Local Authority News
3/2/2019
Committee gives go-ahead for future Timber Transport funding opportunities
Members of The Highland Council's Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee have agreed that up to £0.5m go towards the 2019/20 round of Timber Transport schemes that will bring future benefits to communities and rural roads in Highlands. The money will come from the Council's road structural (capital) fund and be used as match funding for the Strategic Timber Transport Fund (STTF) operated by Forestry Commission Scotland.1/2/2019
Highland Council Statement On Scottish Government Additional Funds
Budget Leader Cllr Alister Mackinnon responded to the Scottish Government's revised budget settlement. He said: "Further to receiving detailed information yesterday evening, we now have a more accurate picture of what this means for Highland.29/1/2019
Landlord prosecuted for unlicensed HMO
Following an investigation by Highland Council Environmental Health Officers, a Fort William Landlord has been successfully prosecuted for operating a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) without a licence. An HMO is a property in which three or more unrelated adults are residing as their main residence and require to share kitchen, toilet or personal washing facilities.25/1/2019
Criminal Justice Service ‘contributing to reduction in offending'
The work of The Highland Council's Criminal Justice Social Work Service has been praised by Members of the Council's Care, Learning and Housing Committee. Councillors were updated today (24 January 2019) on 3 key programmes being delivered by the Service and the impacts that this is having on persistent offenders, sex offenders, and domestic abuse perpetrators.24/1/2019
Planning Approval Sought For New Inverness Healthcare Centre
Planning permission is sought to construct a new healthcare and multidisciplinary life sciences centre to serve the Highlands and Islands area and is a collaborative project between NHS Highland, the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) and Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE). Councillors have been asked to give planning permission for a healthcare and life sciences innovation centre in Inverness.
24/1/2019
Newton Rooms Learning Centres Underway In Highland
Newton Rooms are designed to encourage more young people into careers in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM). A network of the centres in Norway work with schools and local employers to provide inspirational STEM education in the most rural parts of the country.
24/1/2019
Councillors agree house rent increase at 3%
The average weekly rent charged by The Highland Council to its 13,411 council house tenants is set to increase by 3% for the coming financial year 2019/20. The average weekly rent will rise from £73.22 to £75.42 - an increase of £2.20 per week.23/1/2019
Recruitment of staff to begin for Children's Placement services
RECRUITMENT is to commence for a new hub in Highland to avoid children going to placements out with the Highland area. The first hub for a new model of temporary residential provision and multi-agency assessment is in Fodderty in East Ross.23/1/2019
Council consults on further decriminalised parking enforcement
The Highland Council is seeking public opinion on Draft Traffic Regulation Orders for the further roll out of Decriminalised Parking Enforcement (DPE) across the Highlands in:Alness, Brora, Broadford, Dingwall, Dunvegan, Grantown On Spey, Invergordon, Inverness, Kyle of Lochalsh, Kyleakin, Mallaig, Nairn, Portree, Scrabster, Sligachan , Storr, Tain, Thurso, Ullapool and Wick. The Draft Traffic Regulation Orders are available now on the council's website at www.highland.gov.uk/parking see ‘Traffic Order Consultations'.22/1/2019
New River Nairn crossing at White Bridge begins to take shape
Work is progressing well on the realignment of the B9090 at the White Bridge scheme and new crossing. Construction of the abutments for the new crossing beams is complete and the beams were successfully placed this week on Monday 21st January.
18/1/2019
Highland Council New approach in budget setting
The council is taking a new approach in preparing the budget from 2019-22. In recent weeks, the Chief Executive, Donna Manson, Budget Leader Cllr Alister Mackinnon and other senior councillors and officers have been out talking with staff, groups and communities across the Highlands in over 50 engagement sessions.17/1/2019
Trading Standards take action against Caithness counterfeiter
Following a Highland Council Trading Standards investigation, Wick Sheriff Court has imposed a court order on a 42 year old local woman who was found to be selling counterfeit goods. The Order places stringent restrictions on her future conduct and any breach of it can lead to a hefty fine or imprisonment.17/1/2019
Have your say on Thurso Flood Protection Study
The Highland Council has invited people in Thurso to attend a public exhibition highlighting proposals for flood prevention measures along the River Thurso. The Council is currently developing a Flood Protection Study (FPS) for the River to identify solutions that will alleviate the risk of flooding.
16/1/2019
Moray Offshore West Windfarm Returns To North Planning Committee
On 22nd January 2019 the Moray West wind Farm planning application returns to the North Planning committee but merely for some slight changes to the location of some turbines to lessen the impact on certain views. The original permission and this one is not within the power of the committee but they have the ability to enter an objection.
11/1/2019
Man arrested in connection with "bogus workman" offences
Police in Lochaber can confirm that a 27-year-old man has been arrested in connection with alleged consumer protection offences in Fort William. It follows an investigation by Police Scotland and Highland Council Trading Standards, after a report was received this week of "bogus workmen" in Fort William and alleged fraudulent activity relating to charges for work carried out on a house in the town.9/1/2019
Highland Council Analysis Shows £31 Million Budget Gap For 2019/20
DETAILED analysis of the Scottish Government's funding settlement, which makes up the vast proportion of the Council's budget, has been carried out and the net result is that the Highland Council will see a reduction in its grant funding to provide the current level of services. This, together with the additional pressures equates to a £31.2M budget gap for 2019-20.8/1/2019
Council advises businesses on how to spot and avoid being scammed
Highland Council Trading Standards have produced guidance on how to spot the signs of scams that target businesses and also remind businesses to inform their employees on what to look out for when dealing with unsolicited telephone calls, emails and texts. All businesses as well as non-profit organisations (such as charitable organisations) may spend a lot of time dealing with potential scammers.3/1/2019
Changes to Highland Council school transport contractor
The Highland Council has written to parents and carers of school transport pupils to inform them that D&E Coaches have recently transferred a number of Highland Council contracts to Stagecoach and some school transport routes are included. These changes are to take effect from the first day back after the school holidays, Monday 7th January 2019 and timetables have been supplied for the routes affected.
27/12/2018
"Lead On 8" celebration of success
Twenty nine members of The Highland Council's Care and Learning team have celebrated their success in completing the Council's 15 month ‘Lead On’ programme. ‘Lead On’, is a programme designed to develop practitioners’ understanding of change leadership and apply this through a change initiative in their place of work.
19/12/2018
