Communities, businesses and residents are being given extra time to share ideas that will influence future development and land use across Highland. The Highland Council has an open Call for Ideas survey, which is inviting people to share ideas on future development and long-term land use in Highland.
Caithness has had a busy week, although the individual stories might not initially appear to have much in common. Look a little more closely, however, and a pattern begins to emerge.
The Highland Council has welcomed an increase of £750,000 of funding from the SSE Renewables Highland Sustainable Development Fund to support private householders experiencing extreme fuel poverty in Highland. The two-year grant will support the delivery of the Council’s Energy Efficient Scotland: Area Based Scheme (EES:ABS), funded by The Scottish Government, which funds energy efficiency home improvements that can help lower fuel costs and improve living conditions for Highland residents.
Following the close of nominations on Monday 7 September noon, the statements of persons nominated for each community council have been published on the council’s website. Now able to confirm that out of 20 Community Councils seeking membership, 15 have formed, 4 have not formed and 1 may require an election as they exceed the number of available vacancies.
There are few subjects more important to parents than the education their children receive. It determines not only what they know when they leave school, but increasingly their opportunities throughout adult life.
Highland councillors are set to reaffirm their opposition to a massive new 400kV powerline stretching across the region when they meet today. The North and South Planning Committees are joining forces to consider the proposed Spittal–Loch Buidhe–Beauly transmission project, one of the biggest electricity infrastructure schemes ever proposed in the Highlands.
The Scottish Government is facing a difficult financial year. But the real question for councils, NHS boards and other public bodies is simple who will absorb the pressure? The latest Scottish Fiscal Commission report contains an important warning for Scotland's public services.
All residents, businesses, community groups and visitors are being encouraged to have their say on a proposal for a tiered fixed-rate amount Visitor Levy in Highland. The public consultation survey is now open (Monday 7 September) for a 12-week statutory period.
£2.1 billion is a difficult number for most people to comprehend. It is so large that it can make almost any announcement sound impressive.
The Highlands has a new young people’s champion after confirmation that Eilidh Primrose has taken up the role of Highland Youth Convener for 2026-27. Twenty-two-year-old Eilidh, who lives in Inverness, is the 18th person appointed to the position and has taken over from Leah McBain.
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.
For most people in Highland, 1 September is simply the start of another month. But today also marks the beginning of two changes introduced by Highland Council which will affect different groups of residents.
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).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.