Highland Council has provided 12 ‘Talking Tub' resources for use in primary schools across the Highlands, in partnership with Union Technical who deliver community benefits as part of the Energy Efficient Scotland: Area Based Scheme programme. Chair of Highland Council's Education Committee, Councillor John Finlayson, said: "This is a fantastic initiative being rolled out across Highland primary schools which brings innovation and inspiration to early years children.
Visitors will find it easier to dispose of their litter at several popular spots across Highland after the rollout of additional bins. The rollout has been planned to support the tourism season as part of the Council's ongoing commitment to improve and support sustainable tourism in the area.
A new generation of community facilities is being planned for the Highlands. At a meeting of The Highland Council (Thursday 26 June), elected members approved the work to date in progressing the Highland Investment Plan workstreams - masterplan for Thurso and agreed to nominate the current Thurso High School site as the preferred location for the new Thurso Community Point of Delivery (POD).
At a meeting of The Highland Council (Thursday 26 June 2025), Members received a progress report on the partnership approach and important successes since declaring a Highland Housing Challenge in November 2023. Since establishing the ambitious Highland Housing Challenge, important successes included: A call for sites delivered 250 sites, with a potential 25,000 housing units which will support delivery against the target of an additional 12,000 houses over the next 10 years.
Members of the meeting of The Highland Council (26 June 2025) have considered and agreed the Accounts Commission's Best Value report, which was published in April 2025 and highlights organisational improvements across leadership, performance management and community engagement. In April’s report, the Accounts Commission recognised and welcomed significant progress within the organisation since the 2020 Best Value Assurance Report (BVAR) and commended the embedded culture of transformation.
The Highland Council will deliver a transformative programme of energy efficiency upgrades across Council housing supported by a £9.2 million Energy Company Obligation (ECO) funding proposal secured by Union Technical. The funding proposal will deliver approximately 1,000 individual energy efficiency measures to Council owned properties across the Highlands.
As part of the Highland Council's celebration of Refugee Week - 16 to 22 June - we are delighted to announce that a sharing of photographs, taken by separated young people seeking asylum living within the Highlands, is to be shown at Eden Court Arts Centre, Inverness. Look to See, which ties in with the theme for this year’s Refugee Week - Community as a Superpower - emerges out of a collaboration between multiple agencies working alongside separated young people seeking asylum, embodying the importance of community and connection, when looking to support all young people in the Highlands.
Highland Opportunity (Investments) Limited, HOIL has recently provided Sgùrr Access and Marine Services Limited with loan assistance towards their start-up costs for a new business venture based in Kyle of Lochalsh. HOIL, The Highland Council's business loan company offers loan support to Highland based businesses and community organisations, who can benefit from straightforward loan conditions and a tailored offer to support their project.
Garden Waste Permits from Highland Council are now available for the 2025/26 season. To support continued garden waste recycling, the price for the upcoming 2025/26 permit will remain unchanged at £48.95 per permit, the same as last year.
The annual Highland Youth Parliament (HYP) conference will take place at Inverness Leisure and Canal Park, Inverness on Friday (13th June 2025). Highland young people are focusing on future youth voices and what they would like a future Highland to look like.
All eligible young people are being encouraged to apply for a weekly, term time allowance of £30 per week from August 2025. The Highland Council administers Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) in respect of eligible young people from across its 29 secondary schools.
Legislation has been amended to ensure veterans who receive a payment from the LGBT Financial Recognition Scheme do not lose out on council tax support. More than 1,200 people in Scotland who served under and suffered from the ban on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) personnel serving in HM Armed Forces between 1967 and 2000 have applied to the UK Government for compensation so far.
Highland Council's dedicated road marking team has been fully mobilised to carry out road marking across the Highland region. Finally after many years of depending on contractors from the south a Highland council team will be able to get on with the work regularly as weather allows.
The Highland Council, Education Committee met today (Wednesday 4 June 2025) and received a comprehensive overview of recent developments in the Education and Learning Service. It included positive school leaver destinations and an update on the refreshed attainment strategy and the Education and Learning management restructure.
At the Education Committee of Highland Council on Wednesday 4 June, Members were presented with the Integrated Children Services Plan Annual Report 2024/25. The Integrated Children's Service’s work continues as it enters the 3rd year of the delivery of the Integrated Children’s Service Plan.
Tha comhairlichean Chomhairle na Gàidhealtachd air fàilte a chur air an obair ionmholta a thathar a' dèanamh gus cothroman a leudachadh do luchd-ionnsachaidh òga na Gàidhlig. Aig coinneamh Chomataidh na Gàidhlig an-diugh (Diciadain 4 Ògmhios) chaidh an obair leasachaidh a thathar a’ dèanamh aig Bun-Sgoil Bhaile an Fhraoich ann an Inbhir Nis a chomharrachadh mar dheagh eisimpleir de bhith a’ cruthachadh "spiorad mhath is ion-ghabhaltach airson na Gàidhlig thar na sgoile".
Last weekend saw the first patrols of The Highland Council's, new Seasonal Access Ranger team. The new rangers will seek to promote and advise on responsible access to the countryside through the Scottish Outdoor Access Code.
Applications Now Open for Highland Council's Strategic Events Grant. The Highland Council is pleased to announce the official launch of its new Strategic Events Grant Fund, a £75,000 initiative designed to support the region's dynamic events sector and strengthen the local economy during the quieter shoulder and off-season months.
The Highland Council's ‘Food in Schools' project is a key component of the Council’s Delivery Plan and the Redesign Board Chaired by the Convener of the Council - Councillor Bill Lobban has launched a range of surveys to better understand the various components of food provision in school settings. The surveys will be issued by Head Teachers, on behalf of the Food in Schools project team, to current pupils (P1-S6), parents and carers, teachers and non-teaching staff (e.g.
In a recent survey of blind and partially sighted people, only a quarter feel that the current system allows them to vote independently and in secret. We want to change that.
