Police expect to seek permission to close their Inverness control room in August, it has emerged.
The move would lead to the Highland service centre transferred to Dundee and the central belt.
It would follow its equivalent in Aberdeen, which was controversially closed in March, with services being transferred to Dundee.
While long expected, the final closure of the service centre is still likely to prove controversial, with Highland Council restating its opposition last night.
The force’s current thinking is set out in a report due to go before the board of the Scottish Police Authority (SPA) next week.
Assistant Chief Constable John Hawkins, who has oversight of the force’s national programme delivering change in how the service handles calls from the public, says in his report he will “expect to seek approval to proceed” in August.
The final decision will need to be taken by the SPA board and is expected to be considered when they meet on August 24 in Stirling.
The board is scheduled to hold its monthly public meeting in Inverness in September.
In his report Mr Hawkins said the chosen date reflects “the significance of the Aberdeen transition and the post transition and assurance activities”.
He added that the gaps between Aberdeen and Inverness closing dates were to carry out a review of performance after the change in March and ensure process around staff and ICT have been addressed.
Mr Hawkins will also tell the SPA board that the transition from Aberdeen “went smoothly” on the day and is now “performing well”.
He will also praise civilian staff and officers for their part in the transition from Aberdeen.
The moves to carry out a similar change in Inverness is likely to prove controversial.
Highland Council in particular has repeatedly stated its opposition to the proposal.
Leader Margaret Davidson is due to meet police this month and said she will seek assurances, particularly around previously announced plans to reassign the Inverness control room as a enquiry unit for the police national database.
Mrs Davidson said: “The council’s position has always been and remains that the police control room should be retained in the Highlands.
“The loss of this facility will mean a loss of skilled Highland jobs and a depletion of local knowledge and underlines the continual move to centralisation of services and jobs.”
Her colleague Councillor Matthew Reiss, a former senior police officer, echoed her concerns saying the language used in the report made it unclear what was happening with database enquiry centre.
He said: “Staff themselves need to know what is happening and if their jobs are safe.
“A report like this unfair on them.”
