Glenurquhart Road
Inverness
IV3 5NX
21 August 2024
To: Directors of the Board of High Life Highland
Biz Campbell David Finlayson
Nick Finnigan Michael Golding
Roddy Henry Marianne Hutchison
Andrew Jarvie Tracy Ligema
Drew Millar Ken Nicol
Kerry Ross Mark Tate
Dear Director
A meeting of the Board of High Life Highland will take place in Boardroom, Inverness Library, Farraline Park, Inverness on Thursday 28 August 2024 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 Purpose, Key Business Objectives and Corporate Values 2022-27 PP.1-3
There is circulated summary of High Life Highland’s purpose, key business objectives and corporate values as extracted from the High Life Highland Business Plan 2022- 27.
4. Confirmation of Minutes PP.4-24
The following Minutes are circulated for approval:-
i. Board Meeting held on 12 June 2024 (pp.4-10);
ii. Finance and Audit Committee held on 12 August 2024 (pp.11-15);
iii. Health and Safety and Environmental Compliance Committee held on 12 August 2024 (pp.16-18);
and for noting:-
iv. High Life Highland (Trading) held on 12 June 2024 (pp.19-24).
5. Matters Arising – Board Meeting of 12 June 2024 P.25
There is circulated, for information, matters arising from the meeting of the Board held on 12 June 2024.
The Board is invited to note the position.
6. High Life Highland – Independent Directors P.26
In terms of the Memorandum and Articles of Association, the question of which Independent Directors are to retire at the next Annual General Meeting (AGM) requires to be determined at this Board meeting. Should no other Independent Directors put themselves forward for retiral, the two longest serving Directors are Mr Ken Nicol and Mr Mark Tate. Directors electing to retire are reminded that they must intimate whether or not they are willing to be re-appointed with effect from the conclusion of the AGM with any such declaration being final and conclusive.
The Board is therefore also invited to:-
i. agree that individual Directors consider if they wish to retire with effect from the AGM, bearing in mind that they can also intimate their intention to seek re- election;
ii. should no Directors indicate their intention to resign, note the terms of office and, consequently, that Ken Nicol and Mark Tate are scheduled to stand down/seek re-appointment;
iii. note the two Directors’ terms of office would take effect from the next AGM, scheduled at present for March 2025;
iv. consider the generic Skills Set; and
v. agree that specific skills required by the Board be identified in any accompanying advert.
7. Approval of Draft Annual Report and Accounts to 31 March 2024 PP.27-66
There is circulated Report No. HLH/14/24 by the Chief Executive presenting the annual report and accounts for High Life Highland for the period ending 31 March 2024. Eunice McAdam from Saffery will be present at the meeting to discuss the detail.
The Board is invited to agree:-
i. the Annual Report and Audited Accounts as detailed in Booklet A of the report; and
ii. to authorise the Chair to sign the Directors Going Concern statement contained in Appendix B of the report.
8. Inverness Castle Project
Sally Reynolds from the project’s Operations Partner, Spider Entertainment, will give an overview of the ‘Branded Customer Service Training’ that is being developed for the new castle team.
The Board is invited to comment on and note the content of the update.
9. Summary of Year in Office – Youth Convener
Orla MacLeod, Youth Convener, will be present at the meeting to provide a summary of the main elements of work/achievements at the end of the tenure as Youth Convener.
The Board is invited to comment on and note the content of the update.
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. Service Delivery Contract PP.67-80
There is circulated Report No. HLH/15/24 by the Chief Executive providing an update on the Service Delivery Contract Review which the Highland Council is scheduled to consider the draft report in Appendix A at its Education Committee meeting on 12 September 2024. The report is presented here to allow HLH Board consideration and feedback to the Council.
The Board is invited to agree the recommendations.
11. Business Plan Development PP.81-106
There is circulated Report No. HLH/16/24 by the Chief Executive detailing a process for the development of the next business plan including consideration of a brief for a business planning workshop.
The Board is invited to:-
i. agree to the development of a new business plan;
ii. agree to the appointment of an external facilitator to support the development of the plan;
iii. consider and approve the facilitator brief in Appendix A of the report; and
iv. agree to consider draft and final business plan reports at the December and March HLH Board meetings respectively.
12. Carbon Reduction Planning and Development PP.107-124
There is circulated Report No. HLH/17/24 by the Chief Executive providing information on HLH’s work, including joint work with the Highland Council, on carbon reduction.
The Board is invited to note:-
i. the work to reduce HLH’s carbon footprint to date; and
ii. that there is further work underway with the Highland Council to develop HLH’s approach to carbon reduction.
13. Training Update PP.125-128
There is circulated Report No. HLH/18/24 by the Chief Executive providing an update on the requirements and development of training for High Life Highland employees. Information about the recent work which has taken place, with proposed next steps is provided in the report.
The Board is invited to note:-
i. the progress made to date; and
ii. comment on the update.
14. Finance Report PP.129-135
There is circulated Report No. HLH/19/24 dated by the Chief Executive updating Directors on the financial performance of High Life Highland for quarter one and other relevant matters.
The Board is invited to:-
i. note the draft year end outturn for 2024/25, as detailed in Appendices A-C reports a projected deficit of £24k;
ii. note no breaches of internal controls have been reported in the past quarter;
iii. note no reportable data breaches have been reported in the past quarter;
iv. note that the charity remains Teckal compliant; and
v. approve the award of the Leisure Management System contract at paragraph 7.1 of the report.
15. Performance Report PP.136-170
There is circulated Report No. HLH/20/24 dated by the Chief Executive presenting performance information for the period April to June 2024 (Quarter one).
The Board is invited to:-
i. comment on the report and agree that the overall health check on the charity for that period is rated as amber based on the financial situation and reserves position; and
ii. note that between the support of the Highland Council and the income and efficiency savings made, the position is improving although likely to remain amber until the budget can be balanced and progress can be made towards meeting the 3% reserves policy.
16. Human Resources Update PP.171-175
There is circulated Report No. HLH/21/24 by the Chief Executive providing an update on the charity’s Human Resources related matters.
The Board is invited to comment on and note the HR matters for Q1 (April – June 2024).
17. Annual Review of Risk Register PP.176-197
There is circulated Report No. HLH/22/24 by the Chief Executive providing an update on High Life Highland’s Risk Register.
The Board is invited to:-
i. identify any risks which may not be included in the register;
ii. review and approve the Risk Register at Appendix A of the report.
18. Health and Wellbeing Strategy Update PP.198-203
There is circulated Report No. HLH/23/24 by the Chief Executive providing an update on health and wellbeing activity in High Life Highland. Some examples of the work which has taken place to support health and wellbeing in Highland communities are included within the report.
The Board is invited to note and comment on the update and progress made to date.
19. Chair/Chief Executive’s Updates PP.204-205
There is circulated Report No. HLH/24/24 by the Chief Executive providing information to Directors and the opportunity for them to discuss issues affecting HLH and its work at an early stage.
The Board is invited to comment and note the updates.
