Highland Council

Councillors have agreed to boost senior councillor pay by between £5-11k this year.

Andrew Button, from Golspie, and Valerie Graham, from Ardgay, attended their first board meeting last Wednesday.

Michael Gregson says ‘the people are just not feeling the love, and this excessive pay rise to ourselves certainly won’t change that perception’.

Disgruntled dog walkers and other leisure users of Dornoch Airfield attended a fiery meeting of Dornoch Community Council last week.

The move follows recommendations by the Scottish Local Authorities Remuneration Committee.

The first World Book Day in the UK and Ireland was held in 1997.

From the picture archive of the Northern Times.

Councillors hoped to take advantage of the lucrative North Coast 500 route, using the funds raised to improve services along the route.

A voluntary scheme to get campervan owners to pay towards upkeep of facilities has raised just £20,000 - against an annual target of £500,000.

Pupils at Helmsdale Primary School were challenged to create pictures and artwork about the Flow Country.

Local councillor Jim McGillivray is offering a £100 reward for information leading to the identification of the vandals.

The problems posed by the Highlands’ 516-mile NC500 route are undeniably tricky – and almost everyone has very strong opinions about it.

As the North Coast 500 marks its 10th anniversary, our podcast discusses the issues that the popular route have brought, as well as the benefits.

Inspectors said that Kinlochbervie High School was in need of additional support and more time to make necessary improvements.

The public conveniences at South Bonar have been closed since December 28 due to “significant ongoing vandalism and arson”.

The first new broch in two millennia could be “the symbol of Caithness to the world”, those behind it said after lodging their planning application.

Feedback over the region’s new 20mph limits is now being examined by Highland Council ahead of a vote which could make them permanent this spring.

Opposition plans for education reforms, free primary school meals and lower hikes in council tax were rejected.

Details of what specifically was proposed were scant while the Greens ‘hail influence’ on securing £500k investment.

But senior Highland Council official Malcolm Macleod insists the local authority’s ears are open on thorny questions like VAT.