Local Authority News
23/3/2023
Public Invited To View Plans For Wick High Street
The Highland Council will hold a drop-in session at the end of the month to share the design for the pedestrian zone in the High Street and the Bridge Street/High Street junction, part of the wider regeneration of Wick town centre. The purpose of the session is to share more detail so the Council can finalise the design, secure a funding stream and move on to preparing tender documents and the construction phase.19/3/2023
Council Embarking On E-cargo Bike Pilot In Bid To Further Reduce Fleet Emissions
Three Highland Council teams will be taking part in a Sustrans-funded E-Cargo bike pilot scheme aimed at reducing fleet emissions supporting the local authority's wider Net Zero ambition. The pilot will involve a trial of three E-Cargo bikes which will be used for business by Inverness Amenities team, Inverness roads team and the Fort William Child Health team.
17/3/2023
Council's Energy Use Benchmarking Analysis To Be Extended To Ensure Full Picture
Members at the meeting of Highland Council's Climate Change Committee on 16 March 2023 agreed to extend a benchmarking exercise which has been assessing the local authority’s energy performance across its estate. Benchmarking energy performance is a process that compares the energy use of a building with other similar structures.15/3/2023
Highland Council 20mph Programme Update - 116 villages and towns within Highland
The Highland Council is pleased to announce that the work to design the 20mph speed limit programme for Highland has progressed to a stage were the plans for the locations included in the programme can be viewed by the public. This extensive piece of work currently incorporates 116 villages and towns within Highland and is fully funded by Transport Scotland.
15/3/2023
Highland Council Encourages Participation In Highly Protect Marine Areas Consultation - Anyone in Fishing Should Read
The Highland Council is encouraging individuals, businesses, and community groups to have their say about the Scottish Governments plan for new protections for the marine environment in the form of Highly Protected Marine Areas. Scottish Ministers have committed to designate at least 10% of Scotland's seas as Highly Protected Marine Areas (HPMAs), by 2026.15/3/2023
Highland winter road conditions report - Wednesday 15 March 2023
Maps of the Council's gritting routes by priority and policy are available online at www.highland.gov.uk/gritting The information provided is a summary of reports from operational staff and is intended to give a general indication of typical conditions in each area at a point in time. It is not intended to imply that any individual route is entirely snow and ice free and drivers must be aware that conditions can change rapidly and make their own assessment of conditions for travelling.13/3/2023
Highland winter road conditions report - Monday 13 March 2023
Maps of the Council's gritting routes by priority and policy are available online at www.highland.gov.uk/gritting The information provided is a summary of reports from operational staff and is intended to give a general indication of typical conditions in each area at a point in time. It is not intended to imply that any individual route is entirely snow and ice free and drivers must be aware that conditions can change rapidly and make their own assessment of conditions for travelling.11/3/2023
Members Call For A Parliamentary Enquiry Into The Scottish Government Decision To Delay A9 Dualling
A joint Motion on the A9 was agreed by Members at The Highland Council meeting of 9 March. The amended joint motion (proposed by Cllr Lobban and seconded by Cllr Aitken) is as follows: The horrendous spate of accidents and resultant fatalities on the single carriageway sections of the A9 has brought misery to families from across the country and beyond our Council area.10/3/2023
Highland Council Welcomes Potential Of Inverness And Cromarty Green Freeport
Highland Council members welcomed an update on the successful Green Freeport bid by the Opportunity Cromarty Firth (OCF) consortium of which The Highland Council is a partner. The Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green Freeport, jointly announced by the Scottish Government and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in January, will make a significant contribution towards meeting the local and national transition to net zero, create high quality, long-lasting employment in a green economy, regenerate and strengthen communities across the region and reverse demographic challenges.10/3/2023
Highland Council Sign-posting Third-sector Groups To Alternative Funding Streams
Following the special budget meeting of The Highland Council - which took place last week, Thursday, 2 March – the Council has now written to a number of third-sector and charitable Early Years groups and organisations affected by the savings proposals agreed by members. The six groups and organisations impacted by the removal of grants have been provided with a six-month notice period (from 1 April 2023), meaning that funding will come to an end in September 2023.10/3/2023
Highland winter road conditions report - Friday 10 March 2023
Maps of the Council's gritting routes by priority and policy are available online at www.highland.gov.uk/gritting The information provided is a summary of reports from operational staff and is intended to give a general indication of typical conditions in each area at a point in time. It is not intended to imply that any individual route is entirely snow and ice free and drivers must be aware that conditions can change rapidly and make their own assessment of conditions for travelling.9/3/2023
Highland Council Welcomes Potential Of Inverness And Cromarty Green Freeport
ighland Council members welcomed an update on the successful Green Freeport bid by the Opportunity Cromarty Firth (OCF) consortium of which The Highland Council is a partner. The Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green Freeport, jointly announced by the Scottish Government and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in January, will make a significant contribution towards meeting the local and national transition to net zero, create high quality, long-lasting employment in a green economy, regenerate and strengthen communities across the region and reverse demographic challenges.8/3/2023
Highland Winter Road Conditions Report - Wednesday, 8 March 2023
Maps of the Council's gritting routes by priority and policy are available online at www.highland.gov.uk/gritting. The information provided is a summary of reports from operational staff and is intended to give a general indication of typical conditions in each area at a point in time.8/3/2023
Support For Highland Businesses From Highland Council Loan Company
Highland Opportunity (Investments) Limited HO(I)L, The Highland Council's business loan company has launched its first social media campaign to make Highland businesses and community organisations aware of its loan funds. HO(I)L has financially supported more than 1,200 local start-up businesses, community organisations and growth projects within the Highland Business community since it was established in 1986.
8/3/2023
£2.3m Investment By Highland Council In Vulnerable Young People And Families
Members have given their backing to an investment of more than £2.3m towards supporting vulnerable young people and families in the Highlands. The investment was agreed as part of the annual budget process, which took place last week on Thursday, 2 March.7/3/2023
The Old Man of Storr Launches New Visitor Information Website
The Storr visitor attraction on Skye has launched its dedicated and branded website, providing information that aims to enhance the visitor experience. The Old Man of Storr project is "for the community, in the community, by the community" working closely with communities and with continual local Member involvement, to celebrate Gaelic and to demonstrate engagement and partnership working.
4/3/2023
Highland Council increases investment in roads by over £14M
Funding to improve Highland roads is being increased by over £14m following a decision made at yesterday's Highland Council budget setting meeting (Thursday 2 March) An additional investment of £12.8M to increase the current capital programme will bring the total budget for the coming year up to £20M. On top of this, new investment of £1.26m in revenue funding has been allocated to create a Rapid Repair Road team to tackle potholes across the Highlands.3/3/2023
Highland Council Budget approved
A balanced council budget for 2023/24 was set at the meeting of The Highland Council on 2 March 2023. As part of a package of investment and savings to address a £49.2M budget gap, a 4% increase in Council Tax has been agreed from 1 April 2023.21/2/2023
Preferred site confirmed for new Wick care hub as part of Caithness health and social care services redesign
A site in the Noss area of Wick has been confirmed by NHS Highland the preferred location for a new Community Hub and Care Village. The proposed development, along with a similar facility at the Dunbar Hospital in Thurso, is one of the key parts of wider proposals to redesign, modernise and improve health and social care services in Caithness.21/2/2023
