Members of The Highland Council's Economy and Infrastructure Committee have agreed a delivery plan that will see £3 million of funding from the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF). This is invested to support Highland communities, businesses, employment and tourism.
The Highland Council has issued its support to a Scottish Government proposal to give local authorities the power to create a cruise ship levy in the area. A meeting of the council's Economy and Infrastructure Committee on Thursday (29 May) heard that such a levy could provide additional funds to mitigate the impacts of tourism and ensure the area remains a world leading and sustainable tourism destination.
Members of The Highland Council's Economy and Infrastructure Committee (Thursday 29 May) approved the final step to formalise all 20mph schemes in the Highlands and a Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) will now be actioned. All the roads included in the final TRO follow the outcome of technical assessments, discussions with Members, Community Councils and the public.
Members of the Economy and Infrastructure Committee have agreed to adopt the 2025 Planning Enforcement Charter that captures all planning enforcement policy and procedures. It explains how the enforcement process works, the Council's roles and responsibilities and the service standard that have been set.
The Highland Council has taken part in the UK Real Estate Investment & Infrastructure Forum (UKREiiF) 2025 in Leeds, joining forces with the Scottish Cities Alliance to spotlight Scotland's collective strengths in sustainable development and innovation. This year marked the Council's most proactive engagement yet, presenting the Highlands as a region of strategic opportunity within a united national vision.
At a meeting of the Economy and Infrastructure Committee, (Thursday 29 May 2025), members gave their support to the progress being made in taking a Social Value Charter forward that aims to maximises economic benefits from the natural environment and resources and ensure communities receive tangible benefits from renewable energy developments. Members agreed that representations continue to be made to both the Scottish and UK Governments on the need of mandatory benefit and that the Council continues to engage with renewable developers to sign up to the Charter.
Committee Chair appointed to represent the Council at two European Maritime networks. The Chair of The Highland Council's Economy and Infrastructure Committee, Councillor Ken Gowans has been appointed to the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions of Europe (CPMR) and the North Sea Commission (NSC.
Highland, Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire and Moray Councils are today announcing that EasyGo has been awarded a 20-year contract to provide EV charging infrastructure for the north of Scotland. The contract is estimated to be worth £300 million, with Highland Council acting as the lead authority.
Members of Highland Council's Economy and Infrastructure Committee have today agreed to the principle of the Council endorsing proposed environmental scheme sites in advance for new infrastructure projects. Economy and Infrastructure Committee Chair, Councillor Ken Gowans said: "Developers delivering major infrastructure projects often find it challenging to quickly secure sufficient land for their environmental scheme obligations.
Members of the Highland Council's Economy and Infrastructure Committee have today agreed a Regional Coastal Change Adaptation Plan. This will enable coastal communities to become more resilient to the impacts of climate change over time.
Mounting pressures from inflation, increasing costs and demand are exceeding the Scottish Government's additional investment in Scotland's councils. In 2025/26 councils received over £15 billion in government funding, with more money set to be raised from council tax and charges for some services.
The Highland Council is now accepting expressions of interest for the Regeneration Capital Grant Fund for 2026-27. The Fund supports locally developed place-based regeneration projects that involve local communities, helping to tackle inequalities and deliver inclusive growth in deprived, and fragile communities across Scotland.
At the meeting Economy and Infrastructure Committee next week (Thursday 28 May) members will decide how over £3 million of funding from the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) will be used over the next 12 months to deliver a positive impact across communities. The proposed 2025/26 Highland UKSPF Delivery Plan is made up of a range of projects geared to delivering positive impacts.
The Highland Council has launched phase 2 of a public consultation on how Community Councils across the Highlands are created and governed. The Community Council Scheme Review was on the agenda of the Highland Council meeting held on the 15 May 2025, Members agreed to the phase 2 review of the Scheme and that the proposals informed by the phase 1 review be subject to further public consultation.
Environmental schemes on the agenda of Highland Council's Economy and Infrastructure Committee Members of Highland Council's Economy and Infrastructure Committee will have the opportunity to discuss compensatory planting schemes and biodiversity enhancement when they meet on Thursday 29 May. Economy and Infrastructure Committee Chair, Cllr Ken Gowans said: "Environmental schemes are important for our communities as they ensure that biodiversity is improved when new infrastructure projects are developed.
Highland Council has updated members of the Communities and Place Committee on its Fleet Action Plan supplied to the Office of the Traffic Commissioner for Scotland. The action plan was developed following an independent audit of the Council's fleet operations and addresses a number of improvements being made in relation to compliance and control processes and monitoring of heavy goods vehicles.
Members of Highland Council's Communities and Place Committee have today welcomed progress against the Council’s Equality Mainstreaming and Outcomes Report. They also agreed a revised set of equality outcomes for 2025- 2029.
Highland Council's Climate Change Committee has today reaffirmed its commitment to climate adaptation by supporting the continued work of Highland Adapts - a regional initiative focused on building climate resilience through partnership and community-led action. Chair of the Climate Change Committee, Councillor Sarah Fanet, said: "The Highland region is already experiencing the effects of climate change from increased flooding to changes in biodiversity and these impacts are only expected to intensify.
At the meeting of the Highland Council's Climate Change Committee, Members were given an update on the Council's Net Zero Programme. Members welcomed the development of projects that will deliver carbon reductions, operational efficiencies and financial savings.
