The Highland Council will meet on Thursday 5 March to consider a three-year financial plan, which sets out recommendations to deliver a balanced budget, alongside additional investment in adult social care, housing, education, workforce development, and roads. The report outlines the challenges and opportunities faced by the Council alongside the administration's budget proposals, which, if agreed, would see: A 7% increase in Council Tax - 5% to support the delivery of vital Council services, plus 2% to support the Highland Investment Plan, a £2.1 billion, 20-year capital investment programme to deliver improvements in schools, local infrastructure and services.
For the 2025/26 and 2026/27 budget periods, Highland Council has avoided mass redundancies, instead managing staff reductions through vacancy management and redeployment. Staff Reduction Levels & Strategy Vacancy Management: The primary method for reducing staff levels is "non-replacement"—leaving posts unfilled when staff leave or retire.
In the 2026/27 budget proposals, The Highland Council plans for High Life Highland (HLH) to return to a sustainable financial model following its post-COVID recovery period. The key changes and expectations for HLH in the 2026/27 financial year include.
The Highland Council's budget proposals for 2026/27, announced in February 2026, include several key funding allocations for schools aimed at infrastructure and specialized service support. Capital Investment & Infrastructure Highland Investment Plan: The council proposes to set aside 2% of its annual Council Tax revenue specifically for this plan.
For the 2026/27 budget, Highland Council is proposing a £61 million package of budget savings, income generation measures, and financial flexibilities to address a projected £46.7 million budget gap over the next three years. The council's administration has focused on a strategy of increasing income and "entrepreneurial activity" rather than solely relying on service cuts.
Aberdeenshire Council has proposed a 10% increase in council tax for the 2026/27 financial year to address a projected £11.9 million budget shortfall, following a 10% increase in 2025/26. This proposal is part of measures to manage significant financial challenges, with final rates to be confirmed.
Thanks to a change in loan financing arrangements, officers have been able to address budgetary challenges and preserve frontline services while enabling members to limit Edinburgh's Council Tax rise to 4% - set to be the lowest increase across Scottish councils this year. Labour struck a deal with the Liberal Democrats and Conservatives at Thursday's budget meeting, bringing down a proposed 5% rise as well as agreeing a freeze on pay-and-display rates.
Moray Council has confirmed its 2026/27 Council Tax after agreeing indicative Council Tax rates until 2028 last year, to assist with more sustainable financial planning. Full Council confirmed the planned increase of 10% in 2026/27 and indicated the further 6% increase in 2027/28 is still their intention.
Adebanjo Adebayo Talabi fraudulently applied for three Covid Bounce Back Loans - totalling £150,000. Adebanjo Adebayo Talabi was the director of Bebo Construction Limited.
Switching the NHS vehicle fleet to electric will save the health service millions and help to decarbonise 460 million miles of travel each year. £4 million boost to NHS chargepoint scheme to help modernise the health service and save millions in fuel costs.
People keep asking me how money is created, and the answer matters because misunderstanding money leads directly to bad economics and bad politics. In this video, I explain: Why money is always a promise to pay How commercial banks create money when they lend.
Spencer, a former plumber and local councillor, won the Gorton and Denton by-election in Greater Manchester for the Green Party. This is a spectacular result overturning a huge Labour majority and relegating Labour to third place behind both the Greens and Reform UK.
A Special Highland Council meeting on 5 March 2026 will see councillors vote on a proposed 7% increase in council tax. For the 2026/27 financial year, Highland Council has proposed a 7% increase in Council Tax.
Gaelic plays a significant role across the Highlands and Islands, contributing to community resilience, cultural development and sustainable economic growth. Having a powerful social, cultural and economic role in the Highlands and Islands, its value to local people and businesses has never felt stronger.
Highland Council has appointed the preferred main contractors for the first construction projects to be delivered under its new Highland Investment Plan (HIP). Morgan Sindall, Morrison Construction, Robertson Group and Ogilvie will work on seven key multi-million-pound projects across the region from Thurso to Inverness.
Ukraine's largest drone manufacturers open new factory in Suffolk, creating up to 500 jobs and boosting economic growth. Factory to produce cutting-edge drones, providing critical support in Ukraine’s fight for freedom, four years on from Putin’s illegal invasion.
New government guidance outlines how offenders' vehicles should be searched, seized and destroyed. New guidance issued today will help local authorities crack down on waste crime, as new statistics reveal there were 1.26 million incidents of fly-tipping last year.
Parliament has approved the 2026-27 Scottish Budget, including a record £22.5 billion for health and social care and enhanced cost of living support. The Budget Bill sets out funding of almost £68 billion with investment in Scotland's infrastructure, direct support for household budgets and extra help for families.
Primary children will have the chance to learn to swim as the Scottish Government capitalises on the forthcoming "spectacular summer of sport". The rollout of the National Primary School Swimming Framework, a universal offer to primary aged children, is part of a package of measures to get people more active, inspired by the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games and the Scotland men's team playing in the FIFA World Cup finals.
A social impact programme will be rolled out to help capture the "once in a generation" benefits of hosting the 2027 Tour de France Grand Depart. National governing body, Scottish Cycling, will work with local authorities and community organisations to deliver a range of projects, funded by £1 million from the Scottish Government.