Local Authority News
15/1/2015
Council review of Facilities Management
Highland Council Members have agreed the terms of reference for a review of the Facilities Management model which is being rolled out in schools across the Highlands. In 2010 the Council previously agreed to take forward the Facilities Management model, the benefits of which were expected to: · create of a universal support function to assist Head Teachers with property and grounds management; · create a standardised operating model under specialist line management arrangements; · create standardised job descriptions ensuring a consistent approach to facilities management across all schools; and · is affordable within the Council's current budget allocation.12/1/2015
Severe weather update - Highland Council - 5.30pm 12 January 2015
Two Highland Council roads and 12 schools remain closed or affected today (Monday 12 January) following the severe weather. Newhall Bridge B9163 on the Black Isle is closed until further notice, due to structural damage.11/1/2015
Highland Schools Update - 11 January 2015
DUE to storm damage, two schools, may not be open on Monday. Brora Primary School and Canisbay Primary School have both suffered some roof damage.10/1/2015
Multi-agency partners issue further advice following prevailing severe weather
Multi-agency partners are continuing to monitor and respond to incidents regarding the severe weather which has affected the Highlands and Islands since Thursday evening. Conditions have improved a little over most of the area.10/1/2015
Continuing Power Problems
Strategic and local multi-agency tactical meetings are continuing to take place to assess and manage the impact of the severe weather. The storm force winds and snow have caused considerable disruption and severely hampered repairs to power networks and clearing of roads across the area.9/1/2015
Highland Council schools closed Friday 9 January 2015
Highland Council school closure report - update. The following schools are closed until further notice in The Highland Council area.9/1/2015
The Highland Council responds to the impact of severe weather
THE Highland Council has been working with partners in other agencies to plan for the impact of the severe storms overnight and throughout today. Senior staff have been taking part in regional and local multi-agency meetings to ensure appropriate arrangements are in place and staff across the council have been working extremely hard to deal with the impacts of the weather and provide service continuity.8/1/2015
Multi-agency partners issue severe weather warning
Following reports of an amber weather alert (be prepared) for the Highlands, the Western Isles and Orkney along with a yellow weather alert (be aware) for Shetland, the Highlands and Islands Local Resilience Partnership (HILRP), is seeking to remind the public to be vigilant of severe gales and storm force winds, with gusts in excess of 100mph which are expected to occur from 22:00 hours on Thursday 08 January 2015 until 10:00 hours on Friday (09 January 2015). The winds are predicted to be strong enough to cause interference to the transport network along with wave and spray overtopping in exposed coastal areas throughout North West Scotland, the Western Isles and into Orkney and along the west coast.7/1/2015
Staff praised as Council toilets receive top awards
Cleaning staff responsible for looking after The Highland Council's Care and Learning services' toilets are been praised after scooping 7 national category awards, and 2 major national awards in the annual Loo of the Year Awards. With 20 facilities receiving platinum certificates and a further 23 gold, the Council has also been awarded a Champions League Standards of Excellence Certificate.5/1/2015
Still time to comment on CaSPlan Main Issues Report
Communities are being reminded that the consultation on the Caithness and Sutherland Local Development Plan (CaSPlan) Main Issues Report continues, with any comments needing to be received by The Highland Council no later than 12 noon on Thursday 29 January 2015. A number of consultation events have already been held across Caithness and Sutherland, where people have been able to speak to planners about development options in their settlements and the important issues relevant to their communities.2/1/2015
New Year's Honour for former Director of Social Work
Highland Council welcomes the New Year's Honour that has been awarded to a long serving former manager. Harriet Dempster has received an OBE for services to child welfare.
22/12/2014
Financial close for Wick Campus puts project full steam ahead
The Highland Council is pleased to announce that 'financial close' of the Wick Campus project was achieved, Friday 19 December 2014. With financial close, the Design, Build, Finance and Maintain (DBFM) contract has now been signed off for the £48.5m project which is due to complete in September 2016.
19/12/2014
Highland Council Budget Agreed
The budget for 2015/16 and the indicative budget for the following 3 years has been agreed following a meeting today of Highland Council. A package of savings totally £42.8 million was agreed.15/12/2014
New changes to agricultural and forestry tracks permitted development rights
Today (Monday 15 December 2014) marks the introduction of revised planning permitted development rights for agricultural and forestry tracks. All proposed new, or alterations to existing, roads, tracks or footpaths (known collectively as ‘private ways') on agricultural or forestry land must now go through a prior notification process with the Planning Authority before any development can commence.15/12/2014
Out with the old, in with the new ....but Remember to Recycle!
‘Out with the old, in with the new' is an expression frequently heard over the Festive Season and this year The Highland Council's Waste Awareness Team are urging us all to make sure we don't just throw away the old but remember to reduce, reuse and recycle as much as possible. Remember to use your blue bin for all paper, cardboard, plastic bottles, food tins and drink cans (no glass or plastic bags - everything should be loose, dry and clean).12/12/2014
Thurso recycling point at Lidl closed
People in Thurso are being advised by The Highland Council that the recycling banks at Thurso Lidl have been removed until February 2015 due to lack of space in the car park during the store's renovations. At this time of year householders have a lot of extra recycling, including glass in particular, and the Council is urging them to use other banks in the town.11/12/2014
Highland Council Distance Learning Course to Become a Primary School Teacher
Part-time distance learning primary teaching course. Building on an existing successful partnership between The Highland Council and the University of Aberdeen, the next Distance Learning Initial Teacher Education Professional Graduate Diploma in Education (DLITE PGDE) (Primary) begins on 7 February 2015.10/12/2014
Caithness House chosen as name for new Wick Offices
With staff due to move into the new council offices in Wick in March next year, one of the items on the Area Committee today was to agree a name for the building which will house 140 members of staff. Local Councillors, keen to have a new name to encompass both the refurbished original listed building at Market Place and to reflect the new works to incorporate the adjoining building at Stafford Place put forward the suggestion of Caithness House which was unanimously agreed by the Committee.
10/12/2014
North Councillors give support to Countryside Ranger Service
The work of Highland Council's Countryside Rangers was welcomed at the Caithness and Sutherland Area Committee as Members gave their support for the wide range of work done by the Rangers and also gave their approval for the 2015/16 programme of events across the area. Highland Council's Countryside Manager George Duff informed members of the achievements made by the Rangers in the last financial year for 2013/14 and highlighted some local events they had been involved in: · In Caithness and Sutherland 162 events took place which were attended by 1865 people with 98% of participants saying it met their expectations and 59% saying it exceeded expectations.9/12/2014
