Members agreed a 7% increase in Council Tax, one of the lowest increases in Scotland, with 2% of this allocated to create capital investment fund for schools and roads as part of the Highland Investment Plan.

A package of an additional £14m savings, efficiencies and income generation was agreed, without the need for use of Reserves to balance the budget. This will add to existing saving plans, resulting in a total of £36.7m to be delivered over three years. These new savings are described under the themes of improvements to our operating model, efficiencies and mechanisms to generate additional income for the council.

Key investments include:

• The creation of a Poverty and Equality Commission for the Highland area, with £870k of revenue and reserve funding associated with specific developments to focus on tackling poverty
• £2.3m in education (focusing on school improvement and additional support needs, £0.3m of which is aligned with the tackling poverty theme)
• The investment of an additional £250k to increase the funding for respite provision across the Highland area
• Major upgrades to grass cutting and local amenities service (£450k)
• The reinstatement of the Council Access Ranger Service for 2025-26 (£655k)
• The establishment of community touch down and access for staff across a number of locations, as part of our work to develop a more integrated offering more locally for the public (£500k)
• £8m energy investment fund will be created to enable on-going revenue from renewables
• £6m expansion fund will be created to enable the expansion of the provision of our in-house bus services
• £500k Repair the Highlands fund to support and enable community based recycling schemes
• £2m fund to increase the numbers of teachers in line with national policy

Leader of the council Raymond Bremner said: “I am delighted that Members have today supported the creation of a Poverty and Equality Commission for the Highland area, underpinned by £870k, to focus on tackling poverty and inequality across Highland communities. This in addition to our planned investment programme will help to sustain our Highland communities, with affordable homes, better access to renewable energy, job opportunities and economic prosperity.”

Convener of the council Bill Lobban said: “Long term financial planning has enabled us to be in the position today of being able to invest rather than cut. Our savings and income generation plans will mean we can focus a large proportion of our Reserves on investing in huge projects such as an £8m energy investment fund and a £6m transport expansion fund, which will benefit Highland people for many years to come.”

The full budget report can be found on the council’s website.