Local Authority News
19/1/2017
See The Challenges Of Balancing The Council Budget With The Budget Simulator
Highland Council is encouraging people across the region to have a go at balancing the Council's books - using a budget simulator. The Council is seeking feedback from local people as it prepares for the reduction in funding it receives from the Scottish Government.19/1/2017
Council Leader welcomes outcome of Parliament vote to retain HIE Board
Leader of The Highland Council, Margaret Davidson (Independent) has welcomed the outcome of the vote yesterday, 17th January 2017, in the Scottish Parliament, on the motion to reverse the decision to scrap the Board of Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE). Cllr Davidson said: "This vote sends a strong message to the Scottish Government about their incessant centralising agenda and we would now urge Ministers to reconsider their entire approach.11/1/2017
More time to comment on Landscape Appraisals to guide wind energy development
The deadline for commenting on The Highland Council's draft Landscape Appraisals to help in the consideration of future proposals for wind energy development is drawing near - but has been extended to 31 January 2017. Two landscape sensitivity appraisals are currently being consulted on: one for the Caithness study area and another covering The Black Isle, surrounding hills and Moray Firth Coast.11/1/2017
Leader raises concerns over handling of emergency calls in the Highlands
The Leader of The Highland Council, Margaret Davidson has written to the Minister for Community Safety and Legal Affairs, Annabelle Ewing MSP, in relation to the recent press coverage on concerns raised about the handling of emergency calls in the Highlands and Islands. Councillor Davidson said: "It does raise concerns over the Government's decision to close the Inverness Fire control room and transfer responsibility for handling emergency calls to Dundee.23/12/2016
Highland Council Service arrangements for Christmas and New year
Highland Council's administrative offices will close at 4pm on 23 December 2016 and reopen on 4 January 2017. The Service Centre will close at 4pm on 23 December and open as normal on 28, 29 and 30 December (closing at 4pm on 30 December) Service Points will be on reduced opening hours.22/12/2016
Highland Council prepares for Storm Barbara
Highland Council is reminding pupils, parents and carers how to find out if their local school is closed or school transport is affected in anticipation of Storm Barbara hitting the north west of Scotland. Information on school closures is uploaded to the Council's school closures website www.highland.gov.uk/schoolclosures from 7am each morning School closure messages can be heard on the ‘school closures information line' by phoning 0800 564 2272 (with a school PIN number) to get the latest pre-recorded message from the head teacher of r child's school.18/12/2016
Highland Council Budget Leader Disappointed With Scottish Budget Announcements
Reacting to the Scottish Government's Budget Settlement for 2017-18, Budget Leader of The Highland Council, Cllr Bill Fernie said:"Disappointingly, our worst predictions are realised in that there has been a real cash cut to councils of £350 million. The devil will be in the detail, but an early analysis equates this to a significant cut in the grant to our core budget.16/12/2016
Inverness Parking Permits
Since the introduction of Decriminalised Parking at Highland Council in October, the demand for Inverness Parking Permits has increased dramatically. This has seen the number of applications and permits issues increase from around 80 per month, to an average of 210 per month in October and November.14/12/2016
Pay And Display Parking At Highland Council HQ Car Park
Highland Council is introducing pay and display parking at its headquarters car park as part of its Decriminalised Parking Enforcement Schemes. Cllr Allan Henderson, Chair of the Council's Community Services Committee said: "This change has come from a savings proposal agreed by Council in the December 2014 budget for implementation in 2015/16 to save £20,000 per year.13/12/2016
Highland Education Stars Sought For National Awards
Nominations now open for Scottish Education Awards 2017. The search for the Highlands' brightest education stars is underway as nominations are open for the Scottish Education Awards 2017.13/12/2016
Highland Leader Calls For Flat Cash Settlement
Speaking after attending today's COSLA meeting, Leader of the Council, Margaret Davidson said: "The Highland Council’s services, along with other Local Authorities’, have been cut to the bone after years of real terms reduction in funding from the Scottish Government. Since 2010/11 the Council has made savings of £135m, with £39m in this year alone.10/12/2016
Highland Council proposes scheme to make workforce reductions
Members of The Highland Council will be asked to approve a proposed scheme to make workforce reductions at the Council meeting on 15 December. The Employee Early Release Scheme (EERS) is designed to make reductions in the council workforce in a way that is affordable and in line with the reductions in funding available for the 2017/18 budget.30/11/2016
Further delay to Wick Campus handover and opening
The Highland Council has been notified by hub North Scotland Limited that the expected handover date for the Wick Campus facility is now Thursday 8 December 2016, slipped from Friday 2 December as previously notified to stakeholders. The Council is deeply disappointed by this further delay, and has escalated concerns with hub North Scotland Limited and Morrison Construction Limited to understand reasons for the delay, and seek assurances on the revised handover date.27/11/2016
Brown bin service stops for winter
With the onset of winter, householders are reminded that The Highland Council garden waste collections will cease for a period of 3 months from the beginning of December. There will be no brown bin collections in December 2016, January or February 2017.
27/11/2016
Review into capital projects identifies recent improvements
The initial findings of a review into the delivery of educational capital projects have identified a number of recent improvements and recommendations are being developed for future arrangements. The review commenced in October at the request of the Council Leader following a number of issues with programming and quality in capital projects for new schools.25/11/2016
Council Leader outraged at scrapping of HIE Board
Leader of The Highland Council, Cllr Margaret Davidson is seeking clarification from Depute First Minister John Swinney about reports claiming that the Board of Highlands and Islands Enterprise is to be scrapped and replaced with a centralised committee. Councillor Davidson said: "If it is correct - it is totally unacceptable that the Scottish Government is to centralise the decision-making powers of Highlands and Islands Enterprise.25/11/2016
Audit makes recommendations to improve collection of rental income
An audit report to Audit and Scrutiny Committee today, 24 November 2016, has made recommendations to improve the collection of rental income. Audit findings estimated that up to £10,000 rental income could potentially have been lost, however this is against a context of total rental income in excess of £3 million per annum.23/11/2016
Review into capital projects identifies recent improvements
The initial findings of a review into the delivery of educational capital projects have identified a number of recent improvements and recommendations are being developed for future arrangements. The review commenced in October at the request of the Council Leader following a number of issues with programming and quality in capital projects for new schools.20/11/2016
Housing officer showing compassion is Council's Employee of the Year
Gail Ward, a Housing Policy officer with The Highland Council has been named Employee of the Year for the care and compassion she has shown in welcoming Syrian refugees to the Highlands and her work to ease the impact Welfare Reform has had on individuals. In nominating Gail, Head of Housing David Goldie said:: "Although Gail has always been a strong member of the team and displayed a genuine commitment and enthusiasm for the work she does, my reason for nominating her for this award relates to her willingness to take on and embrace the challenges associated with two of our most significant areas of work over the last year." The first area relates to Welfare Reform.
20/11/2016
