6th November 2013
For the school rolls for all of Highland for the past five years see - Five Year School Rolls In Highland Primary School Capacity and Occupancy rates are published at Primary School Capacity and Occupancy
Highland Council has set out an ambitious vision for the economic future of the Highlands, with the possibility of attracting between £10 billion and £16 billion of public and private investment over the next 25 years. On paper, it is an impressive prospect.
The Caithness Area Committee which met (Monday 2 November 2026) has approved six applications submitted to the Community Regeneration Fund (CRF). This approval securing significant investment to support local projects that will benefit communities across the north.
From the loss of a direct bus link to Inverness to uncertainty over rural broadband, a difficult council budget and the future of community organisations, the past week has provided plenty for Caithness residents to think about. But there have also been celebrations, local achievements and signs of community spirit.
Highland Council is facing another difficult financial challenge, with councillors being told that a further £39.2 million in savings must be found over the next three years to balance the authority's finances. The announcement, made at the full council meeting on 29 October 2026, represents a substantial deterioration in the financial outlook.
Residents, businesses, community groups and visitors are encouraged to continue to take part in a series of public engagement events to learn more about the proposed Highland Visitor Levy and how they can contribute to the statutory public consultation. In addition to the online webinars held earlier in the process, a programme of in-person events will continue throughout November.
Members of the public, community groups, the business sector and young people will be invited to share their views on how The Highland Council balances its budget and plans spend over the next three years. The Council needs to find £39.2 million of additional savings over the next three years to deliver a balanced financial plan, driven largely by the impact of rising costs and the ongoing impact of wider economic events.
The Chancellor's decision to reduce departmental capital budgets by 1% could have consequences well beyond Westminster. Scotland faces a reduction in capital funding, while Highland Council is embarking on a £2.1 billion investment programme that includes a proposed £100 million education campus in Thurso.
Councils, the NHS and other public bodies face a difficult choice when rising diesel and energy costs threaten the contractors they depend on. School transport in rural Scotland illustrates the problem.
The council has legal responsibilities to support Gaelic, but with budgets stretched and services facing difficult choices. Residents are entitled to ask how priorities are decided across the Highlands.
Audit Scotland warns that cuts to community services could deepen inequalities, while councils lack the evidence to measure the full consequences. Scotland’s councils are spending less on culture and leisure services while asking the public to pay more to use them, raising questions about the future of libraries, swimming pools, sports facilities, museums and other important parts of community life.
