8 December 2025

Glenurquhart Road

Inverness

IV3 5NX

1 December 2025

To: Directors of the Board of High Life Highland

   
Dear Director

A meeting of the Board of High Life Highland will take place in Boardroom, Inverness Library, Farraline Park, Inverness on Monday 8 December 2025 at 2.00 pm.

Yours faithfully

STEWART FRASER

COMPANY SECRETARY

BUSINESS

1.        Apologies for Absence

2.        Declarations of Interest

Directors are asked to consider whether they have an interest to declare in relation to any item on the agenda for this meeting. Any Director making a declaration of interest should provide some information on the nature of the interest. Advice may be sought from Officers prior to the meeting taking place.

3.        High Life Highland 2025-30 Strategy P.1

There is circulated High Life Highland Strategy for 2025-30.

4.        Confirmation of Minutes PP. 2-25

The following Minutes are circulated for approval:-

i. Board Meeting held on 3 September 2025 (pp.2-8);
ii. Finance and Audit Committee held on 10 November 2025 (pp.9-12);
iii. Health and Safety and Environmental Compliance Committee held on 10 November 2025 (pp.13-19);

and for noting:-

iv. High Life Highland (Trading) held on 3 Septembr 2025 (pp.20-25).

5.        Matters Arising – Board Meeting of 3 September 2025 P. 26

There is circulated, for information, matters arising from the meeting of the Board held on 3 September 2025.

The Board is invited to note the position.

6.        Finance Report PP. 27-47

There is circulated Report No. HLH/21/25 by the Chief Executive updating Directors on the financial performance of High Life Highland for quarter two 2025/26 and other relevant matters.

The Board is invited to:-

i. note the draft year-end outturn for 2025/26 as detailed in Appendices A-C reports a projected deficit of £248k;
ii. note no breaches of internal controls;
iii. note no reportable data breaches have been reported in the past quarter;
iv. note the award of contract at paragraph 6.1 of the report; and
v. consider and approve the updated risk management documentation at Appendix E.

7.        Financial Planning 2026/27 - Presentation

The Chief Executive will give a presentation on the beginning of planning for the budget changes for financial year 2026/27.

The Committee is invited to comment on and note the position.

8.        Proposed Price Increases 2026/27 PP. 48-52

There is circulated Report No. HLH/22/25 by the Chief Executive providing Directors with details of proposals for increasing the prices for the highlife membership packages and leisure pay as you go prices as part of the 2026/27 budget setting process.

The Board is invited to approve:-

i. the pricing proposal for highlife subscriptions; and
ii. the pricing proposal for pay-as-you-go and letting activities, including a level of management discretionary pricing around key products/activities based on competitor analysis. High Life Membership

9.        High Life Membership Update PP. 53-60

There is circulated Report No. HLH/23/25 by the Chief Executive providing Directors with an update on the highlife membership performance.

The Board is invited to note the report and comment on any salient points.

The Board is asked to resolve that the following item be restricted to Directors and representatives from HLH and the Company Secretary’s office.

10.      Inverness Castle - Operations and Governance PP. 61-73

There is circulated Report No. HLH/24/25 by the Chief Executive providing an update on the financial and governance arrangements for the Inverness Castle Experience. 

The Board is invited to:-

i. note that the Highland Council’s Corporate Resources Committee considered a report in private on the Inverness Castle Experience at its meeting held on 20 November 2025 where it noted that the report formalised financial and operating arrangements associated with HLH operating the Inverness Castle experience on behalf of the Highland Council;
ii. note that a lease and a change control note (to add the requirement to operate the Inverness Castle Experience to the Service Delivery Contract with the Highland Council) are being drafted;
iii. note that HLH has written to HMRC, following advice from Saffery, on the VAT Cultural exemption;
iv. note that the Inverness Castle Experience will be operated on the assumption that the Cultural VAT exemption can be applied, with this being corrected if necessary on receipt of HMRC’s reply; and
v. agree to operate the Inverness Castle Experience on behalf of the Highland Council and authorise the Chief Executive to sign the lease and change control note.

11.      Inverness Castle Experience Update PP. 74-80

There is circulated Report No. HLH/25/25 by the Chief Executive providing a progress report on the Inverness Castle Experience.

The Board is invited to note the update.

12.      Quarter Two 2025/26 - Performance Report – HLH Strategy 2025-2030 PP. 81-146

There is circulated Report No. HLH/26/25 by the Chief Executive presenting performance information for the outcomes identified in the High Life Highland Strategy 2025-2030.

The Board is invited to:-

i. note and comment on the quarter two performance information;
ii. note the Digital Delivery Plan update in Appendix A of the report;
iii. consider and approve the Countryside Rangers and Health and Safety delivery plans in Appendices B1 and B2 of the report; and
iv. note the Archives and Countryside Rangers annual reviews in Appendices C1 and C2 of the report.

13.      Human Resources Update PP. 147-191

There is circulated Report No. HLH/27/25 by the Chief Executive providing an overview of the charity’s Human Resources performance.

The Board is invited to note the:-

i. HR performance information in Appendix A of the report;
ii. approve the Gender Pay Gap report for publication, in Appendix B of the report;
iii. consider and approve the changes to the Grievance and Disciplinary processes, in Appendices C1 and C2 of the report;
iv. establish a Grievance and Disciplinary Panel and a Grievance and Disciplinary Appeals Panel and appoint six Directors to serve on the two panels; and
v. note the new statutory guidance for Neonatal Care and Leave in Appendix D of the report.

The Board is asked to resolve that the following item be restricted to Directors and representatives from HLH and the Company Secretary’s office.

14.      Chief Executive’s Update PP. 192-193

There is an update from the Chief Executive providing information to Directors. The Board is invited to comment and note the update.

15.      Board and Committee Meeting Dates 2026 PP. 194-196

There is circulated Report No. HLH/28/25 by the Chief Executive setting out the meeting dates for High Life Highland for 2026.

The Board is invited to:-

i. agree dates and timings as detailed in Appendix A of the report; and
ii. note the position relating to Directors’ facility visits.

A G E N D A