Local Authority News
20/3/2018
Beware Of Calls From Scammers Pretending To Be The Telephone Preference Service
Beware of calls from scammers pretending to be the Telephone Preference Service warns Highland Council Trading Standards. Highland Council Trading Standards wish to warn consumers not to fall for a new telephone call scam in which fraudsters pretend to be calling from the Telephone Preference Service (or TPS).
20/3/2018
Director of Care and Learning Highland Council to retire
Bill Alexander, Director of Care and Learning, has announced his intention to retire from The Highland Council. Bill commenced with the Council in 2000, in a joint post with NHS Highland as Head of Children's Services.
9/3/2018
Redesign continues to deliver improvements
Recent outcomes of Redesign work were noted by Members at yesterday's Highland Council meeting. In the first year of the programme, 8 redesign projects were undertaken using a "Lean" approach and 36 staff have been trained as facilitators.8/3/2018
Resurfacing road works on B862 and B851
Motorists are being advised that The Highland Council is currently preparing to carry out resurfacing works at the following locations: • B862 Fort Augustus - Whitebridge - Torness - Dores – Inverness Road; specifically at Errogie Village (North Gateway), Errogie Village (South Gateway), and Compass Farm; and • B851 Errogie – Strathnairn – Daviot Bridge – Culloden Moor Road; specifically at Aberarder House. Advanced works notification signage will be provided at various locations from Thursday 15 March 2018.8/3/2018
Highland Council agrees 5-year Capital Programme
The Highland Council has agreed a capital programme of £482m over the next 5 years. The Highland Council serves the largest geographical area in Scotland (over 30%) and has just under £2bn of assets on its balance sheet comprising, amongst other things, 203 operational schools, over 6,700km of roads and over 2,000 properties.7/3/2018
Council Issues More Fines In Caithness For Dog Fouling and Fly Tipping
The Highland Council's Enforcement Officers have stepped up patrols in Caithness in a move to tackle the problem of littering, fly tipping and dog fouling. A number of fixed penalty notices have been issued recently including an £80 fine for dog fouling in the Stafford Lane and Back Bridge area of Wick, a £200 fine for fly-tipping on Ackergill Street and another £80 fine for dog fouling in Lybster.7/3/2018
Wick High Finalist In Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) Awards for Planning Excellence 2018.
The £48.5m Wick Community Campus built by Morrison Construction has been announced as a finalist at the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) Awards for Planning Excellence 2018. The project is entered in the category for "Excellence in Planning for a Successful Economy" against eight other finalists from across the UK with the winner to be announced during a ceremony at Milton Court Concert Hall on 24 May 2018.
7/3/2018
Highland Council Winter Road Condition And School Closure Report For Wednesday 7 March 2018
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.7/3/2018
Highland Council to make special case for capital investment
Highland Council is to make a special case for extra capital investment in the road infrastructure after a winter period which has seen the Highlands battered by some 57 days of severe weather. Highland Council area is particularly subject to severe winter weather, which has a significant impact on the roads and other infrastructure.7/3/2018
Council Administration to present a programme of investment
Speaking ahead of today's Council meeting to agree the Council's Capital Programme for 2018/19 to 2022/23, Cllr Margaret Davidson, Leader of the Highland Council said:- "This programme delivers significant investment in a range of key projects across the Highlands. We are investing in schools, roads, bridges, harbours and flood prevention schemes that will benefit our communities.6/3/2018
Partnership for Procurement - Supplying to the Public Sector
A Partnership for Procurement event was held in Inverness today (Thursday 6 March) to raise awareness and the capability of the third sector to successfully bid, supply and deliver services for the public sector. Partnership for Procurement (P4P) is a new initiative funded through the Scottish Government's 10 Year Social Enterprise Strategy; supporting social enterprises and third sector organisations to better access public contracts and build partnerships.5/3/2018
Northern Alliance data demonstrates Highland Schools ‘closing the attainment gap'
Across the Northern Alliance local authorities an exciting project has been rolled out to raise attainment in literacy, language and communication. The programme is being delivered in around 50% of primary schools across the Northern Alliance and is aimed at supporting practitioners to take a developmental approach to supporting early literacy development.5/3/2018
Highland Council winter road condition and school closure report for Monday 5 March 2018
There is still a yellow weather warning in place until tomorrow for snow and ice across areas of the Highlands 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.5/3/2018
Highland Council's proposed capital programme seeks affordable solution to school needs across the Highlands
The Council's proposed capital programme includes a significant investment of £346m over the next 5 years. This could amount to as much as £481m gross depending on assumptions for grant and funding.5/3/2018
Highland Council calls on retail property owners to inspect glazed canopies
Following incidents in Inverness retails parks where glazed walkway panels have failed, Highland Council is recommending as a precaution that all building owners with glazed canopy type arrangements check that they have adequate inspection and maintenance arrangements in place. Such maintenance checks should ensure that the glazing, including the method of fixing and support, has been properly maintained in accordance with the manufacturers recommendations.5/3/2018
Knoydart Landslide Repairs Progressing Well
Following the landslip on the Knoydart Peninsula last Autumn work is progressing well and every effort is being made to get the affected section of single tracked road open to traffic for the Easter weekend. Following the failure immediate steps were taken to re-establish pedestrian and quad bike access, and this has been maintained throughout the works.4/3/2018
Bellwin Scheme triggered
Ministers will consider financial assistance for local councils under the Bellwin Scheme following recent heavy snowfalls. Scottish Borders Council requested the scheme was triggered and it is now open for applications from all councils severely impacted by recent weather events, or those at risk from flooding as the snow melts.2/3/2018
Highland Council winter road condition and school closure report for Friday 2 March 2018
Conditions across the Highland region vary considerably and you are advised to consider the forecast, Police advice and local conditions before travelling. If travelling, make sure you are prepared for delays and difficult conditions.2/3/2018
Ross and Cromarty roads update 11.46am Today
The A835 Ullapool- Ledmore Junction remains closed, An additional 6 inches on the route this morning with further snow showers forecast, drifting snow and high winds hampering treatment of route. Additional workforce has been brought in to the area helping the local squad who are attempting to push back the closure to Strathcanaird to allow access to Rhue, Blughasary and Strathcanaird.1/3/2018
