Aberdeenshire Council call centres leaving residents on hold for up to one hour
Frustrated residents are being left on hold for up to an hour to report urgent public health hazards, road defects and housing repairs.
Western Isles Council
Council will finally sell horse which lived in woman’s living room on Isle of Lewis
A council which won a four-year battle to remove a pony from the house it was being kept in may have finally found it a new home.
North-east population drops as thousands leave area
The population of the north-east fell last year after more than 20,000 people moved away and far fewer arrived to make the region their home.
Orkney, Shetland and Western Isles hail ‘historic’ Islands Bill becoming law
A major piece of legislation granting further powers to island communities has been signed into law by the Queen.
Housing initiative being developed in Western Isles
A new housing initiative is being developed in the Western Isles in a bid to help address the issue of depopulation of remote communities.
Western Isles councillor to face ethics panel over ‘failure to declare’
A Western Isles councillor is to face Scotland’s ethics watchdog after allegedly failing to declare company interests in a timely manner.
Western Isles Council confirm horse will get a new home after four-year ownership battle
A council that won a four-year possession battle over a horse that lived in a house with its owner is finally set to find it a new home.
Western Isles Council aims to fill hundreds of empty homes
Councillors on the Western Isles have backed proposals to introduce a dedicated officer to bring hundreds of empty homes back into use.
Call for action over ferry disruption
Calls for the Scottish Government to intervene in the ongoing ferry disruption saga are being made by Western Isles Council.
BiFab deal raises hopes of new work and “vibrant future” for Western Isles yard
A mothballed fabrication yard on the Western Isles was on the brink of being reborn last night after a landmark deal was struck to take over troubled firm BiFab.
North councils facing ‘ticking time bomb’ of population change
North councils are facing a demographic “ticking time bomb” that could accelerate cuts and make vital services unsustainable within a few years, according to a new report.
Jobs at risk after Highlands and Islands Airports announce decision to centralise air traffic control
Western Isles Council has voiced concerns over local jobs and security in the latest instalment of the “remote” air traffic control towers row.
BiFab urged to continue closure of its yard on Lewis – so it will be “ready to go” in the future
Engineering firm BiFab is being urged to place its closure-threatened yard on Lewis on “care and maintenance” so it can speedily restart operations when the market improves.
Ministers under pressure amid fears Arnish yard on Lewis is on the brink of closure
Scottish ministers were under growing pressure last night to step in to save the Arnish yard in Lewis amid fears it could shut down within days.
Budget deal secures £40million extra for north and north-east – but cuts threat remains
A budget deal has handed councils across the north and north-east a £40million boost – but leaders warned that threat of severe service cuts remained.
Councils across Scotland considering plastic straw ban
Councils across Scotland are considering banning plastic straws after a campaign which began with a school trip to the Highlands.
New council funding revealed after Holyrood “blunder” claims
Grants for Scottish councils have been re-calculated just weeks before they set their budgets – with Moray and Aberdeen City among the authorities losing out.
Western Isles Council accused of blocking all-weather pitch bid
An angry row has broken out on Barra as the community tries to develop one of the most remote soccer pitches in the country.
Revealed: The “staggering” true scale of council job cuts
Shock new figures show that Highland Council has slashed its workforce by more than a fifth during the public sector spending squeeze – the largest cut in Scotland.
Support line in place after death of pupil at Stornoway school
A 24-hour confidential support line and counselling service has been set up for those affected by the tragic death of a 15-year-old school pupil on the Western Isles.
North councils still at risk from cyber attack
Several local authorities in the north and north-east remain vulnerable to cyber attacks after failing to fully implement e-mail security measures.
Number of pupils studying Gaelic in Outer Hebrides falls
The number of secondary pupils studying Gaelic in the Outer Hebrides – regarded as the traditional stronghold of the language – has witnessed a significant decline in the past 10 years.
Plans for new Stornoway care home poised to progress
Plans for a multimillion pound care home in Stornoway will take a major step forward at the turn of the year, with a funding application to the Scottish Government.
Raised levels of shellfish toxins identified at island loch
A shellfish health warning has been issued over a popular Western Isles loch.
Council fined £10,000 for bath scald
Western Isles Council has been penalised £10,000 after a vulnerable adult in its care was scalded by hot bath water.
Claims councils have missed golden opportunity to harvest fortune from new developments
Council bosses in the north and north east have raised just £3omillion from developers in the past five years, new figures show.
Western Isles fishers are poised to hook loans worth more than £300k
Seven fishing skippers and first-time boat owners in the Outer Hebrides have been recommended for loans totalling more than £300,000.
Tributes paid after death of former Western Isles councillor
Tributes have been paid to a former Western Isles councillor who has died.
Local authority ‘broke the law’ seizing horse living in pensioner’s front room, court told
A local authority broke the law when it seized a horse living in a pensioner's front room in the Outer Hebrides, a court heard yesterday.
South Uist flag wins official recognition after community campaign
South Uist campaigners were celebrating last night after winning approval for the first officially recognised community flag in the Outer Hebrides.
Council seize horse living in owner’s front room
Council inspectors seized a horse living in its owner's front room just hours before a strategy to avoid it "from being lifted" could be implemented, a court heard yesterday.
Major regeneration of Lews Castle grounds could get underway in months
The start of a major £5.5 million regeneration of the Lews Castle grounds in Stornoway could be underway within months despite a funding shortfall.