Local Authority News
22/12/2023
Councils Predict Cuts And Job Losses Following Closer Examination Of The Scottish Budget
he Scottish Government has delivered a major blow to communities and has put councils at financial risk with a cash cut to Local Government in its draft Budget (published on 19th December) and no provision for inflation or pay increases, COSLA said. COSLA Leaders described the draft Budget as not only leaving councils at real and significant financial risk for the coming year, but as it stands, it will mean cuts in every community in Scotland and job losses across Scottish Local Government.18/12/2023
Highland Council Service Arrangements Over Festive Period 2023/2024
The Service Centre will close at 4pm on 22 December, re-opening on 27, 28 and 29 December (opening times 10am to 4pm). It will be closed on 1 and 2 January and open 8am to 5pm from 3 January 2024.16/12/2023
Response To Education Reform Bill Consultation By Highland Council
The Highland Council is supportive of the Scottish Government's Education Reform Bill, however the local authority stresses the need for adequate funding, resources and a focus on place-based solutions in the area to meet its vision. Cllr John Finlayson, Education Chair said: "It is important that we look to the future of Scottish Education from a Highland perspective.15/12/2023
Highland Council approves new Polling Scheme
Changes to a number of Polling Districts and Polling Places in the Highlands were agreed today (Thursday 14 December 2023) at the meeting of The Highland Council. Following the formal review of the Highland Polling Districts and Places, Members approved a new Scheme of Polling Districts and Polling Places that will be in place for the next elections.15/12/2023
Hundreds Of Responses Received To Budget Engagement of Highland Council
Hundreds of people have responded to the Highland Council's programme of engagement, completing a survey or taking part in the budget simulator challenge. The Council is facing an estimated budget gap of around £62m in 2024-25 and is expected to need over £100m over the next 3 years to balance the books with current expenditure.15/12/2023
Black Isle And Easter Ross Area Committees Of Highland Council Amalgamated
Members of Highland Council, who met today, Thursday, 14 December 2023, have agreed to amalgamate two local area committees. The former Black Isle and Easter Ross Area Committees will be merged to form a single area committee.13/12/2023
Council Confirms Priority For Gritting During Wintery Weather And Urges Everyone To Take Extra Care
Following a week of very icy and cold wintry weather, the Leader of The Highland Council has acknowledged the difficult conditions that recent adverse weather has created for road and footway users and is encouraging everyone to take extra care and allow additional time for journeys. Councillor Raymond Bremner said: "Ice, thaw and freezing rain sustained over a pro-longed period of time in many areas of the Highlands have meant that our gritting crews have had to take longer getting round all the routes agreed in the Council's Winter Maintenance Policy.11/12/2023
Council seeks views on Biodiversity Planning Guidance
The Highland Council has released for consultation new Biodiversity Planning Guidance that will support the implementation of cross-cutting biodiversity policies as set out in National Planning Framework 4. The Guidance aims to provide clarity and certainty for developers on what information is required to demonstrate the conservation, restoration, and enhancement of biodiversity and will enable the Planning Authority to take a consistent, proportionate, and balanced approach to decision making.9/12/2023
Plan Underway To Unlock Renewable Energy Funding And Provide Energy Security Resilience
Highland Council members will next week consider a report which looks at ways in which the local authority can leverage funding to deliver renewable energy projects to deliver net zero, generate income and maximise opportunities for the Highlands to benefit as a whole. Alongside this, Councillors will also be asked to look at measures relating to the development of complimentary approaches relating to community benefit and community wealth building.9/12/2023
Highland Council Will Consider New Income Generation Options
Members of Highland Council will next week consider innovative approaches to generate additional income to maintain public services. The Council is facing a £62m budget deficit and officers presented income generation options to Redesign Board last week which agreed to recommend these to members at next week's meeting of Highland Council.9/12/2023
Tachartas A' Comharrachadh Shlighean Dreuchdail Gàidhlig Do Sgoilearan - Event highlights Gaelic career pathways for pupils 
haidh tachartas dreuchdan Gàidhlig Siuthad! a chumail air a' mhìos a chaidh seachad (9 Samhain 2023) aig Cùirt an Easbaig ann an Inbhir Nis agus bha sgoilearan an làthair bho ochd àrd-sgoiltean air feadh na Gàidhealtachd. Chuir buill Comataidh Gàidhlig Chomhairle na Gàidhealtachd fàilte air an naidheachd gun deach Siuthad! a chumail aghaidh-ri-aghaidh a-rithist airson a’ chiad uair bho 2019.
8/12/2023
Empty Property Relief Being Phased Out For Non-Domestic Rates Agreed Highland Council
Members of the Highland Council's Corporate Resources Committee, who met yesterday, Thursday, 7 December 2023, agreed a Non-Domestic Rates Empty Property Relief Scheme, which will initially commence from 1 April 2024. Within 3 years the reductions will be gone.
8/12/2023
Highland Council achieves Food for Life Served Here Bronze Award for the 14th time
Highland Council's catering team are celebrating after the council renewed its Food for Life Served Here Bronze award for an incredible 14th time. The council, which first received the award for its primary school meals back in 2009, is now serving over 11,611 nutritious, sustainable and locally-sourced Food for Life meals in its 161 primary schools and 166 nurseries every day.
5/12/2023
Highland Community, Sports, And Leisure Facility Strategy
A strategy which proposes a two-stage approach towards the development of vibrant community hubs in partnership with High Life Highland and sportscotland was agreed at the Council's Education Committee. The report set out the principles for investment over the long-term and the next steps to develop individual plans for each of the Council's 29 associated school group (ASG) areas.5/12/2023
Council Seeks Tenants Views On Rent For 2024/25
The Highland Council are inviting all tenants to have their say on the rent levels for the year ahead. We encourage everyone that lives in a council house to take this chance to have their say, the results of this will have a direct impact on the services we are able to deliver next year and in the future.
5/12/2023
£1m Of Funding To Empower Highland Communities From UK Government
The Highland Council is inviting applications from groups and organisations to the ‘Communities and Place' strand of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF). £1 million of funding is available for capital and revenue projects, that will empower communities to build on their own strengths, support local needs, and deliver on the fund's main objective of ‘building pride in place and increasing life chances'.
5/12/2023
Highland Council Working Hard To Source New Avenues Of Funding To Help Families Experiencing Fuel Poverty
Highland Council continues to explore external funding opportunities to help families in the region who experience disproportionately higher levels of fuel poverty than the rest of Scotland. External funding is targeted at households classed as fuel and extreme fuel poor and is available Highland-wide.
4/12/2023
Has Interest In Community Councils Collapsed - Timetable For Community Council Elections Confirmed
The Highland Council has announced the timetable to make a final attempt to reform the 30 Community Council elections that failed to form in September 2023. Community Councils are voluntary organisations that express the views and concerns of local people within their area across a wide range of issues from new buildings and roads to local services and facilities.4/12/2023
Suppliers Invited To Inaugural Highland Registrars' Wedding Fair
Suppliers working in the wedding market are being invited by Highland Registrars to a newly established Wedding Fair. The Highland Wedding Fair will take place on Sunday 4 February 2024 with public access from 11.00am - 3.00pm (suppliers will have access from 8:30am).2/12/2023
