Members of the council’s care, learning and housing committee have welcomed the recognition received by housing staff and commended their ongoing engagement activities.

Cllr John Finlayson, vice chair of the care, learning and housing committee, said: “I am pleased to hear that tenant participation officers have increased the level of face-to-face meaningful contact with more tenants.

“Twenty four tenant and resident groups are being supported across the Highlands and it is welcome news that four more tenant groups are being helped to set themselves up.”

He added: “I am pleased to see that Senior Safe Highland events – aimed at older tenants and residents – attracted 160 people in Dingwall, Fort William and Kingussie; and I am delighted to learn that another similar event is planned for Skye and Lochalsh next spring and also in Inverness in February.”

Other outreach and engagement work in Caithness in tandem with High Life Highland and the criminal justice service has been aimed at young people, creating junior warden schemes and a youth independence project which prepares older teenagers for a positive place in the community. The tenant participation team will expand this youth engagement to other parts of the Highlands next year.

Tenant forums have been successfully created in Caithness, Sutherland, East Ross and Inverness and the council, intends to develop further forums in Lochaber, Mid and West Ross, Nairn, Badenoch and Strasthspey and Skye and Lochalsh.

In recognition of their success and achievements to date in tenant engagement, the Highland Council has been selected to work with the Tenant Participation Advisory Service on the Scottish Government’s ‘Next Steps’ Programme.