Public : Local Authority

Highland Council must change to ensure it is financially sustainable

Highland Council must make significant savings and change the way it delivers services to ensure it can live within its financial means.   A report by the Accounts Commission, Scotland's local authority watchdog, says in recent years the council has had a poor record of delivering on savings.  

Council House Rents To Increase By 3% In Highland From April 2020

Highland councillors will be asked a the meeting on 29th January 2020 of the newly created Housing and Property committee to agree to increase council house rents by 3% for 2021.  This would result in an increase in the average weekly council house rent from £75.38 to £77.64 (£2.26 per week).  

Storm damage takes its toll on Highland roads

Storm Brendan has taken its toll on roads and infrastructure across the Highlands.   Localised flooding, wind and ice has caused damage to roads, paths, car parks and walls in numerous areas including Applecross, Lochaber and Caithness and Sutherland.  

Local Government Funding Is Not Keeping Up With Needs Say COSLA

The Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) has launched a campaign to persuade the Finance Secretary Derek Mackay MSP to invest in Scotland's councils before it is too late.  COSLA has produced a briefing document Invest in Essential Services which clearly shows the reduction to Local Government funding since 2013/14 and how the flexibility councils have to spend their budget has been eroded by the Scottish Government.  

Councils Empowered To Introduce Safety And Control Measures

Local authorities are to be given new powers to regulate short-term lets where they decide this is in the interests of local communities.   Housing Minister Kevin Stewart announced measures in the Scottish Parliament to provide local authorities with the ability to implement a licensing scheme for short-term lets from spring 2021.