Local Authority News
11/2/2018
The Highland Council Budget is to be set on 15 February 2018
The Highland Council Budget team have agreed their final budget proposals which will go to Council for agreement on 15 February 2018. Budget Leader Councillor Alister Mackinnon said: "We have done everything we can to protect frontline services and jobs in a good budget.5/2/2018
Caol And Mallaig By-election Timetable Confirmed
The timetable for the election for the return of a councillor for the Caol and Mallaig ward of The Highland Council has been announced today (Monday 5 February) The by-election is being held following the sad death of Councillor Billy MacLachlan who was one of three Councillors representing Ward 11. The other Ward members are Councillors Allan Henderson (Independent) and Ben Thompson (Independent) The Notice of Election and Nomination Form will be published on the Council's website www.highland.gov.uk (external link) on Tuesday 13 February.5/2/2018
Letter to Transport Minister meets with disappointing response
Councillor Allan Henderson, Chair of the Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee, has expressed his disappointment in the lack of promised support for local authorities struggling to fund the extra pressures caused by the winter weather. He said: "The Highland Council has the largest roadwork of any local authority in the UK, with nearly 7,000km of regional roads and over 1,700km of footways.1/2/2018
Auction Sale of Former Wick High School
The former Wick High School has now been put up for sale by auction with a guide price of £50,000. Full details can be found here.
1/2/2018
Scrutiny Lead responds to Inverness Control Room closure date announcement
In response to Police Scotland's statement on the closure of the Inverness Area Control Room and Service Centre, Highland Council Scrutiny Lead Matthew Reiss said: "We appreciate the statement from Police Scotland regarding the intended closure of the Inverness Control Room next week. It is important that everyone is aware of the change in local arrangements.1/2/2018
Highland Council Budget Leader Welcomes Additional Funding
The Highland Council Budget Leader, Cllr Alister Mackinnon has welcomed the announcement of additional funding in the Scottish Government's block grant which takes £7.516 million off the substantial budget gap. Cllr Mackinnon said: "This additional money, agreed at the 11th hour is indeed welcome news and means that we will not be forced to cut as deeply as we had first feared.1/2/2018
Confirmation that European Funding is still available
The message that money from Europe remains available to support business and employment opportunities in Highland was confirmed at today's meeting of the Council's Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee. Over the years European funding has played a key investment role in the economic development and growth of the Highland economy including safeguarding and creating jobs and helping the area’s most deprived communities seek support.30/1/2018
Planning approval for £130M alloy wheels plant in Lochaber
Highland Council's South Planning Applications Committee has approved a major planning application for an alloy wheel manufacturing facility at Fort William in Lochaber. The facility involves an investment in excess of £130 million which will sustain and create around 570 jobs; expand business opportunities and provide a value added product for the UK motor vehicle manufacturing industry which could reduce reliance on overseas supply chains.
30/1/2018
Cleaner recycling means less waste, less landfill and more value!
The Highland Council would like to remind householders to only put clean and dry items into blue recycling bins. Cleaner recycling means less waste, less landfill and therefore more value.29/1/2018
Inverness City Centre Roads Temporarily Closed For Snowman Rally
Several roads in the centre of Inverness will be temporarily closed to traffic on the morning of Saturday 10 February as the city gears up to host the opening ceremony of the 2018 Snowman Rally. Drivers are being advised that from between 7.30am and 12 noon the following roads will be closed to all vehicles: Eastgate closed at its junction with Crown Road to its con-junction with the High Street; The High Street closed at its con-junction with Eastgate to its junction with Castle Street; Hamilton Street closed at its junction with Academy Street to its junction with Eastgate.25/1/2018
Below inflation increase of 3% for garage and garage sites rents
Highland Council has listened to its customers and agreed a below-inflation rise in garage and garage sites rents. The results of a Highland Council consultation on housing, garage and garage sites rents has directed the decision making of Highland Councillors today (Thursday 25 January 2018) at the Council's People Committee.25/1/2018
Highland Council approves ‘modest' increase in housing rents
Highland housing tenants are to receive a small 0.5% increase in council house rents for the coming financial year 2018/19 which equates to an average weekly rise of 36p. Members of Highland Council's People Committee have approved the 0.5% rent increase which would result in an increase in the average weekly council house rent from £72.88 to £73.24 (£0.36p).25/1/2018
Council agrees to transfer Music Tuition Services to High Life Highland
As part of The Highland Council's Redesign Programme, Members of the Council's People Committee today considered a report on the "Review of Music Tuition Services". They have agreed that High Life Highland will deliver Music Tuition services from April 2018.25/1/2018
Proposal to establish a Gaelic Medium catchment area for Bun-sgoil Ghàidhlig Loch Abar
The Highland Council is to seek the views of local communities on a proposal to establish a Gaelic Medium catchment area for Bun-sgoil Ghàidhlig Loch Abar. The change is being proposed in line with Statutory Guidance on Gaelic Medium Education.24/1/2018
School roll capping in Inverness for 2018-19
Due to current pressures on school rolls and following an analysis of school roll forecasts, The Highland Council is ‘capping' or limiting school rolls and reserving places in some Primary Schools in Inverness for the 2018/19 academic session (beginning August 2018). The schools affected are Kinmylies Primary, Duncan Forbes Primary, Smithton Primary, Hilton Primary, Holm Primary, Lochardil Primary and Milton of Leys Primary.22/1/2018
Helping businesses and third sector supply to the public sector
The Highland Council and its Commercial and Procurement Shared Services partners Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire Councils are running a series of events to help businesses supply to the public sector. Some of the events are hosted by other organisations and we will be signposting suppliers to these as well.
19/1/2018
Leader Of Highland Council Speaks After Budget Process Leaks
Leader of the Highland Council, Margaret Davidson has moved to reassure communities about forthcoming budget decisions. She said: "No decisions will be made until the Council meets on 15 February.
9/1/2018
Highland Businesses Urged To Be On Scam Alert
Highland Council Trading Standards team has recently seen an increase in scams targeting Highland businesses. The most common scams reported by businesses relate to marketing and publishing but other frauds such as those involving demands for payment for unsolicited goods sent to businesses (such as ink cartridges which were never ordered) are also on the rise.9/1/2018
Highland Residents To Benefit From Pioneering Fithomes Thanks To £3m City-region Deal Windfall
Around £3 million of funding has been agreed for a ground-breaking Highland project that could transform the lives of people with complex health needs as part of the Inverness and Highland City Region Deal. The business case for the ‘FitHome' assisted living project was approved in November last year with £3m funding from the Scottish Government.
9/1/2018
