| Administrative History | The Local Government (Scotland) Act, 1994 abolished the previous two-tier region and district model on the mainland and replaced it with 29 unitary authorities; the three islands authorities remained. Although not affecting parishes, the new authority boundaries in some areas take the position of pre-1974 counties and parishes. The new authorities were elected in April 1995 and the boundaries of the new local government units were operational from April 1996.
The Highland Council was established as a shadow authority in 1995 under the provision of the Local Government etc (Scotland) Act 1994 (c.39). In 1996 the new single tier local authority assumed full administrative responsibilities from those authorities which had co-existed under the previous two-tier system of local government, namely the former Highland Regional Council, Inverness District Council, Nairn District Council, Badenoch and Strathspey District Council, Lochaber District Council, Skye and Lochalsh District Council, Ross and Cromarty District Council, Sutherland District Council, and Caithness District Council. |