Social Value Ideas for Comhairle nan Eilean Siar

Offshore wind objection approved

The council agreed to object to the Spiorad na Mara offshore wind farm consultation and to raise strong concerns about the adequacy of the EIA. The objection cited unacceptable landscape, seascape, vi…

“The planning applications board have recommended that the council, having regard to the examination of relevant parts of the EIA report and the consul…”

Tarbert 46-home scheme approved with conditions

The committee considered and approved a major planning application for 46 houses at Scot Road, Tarbert, in two phases. The scheme includes access roads, footpaths, air source heat pumps, surface water…

“Item number four is planning permission to construct 46 houses and associated access roads, air source heat pumps and surface water drainage system. u…”

Planning Fees Expanded

The council approved extending its discretionary planning fee scheme to cover pre-application advice, non-material variations and related planning services from 1 July 2026. The change is intended to …

“"This report seeks approval to expand the corer scheme of fees for discretionary planning services building on those already agreed for major developm…”

Planning threshold response backed

The committee agreed a response to Scottish Government’s consultation to keep the 50 MW threshold for determining onshore electricity generation applications, citing planning service pressure and the …

“As you say, it's a consultation by Scottish government on increasing the threshold under which Scottish ministers would consider planning applications…”

Planning pre-app fee scheme

Members approved a discretionary fee scheme for pre-application planning advice on major developments, to be introduced from 1 March 2026. The service is non-statutory and subject to review after one …

“Item 12 report seeks approval of a schema fees to be laid for the station service delivered by the corner development management service. defeats of t…”

Marybank workers accommodation approved

The council approved a temporary workers’ residential accommodation scheme at the old dormitory site in Marybank, Isle of Lewis, following a planning applications board recommendation. The scheme is f…

“Item number four on the agenda is, um, proposed temporary workers residential accommodation including welfare facilities, parking, associated infrastr…”

Debt Write-off Approved

The council wrote off £68,114.78 of irrecoverable debts covering council tax, non-domestic rates, sundry debts and housing benefit overpayments. Officers confirmed that the sundry debt element related…

“"This report recommends that a number of irreoverable debts in respect of council tax, non-domemestic rates, Sunday debts, and housing benefit overp p…”

Draft annual accounts approved

The committee approved the draft annual accounts for 2025/26 for submission to Audit Scotland. The report was time-critical because the statutory deadline was the same day as the meeting, and only min…

“item two on the agenda is declaration of interest. Members are asked to declare any interest they have in any items of the agenda and be helpful membe…”

Audit recovery and qualified opinion

External audit confirmed the 2024/25 accounts now have sufficient assurance over current-year figures, moving from last year’s disclaimer to a qualified opinion because 2023/24 comparatives remain aff…

“So last year we issued a disclaimer of opinion due to the cyber attack as we couldn't obtain sufficient evidence across the accounts. This year we've …”

Revenue outturn surplus and carryforwards

The council reviewed its 2025-26 revenue outturn and approved the departmental carryforwards. The outturn showed an indicative unaudited surplus of £3.4 million, with all departments within budget tol…

“In case item two, this report details the council's revenue outturn for 2025-26 and seeks approval for the departmental carryforwards. A summary of th…”

Police dog funded by ADP

The police dog used to detect drugs has been funded by the Alcohol and Drugs Partnership, including the dog and handler. The inspector reported that the dog is finding drugs routinely and generating o…

“Um, we are very very grateful to the uh the alcohol and drugs partnership for the funding around the police dog etc. and the handler. Uh we are having…”

Body-worn video cameras issued

Police confirmed that body-worn video cameras have now been introduced locally and are being used at domestic abuse scenes and other live incidents. The inspector said the islands are behind the mainl…

“We've just been brought in body warn video cameras here which we're using now. And we've had them in the mainlanders police for 25 years. So, we're a …”

Drug swipes and testing

There was repeated discussion of introducing roadside drug swipes and associated laboratory processing to address a perceived gap in drug-driving enforcement. The inspector said the island currently l…

“Drug driving is quite controversial. Again, I was a surprise we don't have drug swipes, which is probably a a contentious issue for you all on the isl…”