Finance.

The Council is asked to:-

i.    note the update provided relating to the UK Government Budget;
ii.   note the update provided relating to the 4 December 2024 Scottish Government Budget (to follow);
iii.  note the update relating to Medium-Term Financial Planning, the forecast budget gap, and actions and workstreams being taken forward;
iv.   note the update provided regarding review of Earmarked Reserves;
v.    agree to the re-allocation of re-purposed reserves into the Future Investment Capacity Fund;
vi.   note the update provided regarding the potential Highland Investment Plan (HIP) funding implications and Capital Quantum, and relevance to the separate HIP update provided on the agenda for this meeting;
vii.  note the update provided regarding Budget Engagement; and
viii. note the proposed draft Financial Sustainability Indicators with these to be updated and incorporated into the report to Special Council on 6 March 2025.

4. Highland Investment Plan – Progress Update
Plana Tasgaidh na Gàidhealtachd – Cunntas Adhartais

There is circulated Report No. HC/42/24 by the Assistant Chief Executive - Place.

The Council is asked to:-

i.    note the potential indicative quantum of capital funding available over the five-year period and the associated financial implications;
ii.   note the procurement approach to develop the five agreed Phase 1 projects to tender stage and the progress in exploring procurement routes for the delivery of other future HIP projects;
iii.  agree the proposed location for a Community Point of Delivery (POD) development in Dingwall and to commence discussions with the landowner regarding the future purchase of the required site area;
iv.   agree a contribution of £150,000 from the approved capital programme towards the flood mitigation work being carried out in Dingwall;
v.    note the progress in identifying the short-list of options to be taken forward to the next stage of the options appraisal process for the Community POD location in Thurso and that the Stage 3 outcome will be reported to the Council meeting on 26 June 2025;
vi.   note that the outcomes from Stage 2 of the options appraisal process for each of the five other prioritised Phase 1 locations at Alness, Brora, Dornoch, Golspie and Invergordon (i.e. a short list of options for each location) will be reported to Council on a phased basis throughout the course of 2025.;
vii.  note the progress in developing concept designs for future Community POD arrangements and the work being progressed in relation to how these facilities should operate differently in future;
viii. approve the timeline of future decisions on the Highland Investment Plan in 2025, as described in section 11.4 of the report; and
ix.   note the progress in developing a Learning Estate Strategy and that the final version will be reported to the Education Committee meeting on 26 February 2025.

5. 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 6 only on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 6 and 9 of Part 1 of Schedule 7A of the Act.

6. Highland Investment Plan – Investment    
Plana Tasgaidh na Gàidhealtachd – Tasgaidh

There will follow Confidential Report No. HC/43/24 by the Assistant Chief Executive – Place.

7. Proposed Change to the Model of Integration    
Atharrachadh ga Mholadh a Thaobh a’ Mhodail Amalachais

There is circulated to Report No. HC/44/24 by the Chief Executive.

The Council is invited to agree:-

i.   to reconsider the model of the Scheme of Integration, including the option of moving from a Lead Agency Model to a body corporate model;
ii.  that preparatory will be undertaken to identify the optimal future integration model in Highland and to make recommendations on modifications to the model currently in place in Highland; 
iii. to create a strategic Steering Group to oversee the required work with representation from both lead agencies including councillor and officer representation from The Highland Council and executive and non- executive director representation from NHS Highland; and
iv.  the approach to joint communications advised in this report, to ensure that all stakeholders are fully appraised of plans as they evolve and have the chance to shape them.

8. UK Government Consultation: Electricity Consenting in Scotland    
Co-chomhairleachadh Riaghaltas na RA: Aontachadh Dealain ann an Alba

There is circulated Report No. HC/45/24 by the Assistant Chief Executive – Place.

The Council is asked to:-

i.  note the officer response set out in Appendix 1 to the report; and 
ii. agree to add any further points raised at the meeting to the Council’s formal response.

9. Members’ Learning and Development Programme    
Prògram Ionnsachaidh agus Leasachaidh Bhall

There is circulated Report No. HC/46/24 by the Chief Officer, Legal & Corporate Governance.

The Council is asked to:-

i.   approve the refreshed Members’ Learning and Development Framework;
ii.  approve the draft Members’ Learning and Development Programme for 2025; 
iii. agree the Members’ Learning and Development Programme for 2025 will be kept under review by the Governance Review Steering Group; 
iv.  agree a future report is considered at Council on 11 December 2025;
v.   agree Committee Chairs in consultation with Committee Members will  establish individual committee learning and development pathways; and
vi.  agree to deliver an all Members event in 2025.

10. Question Time 
Àm Ceiste 

There is circulated Public and Members Questions received by the Chief Officer - Legal and Corporate Governance.  

For Member Questions, one supplementary question will be allowed in each case which will be answered by the recipient of the original question.

11. Membership of the Council
Ballrachd na Comhairle

The Council is advised that, following the By-Election for Ward 21 held on 21 November 2024, Mr A Baxter was elected as a Member of the Council.   

12. Membership of Committees etc
Ballrachd Chomataidhean msaa 

The Council is advised that Mr S Mackie has joined the Scottish Liberal Democrats and as a result of the By-Election the political make-up of the Council is now as follows:-

SNP – 21 / Highland Independent – 16 / Scottish Liberal Democrats – 15 / Highland Alliance – 7 / Scottish Conservative and Unionist – 6 / Scottish Green Party – 4 / Labour – 2 / Alba – 1 / Non-Aligned - 2.

The formula in respect of the number of places on Strategic Committees remains the same, 6/4/4/2/2.

On that basis, revised Committee memberships will be tabled at the meeting.

13. Appointment of Office Bearers
Cur an Dreuchd Luchd-oifis

Nominations for the post of Vice Chair of Pensions Committee are invited.

14. Appointment of Members to the Highland Licensing
Cur Bhall an Dreuchd gu Comataidh Ceadachd na Gàidhealtachd 

Following the resignation of Mr P Oldham from the Highland Licensing Committee, the Committee is asked to agree one appointment from Wards 11-21.

15. 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 31 October 2024.

16. Notices of Motion     
Brathan Gluasaid 

There is circulated Notices of Motion received by the Chief Officer - Legal and Corporate Governance.

17. 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 31 October 2024 (pp.1449-1465) as contained in the Volume which has been circulated separately.

18. 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, 4 November 2024 
Nairnshire Committee, 4 November 2024
Housing and Property Committee, 6 November 2024
Climate Change Committee, 7 November 2024

Starred Item as follows:-

Item 4 – Net Zero Programme Update - agree to recommend to Council the approval of the project brief templates in Appendix 2 of the report for inclusion in the Council’s Net Zero Action Plan.

Item 10 - The Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategy (LHEES) Delivery Plan Update - agree to recommend that the Council approve the draft LHEES Delivery Plan Strategic Approach set out at Appendix 1 of the report, and the draft Delivery Plan contained in Appendix 2 of the report.

Item 11 – Innovation Funding - agree to recommend that the Council approve the proposal to develop a more focused and consistent approach to bid writing around the Net Zero agenda supported by the climate and energy team as part of the innovation and investment workstream in the Council’s Our Future Highland Delivery Plan.

Caithness Committee, 11 November 2024
Dingwall, Seaforth Committee, 11 November 2024
Wester Ross, Strathpeffer & Lochalsh Committee Lochaber Area Committee, 11 November 2024

Starred Item as follows:-

Item 6 – Fort William Common Good Asset Register – 

iii. Agreed to the publication of the Fort William Common Good Asset Register;
iv.  Agreed to the re-classification of the properties included on the asset register and to the creation of the Fort William Common Good Fund; and
vii. Agreed, for full transparency, clarification was sought as to the division of Highland Council/ Fort William Common Good Fund land in relation to the West End car park as well as other assets in future, and also the share of responsibility for costs of major repairs to the sea wall containing the West End car park.
        
Sutherland County Committee, 12 November 2024
Health, Social Care and Wellbeing Committee, 13 November 2024

Starred Item as follows:-

Item 11 – Champions Update – agreed that Ms Sarah Atkin be appointed as a Children’s Champion.

Economy and Infrastructure Committee, 14 November 2024
City of Inverness Area Committee, 18 November 2024
Gaelic Committee,  20 An T-Samhain 2024
Comataidh na Gaidhlig, 20 November 2024
Education Committee, 21 November 2024
Badenoch and Strathspey Area Committee, 25 November 2024
Isle of Skye and Raasay Committee, 25 November 2024
Communities and Place Committee 27 November 2024, To follow
Audit Committee, 28 November 2024, To follow

Starred Item as follows:– 

Item 8 – Audit Committee Annual Report 2023/24 - agree to recommend the report to Council to acknowledge that the necessary assurances had been provided by the Audit Committee to demonstrate that it had fulfilled its purpose and could demonstrate its impact for 2023/24.

Corporate Resources Committee, 5 December 2024, To follow
Pensions Committee (Special), 6 December 2024, To follow

Minutes of Meetings not included in the Volume are as follows:-    
    
i.   Highland and Western Isles Valuation Joint Board – for noting – held on  23 September 2024 (approved by the Board on 20 November 2024); 
ii.  Community Planning Board – for noting – held on 20 September 2024 (approved by the Board on 4 December 2024) (to follow);    
iii. Recruitment Panel – for noting – held on 28 October 2024 (approved by the Panel on 19 November 2024) and 19 November 2024 ; and
iv.  Redesign Board – for approval – held on 20 November 2024.