Local Authority News
19/11/2024
Highland Council To Consider Closing 94 Play Parks 26 in Caithness
On 27 November 2024 the Community and Places committee will consider a report on play parks in Highland. 94 play parks across Highland including 26 in Caithness are scheduled to close over 5 years.
18/11/2024
Highland Winter Road Conditions Report - Monday 18 November 2024
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.
16/11/2024
John Macdonald Of Exeter Son Of Flora Macdonald Died 1759 - Funds Still Benefitting Education
On Thursday the 21 November 2024, the Education Committee will be presented with an Education Trust Fund report that asks Members to approve the formation of an Education Trust Fund Sub Committee. There are significant funds held by The Highland Council in trust for the educational benefit within different communities.
15/11/2024
Highland Council Ecology Strategy And Action Plan Gets Green Light
At the Economy and Infrastructure Committee on Thursday 14 November 2024 councillors adopted an ambitious action plan to tackle biodiversity loss and support a nature-positive Highland. The Council's Ecology Strategy and Action Plan Strategy sets out and defines a series of key actions and activities that will assist the Council to deliver positive action to tackle biodiversity loss and start to address the ecological emergency for the benefit of its environment, economy, and communities.15/11/2024
Rural Housing Supplementary Guidance Approved For Highland
The Highland Council's Economy and Infrastructure Committee have approved the rural Housing Supplementary Guidance which will now be used to inform all planning advice and decisions. Chair of the Committee, Councillor Ken Gowans said: "Following the decision by members today, I am pleased that we now have a positive, clear and consistent basis for considering and determining rural housing planning applications across the whole of the Highland Council area.14/11/2024
Responding To Bullying In Scottish Schools
New guidance to support schools and organisations working with children and young people to develop comprehensive anti-bullying policies and improve behaviour and relationships has been published. ‘Respect for all' includes updates for staff on how to deal with specific incidents of bullying, including online bullying.13/11/2024
Committee Vice Chair Hails Caithness Wards Discretionary Funds Benefits
The Vice Chair of the Caithness Committee, Councillor Struan Mackie has expressed his delight at the number of worthwhile local projects that have benefitted from Ward Discretionary Funding in this financial year. All Council Wards receive a discretionary budget, and it is for Ward Councillors to consider what they wish to commit funds to, in line with Highland Council objectives and outcomes.13/11/2024
Committee Adopts Core Paths Plan For Caithness
The Caithness Committee have agreed to adopt the modified Core Path Plans for Caithness. At their meeting yesterday members had the opportunity to discuss a report that summarised the review of The Highland Council Core Paths Plan in Caithness.12/11/2024
Highland Council Sustainable Tourism Strategy 2024-2030
On Thursday 14 November 2024, Members of the Economy and Infrastructure Committee will be presented with a new Sustainable Tourism Strategy 2024-2030 and asked to note and agree recommendations which include adopting the new Sustainable Tourism Strategy. Also an agreement to amend the strategy to accommodate consultation feedback on the Visitor Levy Scheme.8/11/2024
Highland Visitor Levy On The Agenda Of The Economy And Infrastructure Committee
On Thursday (14 November) the Economy & Infrastructure Committee will consider a report on a potential Visitor Levy for Highland. This report sets out a proposed outline of how the scheme would operate and seeks members approval to undertake a public statutory consultation.7/11/2024
Council Launches New Tenant Participation And Engagement Strategy 2024-2029
The Housing and Property Committee met on Wednesday 6 November 2024 and approved the Tenant Participation & Engagement Strategy 2024-2029. Members heard from both tenant representatives and Officers about the ongoing engagement and collaborative work within communities across Highland.6/11/2024
Report Retailers Selling Vapes To Underagers - Highland Council Trading Standards Find 1 In 3 Retailers Selling Vapes To Under 18s
Highland Council's Trading Standards team is reporting worrying findings from the age restricted product test purchase programme it carried out over the last six months. During the most recent exercise, premises in Skye, Easter Ross, Inverness, Badenoch and Strathspey were test purchased for cigarettes and vapes using volunteers under 18 years of age.6/11/2024
Police - Area Performance Report to Caithness Area Committee on 11 November
A report by the police to the Caithness area committee on 11 November will allow councillors to discuss a range of issues. Chief Inspector Calum Smith - Area Commander (North Highland Area Command) sets out the crime related figures up to June 2024.6/11/2024
Common Good Funds In Caithness Expenditure - Quarter 2 Monitoring
On 11 November 2024 the Caithness Area Committee will discuss several papers. Thurso and Northwest Caithness Ward Discretionary Budget applications approved 1 April 2024 - 30 September 2024 The Committee is asked to note that the following Thurso and Northwest Caithness Ward Discretionary Budget applications have been approved for the period 1 April 2024 to 30 September 2024:.6/11/2024
Non-domestic Rates Relief Statistics For Scotland
The Chief Statistician has released statistics on the reliefs and exemptions from non-domestic rates that were in place on 1 June 2024. These figures were produced by independent statistical staff, free from any political influence, in accordance with professional standards set out in the Code of Practice for Statistics.5/11/2024
Transport In Highland - A Chance To Share Your Views
The Highland Council is developing a new Local Transport Strategy (LTS) for the next 10-year period. This Strategy will underpin the future direction and policy focus for transport in Highland.
1/11/2024
Financial Forecast Reported To Highland Council
A revised financial forecast for the Highland Council, taking account of already agreed savings and other measures, suggests a remaining budget gap of £38m-£54m over the coming three years, 2025/26 to 2027/28. As part of the Council's Medium-Term Financial Plan, agreed in February 2024, Council agreed a package of £54.6m of budget savings, and the use of a range of financial flexibilities and use of reserves, to address the projected £113m gap over a 3-year period 2024/25 - 2026/27.22/10/2024
Housing Summit To Address Housing Challenge In Highland
The Highland Council has called a Housing Challenge Summit, designed to bring together all parties from National and Local government. Also private sector interests, both large and small, from across the fields of energy, housing development and commerce, to focus on the Housing Challenge in Highland.8/10/2024
Sudden Withdrawal Of Bus Services In Caithness
Aarons of Wick Ltd informed The Highland Council at lunchtime on Friday 4 October that with immediate effect they were unable to continue to operate any school or public service journeys which require a full-size bus. The Council has sourced replacement services from Dunnetts Transport for the Reay - Thurso and Bower – Castletown – Thurso services.7/10/2024
