Bronze COSLA Award for Highland Council Finance Service

26th February 2015

Highland Council's Revenues and Business Support section in the Finance Service has won a Bronze COSLA (Convention of Scottish Local Authorities) award for their "Highland Helping Those in Need" project. COSLA Excellence Awards are held annually to reward and recognise projects and developments which establish excellent delivery of services to communities.

The project is focussed on the Council's administration of the Scottish Government’s Scottish Welfare Fund, a system of emergency support for vulnerable groups, and how this service improves the lives of those who really need it.

Customers apply to the Scottish Welfare fund for Crisis Grants and Community Care Grants. Crisis Grants provide help for customers who need help quickly because of an emergency or disaster. Community Care Grants are to help customers on a low income live independently in the community or to ease pressure on families.

During a time of crisis, it is important that financial support can be given to these customers as soon as possible. To apply for a crisis payment for instance, customers are able to telephone or apply online to be given a quick decision and could receive the means to collect their payment within minutes. This is achieved by sending a code by text message which can be presented at the customer’s local Paypoint in exchange for money.

This system not only ensures that payment is made quickly in what can be a very upsetting time in a person’s life, but also means that no matter where in the Highlands the customer lives, they will be able to receive their payment quickly. Nationally published figures showed the Highland Council’s payment rate to be much quicker than average, with Crisis Grants being paid to customers within an average of 0.4 days in Highland against a Scottish average of 4.5 days. This is an area that the Council has notably excelled in and is a major innovation.

Chairperson of the Highland Council Resources Committee, Cllr Maxine Smith, welcomed this news: "This award is excellent news and something to be really proud of. Congratulations to all the members of staff in Revenues and Business Support, who have provided such an excellent service to people in the Highlands who need it the most. The model of providing payment in such a quick and efficient method is so important in an area as large as Highland. I have seen the team in action, they are very understanding, approachable and caring. The service shows great innovation and the award is well deserved."

 

Related Businesses

 

Related Articles

18/5/2026 : Local Authority

Highland Council showcases Invest Highland at UKREiiF 2026

The Highland Council is showcasing the region’s ambitious Invest Highland programme at a national event this week at the UK Real Estate Investment and Infrastructure Forum (UKREiiF) 2026 in Leeds.   The Leader of the Council, Cllr Raymond Bremner, alongside Council Officers and Calum MacPherson of Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green Freeport will attend this year’s UKREiiF which exists to connect people, places, and businesses to accelerate investment, foster development, and drive sustainable regeneration across the UK.  

15/5/2026 : Local Authority

 
Inverness - Highland Bid Director for UK City of Culture appointed

Highly respected cultural leader and strategist Bryan Beattie has been appointed by The Highland Council as Bid Director of the Inverness - Highland bid for UK City of Culture 2029.   He was recently creative director for the Inverness Castle Experience and interim Chief Executive at Eden Court, and a former Chair of Fèis Rois and Scottish Youth Theatre.  

14/5/2026 : Local Authority

 
Highland Council enhances delivery on the Highland Housing Challenge

The Highland Council will meet on Thursday, 14 May and on the agenda for discussion is a report on the Highland Housing Challenge.   The Highland Housing Challenge was declared in June 2024, with a target of 24,000 new homes by 2034.  

13/5/2026 : Local Authority

 
Glen Earrach Energy signs Social Value Charter, pledging Scotland's largest Community Wealth Fund

A pumped storage hydro project proposed near Loch Ness has committed to allocating 5 per cent of its annual gross margin to a Community Wealth Fund estimated to deliver over £20 million a year.   Glen Earrach Energy (GEE) has become the second company to sign the Highland Social Value Charter, marking a significant milestone in delivering long-term socio-economic benefits for communities across the Highlands.  

12/5/2026 : Local Authority

 
Views sought on proposals to introduce Short Term Let Control Areas in Highland

A public consultation opens today on proposals to introduce Short Term Let Control Areas (STLCA) in Highland with the aim of striking a better balance between tourism growth and local housing need.   The Highland Council is seeking views from residents, communities, businesses and the tourism sector on proposals to introduce two STLCAs: Inverness City STLCA, which would cover the wards of Inverness West; Inverness Central; Inverness Ness-side; Inverness Millburn; and parts of Inverness South, including Westhill, Milton of Leys and Slackbuie, and; Highland Rural STLCA, which would cover the wards of Lochaber; Wester Ross, Strathpeffer and Lochalsh; Sutherland; Skye and Raasay; Aird and Loch Ness; and parts of Inverness South, including Tomatin and Daviot.  

10/5/2026 : Local Authority

Highland Council's Ambitious Capital Spending Plans Face Delays Due To Scottish Government Deficit Realities

The financial pressures facing both the Scottish Government and councils could create major risks for ambitious long-term capital programmes such as The Highland Council’s Highland Investment Plan (HIP), including the proposed £100 million redevelopment of Thurso High School into a major community campus.  However, the picture is complicated because projects like Thurso are also politically and economically important for the region.  

6/5/2026 : Local Authority

 
Highland Council’s Debt Crunch: Rising Borrowing Costs Put 20‑Year Capital Plans Under Pressure

Highland Council is heading into a tougher financial climate than at any point since the financial crash and the pressure is coming from a direction that residents rarely see: the cost of government borrowing.   Following the UK’s latest rise in borrowing costs, the price councils pay for long‑term loans has increased again.  

5/5/2026 : Local Authority

Will Governments Override Local Councils to Build Wind Farms and Battery Storage? A Look at the UK’s Energy Shift

As the energy crisis continues to reshape policy across the UK, a key question keeps coming up.  Will national governments override local councils that refuse planning permission for renewable energy projects like wind farms and battery storage sites? The short answer is this is already happening and it’s likely to increase.  

29/4/2026 : Local Authority

Caithness Committee sets garage rates for year ahead

Garage rents in Caithness are set to increase by 10% for garage rent 2026/27 and 15% for garage sites, as agreed at the recent Caithness Area Committee (Monday 27 April).   There are currently 492 garages and garage sites across Caithness, 126 of which are currently void.  

28/4/2026 : Local Authority

Short Term Let Control Area In Badenoch and Strathspey Has Slowed More Properties Joining - See Highland Wide Tougher Rules

Early indications suggest that the introduction of a Short Term Let Control Area (STLCA) for Badenoch and Strathspey has slowed the growth of secondary short-term lets across the area.   The STLCA for Ward 20, which covers Aviemore, Carrbridge, Boat of Garten, Dalwhinnie Grantown-on-Spey, Kingussie, and Newtonmore, has been in place for two years and was one of the first to be designated in Scotland.