Local Authority News
16/8/2018
Council agrees site for Materials Recovery Facility
The Council's Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee has today agreed the Longman Landfill site in Inverness as the preferred location to construct a new centralised waste management facility (Materials Recovery Facility) to recover recyclates and produce Refuse Derived Fuel, as the Council's preferred interim arrangements for meeting the requirements of the ban on landfilling which commences in January 2021. This facility will process all of the Highland’s 83,000 tonnes of residual (non-recyclable) waste from 2021 onwards.16/8/2018
Council support for Caithness flight connectivity
Highland Council Members have agreed to support the efforts of Caithness Transport Forum and Wick JOG Airport Consultative Committee to improve flight connectivity at Wick John O' Groats airport. Members were informed at Highland Council's headquarters today (16 August 2018) that both organisations are pressing to have investigation work carried out on the potential to have a Public Service Obligation (PSO) created on one of the flight routes.16/8/2018
Supplementary Guidance on Developer Contributions in Highland to be adopted
Planning guidance approved by the Highland Council today (Thursday 16 August 2018) has updated the financial contributions that new developments will be required to make towards facilities including schools, roads and the provision of affordable housing. Members of the Highland Council's Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee today agreed to adopt the Developer Contributions Supplementary Guidance (DCSG) after a public consultation was undertaken in early 2018.16/8/2018
Facility Lettings (School Lets) Review Makes Progress
Improvements to the management of facility lets in Highland Council properties (including schools) has been welcomed by Members of The Highland Council's Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee. Committee Chair, Cllr Allan Henderson said: "I would like to thank staff for the large amount of work has been undertaken since October 2016 when the Council's Redesign Board recommended the transfer of management of school lets to the Development and Infrastructure Service.13/8/2018
Decriminalised Parking Enforcment Finally Coming to Caithness
The Environment, Development and Infrastructure committee of Highland Council will meet on Thursday 16th August 2018. Item 23 on the agenda is "Parking Services".13/8/2018
Caithness And North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership - Report to Council
On Thursday 16th August 2018 councillors on the Environment, Development and Infrastructure committee will discuss the update from Caithness and North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership which is reproduced below. 3.10/8/2018
Consultation on Statement of Policy under the Gambling Act 2005
The Highland Licensing Board is now consulting on a proposed draft of its next Statement of Policy under the Gambling Act 2005 which, when finalised after consultation responses have been considered and any consequent amendments made, will become its policy statement for the period 2019-2022. The Highland Licensing Board is required to publish, every three years, a statement of the principles that they propose to apply in exercising their functions under the Gambling Act 2005.10/8/2018
Still Time To Make That Career Change Into Secondary Education Teaching
The Highland Council is delighted to be working with the University of Dundee and the University of the Highlands and Islands to support Highland-based people who are interested in a career move to gain both their PGDE and complete their induction year within 18 months. Following an earlier event in June, Highland Council and the University of Dundee and University of the Highlands and Islands are hosting a second information evening on Tuesday 14 August 2018 from 5:30pm - 7pm at the University of Highlands and Islands, Inverness College, Inverness Campus IV2 5NA.7/8/2018
Highland SQA Results 2018
Young people across the Highlands are receiving their SQA exam results by text, e-mail or post today (7th August 2018). Schools across The Highland Council area offered candidates the full range of national qualifications from National 2 right through to Advanced Higher.18/7/2018
Highland Council Allocates Extra £1.5m To Road Repairs
Works are to begin on an additional £1.5M worth of repair schemes on Highland Council roads this summer. Cllr Alister Mackinnon, Highland Council's Budget Leader said: "At the Council's meeting in March, Members agreed a revised 5 year Capital Plan and agreed to prioritise roads maintenance if there was any underspend in the Council's capital programme for 2018/19.10/7/2018
Advice on private water supplies
Highland Council is issuing a reminder to owners of private water supplies and landlords of tenants on private water supplies that it is their responsibility to arrange for the provision of water to their properties. As a result of the prolonged recent dry weather Highland Council's, Environmental Health Team is receiving a few calls from individuals on private water supplies that are drying up.
9/7/2018
Head Teacher appointments in the Highlands
The Highland Council is pleased to announce the recent appointment of 5 Head and 10 Acting Head Teachers across the region's schools. All the new teachers will be in their posts by the new term in August 2018.9/7/2018
Highland Licensing Board consults on new liquor licensing policy statement
The Highland Licensing Board has begun consultation on its next Statement of Licensing Policy for the period November 2018 to November 2023. The aim of the Policy Statement is to promote consistency in decision-making on all types of liquor licence applications and to give applicants advance notice of the Board's likely approach to determining licence applications.8/7/2018
Bridge Street, Inverness site purchase completed by Highland Council
The purchase of a significant site on the southern side of Inverness' Bridge Street was completed on Thursday 28 June 2018, it is confirmed by The Highland Council. As announced at the start of June by Cllr Margaret Davidson, Leader of The Highland Council, and Mr Fergus Ewing, Cabinet Secretary for the Rural Economy, the purchase will support the development of Inverness Castle and the regeneration of the surrounding area of the city centre.
8/7/2018
Search Begins For New Highland Council Chief Executive
The Highland Council has approved the recruitment process for a new Chief Executive to replace Steve Barron when he retires in the autumn. Applicants are invited to apply for this important top position to lead one of the largest local authorities in Europe, by the 31 July.
8/7/2018
Success for Highland Council at national awards
The Highland Council has been awarded two commendations and a first place at the 2018 Scottish Regional Energy Efficiency Awards (external link) for the Highland Home Energy Efficiency Programme. These awards recognise the efforts made to eliminate fuel poverty and improve the energy efficiency of homes in the UK.
8/7/2018
Multi-year Budget Agreed For Highland Council
The Highland Council has agreed to plan for a multi-year budget for the next 3 financial years (2019-22) to meet the challenge of a potential funding gap of up to £124.9 million. Over the period 2013/14 to 2018/19 the Highland Council has already had to approve budget savings of £102.1 million as well as agree Council tax rises of 3% in each of the last two years in order to deliver a balanced budget.28/6/2018
‘DLITE'd’ student teachers graduate!
Nine Highland students graduated this weekend (Saturday 23 June 2018) through the University of Aberdeen in partnership with Highland Council following an eighteen month distance learning PGDE (Primary) Programme. Applications for the next DLITE PGDE Programme for Primary and Secondary teaching are now being accepted.
28/6/2018
Highland Council Car parking recommendations reviewed
Council has considered and agreed recommendations from a review of car parking by the Redesign Board. A peer review of car parking was requested by the Redesign Board, with the scope of the review agreed in November 2017.28/6/2018
