Local Authority News
10/8/2017
Tain and Easter Ross By-election date confirmed
Candidates wishing to stand at the by-election being held in The Highland Council's Ward 7 - Tain and Easter Ross - have until 4 pm on Monday 28 August to complete and submit their nomination forms. The by-election is being held on Thursday 28 September following the resignation of Cllr Jamie Stone (Liberal Democrat) who has stepped down and taken up his seat in Westminster following the UK Parliamentary Elections held in June.1/8/2017
Leader to raise concerns about the police control room with Chief Constable
Leader of The Highland Council, Margaret Davidson will be meeting with Chief Constable Phil Gormley tomorrow. Councillor Davidson will be raising the issue of the future of the Police Control Room and Police Scotland's plans for the National Database Enquiry Unit (NDEU).21/7/2017
Wick Swimming Pool - Great Deal On High Life Card
The new community facility at Wick High still has great offer on the High Life Card. Usually £20 per month but for this offer pay £200 and get a whole 12 months of access.
21/7/2017
Watch out for fake job offers online
As part of Scam Awareness Month, Caithness Citizens Advice Bureau and Highland Council Trading Standards want to alert young job seekers about the potential pitfalls when applying for jobs or signing up to recruitment agencies online. Glenys Brown, Trading Standards Officer, based in Inverness explains, "Unfortunately, nationally, there has been a sharp rise in the number of online job hunting scams and the age group most likely to be targeted with fake job offers are young adults aged between 18 to 24 years".20/7/2017
Your Views Wanted On Draft Local Housing Strategy
The Highland Council is looking for your views on our draft Local Housing Strategy. The strategy sets out our aims for housing over the next 5 years and what we will do to.
20/7/2017
Council confirms Corran Ferry is back up and running
Council confirms Corran Ferry is back up and running. The Highland Council is pleased to report that at 12.30pm today (Thursday 20 July 2017) the Corran Ferry fully resumed its foot passenger and car service.
14/7/2017
More Centralisation As Council Leader Calls For Transparency On HMRC Move To Edinburgh
Leader of The Highland Council, Cllr Margaret Davidson is calling for transparency on the UK Government's announcement this week that Council Leader calls for transparency on HMRC move to Edinburgh Leader of The Highland Council, Cllr Margaret Davidson is calling for transparency on the UK Government's announcement this week that 2,900 HMRC civil servants will be relocated to a new hub in Edinburgh city centre by 2020. Councillor Davidson said: "I am very concerned that Inverness is cited in news coverage of the UK Government's intention to move HMRC staff in regional offices to Edinburgh.13/7/2017
Highland Council Step Challenge Winners
Teams from The Highland Council have been walking back to happiness and feeling the benefits of more active lifestyles following completion of the summer Step Count Challenge, run by Paths for All. The 8 week challenge, which attracted 968 teams of 5 from across Scotland started in May and finished on 25 June 2017.
13/7/2017
Free City Centre Wifi Is A Big Hit For Inverness And The Highland Council
Inverness, the largest city in the Scottish Highlands, has seen over 17,000 people access its free city centre WiFi in just 6 months following a collaboration between The Highland Council, Purple and Rapier Systems. The Highland Council sought a WiFi solution that would allow them to identify who visits the city and gain a way of effectively communicating with people.
10/7/2017
Don't let Scammers identify you through your mobile number warn Highland Trading Standards
Trading Standards officers at The Highland Council have discovered a new scam threat to local consumers. A local man was cheated out of a substantial sum by a conman posing as a reputable property landlord who used the man's mobile number to find out personal information from his Facebook account.10/7/2017
National concerns prompt Highland checks on UV tanning equipment in Highland
The Highland Council, one of several local authorities in Scotland which license UV tanning salons, will be conducting an audit on all licensed premises in Highland to verify compliance with EU safety standards regarding the output of ultra violet (UV) radiation. Environmental Health Officers have become increasingly aware of concerns nationally whereby the UV bulb strength in many cases have been found to exceed the standard for such equipment.6/7/2017
No change? Just ‘RingGo' with Highland Council parking
Motorists using Highland Council car parking machines will no longer have to search for change with the introduction of ‘RingGo' phone parking payments across the region. RingGo is a quick, easy to use mobile phone service, which lets motorists pay for their parking with a credit or debit card, rather than using cash at a machine.
5/7/2017
Stronger Penalties For People Sharing Intimate Images
Prosecuting people who share or threaten to share intimate images without consent will be easier under a new law which comes into force this month. From 3 July 2017, those convicted the offence could face up to five years in prison under the Abusive Behaviour and Sexual Harm (Scotland) Act 2016.5/7/2017
Council to form Cross-Party Working group for Inverness Schools
Members of The Highland Council have agreed to form a short life Cross-Party Working group for Inverness Schools. The decision to create the working group was made at Highland Council's meeting on 29 June.3/7/2017
Council reinstatement call of 24/7 NHS Emergency Cover, Portree and North Skye
Members of The Highland Council have agreed that an approach should be made to the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport, Shona Robison, to come to meet with the Leader of Highland Council, Cllr Margaret Davidson and the four Skye councillors on behalf of the Skye and Raasay Committee to request that the 24/7 NHS Emergency Cover be reinstated for Portree and North Skye. The meeting with the four Skye councillors will also include Members from Ward 5 (Wester Ross,Strathpeffer and Lochalsh).3/7/2017
New Joint Committee for Roads Collaboration receives cross-party Council support
Members of The Highland Council have unanimously agreed to the establishment of a joint Committee with Aberdeen City Council, Aberdeenshire Council, Angus Council, Argyll and Bute Council, Comharlie nan Eilean Siar and Moray Council to be known as ‘The Northern Roads Collaboration Joint Committee'. Cllr Allan Henderson, Chair of the Council's Places Committee commended the formation of the new Joint Committee, he said: "I commend this initiative which will help Highland Council and our partner Northern Authorities address the ‘big ticket' roads’ issues that affect us all.29/6/2017
"Less smoke and mirrors from Scottish Government" demands Highland Leader
During a debate about the future of Highland Council finances, Leader of the Council, Margaret Davidson, has challenged the Scottish Government to be more open about the funding they provide for local councils across Scotland. "In recent years' we’ve seen too much smoke and mirrors when it comes to the Scottish Government handing out their annual grant to local councils.29/6/2017
Roll-out of free WIFI For Inverness
FREE Wifi will be extended across the city centre in Inverness this summer. The free service, "Ness Wifi", will be rolled out in the second phase of the Inverness City WiFi project.29/6/2017
Council support for young LGBTI receives national recognition
Highland Council is delighted and honoured to have been announced as the ‘Most Improved Local Education Authority' and top performing Council in Scotland in Stonewall's seventh annual Education Equality Index. This extremely welcome announcement was made at Stonewall's Education for All conference held yesterday (28 June) at the University of Birmingham.29/6/2017
