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Scott Maclennan


Political Reporter

Scott MacLennan is the political reporter for the Highland titles at Highland News and Media. 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.

REVEALED: Highland Council overpaid past and present staff by £1.2 million

11 December 2024
REVEALED: Highland Council overpaid past and present staff by £1.2 million

REVEALED: Highland Council overpaid past and present staff by £1.2 million

11 December 2024

Most of that has been recovered but £396,000 is yet to be returned.


Highland Council lost £713k of taxpayers’ money on the failed Academy Street project

11 December 2024
Highland Council lost £713k of taxpayers’ money on the failed Academy Street project

Highland Council lost £713k of taxpayers’ money on the failed Academy Street project

11 December 2024

The costs were just released after a question from Conservative group leader Ruraidh Stewart.


Home Bargains at Smithton gets the green light from Highland Council on the narrowest of margins

10 December 2024
Home Bargains at Smithton gets the green light from Highland Council on the narrowest of margins

Home Bargains at Smithton gets the green light from Highland Council on the narrowest of margins

10 December 2024

Councillors were split amid concerns about the size of the outlet but the casting vote went to planning chairman.


Council rejects Beauly battery storage scheme after dozens of objections including from Lord Lovat

10 December 2024
Council rejects Beauly battery storage scheme after dozens of objections including from Lord Lovat

Council rejects Beauly battery storage scheme after dozens of objections including from Lord Lovat

10 December 2024

Local Councillors David Fraser and Chris Ballance called for it to be rejected planning over inappropriate siting.


‘I want to bring back local democracy to Nairn, it is long overdue,’ Nairn Provost backs Highland Council break-up

10 December 2024
‘I want to bring back local democracy to Nairn, it is long overdue,’ Nairn Provost backs Highland Council break-up

‘I want to bring back local democracy to Nairn, it is long overdue,’ Nairn Provost backs Highland Council break-up

10 December 2024

Nairn’s Provost wants to see the break-up of Highland Council in a bid to “bring back local democracy to Nairn”.


Highland Council poised for 35% tax raid on household budgets over 5 years

10 December 2024
Highland Council poised for 35% tax raid on household budgets over 5 years

Highland Council poised for 35% tax raid on household budgets over 5 years

10 December 2024

That is despite a large increase in Scottish Government funding announced in the draft budget.


Demand for answers on how much taxpayers’ money was lost on the failed Academy Street revamp

09 December 2024
Demand for answers on how much taxpayers’ money was lost on the failed Academy Street revamp

Demand for answers on how much taxpayers’ money was lost on the failed Academy Street revamp

09 December 2024

Council leader Raymond Bremner will be put on the spot with estimates putting the final tally at hundreds of thousands of pounds.


Highland Council extends visitor levy scheme consultation period

09 December 2024
Highland Council extends visitor levy scheme consultation period

Highland Council extends visitor levy scheme consultation period

09 December 2024

Tourism groups welcome the move saying if it is ‘well-implemented’ it could ‘bring significant benefits to our region’.


Leading councillors call for ‘break-up of Highland Council’ - so is it still fit for purpose?

06 December 2024
Leading councillors call for ‘break-up of Highland Council’ - so is it still fit for purpose?

Leading councillors call for ‘break-up of Highland Council’ - so is it still fit for purpose?

06 December 2024

The move to ‘better serve’ the north follows Kate Forbes’ call to dismantle the local authority.


Holyrood told some Highland women ‘lost their fertility’ due to ‘barbaric’ lack of access to Raigmore

05 December 2024
Holyrood told some Highland women ‘lost their fertility’ due to ‘barbaric’ lack of access to Raigmore

Holyrood told some Highland women ‘lost their fertility’ due to ‘barbaric’ lack of access to Raigmore

05 December 2024

Lib Dem leader Alex Cole-Hamilton called on First Minister John Swinney for action.


WATCH: First Minister agrees to meet the family of murdered Nairn banker Alistair Wilson

05 December 2024
WATCH: First Minister agrees to meet the family of murdered Nairn banker Alistair Wilson

WATCH: First Minister agrees to meet the family of murdered Nairn banker Alistair Wilson

05 December 2024

John Swinney was asked to meet them ‘in the hope that the killer of their husband and father will finally be brought to justice’.


PICTURED: Planned new £5 million Home Bargains store on Barn Church Road in Smithton

05 December 2024
PICTURED: Planned new £5 million Home Bargains store on Barn Church Road in Smithton

PICTURED: Planned new £5 million Home Bargains store on Barn Church Road in Smithton

05 December 2024

A planning meeting next week will decide whether or not east Inverness gets the new outlet.


Multimillion-pound plan for new Home Bargains store in Smithton set for planning decision

05 December 2024
Multimillion-pound plan for new Home Bargains store in Smithton set for planning decision

Multimillion-pound plan for new Home Bargains store in Smithton set for planning decision

05 December 2024

The development received broad support with around 40 jobs expected to be created.


The Scottish Budget at a glance: how it affects the Highlands and Moray from dualling to the NHS

04 December 2024
The Scottish Budget at a glance: how it affects the Highlands and Moray from dualling to the NHS

The Scottish Budget at a glance: how it affects the Highlands and Moray from dualling to the NHS

04 December 2024

More cash will come north but the jury is out on whether finance secretary Shona Robison delivered for the north.


Battery storage scheme attracts objections from local lord and famous writer

04 December 2024
Battery storage scheme attracts objections from local lord and famous writer

Battery storage scheme attracts objections from local lord and famous writer

04 December 2024

Lord Lovat and Kapka Kassabova are among 41 others against but Highland Council recommends approval.


Scottish Government should make Highland Hospice ‘a nationally funded service’

03 December 2024
Scottish Government should make Highland Hospice ‘a nationally funded service’

Scottish Government should make Highland Hospice ‘a nationally funded service’

03 December 2024

Fergus Ewing says recent NI hikes risk the service that offers patients dignity and saves the NHS millions.


REVEALED: Number of new classrooms created using money for housing projects

03 December 2024
REVEALED: Number of new classrooms created using money for housing projects

REVEALED: Number of new classrooms created using money for housing projects

03 December 2024

Freedom of Information requests discovered the sums the council has received from developers, the total spent, as well as where it was spent.


Former Highland Council staff say they were ‘intimidated’ after being paid despite leaving

26 November 2024
Former Highland Council staff say they were ‘intimidated’ after being paid despite leaving

Former Highland Council staff say they were ‘intimidated’ after being paid despite leaving

26 November 2024

One of them was told to attend a meeting for an interview with council investigators ‘under caution’.


Councillor Sean Kennedy takes an icy plunge for brain tumour research

23 November 2024
Councillor Sean Kennedy takes an icy plunge for brain tumour research

Councillor Sean Kennedy takes an icy plunge for brain tumour research

23 November 2024

He was inspired by Fiona Hawthorne who like him survived a brain tumour.


Is Kate Forbes’ seat now ‘competitive’ after huge Lib Dem council by-election win?

22 November 2024
Is Kate Forbes’ seat now ‘competitive’ after huge Lib Dem council by-election win?

Is Kate Forbes’ seat now ‘competitive’ after huge Lib Dem council by-election win?

22 November 2024

Leading Lib Dems have confidence in a Highland revival as Councillor Andrew Baxter got 58 per cent of the vote.


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