Thurso River flood prevention scheme could be axed as part of Highland Council's budget savings

A £1.2 million flood prevention scheme earmarked for Thurso River could be axed as part of Highland Council budget cuts of £127 million.

Local councillor, Ron Gunn, who chairs the local authority's Caithness Committee, said it would be "disappointing" if the project was knocked back. "I would like to see it happening as soon as possible but will have to wait and see what happens. I don't know what the result of the discussions will be but I would be surprised if the cuts do not go through."

Mr Gunn, a Thurso and Northwest Caithness ward representative, described the cuts to the capital budget as "huge" and said it would be "very, very challenging"for the administration.

He was speaking before today's full Highland Council meeting in Inverness when the proposed savings will be discussed.

The cuts would see 10 major school building schemes in the Inverness and easter Ross areas scrapped along with dozens of other projects across the Highlands as the council looks to save on a huge array of projects in a bid to reduce its budget.

The £4.8 million community and leisure budget for improvements to Inverness Leisure/Aquadome (£2.6 million) and the Eden Court Theatre Redevelopment (£2.2 million) are set to be axed.

Roads will lose £6.6 million while the Levelling Up Fund NC500 matching investment of £4 million is expected to be ditched.

In a report to councillors, director of corporate finance, Brian Porter, said: "The review process has indicated that due to rising capital costs and inflation, the costs of delivering the capital programme had increased from £475m at March 2023 to £566m at July 2023. This has widened the gap between the current programme and an affordable level."

He pointed out that a new recommended capital programme covering the period 2024/25 to 2028/29 has been produced. "Any projects which fall beyond the five-year duration will be reflected in ‘future years’ and a future capital review would need to determine priorities, phasing and affordability for 2029/30 and beyond.

The proposed programme will see £343m of General Fund investment over the 5 year period." That figure includes £162 million of core funding plus £181 million on capital spending.

Council leader Raymond Bremner said the local authority will continue to face challenges on its capital investment but stressed it is necessary to agree £343m of General Fund capital investment over 2024/25 to 2028/29, " to fund a number of priorities, while remaining affordable."

The Wick and east Caithness councillor said the review was needed "due to significant inflationary costs."

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