Moray Council
The council is responsible for operating a wide range of public sector services including education, social work, housing, planning, roads, environmental protection, waste management, economic development and leisure.
While its headquarters are in Elgin, there are also area offices in other towns, including Forres, Buckie and Keith.
In delivering services to the public, the council is committed to improving the quality of life for everyone in Moray.
The Moray Council came into being in 1996 when unitary authorities were introduced in Scotland to replace the regional and district councils which had been in existence since the previous reorganisation of local government in the mid 1970s.
There are 45 primary schools and eight secondaries in Moray and the council currently has responsibility for educating more than 13,000 school pupils. Its community learning and development team is also involved in arranging a wide range of classes and courses for adult learners.
The council operates 15 public libraries, all with free internet and e-mail access, and two mobile libraries which service users in more remote areas.
Moray Council is also responsible for the maintenance of 1000 miles or road, 450 miles of footpath, 468 bridges, 16,000 street lights and 10,500 road signs.
As a housing authority, it manages more than 6000 council properties and operates a council house waiting list. It also provides housing which has been specially designed, built or adapted to meet the requirements of certain groups such as the elderly and those with special needs.
The council’s development control section deals with thousands of planning applications every year from individuals and organisations seeking permission to erect buildings or adapt existing ones.
The section is part of the environmental services department whose responsibilities range from food safety to flood protection and trading standards to transport.
Waste management is another important part of the department’s remit and each year approximately 50,000 tonnes of waste is collected from homes and commercial properties in Moray.
The area has one of the best recycling records of any Scottish local authority and households in many communities benefit from a kerbside recycling service.
There are over 60 recycling points located throughout Moray in addition to eight larger recycling centres.
The safety of everyone in the community, whether residents or visitors, is of paramount consideration to Moray Council and it is one of the first local authorities in the country to insist that all school transport providers fit their vehicles with seat belts.
Comprehensive details of the services provided by the council are available on its website at www.moray.gov.uk
