Local Authority News

5/1/2026 : Local Authority

Highland Council winter road condition report for 5 January 2026

An Amber warning for snow is in force for the much of the Highland area.   For the latest weather reports, please visit the Met Office website.  

5/1/2026 : Local Authority

Traffic Scotland for Cameras on roads

To see live cameras on some roads including Caithness go to https://www.traffic.gov.scot/.  

4/1/2026 : Local Authority

 
Highland Winter Road Conditions Report - Sunday 4 January 2026

The information provided is a summary of reports from operational staff and is intended to give a general indication of typical conditions in each area at a point in time.   It is not intended to imply that any individual route is entirely snow and ice free and drivers must be aware that conditions can change rapidly and make their own assessment of conditions for travelling.  

24/12/2025 : Local Authority

 
Highland Chief Social Work Officer elected as Convenor of Social Work Scotland

Fiona Duncan has been elected as Convenor of Social Work Scotland, the professional leadership body for the social work and social care professions.   Congratulating her on her appointment, Cllr David Fraser, Chair of Highland Council's Health Social Care and Wellbeing Committee said: "I am absolutely delighted to learn of Fiona's appointment as Chair of Social Work Scotland.  

23/12/2025 : Local Authority

 
Council receives top award for Catch The Bus Month 2025 campaign

Bus Users UK have awarded their 2025 Catch the Bus Month Local Authority Engagement Award to The Highland Council.   The Council was one of 376 official Partners signed up to this year's Catch the Bus Month, promoting the huge benefits of bus travel and encouraging more people to get on board.  

21/12/2025 : Local Authority

Highland Council's Finances - Rural Realities, Structural Pressures and the Consequences for Local Services

Highland Council offers a stark illustration of the financial challenges facing Scottish local government, amplified by geography and demography.   Covering a vast, sparsely populated area, Highland must deliver services across long distances with limited economies of scale.  

19/12/2025 : Local Authority

Festive waste collections in Highland

Some householders will have a change of collection day over the festive period.  If you are affected, a sticker will be placed on your bin with details of the collection days.  

17/12/2025 : Local Authority

Highland Council Looks to Expand Air Services To Aberdeen And Edinburgh From Wick With New Contract

The Highland Council has announced the publication of an Invitation to Tender for the next round of the Wick Public Service Obligation (PSO).  This procurement seeks to secure an operator for lifeline air services from Wick John O'Groats Airport beyond 31 March 2026.  

17/12/2025 : Local Authority

Local authority total and vacant housing stock, Scotland, March 2025

There were 327,746 local authority housing stock units as of March 2025.  3.0% of the total local authority stock was vacant, however this includes stock that will be demolished or cannot be currently let as it needs modernisation.  

11/12/2025 : Local Authority

 
Exciting Career Opportunities With The Highland Council Now Open For Applications

# 10 December 2025 Career opportunities with The Highland Council The Highland Council is looking to fill a variety of posts relating to civil engineering and flood risk management based in locations across the area.   Included are opportunities specifically for civil engineering graduates and technicians, providing the ideal job with career progression for anyone recently qualified and ready for a varied and interesting role.  

8/12/2025 : Local Authority

What the NC500 Research Projects Are Designed to Do - and Why They Matter for the Highlands

As the North Coast 500 approaches its tenth anniversary, it has become one of Scotland's most well-known tourism success stories.   The 516-mile loop around the far north of the Highlands has been celebrated internationally, marketed as a world-class road trip, and credited with transforming visitor numbers in some of Scotland’s most remote areas.  

7/12/2025 : Local Authority

Are Scottish Councils Quietly Reversing Outsourcing? A Look at Insourcing, Cuts and the Highland IT Shift

A notable article in the Guardian on 6 December 2025 noted the high sums being paid by London councils outsourcing services to private firms.   The article starts with the reduction in council funding by UK government since 2010.  

7/12/2025 : Local Authority

 
Help Shape the Future of Thurso

The Highland Council is inviting people that live, work, or study in Thurso, to come along to the public consultation events to have their say.   This is an opportunity to help shape the future of Thurso, to gather views and ideas.  

4/12/2025 : Local Authority

Have your say in Thurso's future £100million investment by attending public consultation events

Thurso is to benefit from £100m investment in education and community facilities and are rolling out the first phase of public consultations on 9 and 10 December 2025.   The Highland Council is inviting people that live, work, or study in Thurso, to come along to the public consultation events to have their say; this is an opportunity to help shape the future of Thurso, to gather views and ideas.  

4/12/2025 : Local Authority

Highland Council is reaching out for views to shape its next 26/27 budget.

As it looks to set out its forthcoming priorities, the council is seeking involvement from members of the public, including businesses, community groups, parents, and young people.   All their opinions are going to be crucial in deciding how Highland Council will take on its budget challenge for 2026-2027.  

4/12/2025 : Local Authority

Council welcomes Visitor Levy flexibility plan

The Highland Council welcomes moves by the Scottish Government to introduce greater flexibility on how it could design a Visitor Levy Scheme for consultation.   The Visitor Levy (Scotland) Act 2024 currently provides local authorities with discretionary powers to implement percentage-based levies following statutory consultation.  

2/12/2025 : Local Authority

Finding new owners for empty homes - Scheme launched to help return more empty homes to active use

A new online portal has been launched to bring empty homeowners together with prospective buyers or developers with the aim of facilitating more properties to be used as homes again.   Covering the whole of Scotland, this builds on the success of local pilots, referred to as "matchmaker schemes".  

1/12/2025 : Local Authority

Consideration for short term let control area in Skye and Raasay

Steps towards introducing a short term let control area have been considered by Highland Council's Isle of Skye and Raasay area committee.   On Monday (1 December 2025) the committee heard evidence to justify the grounds for the introduction of a Short Term Let Control Area covering all or part of Skye and Raasay.  

28/11/2025 : Advisory / Counseling Services

 
Workforce North event spotlights Highland economy

EMPLOYERS and educators from across the Highlands have gathered to hear how a new initiative is aiming to transform the region's economy.   Workforce North - A Call to Action brought together business leaders and teachers from primary and secondary schools from across the Highland Council area with a wide range of partners geared towards education, learning and skills development at Strathpeffer Pavillion.  

27/11/2025 : Local Authority

SSEN Transmission becomes first signatory to Highland Social Value Charter

SSEN Transmission has become the first company to sign up to the Highland Social Value Charter (HSVC), marking a significant milestone in delivering long-term socio-economic benefits for communities across the Highlands.   Investment commitments from the company include funding for roads, new homes, jobs, and work for local contractors in addition to a local and regional fund for communities to apply to.