Local Authority News
29/6/2017
Strategic Council Lead for Police and Fire renews call for clarity over Inverness Control Room
Cllr Mathew Reiss, former Chief Inspector with Northern Constabulary, was appointed as the Highland Council's Strategic Lead for Police and Fire at the Highland Council meeting today, 29 June 2017. Cllr Reiss said: "The Council has long had an excellent working relationship with local police officers in the Highlands.
28/6/2017
Highland Council To Debate Another 5 Years Of Cuts
Highland council will hear from the finance director Derek Yule on Thursday 29th June 2017 when he speaks on his paper "Financial Outlook 2018 - 2023". The outlook for council finances as set out in the paper Financial Outlook 2018 - 2023 is for five years of cuts and reductions in services as the forecast is for reduction in grant income of 2%, 3.5% or 5% which would produce a budget gap of £129 million to £187 million over 5 years.27/6/2017
‘Tell Us Once' automatically updates government departments
A new service for the bereaved in Highland is launched today by The Highland Council called ‘Tell Us Once'. The service will ensure that when a death is registered in the Highland area, a notification is automatically issued to most government agencies which removes the need for grieving families to notify multiple public bodies.24/6/2017
£10 Million For Affordable Housing In Highland
A £10 million fund to build affordable homes across the Highlands has been announced by Housing Minister Kevin Stewart today (23rd June). The Highland Infrastructure Fund is a partnership with The Highland Council and will support and accelerate the delivery of affordable housing across the region.22/6/2017
Highland Council Leader writes to HMICS to raise concerns
The Leader of The Highland Council has written to HMICS to express concerns regarding a potential change to the creation of a single National Database Enquiry Unit (NDEU) for the whole of Scotland, based in Inverness. Leader of the Council, Margaret Davidson said: "I have written to the Mr Penman HMICS to express my concerns regarding the proposed changes to the Inverness Police Control Room.22/6/2017
Appointments To Adult Services Development And Scrutiny Sub-committee And Other Bodies
The Highland Council's People Committee has agreed membership of the Council's new Adult Services Development and Scrutiny Sub-Committee. The Adult Services Development and Scrutiny Sub-Committee will ensure specific consideration is given to the delivery of adult social care services, as part of an integrated approach to all community care services, and will oversee on behalf of the People Committee, the commissioning of social care services for adults from NHS Highland.20/6/2017
Top excellence award for Marine Spatial Plan
The Pentland Firth and Orkney Waters Marine Spatial Plan (PFOW MSP) has won the Excellence in Plan Making Practice category at the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) Awards for Planning Excellence 2017. The awards were held in London on 15 June.
18/6/2017
Scottish Government Consultation On Devolving Finances Directly To Schools
Greater direct control of funding by schools will help improve education, Deputy First Minister John Swinney said as he called for parents, teachers and young people to have their say in revamping the way schools are funded. Speaking the day after he announced sweeping new powers for schools, Mr Swinney said it was crucial that funding decisions are taken by those who know children best and know where the funding will have the biggest impact.15/6/2017
Last Minute Rush For Brown Bin Service Exceeds Council Target
HIGHLAND Council has seen its target passed for people paying for the brown bin service. The is charge £30 per year to collect garden waste and 24,030 households have ordered the service.
15/6/2017
Fire Safety in Council housing
The Highland Council has moved to reassure Council tenants on the fire safety of the Council's housing stock, following the tragic fire in London. The Council owns a number of multi-storey flatted properties but does not have any high rise buildings (above 5 storeys), including schools, & council homes.15/6/2017
Committee Approves To Transfer Council Ranger Service
Members of The Highland Council's Places Committee have today (Thursday 15 June 2017) agreed proposals to transfer the Highland Council Ranger service to High Life Highland. The Council's Ranger Service is one of the largest local authority ranger services in Scotland with staff running many events and guided to raise awareness and encourage the appreciation of the scenery, wildlife and heritage of the Highlands.15/6/2017
Welfare Support Helps Highland People To £4.651 Million
Welfare Support provided by The Highland Council helped customers to a record financial gain of £4.651 million over the past year (2016-17). Over this period, the Welfare Support team supported 1,560 customers to maximise their benefits.14/6/2017
Thinking of a career in teaching?
People living in the Highlands who are thinking of a career change to Primary teaching are being urged by The Highland Council to consider a distance learning course (DLITE) with the University of Aberdeen. Training for the Postgraduate Diploma in Primary Education DLITE (Distance Learning ITE) starts on 20 January 2018 and the deadline for applications is 21 August 2017.14/6/2017
Consultation commences on The Highland Council's third iteration Gaelic Language Plan
The Highland Council is pleased to introduce the third, iteration draft Gaelic Language Plan 2017-2022 which is being submitted for a 6 week public consultation. The Highland Council draft Gaelic Language Plan has been prepared as a statutory document for submission to Bòrd na Gàidhlig in response to the formal notice of requirement to prepare a Gaelic Language Plan and with regard to the requirements set out in Section 3 of the Gaelic Language (Scotland) Act 2005.13/6/2017
£1.42M for six sustainable timber transport road projects in Highland
SIX timber transport projects that benefit communities and the environment on rural roads in Highland are to receive £1.42 million of funding announced today. These projects will improve rural infrastructure and greatly reduce the impact of timber haulage on local communities.8/6/2017
Rock Works On The A890 Stromeferry Bypass
The Highland Council has appointed Geo-Rope Ltd to undertake planned maintenance works to the rock face above the A890 Stromeferry Bypass. Works are programmed to begin on the 10th of July for approximately 8 weeks.6/6/2017
Highland Council And Police Highlight Role Of Communities In Countering Terrorism
The Highland Council took part in observing a minute's silence at 11:00 today Tuesday 6 June, in respect of the terrorist attack in London on Saturday 3 June 2017. Leader of the Highland Council, Margaret Davidson said: "Our thoughts and sympathies are with all those affected by these most recent horrific incidents.6/6/2017
Highland Council pays respect to lives lost in London
A minutes silence was held today at 11am in all Highland Council premises in tribute to the victims of the London terrorist attack. At the Council's headquarters on Glenurquhart Road in Inverness, staff joined the Members to observe the silence.2/6/2017
Snp Opposition Leader Fails To Back The Highlands
In extraordinary scenes during yesterday's Highland Council meeting, Leader of the Opposition Councillor Maxine Smith, attempted to block the council from having a higher profile at a national level. Along with her SNP colleagues she refused to back a suggestion to nominate Council Leader, Margaret Davidson, as a Vice President of COSLA.
2/6/2017
