The work underway to ensure that Highland communities can benefit from profits being generated by renewable developments will be under the spotlight at next week's meeting of the Economy and Infrastructure Committee. At the meeting on Thursday 29 May, Members will receive an update on progress with the Highland Social Value Charter, which aims to ensure that if developments get the go ahead there is a clear community benefit.
The Highland Council is pleased to announce new waste and recycling figures for the region, following the introduction of the new waste and recycling services over the last year. The roll out of the new waste and recycling services to householders and businesses began in April 2024 and has been funded by the Scottish Government's Recycling Improvement Fund.
The Highland Council is pleased to announce its participation in the UK Real Estate Investment & Infrastructure Forum (UKREiiF), taking place this week in Leeds. The event is recognised as the UK's leading platform for fostering partnerships and securing investment in regeneration, infrastructure, and economic development.
Highland Council's Environmental Health team have identified raised levels of naturally occurring bivalve shellfish biotoxins following routine monitoring at Loch Portree. Eating bivalve shellfish such as cockles, mussels, oysters or razor fish from the area of Loch Portree may pose a health risk arising from the consumption of these biotoxins.
Highland Councillors have considered £756m investment across Highland communities over the next 5 years when they discussed an updated report on the consolidated Highland Investment Plan (HIP) at a meeting of The Highland Council on Thursday 15 May 2025. Convener of the Council, Cllr Bill Lobban said: "The consolidated programme which was presented to Members is part of a longer-term strategy for the Highland Investment Plan which creates a potential £2.1bn of capital investment over a twenty-year period.
After a successful three-week trial of thermal technology in 2024, Highland Council has appointed Thermal Road Repairs for a two-year patching repair contract worth a seven-figure sum. This will provide an additional resource for repairing surface defects such as potholes, cracking and deteriorating surfacing joints.
The scale of transformational opportunity facing the Highlands and Islands economy has been quantified for the first time in a new report. The study reports 251 planned development projects in the economic pipeline of what it refers to as regional transformational opportunities (RTOs).
Maggie Cunningham and Dr. Jim McCormick have been appointed as co-chairs of a new multi-partnership Poverty and Equality Commission Board.
The Highland Council has published its Renewable Energy Mapping Tool. This tool will enable those with an interest in understanding the location and type of renewable energy projects within Highland to discover not only what already exists on the ground but also the stage that any projects may be at within the planning process.
The Highlands and Islands Regional Economic Partnership (HIREP)'s Regional Economic Strategy addresses the challenges affecting the region's businesses and communities. A partnership of public, private and academic organisations in the Highlands and Islands has unveiled its ten-year strategy to deliver sustainable economic growth across the region.
BT has launched a consultation on the removal of 110 public payphones in Highland which they state are no longer needed. Details of the payphones being considered for closure are set out in the list at this link.
An ambitious plan to improve transport, roads and buildings, as well as a greater shift to using digital to deliver services, has the potential to transform the Highland Council's services over the next 20 years. Delivering its capital programme could prove challenging.
Anyone wishing to gain Council endorsement of a significant building project in Highland should consider responding to the current Call for Development Sites. Every 10 years, each council in Scotland must, for its area, prepare a planning document called a local development plan.
The Highland Council has appointed Bernadette Scott as Chief Officer Education - Primary and Early Years. The appointment completes the new senior management structure of the Council's People Service Cluster under the leadership of Kate Lackie, Assistant Chief Executive – People.
The timetable for the election of one Councillor to represent Ward 6 Cromarty Firth and one Councillor for Ward 10 Eilean a' Cheò on The Highland Council has been confirmed. The by-elections are being held following the resignations of former Councillors Maxine Smith from Ward 6 and Calum Munro from Ward 10.
The Highland Council is pleased to announce that from Monday 21 April it's in-house bus team will be delivering the 918 Wick to Berriedale service. This is the first venture for the in-house bus company outside of the Inverness area since the successful introduction and launch of Highland Council Buses.
The Radio Teleswitching Service (RTS) is due to end on Monday 30 June 2025. If your electricity meter uses RTS, it must be replaced.
Following the conclusion of the public consultation on the possible introduction of a visitor levy for the Highlands, the Council Convener has thanked everyone who submitted responses and confirmed the next steps to be taken. The Council held a series of webinars, community drop-in events, face to face public sessions and business events as part of the consultation process.
At the recently held meeting of the Educational Trusts Sub Committee, the trustees made awards of over £105,000 to a wide variety of individuals and organisations from The Highland Council Charitable Trusts. The awards ranged from a few hundred pounds to £10,000.
Continuing with the trend over the past few years, Highland has seen the highest ever direct spend recorded for filming in The Highland Council region. In 2024, figures surpassed previous years to reach over £3.5million in direct spend.
