Hi Ron and All, Not entirely sure I have all this sorted out, but this is what I have so far ... Sutherland County Council (and Dornoch Burgh Council) ceased to exist at Local Government Re-organisation on 15th May 1975. The next day, Highland Regional Council (now called The Highland Council) took over the responsibilities of the councils in Badenoch & Strathspey, Caithness, Inverness, Lochaber, Nairn, Ross & Cromarty, Skye & Lochalsh and Sutherland. County sub-committees of Highland Council are made up of the highland councillors who represent wards in the old county areas. Highland Council levies the Council Tax, and administers the following services; Education, Social Services, Roads and Transport (except trunk roads), Police, Protective Services, Fire, Culture and Leisure, Planning and Development. Other powers are exercised by the Scottish and UK Parliament.s. Local areas (similar to previous Parish and Burgh) now have Community Councils. I think Ardgay is now with Bonar (and thus into Sutherland). Edderton was added to Dornoch Firth Ward (approx the old Dornoch Parish, plus part of Creich) about 2 years ago. County names are still used, but do not have their previous significance in administrative terms. Hope this adds to the picture. We have elections to Highland Council and Scottish Parliament on Thursday. Denise Sutherland

Was there not a change (or at least talk about it) just a few years ago to go to smaller unitary authorities, roughly corresponding to the old counties? Donald Massey ----- Original Message ----- > > Not entirely sure I have all this sorted out, but this is what I have so > far ... > > Sutherland County Council (and Dornoch Burgh Council) ceased to exist at > Local Government Re-organisation on 15th May 1975. The next day, Highland > Regional Council (now called The Highland Council) took over the > responsibilities of the councils in Badenoch & Strathspey, Caithness, > Inverness, Lochaber, Nairn, Ross & Cromarty, Skye & Lochalsh and Sutherland. > > County sub-committees of Highland Council are made up of the highland > councillors who represent wards in the old county areas. > > Highland Council levies the Council Tax, and administers the following > services; Education, Social Services, Roads and Transport (except trunk > roads), Police, Protective Services, Fire, Culture and Leisure, Planning > and Development. > > Other powers are exercised by the Scottish and UK Parliament.s. Local > areas (similar to previous Parish and Burgh) now have Community Councils. > > I think Ardgay is now with Bonar (and thus into Sutherland). Edderton was > added to Dornoch Firth Ward (approx the old Dornoch Parish, plus part of > Creich) about 2 years ago. > > County names are still used, but do not have their previous significance > in administrative terms. > > Hope this adds to the picture. We have elections to Highland Council and > Scottish Parliament on Thursday.

There's always talk of change in some areas of local government, but certainly haven't heard any demand expressed here in the northern highlands. With a population of 13,778 at the census in 2001, Sutherland would struggle to afford its own unitary authority. The population fell slightly on the 1991 figure of 13,842. Denise, Sutherland