Highland Council ranked one of top councils for online presence

20th January 2015

The Highland Council's new website has risen to the top 6% of UK Local Government websites, according to an independent survey into online presence.

The website, launched in July 2014, aims to focus more on the needs of the customer and provides a platform to deliver more services online.

Independent survey tool, SiteMorse, found that in Q4 of 2014, the Highland Council website had risen to the rank of 25th out of 429 UK Local Government organisations in terms of online capability (taking into account Function, Accessibility, Code Quality, Performance, Email, Metadata and PDFs). During the same quarter in the previous year, the Highland Council website ranked 87th in this category. This means that the Council’s website now ranks in the top 6% of UK Local Government organisation websites.

The new site was designed to be an agile and responsive, customer driven platform and initial indications are that the new website has been an improvement on the previous web presence. The foundation is now in place to provide a flexible platform for digital delivery of customer services and general information which is compatible with a range of mobile devices and the evolving mobile environment. The launch of the School closures content and the linking in of social media (Facebook/twitter) has been widely considered a success and further development is underway to enhance the content and processes that the website provides.

Improvement to the website is set to continue into the future with the addition of more online services and the introduction of the "myaccount" service, aiming to give people a simple and secure way to access public services online. Once establishing this service, Highland Council will be one of only two Scottish Local Government organisations to do so.

An external survey of the Council’s website is underway at the moment. Those surveyed include the citizens panel, community councils and elected members. A formal report of the findings of the survey will be presented at the Resources Committee on the 25 of February 2015.

Considerable effort has been made to increase our social media presence and extend our reach to the public in the Highlands, in order to disseminate and signpost information, as well as engage with online followers.

Twitter followers have increased from 8474 in September 2014 to 10,000, putting us in 12th place for Scottish Local Authorities. Facebook “likes” have increased from 1431 and 18th place on 1 September 2014 to 6680 and 9th place at 19/1/15. This is a 367% increase.

Chairman of Resources, Councillor Maxine Smith commented, “ At first former users of the Council’s website were unsure of the new site as they had become very familiar with the old one, but now, as people are more au fait with all the new detail, they are beginning to embrace it. New users especially are finding it easy to use and navigate and it is useful for those who want to apply for things online or indeed make payments.

“The users will increase as the months go on as more and more applications become available for the general public, as well as the satisfaction levels. I am delighted that Highland Council are progressing so quickly up the league tables and am sure this is set to rise even higher.”

The Highland Council website can be found at: http://www.highland.gov.uk/
Highland Council Facebook: www.twitter.com/highlandcouncil
Highland Council Twitter: www.facebook.com/highlandcouncil

 

Related Businesses

 

Related Articles

Today : Local Authority

 
Candidates for Highland Council Ward 3 Wick and East Caithness By-Election confirmed

Following today’s deadline for nominations, The Highland Council can confirm the details of the 5 candidates that are standing in the Ward 3 Wick and East Caithness by-election.  There are 5 candidaes.  

31/8/2026 : Local Authority

Head Teacher at Thurso High School, outlined measures that have helped improve educational outcomes

Highland Council’s strategy to raise attainment in the region is making good progress, with encouraging early data emerging from this year's examination results.   Last week councillors on the education committee noted the work undertaken in Highland Council's Education and Learning Improvement Plan (ELIP) and the associated Raising Attainment and Achievement Strategy (RAAS).  

28/8/2026 : Local Authority

Council Funded Advice services assist 25,000 customers and exceed £30.3 million in financial gains

Almost 25,000 customers were assisted by the Council’s Welfare Support Team and Citizens Advice during 2025/26 for support with welfare, debt and housing issues.   As a result, financial gains for clients exceeded £30.3 million, representing a £18.84 return for every £1 allocated to these services by the Council.  

28/8/2026 : Local Authority

 
Do We Need a New Kind of Cemetery? Could Highland's Greenspaces Help Make Funerals More Affordable?

There may be no more appropriate time to ask Highland Council whether we need to rethink the way we remember those who have died.   The Council has just launched a six-week consultation on its draft Greenspace Biodiversity Management Strategy 2026-2030.  

26/8/2026 : Local Authority

The Triple Squeeze: Energy, Mortgages and Council Tax — How Much More Can Households Take?

There is a point at which individual increases in household costs stop being individual problems and become something much bigger.   A £100 increase in the annual energy bill may be manageable.  

24/8/2026 : Local Authority

Thurso Schools: Public Meeting and Statutory Consultation – Key Dates

Highland Council has now formally launched its statutory consultation on proposals to replace Thurso High School and reorganise primary school provision in the town.   The consultation concerns the proposed relocation of Thurso High School, Pennyland Primary School and Miller Academy Primary School to a new education campus based around the existing Thurso High School site and the proposed Community Point of Delivery.  

21/8/2026 : Local Authority

Public consultation to help shape future policy protecting Highland's dark skies

Councillors have approved the launch of a public consultation on draft guidance aimed at reducing light pollution across the Highlands, supporting environmental protection, public wellbeing and the area's internationally recognised dark skies.   Members of the Economy and Infrastructure Committee yesterday (Thursday 20 August) agreed to publish the draft Reducing Light Pollution: Good Practice Guidance for consultation, once minor clarifications are included, giving residents, communities, businesses and developers the opportunity to help shape future policy.  

21/8/2026 : Local Authority

Highland bus service improvement plans

The Highland Council's Economy and Infrastructure Committee has endorsed plans to launch a 12-week public consultation on a proposed Highland Bus Service Improvement Partnership (BSIP), giving communities, passengers and stakeholders the opportunity to help shape the future of bus services across the region.   The consultation will seek views on draft proposals developed by The Highland Council in partnership with HITRANS and bus operators to improve the operational performance, accessibility, attractiveness and consistency of bus services across Highland.  

19/8/2026 : Local Authority

Demand for social housing remains high across Highland Butit is part of a biggr Scottish Problem

Demand for social housing across the Highlands remains high, with almost 8,826 households on the Highland Housing Register (HHR).   Housing and Property Committee Chair, Cllr Glynis Campbell Sinclair, said: “The demand for social housing across Highland remains significant and continues to outstrip the number of homes available in many areas.  

19/8/2026 : Local Authority

Highland Council to consider Draft Visitor Levy Scheme at Special Meeting

A special meeting of The Highland Council will take place Tuesday 25 August 2026 to consider a draft Visitor Levy proposal.   No decision is being sought at this stage on whether a Visitor Levy should be introduced in the Highlands.