NEW TOP TEAM AT COUNCIL VISITS DOUNREAY
23rd July 2007

Highland Council's new leadership team visited Dounreay on July 20 to see how Scotland's biggest nuclear clean-up project is changing the face of the north Highlands.
Recently-elected convener Councillor Sandy Park was accompanied by the authority's new chief executive Alistair Dodds on a tour of the £2.9 billion project to decommission the fast reactor experiment.
They met UKAEA site director Simon Middlemas and discussed ways of closer working between the two organisations as the clean-up moves forward at pace.
The council has a key role in planning and economic development and is a lead body in the Caithness Regeneration Partnership set up to oversee the economic transition as decommissioning moves closer to completion.
Approximately one in five of the workforce in Caithness and north Sutherland is employed directly in the clean-up of the site but this will reduce to almost zero over the next two decades or so, removing an estimated £70-80 million a year from the region's economy.
The clean-up and demolition is also generating substantial volumes of radioactive waste and planning for the long-term management of this material is another major area of liaison.
Councillor Park said: "The decommissioning programme at Dounreay is high on the council's agenda, so it was important that we visited the site at the earliest opportunity to learn more about its impact, the future plans and the work that's already taken place to make the transition.
"We found the visit extremely useful. A huge amount of effort and money is going in to restore this part of the coast and that creates both opportunities and challenges for the community and the council.
"The council has an important role to play, not just in planning for the needs of decommissioning but in planning for the needs of Caithness beyond decommissioning, and the new administration will want to play a full and active part in enabling that to happen."
Simon Middlemas said: "We have stepped up the pace of decommissioning in recent years and made major inroads already in clearing away safely some of the legacy. The council is a key stakeholder in the decommissioning programme and I want to build on the good working relationship that has developed between us in recent years so that we continue to decommission this site in a way that commands the widest possible support in the community. I was delighted therefore to welcome the new leadership to the site and talk through some of the issues of common interest."
Photo - Simon Middlemas (left) with Councillor Sandy Park (centre), convener of Highland Council, and its chief executive, Alistair Dodds
Related Businesses
Related Articles
The Highland Council is pleased to announce that from Monday 21 April it's in-house bus team will be delivering the 918 Wick to Berriedale service. This is the first venture for the in-house bus company outside of the Inverness area since the successful introduction and launch of Highland Council Buses.
The Radio Teleswitching Service (RTS) is due to end on Monday 30 June 2025. If your electricity meter uses RTS, it must be replaced.
Following the conclusion of the public consultation on the possible introduction of a visitor levy for the Highlands, the Council Convener has thanked everyone who submitted responses and confirmed the next steps to be taken. The Council held a series of webinars, community drop-in events, face to face public sessions and business events as part of the consultation process.
Continuing with the trend over the past few years, Highland has seen the highest ever direct spend recorded for filming in The Highland Council region. In 2024, figures surpassed previous years to reach over £3.5million in direct spend.
At the recently held meeting of the Educational Trusts Sub Committee, the trustees made awards of over £105,000 to a wide variety of individuals and organisations from The Highland Council Charitable Trusts. The awards ranged from a few hundred pounds to £10,000.
Highland Council is implementing several changes to service charges in 2025: Council Rent Charges: An 8% increase has been agreed for council homes to address rising costs and fund housing improvements. The average weekly rent for council homes will rise to £82.84, which is still below the national average.
Highland Council have agreed to boost senior councillor pay by between £5-11k this year. The move adds almost £500k to the councillor wage bill, bringing it to a new total of £2.3 million.
Highland Councillors will be asked to consider a new approach on the future of the Highland Investment Plan (HIP). Approval is being sought for the allocation of funding for the first phase of proposed projects for 2024/25 to 2029/30 which will help improve local public facilities and sustain local communities and population.
The Inverness Castle Experience is delighted to announce the appointment of three senior roles, adding to its leadership team ahead of its highly anticipated opening later this summer. The Inverness Castle project is part of the Inverness and Highland City-Region Deal, which is a joint initiative supported by up to £315m investment from the UK and Scottish governments, The Highland Council, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and University of the Highlands and Islands, aimed at stimulating sustainable regional economic growth.
Members of today's Corporate Resources Committee (Thursday, 20 March) were presented with and approved the organisation’s Talent Strategy and Talent Action Plan These have been designed to support initiatives to grow and retain talent within the Council, ensuring a sustainable workforce for the future. The Talent Action Plan includes initiatives such as developing apprenticeship programmes, enhancing diversity and inclusion, and promoting flexible work models.