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Scott Maclennan


Political Reporter

Scott MacLennan is the political reporter for all the Highland titles at Highland News and Media. The Scottish Press Awards named him Weekly Journalist of the Year in 2024 for his coverage of the A9 dualling, 999 failings and pupil safety at a north school. He joined the company in 2019. Scott went to university in Glasgow and Moscow and reports on the Highland Council, NHS Highland and the Scottish Parliament

Scott Maclennan

How will 7% rise in Highland Council Tax hit your pocket? We look at the figures

27 February 2025
How will 7% rise in Highland Council Tax hit your pocket? We look at the figures

How will 7% rise in Highland Council Tax hit your pocket? We look at the figures

27 February 2025

Top councillors recognise ‘people are under severe financial pressure’ but say taxpayers will see their money’s worth


Highland Council set for 7% council tax hike and £21.5m for teaching, social care, public transport and renewables

27 February 2025
Highland Council set for 7% council tax hike and £21.5m for teaching, social care, public transport and renewables

Highland Council set for 7% council tax hike and £21.5m for teaching, social care, public transport and renewables

27 February 2025

The £818m draft budget will be debated - and likely agreed - at a full meeting of the local authority next week.


8% less Highland school leavers reach higher education than national average

26 February 2025
8% less Highland school leavers reach higher education than national average

8% less Highland school leavers reach higher education than national average

26 February 2025

Highland Council education bosses’ narrative claims ‘journey of improvement’ underway.


Housing minister Paul McLennan launches Highland tenants’ rights campaign

25 February 2025
Housing minister Paul McLennan launches Highland tenants’ rights campaign

Housing minister Paul McLennan launches Highland tenants’ rights campaign

25 February 2025

Protections from illegal eviction, rent increases and maintenance to the fore.


Highland Council claims exam results will match the Scottish average by 2027, critics say that’s ‘unconvincingly positive’

25 February 2025
Highland Council claims exam results will match the Scottish average by 2027, critics say that’s ‘unconvincingly positive’

Highland Council claims exam results will match the Scottish average by 2027, critics say that’s ‘unconvincingly positive’

25 February 2025

Councillor Michael Gregson warns when ‘Highland figures are so poor’ then ‘we need more transparency and openness’.


Highland Council teacher absences exceeded 8400 working days last session - a level branded ‘disturbing’

21 February 2025
Highland Council teacher absences exceeded 8400 working days last session - a level branded ‘disturbing’

Highland Council teacher absences exceeded 8400 working days last session - a level branded ‘disturbing’

21 February 2025

The local authority admits that it ‘has an impact on service delivery including at school level’.


New Inverness Royal Academy head teacher confirmed as Ian Adamson who currently leads Kingussie High

20 February 2025
New Inverness Royal Academy head teacher confirmed as Ian Adamson who currently leads Kingussie High

New Inverness Royal Academy head teacher confirmed as Ian Adamson who currently leads Kingussie High

20 February 2025

The IRA’s last head permanent teacher Nigel Engstrand was drafted-in to lead the troubled Fortrose Academy.


Graham Leadbitter targets a Highland energy rebate from the UK government

20 February 2025
Graham Leadbitter targets a Highland energy rebate from the UK government

Graham Leadbitter targets a Highland energy rebate from the UK government

20 February 2025

The SNP MP says ‘people who can see excess energy being generated from their gardens should not be paying more to heat their homes’.


Angus MacDonald: It costs four times as much to heat my Highland home than my MP flat in London

20 February 2025
Angus MacDonald: It costs four times as much to heat my Highland home than my MP flat in London

Angus MacDonald: It costs four times as much to heat my Highland home than my MP flat in London

20 February 2025

LibDem MP warns costs are fuelling the Highlands having the second highest fuel poverty rate in the UK.


UK government ‘promises’ Highland communities a share of the billions from renewable energy investments

19 February 2025
UK government ‘promises’ Highland communities a share of the billions from renewable energy investments

UK government ‘promises’ Highland communities a share of the billions from renewable energy investments

19 February 2025

MP Angus MacDonald hails ‘very positive step’ as Labour energy minister Michael Shanks says region is ‘doing a favour for the rest of the country’.


Highland Council appoints Savills for Town House commercial feasibility study

18 February 2025
Highland Council appoints Savills for Town House commercial feasibility study

Highland Council appoints Savills for Town House commercial feasibility study

18 February 2025

The local authority vacated the iconic building in 2023 to save an estimated £370,000 annually but has struggled to find tenants.


Shock SNP move could bar Fergus Ewing from running for the party in 2026

17 February 2025
Shock SNP move could bar Fergus Ewing from running for the party in 2026

Shock SNP move could bar Fergus Ewing from running for the party in 2026

17 February 2025

So is the party about to shoot itself in the foot and make Inverness and Nairn competitive over the outspoken Highland MSP?


Bid to cut Highland Council rent hike by 2% fails despite fears it will cause ‘hardship’ for tenants

13 February 2025
Bid to cut Highland Council rent hike by 2% fails despite fears it will cause ‘hardship’ for tenants

Bid to cut Highland Council rent hike by 2% fails despite fears it will cause ‘hardship’ for tenants

13 February 2025

The administration argues the rise is needed to fund maintenance, repairs, and debt.


Highlands Council says region is too big and too remote to cut speed limit for cars but backs raising it for HGVs

13 February 2025
Highlands Council says region is too big and too remote to cut speed limit for cars but backs raising it for HGVs

Highlands Council says region is too big and too remote to cut speed limit for cars but backs raising it for HGVs

13 February 2025

In its formal response councillors backed the view of officials the road network in the north is too big.


Highland Council rejects Scottish Government plans to cut speed limit for cars but backs increasing it for HGVs

10 February 2025
Highland Council rejects Scottish Government plans to cut speed limit for cars but backs increasing it for HGVs

Highland Council rejects Scottish Government plans to cut speed limit for cars but backs increasing it for HGVs

10 February 2025

The response cites ‘significant length of national speed limit road network and remoteness’ of the area.


Highland Council gives Lord Lovat planning permission for Balblair Quarry battery energy storage system

10 February 2025
Highland Council gives Lord Lovat planning permission for Balblair Quarry battery energy storage system

Highland Council gives Lord Lovat planning permission for Balblair Quarry battery energy storage system

10 February 2025

Locals were against the scheme including the community council over noise and the ‘cumulative impact’ of the plan.


Inverness gull management is set for take-off after the arrival of a falcon to control breeding

06 February 2025
Inverness gull management is set for take-off after the arrival of a falcon to control breeding

Inverness gull management is set for take-off after the arrival of a falcon to control breeding

06 February 2025

The falcon named Angel will control breeding by making gulls ‘uncomfortable’ to restrict nesting and breeding.


Scottish Parliament told Highland Council ‘botched’ a child protection probe at north school

06 February 2025
Scottish Parliament told Highland Council ‘botched’ a child protection probe at north school

Scottish Parliament told Highland Council ‘botched’ a child protection probe at north school

06 February 2025

A petitions committee hearing accepted calls for an inquiry into how public bodies ‘mishandle’ such concerns.


Lord Lovat bids for a battery energy storage system near Balblair Quarry

06 February 2025
Lord Lovat bids for a battery energy storage system near Balblair Quarry

Lord Lovat bids for a battery energy storage system near Balblair Quarry

06 February 2025

He had previously strongly objected to another such scheme nearby before suggesting the current site.


Inverness councillor questions whether parking management companies like Britannia can issue ‘fines’

05 February 2025
Inverness councillor questions whether parking management companies like Britannia can issue ‘fines’

Inverness councillor questions whether parking management companies like Britannia can issue ‘fines’

05 February 2025

So what should you do if you receive a parking charge notice from a private operator?


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