Local Authority News
Eleven Highland students graduated as teachers (Saturday 25 June 2016) through the University of Aberdeen in partnership with The Highland Council following an eighteen month distance learning PGDE (Primary) Programme. The Distance Learning Initial Teacher Education (DLITE) PGDE Primary Programme is completing its second session in June 2016, seeing these students enter their Probation year in Highland schools this August.
The City of Inverness Committee today voted in favour of an amendment to cancel the tilting pier in favour of an alternative project to meet the brief of the Gathering Place project. The remaining projects in the Inverness Arts Programme are to go ahead.
The HIGHLAND Council on Thursday 29th June 2016 considered the impact of last Thursday's vote for the UK to leave the European Union. Members noted the expected implications for Highland of the UK decision to leave the European Union and agreed to meet as appropriate to consider possible scenarios and initiate contingency planning.
The Redesign Board for the Highland Council has drafted proposals for a new Council purpose, values and outcomes, which were presented to full Council on 29 June 2016. The proposals made to the Council are recognised as draft with scope for further amendment, depending on views gathered from staff, partners and the general public.
The HIGHLAND Council is to bring a paper to its meeting on Wednesday which will allow members to discuss possible impact of Thursday's vote for the UK to leave the EU. Leader of the Council, Councillor Margaret Davidson said: "The result of the referendum on Thursday will have considerable consequences for us all over the coming months and years.
Michelle Morris, Senior Depute Counting Officer for Highland has declared the results of the European Union Referendum 2016 count in Highland. Highland voters have voted to Remain in the European Union.
The Highland Council can confirm that it will sustain the current funding for Additional Support Needs in Primary and Secondary Schools for the new school year - 2016/17. While the Council has taken measures to address a £40m budget gap, it will not require to reduce the funding to schools for children with additional needs.
Food Delivery Company ignored food safety rules. Officers from The Highland Council's Environmental Health Team are warning food businesses that frozen and chilled foods must be handled, prepared and transported within safe temperatures, and that failure to meet food safety requirements, may result in officers detaining or seize the food.
The Recycling Centre at Seater Landfill Site will be closed to the public from Saturday 18th June 2016 to allow for the construction of landfill cells. Local contractor John Gunn & Son has been awarded the construction contract, which will involve building the final two landfill cells for the site.
June 8th is World Anti-Counterfeiting Day 2016 and Trading Standards are warning Highland consumers to beware of buying bogus imitation products. The theme for this year's event is "Fakes in the sports industries", to coincide with the EURO 2016 football.
Officers from The Highland Council's Environmental Health Team are warning food businesses that frozen and chilled foods must be handled, prepared and transported within safe temperatures, and that failure to meet food safety requirements, may result in officers detaining or seize the food. This advice follows a recent incident when intelligence from Police Scotland led the Council's Environmental Health Service to inspect a van that was transporting a large consignment of raw meat kebabs, poultry and dairy products to food businesses in Inverness without the use of a freezer compartment.
The Vice Chair of Highland Council's Community Services Cllr Richard Greene and Badenoch and Strathspey Ward Member Cllr Jaci Douglas recently viewed a Jetpatcher in operation at Grantown on Spey. Following trials with neighbouring Local Authorities the Council's Community Services Committee in February this year, approved the purchase of a Jetpatcher with £150,000 from the capital programme.
With the EU referendum fast approaching, The Highland Council is urging residents to make sure they are registered to vote by the 7 June deadline, and to check the Electoral Commission's voting guide for advice on how to take part. The referendum on the UK's membership of the European Union will take place on Thursday 23 June 2016.
Anyone who wants to rent a council or housing association house in Thurso now has greater choice. This is because homes are now being allocated through ‘Choice Based Lettings'.
Local Wick Councillor Bill Fernie has welcomed Scotland's centre for procurement expertise for local government, gaining Living Wage accreditation. Scotland Excel's accreditation from the Living Wage Foundation affirms the organisation's commitment to leading by example on the issue of fair pay.
Three ‘demonstration' projects that will improve the visual impact of approach roads to Inverness and provide a sense of place for visitors, residents, businesses and investors have met the approval of Members of The Highland Council's City of Inverness Area Committee. A city gateway structure will be created for the approach to Clachnaharry on the Beauly-Inverness road; and the A82 Telford roundabout and A82 Longman central reservation will be improved in partnership with Transport Scotland.
A consortium of twenty-six local authorities in Scotland are joining forces to improve council services using digital technology. The Local Government Digital Transformation Board are set to recruit a chief digital officer and team who will be expected 'to shape and lead a programme of change to radically improve how local services work and how the councils serve citizens.' The consortium represents most of the 32 Scottish councils including Glasgow, Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire and Highland Council.
The Highlands of Scotland has renewed its status as a Fairtrade Zone which was first achieved on 13 September 2012. Highland Councillor Hamish Wood and Fairtrade champion said: "Highland has now renewed its Fairtrade status - a process which takes place every 2 years - which is very good for the region.
* 84 turbines will provide 588MW of power once operational in 2019. * New windfarm expects to provide an average annual gross employment i Scotland of over 890 jobs during construction and is one of Scotland's largest private infrastructure project.
Highland Council has appointed Councillor Jaci Douglas as the Council's representative to serve on the Board of NHS Highland. Cllr Jaci Douglas currently chairs the area District Partnership for Badenoch and Strathspey and chairs the Highland Council's Working Group on Dementia.