Climate Change Committee Members have welcomed news that The Highland Council has successfully secured external funding in the region of £5.4 million for 2026/27. This grant funding will support retrofit and decarbonisation programmes for eligible owner occupier, private rented and Council owned houses across the Highlands.
Members of The Highland Council’s Communities and Place Committee have approved a new Policy on Abandoned Vehicles that will provide a framework for investigating, assessing and enforcement against abandoned vehicles across the region. Chair of Communities and Place, Cllr Graham MacKenzie said: “I welcome this new policy which will help to make a difference in communities where the nuisance of abandoned vehicles arises.
D&E Coaches has recorded a £700,000 profit after tax in its first full year under Highland Council ownership. The Council purchased the coach and bus operator in March 2025 to support the ongoing provision of sustainable and reliable transport services across the Highlands.
Members of The Highland Council have today approved the commissioning of an independent external review of the Council’s licensing arrangements following a Council motion approved on 17 September 2026. The review will consider governance, decision-making processes and opportunities for improvement.
Members of the Communities and Place Committee have made key decisions that will improve affordability and choice within Highland bereavement services at Inverness Crematorium; and introduce stronger governance and transparency for charitable funding applications through the crematorium metal recycling scheme. Members also approved the adoption of a standardised burial management plan across Highland which will ensure compliance with new national burial management legislation.
A storm is brewing behind closed doors at Glenurquhart Road. Recent private discussions have revealed plans for Highland Council to potentially abandon its historic headquarters and relocate to Great Glen House, the current £13 million base of NatureScot.
The Highland Council’s newly unveiled Strategic Housing Investment Plan (SHIP) 2027–2032 paints a glossy, optimistic picture of the region's future. It promises a steady pipeline of 700 affordable homes a year, framed alongside a booming £10–£16 billion "Growth Deal" linked to green freeports and renewable energy expansion.
Imagine a dedicated employee logs into their bank account on payday, only to find it completely empty. When they contact HR, the records show their salary was successfully processed but sent to an entirely different bank account.
Local councils will be able to request up to two extra in-service days this academic year, so that teachers can prepare for the most significant curriculum changes in more than a decade. The Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers (SNCT) which brings together the Scottish Government, local authority body COSLA, and teaching unions has agreed up to two additional in-service days, which will form part of multi-year support for implementation of the updated curriculum.
Members of The Highland Council’s Economy and Infrastructure Committee will be asked to agree that Short Term Let Control Areas (STLCAs) for Inverness City and Highland Rural come into effect from 1 April 2027. The recommendation to the Committee follows the decision by Scottish Government Ministers on 26 October 2026 to approve designation of the STLCAs, which are an important tool to manage future loss of housing stock, support sustainable communities and balance housing needs with the visitor economy. Chair of the Council’s Economy and Infrastructure Committee, Cllr Ken Gowans, said: “Following Scottish Government approval, the Council can now move forward with implementing these STLCAs, which will help us strike a better balance between supporting tourism growth and protecting much-needed housing for local people.
The number of people presenting as homeless in the Highlands has reached its highest level in three years, highlighting the growing pressure on housing services despite some encouraging performance figures from Highland Council. A report covering the six months from April to September 2026 is being considered by the Council's Housing and Property Committee on 4 November.
Highland Council is stepping up its efforts to bring long-term empty properties back into residential use, but early results from its £1 million Empty Homes Challenge Fund suggest that turning the policy into actual homes may prove more difficult than anticipated. A report going before the Council's Housing and Property Committee on 4 November provides an update on the strategy introduced in November 2025.
Highland Council is forecasting expenditure of almost £75 million on its housing capital programme during 2026/27, against an original budget of nearly £84 million, as rising building costs, project delays and the availability of additional government funding influence its investment plans. A Housing Revenue Account (HRA) capital monitoring report, covering expenditure to 31 August 2026, is being considered by the Housing and Property Committee on 4 November.
Highland Council is making progress on a range of housing and property projects, but rising construction costs, shortages of contractors and uncertainty over future funding continue to threaten delivery. A progress report covering the second quarter of 2026/27 is being considered by the Housing and Property Committee on 4 November.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.