Glenurquhart Road
Inverness
IV3 5NX
25 August 2025
To: Directors of the Board of High Life Highland
Michael Boylan Biz Campbell
David Finlayson Nick Finnigan
Michael Golding Roddy Henry
Marianne Hutchison Andrew Jarvie
Tracy Ligema Drew Millar
Kerry Ross Alli Vass
Dear Director
A meeting of the Board of High Life Highland will take place in Boardroom, Inverness Library, Farraline Park, Inverness on Wednesday 3 September 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. 2-22
The following Minutes are circulated for approval:-
i. Board Meeting held on 18 June 2025 (pp.2-6);
ii. Finance and Audit Committee held on 11 August 2025 (pp. 7-10);
iii. Health and Safety and Environmental Compliance Committee held on 11 August 2025 (pp. 11-17);
and for noting:-
iv. High Life Highland (Trading) held on 18 June 2025 (pp. 18-22).
5. Matters Arising – Board Meeting of 19 March 2025 P. 23
There is circulated, for information, matters arising from the meeting of the Board held on 19 March 2025.
The Board is invited to note the position.
5a. Appointment of Interim Vice Chair and Interim Chair of Finance and Audit
The Board is invited to appoint, on an interim basis:-
(a) a Vice Chair of the Board; and
(b) a Chair of the Finance and Audit Committee.
6. Approval of Draft Annual Report and Accounts to 31 March 2025 PP. 24-26 and Booklet A
There is circulated Report No. HLH/13/25 by the Chief Executive presenting the annual report and accounts for High Life Highland for the period ending 31 March 2025. Eunice McAdam from Saffery will be present at the meeting to discuss the detail.
The Board is invited to:-
i. agree the Annual Report and Audited Accounts as detailed in Booklet A of the report; and
ii. authorise the Chair to sign the Directors Going Concern statement (to follow); and
iii. note the signing of the Annual Report and Audited Accounts will be delayed until December 2025 due to energy and carbon reporting requirements.
7. Finance Report PP. 27-34
There is circulated Report No. HLH/14/25 by the Chief Executive updating Directors on the financial performance of High Life Highland for quarter one 2025/26 and other relevant matters.
The Board is invited to note:-
i. the draft year-end outturn for 2025/26 as detailed in Appendices A-C reports a deficit of £244k;
ii. an update on Inverness Castle will be provided at the meeting;
iii. the breach of internall controls;
iv. there have been no reportable data breaches in the last quarter;
v. the award of contracts at paragraph 7.1 of the report; and
vi. the requirement at paragraph 7.2 of the report for contract approval out with the Board meeting schedule.
The Board is asked to resolve that the following two items be restricted to Directors and representatives from HLH and the Company Secretary’s office.
8. North Coast Visitor Centre PP. 35-38
There is circulated Report No. HLH/15/25 by the Chief Executive.
The Board is invited to approve the recommendations.
9. Chief Executive’s Update PP. 39-42
There is an update from the Chief Executive providing information to Directors.
The Board is invited to comment and note the update.
10. Inverness Castle Experience Update
Officers present will give an update on governance and operational activity and progress since the last update in June 2025.
The Board is invited to comment on and note the content of the update.
11. Quarter One 2025/26 – Performance Report – HLH Strategy 2025-2030 PP. 43-112
There is circulated Report No. HLH/16/25 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 one performance information;
ii. note the library non-user survey in Appendix A of the report;
iii. approve the archives and museums and galleries delivery plans in Appendices B1 and B2 of the report;
iv. note the archives and the museums and galleries annual reviews in Appendices C1 and C2 of the report; and
v. approve the Integrated Impact Assessment Policy in Appendix D of the report and agree that an associated Impact Assessment paragraph be included in all future Board reports.
12. Human Resources Update PP. 113-137
There is circulated Report No. HLH/17/25 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. staff survey report in Appendix B of the report;
iii. policy reviews; and
iv. work with the Council on its HR and Payroll project.
13. Risk Register Annual Review PP. 138-170
There is circulated Report No. HLH/18/25 by the Chief Executive providing an update on High Life Highland’s Risk Register.
The Board is invited to:-
i. following discussion, add/amend any risks/risk management plans, to the register, which are identified at the meeting; and
ii. review and approve the Risk Register at Appendix A of the report.
14. Marketing and Engagement Update PP. 171-178
There is circulated Report No. HLH/19/25 by the Chief Executive providing a six- month update on the Marketing and Engagement activities and performance of High Life Highland.
The Board is invited to note:-
i. the to June 2025; and
ii. the website development timeline now aims to conclude with launch in January 2026.
The Board is asked to resolve that the following item be restricted to Directors and the HLH Chief Executive Officer and the Company Secretary’s representative only.
15. High Life Highland Restructure PP. 179-187
There is circulated Report No. HLH/20/25 by the Chief Executive providing an update to the organisational restructure.
The Board is invited to note the recommendations.
