Local Authority News
4/4/2017
Call for voters in Highland to register in time for elections this May
With Scottish Council elections taking place in just a few weeks, voters in the Highlands are being urged to make sure they are registered to vote and are able to take part on polling day, Thursday 4 May. The call for voters to sign up comes as the Electoral Commission launches a national voter registration campaign to encourage as many people as possible to register ahead of the elections taking place this year.3/4/2017
Golspie and River Thurso Flood Protection Studies underway
The Highland Council has awarded a contract to a world leading engineering design firm to carry out comprehensive flood protection studies for two Highland coastal towns. Thurso on the north coast and Golspie on the east coast have both suffered from flooding incidents over the years that has affected domestic and business properties and resulted in both towns being identified as Potentially Vulnerable Areas (PVAs) in the Highland and Argyll Local Flood Risk Management Plan.
13/3/2017
Highland Council 2017 Election Called
The 2017 Highland Council election has been officially called today (Monday 13 March) with the Returning Officer seeking nominations from candidates wishing to stand in the local government elections which take place on Thursday 4 May. A total of 74 Councillors will be appointed to represent the Council in 21 electoral wards, each with three or four elected members.
10/3/2017
Wipro staff to be based in city centre office
Wipro has opened a new delivery centre in Inverness as part of our growth plan and service delivery for the Highland Council. 40 to 50 staff will be based at Moray House in the city centre.
10/3/2017
Council agrees Redesign Board recommendations
The Highland Council has agreed all the recommendations made by the Redesign Board. The Board proposes a significant shift to localism.10/3/2017
Extra £1million capital for Highland roads
On Thursday 9th March, the Council approved £1million additional capital monies to be spent on Highland roads. The Scottish Government, announced on 2 February 2017, an additional Capital Grant for Highland Council of £2.046m for 2017/18 and members have agreed to allocate £1million of this to roads.10/3/2017
Highland Council funding to CAB Projects
The Highland Council has agreed to extend funding to two CAB projects of up to £50,000. The Mental Health and Midwifery projects provide money and welfare advice to pregnant mums and those experiencing mental ill health.6/3/2017
New West Link Bridge Spans The River In Inverness
The first of the central beams to connect the north and south side of the West Link bridge, Inverness were put in place today, 6 March 2017. The centre span beams are 70m in length and weight 70 tonnes each.
6/3/2017
Council To Consider Spending An Extra £1million Capital On Roads
A paper going to the Council meeting on 9 March will propose a £1 million spend of additional capital monies on roads infrastructure. The Scottish Government, announced on 2 February 2017, an additional Capital Grant for Highland Council of £2.046 million for 2017/18 and a paper to council will ask members to consider whether to allocate £1 million of this to roads.6/3/2017
Top national award for Highland Council's energy project
The Highland Council has won a national award for a project aimed at cutting the cost of heating Highland homes. The Scottish Energy Efficiency and Health Homes Award, presented during an award ceremony held in Glasgow, recognised the Council's work to assist with reducing energy use in Highland homes through the Home Energy Efficiency Programme for Scotland - Area Based Scheme (HEEPS-ABS) and the particular drive to identify and assist homes that are in fuel poverty or vulnerable to the cost of energy.5/3/2017
Redesign Board Makes Recommendations On The Redesign Of The Council
The Redesign Board met on 28 February to agree its recommendations on the redesign of the Council. The Board proposes a significant shift to localism.5/3/2017
'emojional' Addition To Council Website
People looking for shortcuts to their most used pages on Highland Council's website via their Smart phones can now use Emoji to take them there faster. Used in electronic messages and web pages, Emoji are used much like Emoticons and exist in various symbols including facial expressions, common objects, places and types of weather, and animals.4/3/2017
Highland Council In Multi million pound travel competition
The Highland Council progresses to third and final stage of multi-million pound active travel competition, Community Links PLUS. The ‘Inverness Active Travel Network' design submitted by the Council impressed Sustrans Scotland’s Community Links PLUS competition panel with its dynamic and strategic infrastructure proposal that aims to double the current level of cycling in the city and become the active travel leader in Scotland.3/3/2017
Commercial approach to brown bin waste will protect services and jobs
At a Special Meeting of The Highland Council on 16th February 2017, the Council's elected members agreed to introduce a £30 per annum charge to participating householders for the collection of garden waste in brown bins to generate an estimated £660,000 to help meet the Council's £20 million funding gap. Cllr Allan Henderson, Chair of Community Services Committee, explained: "Savings made by charging for brown bins helps to sustain around 25-30 jobs and protect services.3/3/2017
Highland school meals reassurance
Highland Council has issued reassurance on the provenance of ingredients in its school meals following recent national media reports this week. Cllr Drew Millar, Chair of the Council's Education, Children and Adult Services Committee said: "Our catering service is proud to provide good value meals using quality ingredients carefully sourced.3/3/2017
Management of Highland schools update
Members of The Highland Council's Education, Children and Adult Services Committee have approved a management proposal for the Farr (Sutherland) associated school group. The new management entitlement covering Farr High and its associated Primaries of Farr, Altnaharra, Melvich and Tongue will include 1 Head Teacher (3 ‐18), 2 Depute Head Teachers (3 ‐18), and 5 Principal Teachers.2/3/2017
Wick Campus move-in arrangements
Highland Council has confirmed move-in arrangements for the new Wick Campus. The Wick Stakeholder Group met last night (Tuesday 28 February) and had a tour of the new Wick Campus facility which encompasses Wick High School, Newton Park Primary School, and sports and community facilities to be operated by High Life Highland.23/2/2017
Making It Easier To Pay - Automated Telephone Payments Launched
Highland Council has launched the 1st step in automated telephone payments for customers. From 22/02/2017 customers will be able to contact the Service Centre on the payments line 01349 886605 to make a rent payment and get a rent balance.23/2/2017
CaSPlan bound for Examination after Sutherland County Committee
The Caithness and Sutherland Local Development Plan (CaSPlan) remains on track for eventual adoption in final form in spring 2018. Yesterday the Sutherland County Committee considered the results of public consultation on the Modified Proposed Plan and agreed that the Plan be progressed to the Examination stage.21/2/2017
