Local Authority News
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
Highland Council Supporting Challenge Poverty Week 2022 (3-9 October)
The Highland Council is once again supporting Challenge Poverty Week, which this year runs from 3 - 9th October. The Scotland-wide campaign, led by the Poverty Alliance, is designed to raise awareness that poverty exists in Scotland and restricts people's ability to take part in society.29/9/2022
High Life Highland Encourages Low-cost Ten-day Exercise Binge For Only £10
During the month of October High Life Highland is offering individuals resident in Highland the opportunity to use all of its Highland leisure facilities for £1-a-day over ten consecutive days. High Life Development Manager, Emma Thomson said, ""Over the month of October, High Life Highland is giving people who live in Highland the option to take part in any of its swimming pools, gyms, fitness classes and strength and conditioning rooms for just £10 for ten consecutive days.
28/9/2022
New Highland Youth Convener Appointed 
Caitlyn Munro from Tain has taken up the role of Highland Youth Convener from 29 August 2022. This full-time role is a bursary position that will run for 12 months.
24/9/2022
Learning Estate Improvement Plan Phase Three Submission Agreed
At a meeting of The Highland Council on Thursday 22 September, Members agreed five schools be nominated for consideration to the Scottish Government - Learning Estate Improvement Plan (LEIP) phase 3 bid, applications will be taken forward in three separate submissions by 31 October 2022. The phase 3 submission will be presented as follows: A bid consisting of a bundle of three primary schools; Beauly Primary, Dunvegan Primary and Park Primary, a separate bid for ASL school, St Clement's School and a third bid for Tornagrain Primary.23/9/2022
Highland Organisations Invited To Apply For Over £5 Million Community Regeneration Funding
The Highland Council is inviting organisations to apply for over £5 million community regeneration funding to finance projects that will respond to the needs of their local area and have a positive community impact. Community Regeneration Funding is an umbrella term being used to cover multiple community-led funding programmes being administered by the Highland Council.17/9/2022
Highland Council Sets Out Proposals To Help Alleviate The Cost-of-living Crisis For Communities
Highland Council is to consider a £3.223m package of proposals to help alleviate the impact of the cost-of-living crisis on Highland residents. In the latest published figures from the Scottish Household Survey Report 2019, 33% of Highland households were in fuel poverty, compared with a Scottish average of 24%, and 22% of Highland households were in extreme fuel poverty compared with a Scottish average of 12%.14/9/2022
Highland Council To Observe Bank Holiday For State Funeral 19 September 2022
The Highland Council has confirmed that it will observe the State Funeral on Monday 19 September 2022 and the Council will follow the designated national Bank Holiday. All schools, Council offices and service points will be closed to the public.10/9/2022
Highland Council Observes Period Of National Mourning
Following the death of Her Majesty The Queen, The Highland Council is observing the period of national mourning which has now commenced and will last until the end of the day of the State Funeral. The Council is following national protocols which are approved by both the UK and Scottish Governments.
4/9/2022
11 Highland Community Councils form after interim elections - 3 New Wick Community Councillors
Following last month's announcement of interim community council elections for 15 Highland communities. The Highland Council is today, 1 September 2022, able to confirm that 11 have been formed uncontested.31/8/2022
Highland Council Fund Energy Advisors To Help Tenants Affected By Rising Energy Prices
Housing and Property Committee Members met today (Wednesday 31 August) and agreed to fund two specialist advisors to help offer advice and support to tenants that are adversely affected by rising energy prices. Housing and Property Committee chair, Cllr Glynis Sinclair said: "Fuel poverty continues to rise across Highland due to the combined cost of living and energy crisis.26/8/2022
Inverness and Highland City-Region Deal report shows progress made against a backdrop of COVID-19 and Brexit
Members at today's Economy and Infrastructure Committee noted the significant progress which has been made on the Inverness and Highland City-Region Deal despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and Brexit. The annual report for 2020/21, published on Highland Council's website, illustrates some of the excellent work that the Deal enabled between April 2020 and March 2021.
26/8/2022
Ambitious Tourism Infrastructure Development Plan Approved
Economy and Infrastructure Committee Members (Thursday 25 August) approved the Strategic Tourism Infrastructure Development Plan (STIDP). Its purpose to direct future national and local area-based Rural Tourism Infrastructure Fund (RTIF) spend.25/8/2022
Highland's trauma-informed practice ambition takes step forward with two new appointments
Members of today's Health, Social Care and Wellbeing Committee have made two appointments to the newly-developed role of Trauma Champion. Councillors Liz Kraft and Morven Reid were successfully appointed to the role and will represent the Council on both local and national Trauma Champion networks.18/8/2022
Highland Council Shortlisted For 4 National Awards
The Highland Council has been shortlisted for 4 APSE Service Awards which celebrate excellence in local public services. Chair of the Communities and Place Committee, Cllr Graham MacKenzie commended the Council staff, he said: "I am very pleased to advise that the Community Operations and Logistics Section has been short listed in 3 categories in the 2022 Association for Public Service Excellence (APSE) Awards.17/8/2022
Highland Council Invites New Applications For The Nature Restoration Fund
The Highland Council is inviting communities to apply for a share of the 2022/23 allocation of the Nature Restoration Fund. Established by the Scottish Government, the Nature Restoration Fund (NRF) is a capital fund designed to help support projects that will deliver nature restoration, safeguard wildlife, and tackle the causes of biodiversity loss due to climate change.
15/8/2022
