Local Authority News
25/11/2022
Improved Attainment Over Last 5 Years For Highland Schools
Highland schools have made significant progress in improving their attainment outcomes for senior phase SQA results over the last 5 years. Education Chair, Cllr John Finlayson said: "We welcome the positive attainment outcomes covered in the report and further highlighted by the attainment presentation at committee.18/11/2022
Due To Overspends Highland Council Housing Committee Suspends Non Essential Repairs On Council Houses
Overspends are currently projected on housing repairs, homelessness, and other rent void loss, with the biggest emerging issue on housing repairs. Labour and material costs for housing repairs continue to be affected by rising inflation.15/11/2022
Highland Council Turns To Technologyone For Digital Overhaul
The UK's largest council by land mass, Highland Council, has chosen TechnologyOne to support its digital transformation. The council, which serves a third of the land area of Scotland, will implement TechnologyOne's solutions to streamline and automate its operations and gain access to real-time data for better decision making amid increasing inflationary pressures across the UK local government sector.
11/11/2022
Highland Council Members Green-light Development Of Transport Scheme For Ukrainian Displaced Persons
Members of the Economy and Infrastructure Committee on 10th November 2022 agreed a proposal for the creation and development of a transport assistance scheme for Ukrainian Displaced Persons. Chair of the Economy and Infrastructure Committee, Councillor Ken Gowans, said: "Today's agreement follows a successful motion to full Council in September 2022, which sought to investigate the feasibility and cost of offering a transport scheme to those now residing in Highland who have been affected by the crisis in Ukraine.".
10/11/2022
Highland Tourism Conference Returns To The Capital - 29 November 2022
At today's (Thursday 10 November 2022) Economy and Infrastructure Committee, Members were delighted to announce the return of the Highland Tourism Annual Conference 2022, which will return to the Kingsmill Hotel, Inverness on Tuesday 29 November 2022. In partnership, The Highland Council and VisitScotland will jointly host the event after a two year hiatus.
10/11/2022
Grants To Continue Support For Community Transport Initiatives Agreed But No Increases For Most
Community transport initiatives across the Highlands will have their grant funding extended for another year following a decision taken at today's meeting of the Economy and Infrastructure Committee. This will allow the groups to continue the important role their play in their local communities.8/11/2022
Only One Highland Area Committee Has Been Cancelled In November - Caithness
Highlighted by former councillor Nicola Sinclair now a reporter in her article in the web site for the Groat and Courier is the fact there are no decisions required by the Caithness Area committee. It may be a surprise that councillors could not come up with some topics for discussion rather than rely only on officials to make up the agenda with nothing on it so cancelling the meeting.5/11/2022
What Matters To You? - Highland Council Area Survey
The Highland Council's Administration are keen to hear from residents and communities across Highland as they develop priorities for the new Council Programme. Members of the public are invited to view the draft priorities and respond to a survey at: https://forms.office.com/r/zF0pnxkMWq The survey is open until 11 November.5/11/2022
Climate Change Committee Approves Energy Use Benchmarking Project To Help Council Move To Net Zero
Members at this week's Climate Change Committee approved a new project which will undertake an energy performance assessment of Highland Council's property portfolio. The project will directly support and inform decisions with regards to achieving net zero, investment in buildings (to improve energy/Net Zero performance) and asset rationalisation options.3/11/2022
Members Agree Council Will Sign Edinburgh Agreement To Underline Commitment To Climate Change Action
Highland Council members today agreed that the local authority will sign the Edinburgh Declaration and underline its commitment to tackling the climate and ecological emergency it announced in 2019. The decision to sign the declaration was made by members at today's inaugural meeting of the Climate Change Committee in Inverness.1/11/2022
Highland Council Prepares For 20 Mph Roll-out
Transport Scotland has invited Highland Council to be a pilot Local Authority for the National 20 mph Implementation Strategy. The Strategy seeks to introduce a consistency for 20 mph speed limits across the country with the aim of promoting road safety through simplifying speed limits for drivers, reducing perceptions of road danger, encouraging people to walk and wheel, and create more pleasant towns, villages and neighbourhoods by providing a more equitable environment for all road users.31/10/2022
Launch of Free Building Maintenance Guide
The Highland Council, working in partnership with Inverness City Heritage Trust, has created a free to download guide to help promote essential, regular inspection and maintenance of all traditional buildings. Throughout the Highlands there are many examples of commercial, retail, business, public and privately owned properties built from high quality, natural materials, which need to be cared for in the right way.
31/10/2022
Reviewed Capital Programme For Highland council to be brought back in December
Members have considered and discussed the latest impacts of the ongoing financial crisis on the Capital Programme at their Council meeting today, 27 October. A range of factors, including the pandemic, Brexit, the war in Ukraine, and related impacts on cost and inflation continue to affect the Council and communities across Highland.31/10/2022
Council Agrees In-year Funding Support For A Range Of Partners
The Highland Council has been engaging with key public, private and third sector partners to understand the shared impact of the current financial crisis and the action that can be taken to maximise combined resources and minimise the impact of the financial challenges. They agreed a range of supports in a detailed report brought to Council today, 27 October including the following: One-off support funding is to be provided for ELC Partners in the current financial year, based on the payment of an additional funding amount calculated as 32p per hour for 3-5 year old provision, and 53p per hour for 2 year old provision, which is to apply from August 2022.24/10/2022
Financial Crisis Affecting Affordability Of Council's Capital Programme
A number of reports to Council have set out the context of the ongoing financial crisis across the UK. Members will consider the latest impacts on the Capital Programme at the Council meeting on 27 October.24/10/2022
Highland Council And High Life Highland Working Together During Financial Crisis
The Council is working closely with key public, private and third sector partners to understand the shared impact of the current financial crisis and the action that can be taken to maximise combined resources to deliver core services across Highland, through collective budget strategies and redesign. As part of this work, The Highland Council and High Life Highland (HLH) have been working together to address the impact of the pandemic and the ongoing financial crisis.17/10/2022
North Coast Visitor Centre In Thurso Next Stop For Spirit Of The Highlands & Islands Immersive Portal
If you are looking for something different to do this October holiday, visit the North Coast Visitor Centre where Spirit of the Highlands and Islands will be showcasing the immersive portal until Saturday 22 October 2022. The North Coast Visitor Centre, a great day out for families and visitors to the area, is one of four tour venues where people around the Highland and Islands can take part in the 360 degree immersive experience.
14/10/2022
Highland Community Organisations Invited To Apply For Cost Of Living Support Grant
At a meeting of The Highland Council on 22 September 2022, Councillors approved the creation of a Highland-wide grant fund of up to £450,000 to help alleviate the cost-of-living crisis for vulnerable households through community-led initiatives. Third Sector voluntary and community organisations are invited to apply for grants under the value of £10,000.
7/10/2022
Hydro Ness project commended with Merit at prestigious national steel awards
Highland Council's renewable energy installation, Hydro Ness, has been commended with a Merit from judges at the prestigious, national Structural Steel Design Awards 2022. The Archimedes Screw installation on the banks of the River Ness in Inverness was shortlisted for the main awards earlier this year.
6/10/2022
