Highland Council, GB
Unitary Authority in Scotland
United Kingdom
Highland Council, GB reinforces affordable housing stock with home purchasing program
Residents can sell their homes to the council for up to £180,000 with higher prices in special cases. Participating sellers benefit from waived estate agent fees and home report requirements. Highland Council approved the program because these purchases are less expensive than building new homes in current economic conditions. Local officials also want to discourage home purchases intended for short-term rentals, thus addressing steady increases in rental costs.
Highland Council, GB
United Kingdom
Highland Council, GB Telford Centre Care Home fills the gap between independent and supported living
The six-home development in Fort Augustus clusters residents with varying needs for efficient care delivery. Each home includes an adapted restroom and kitchen for wheelchair users along with ample living space. Common areas including a gazebo and gardens are connected to the homes by level paths for scooters. Residents of Telford Centre work with their carers to determine if they can Step Down into independent housing or need to Step Up into long-term stays.
Highland Council, GB
United Kingdom
Highland Council, GB readies unemployed residents for culinary careers with Cookery Initiative Pilot
Twenty-two unemployed residents of Lochaber and Skye are eligible for the six-month training pilot. The Highland Employability Service arranges living-wage work at council, National Health Service, and restaurant kitchens in the region. Participants complete a course at The West Highland College UHI and receive certification from the Scottish Qualifications Authority. The Cookery Initiative Pilot offers admission to a full-time cookery program and guaranteed job interviews for graduates.
Highland Council, GB
United Kingdom
Highland Council, GB opens path to public sector hydrogen use with Dynamic Purchasing System
Council leaders and The Procurement Partnership Ltd. (TPPL) seek suppliers to fill future hydrogen needs. Organizations that can deliver hydrogen generation, storage, and fueling infrastructure can be part of the five-year DPS. Department officials and TPPL partners will use the system for expedited approval of contractors for projects ranging from hydrogen-fueled fleets to fuel dispesners. This first-of-a-kind process could be expanded to other United Kingdom councils based on early results.
Highland Council, GB
United Kingdom
Highland Council, GB partners with regional transit authority on Hi-Bike mobility pilot in Inverness
HITRANS and council officials installed three docking stations to serve an initial fleet of 30 e-bikes. Hi-Bike stations were placed near components of the in-development Active Travel Network like Raigmore Interchange and Riverside Way. Commuters use the Hi-Bike app to purchase single-ride, monthly, or annual passes starting from £2 per ride. Stations and bikes will be added over the one-year pilot based on usage statistics.
Highland Council, GB
United Kingdom
Highland Council, GB encourages sustainable behavior among staff members with Green Impact Programme
Council employees register online as teams and select from 141 sustainability exercises. Teams work with university students on food gardens, biodiversity exercises, and energy awareness messaging. The council's Climate Change Team contacts participants throughout their journeys to assess their needs. Each action is awarded up to 10 points with three recognition tiers based on point accumulation.
Highland Council, GB
United Kingdom
Highland Council, GB makes young voters comfortable at the polls with TikTok instructional videos
The council worked with the Highland Youth Parliament on TikToks aimed at teen voters. Young residents explain how their colleagues can register to vote, request mail ballots, and navigate election-day voting. The videos answer frequently asked questions and use quizzes to separate fact from fiction. Highland Council focused on oft-overlooked digital natives who may not see much about the May 2021 parliamentary elections elsewhere on social media.
Highland Council, GB
United Kingdom