Local Authority News
1/10/2014
Multi-agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC) annual report produced for the Highlands
Partner agencies including the Highland Council, NHS Highland, Police Scotland, Witness Support Scotland and local Women's Aid charities, all based in the Highlands, have produced an annual report detailing their involvement in Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conferences, also known as MARACs. This annual report summarises;What is MARAC? What is the purpose of MARAC? How does MARAC work? By using an illustrative example, based on real events, the annual report also demonstrates how MARAC works in practice.30/9/2014
‘Keep it real in Highland - report fake goods' says Trading Standards
A quick and easy way to report fake goods online is being launched today (30 September 2014) by Highland Council's Trading Standards as part of their ongoing battle against product counterfeiting. Consumers or businesses can now report fake goods and those who are supplying them on the Council's website at: http://www.highland.gov.uk/counterfeits Trading Standards Manager, Gordon Robb explains: "Fake goods cheat consumers; can in some cases put their safety or health at risk; supports the criminal elements of our society and defrauds those who have invested time, money and their intellect in developing new products and brands.26/9/2014
New Trading Standards Institute chairman appointed
Mark McGinty, a Highland Council Trading Standards Team Leader has been announced as the new Chairman of the Trading Standards Institute (TSI). Spending 22 years in local authority trading standards, Mark began his career in the Lothian region as a trainee assistant enforcement officer following brief spells as a student in the Fife and Tayside regions.23/9/2014
Find out more about the range of Community Services provided in your area
You can find out more about the local services which Highland Council provides at a series of events across the Highlands, beginning on 1 October. Community Services is a new directorate of The Highland Council that delivers many of the Council's everyday services, with staff in regular contact with the people of the Highlands.23/9/2014
Setting the direction for the future of Caithness and Sutherland
Highland Councillors have given the go ahead for a major public consultation to help prepare a new 20 year Local Development Plan for the Caithness and Sutherland area, to be known as CaSPlan. The Caithness and Sutherland Area Committee agreed the Main Issues Report which will be the first formal stage of preparing the new CaSPlan.23/9/2014
Highland Council Moves To Renew Schools In Tain
Still time to have say on Tain school consultation Around 80 members of the public turned out to a public meeting on the proposed new 3 - 18 school campus in Tain which would replace the existing Tain Royal Academy, Craighill and Knockbreck Primaries and St Duthus Special School. The meeting was held by The Highland on the evening of Monday 15 September at Tain Royal Academy.22/9/2014
Caithness & Sutherland Area Committee - First Meeting In Refurbished Wick Town Hall
The next meeting of the Caithness and Sutherland Area Committee of Highland council will be held in the newly refurbished town hall on Tuesday 23rd September 2014. the meeting starts at 10.30am and may last until 3.00pm depending on debates and presentations.19/9/2014
Highland Counting Officer announces votes cast in Referendum
The Counting Officer for The Highland Council area has announced the total votes cast for each answer in the Scottish Independence Referendum. A total of 78,069 votes were cast for Yes and a total of 87,739 votes were cast for No.17/9/2014
Accommodation Services framework agreement - supplier events
The Highland Council wishes to establish a framework agreement for Accommodation Services in the Highlands with suitably competent providers. The framework agreement would commence on 1 December 2014 until 30 November 2017 with an option to extend for a further 12 month period.17/9/2014
Third Inverness community sets up cold call control zone
Dalneigh and Columba Community Council have become the latest community to say "NO" to unwanted doorstep traders by establishing a Cold Call Control Zone. Residents in St Mungo Road, St Margaret's Road, St John's Avenue, St Mary's Avenue, St Andrew Drive and St Ninian Drive will be covered by the initiative which is facilitated by The Highland Council’s Trading Standards and supported by Police Scotland.12/9/2014
Highland Counting Officer and Police appeal for common sense in Referendum campaign.
The Highland Counting Officer for the Scottish Independence Referendum and Police Scotland have appealed for a common sense approach to Referendum campaigners in Highland following the appearance of two large items on the rock face of the former Ballachulish Quarry in Lochaber. The items which included a large Saltire flag assumed to have been installed overnight on Saturday 6 September and a ‘YES' poster on Monday 7 September were believed to have been placed there by a climber or climbers who drilled into the rock face and bolted the items to the rock.9/9/2014
Muirtown cold call control zone launched
Residents in the Highfield Avenue and Blarmore Avenue area of Inverness will begin to help tackle the problem of doorstep crime today (Monday 8 September). Muirtown Community Council have chosen the area to be a Cold Call Control Zone (CCCZ), an initiative facilitated by Highland Council Trading Standards and supported by Police Scotland that aims to educate and empower residents on how to deal with unwanted doorstep traders.8/9/2014
Praise for top apprentice plumber
The success of an apprentice plumber from Dornoch who won the Student of the Year 2013/2014 title for SVQ 3 Domestic Plumbing 2nd Year from Inverness College has been recognised by Highland Councillors. At the start of the recent Community Services Committee, members learned of Andrew Fraser's success and took the opportunity to congratulate him and pay tribute to the support and training given by council staff.
8/9/2014
Energy Innovation award for Council
The Highland Council's Energy and Sustainability team have won the best innovation prize at the annual Energy North Awards which were held in Inverness last week. The Council has embarked on a project entitled Carbon Saving Capital Works for Council Buildings and Properties, with a specific emphasis on biomass, and in doing so has become an innovative leader in the renewable energy and low carbon sector.
5/9/2014
Director of Education, Culture and Sport retires
Tributes have been paid to The Highland Council's Director of Education Culture and Sport, Hugh Fraser, who retires on 19 September after seven and a half years leading the council's frontline service. At the start of The Highland Council's meeting held today (Thursday 4 September) the Convenor of The Highland Council, Councillor Jimmy Gray and Councillor Alastair Christie, Convener of the Council’s Education, Children and Adult Services Committee praised Mr.
4/9/2014
Highland Council reports good progress against the Council Programme "Working together for the Highlands"
Highland Council can report being on target or having completed 96% of the 139 commitments outlined in the 5-year Council Programme "Working together for the Highlands 2012-17". Overall satisfaction with Council services during 2013-14 was 87%, the 2nd highest figure ever reported by our Citizen's Panel.1/9/2014
Radon works to Council properties - Highland Council Briefing
The Highland Council's Director of Education, Culture and Sport has updated school head teachers and local Council members on radon works in their areas. The following briefing was issued on Friday 28 August 2014.
30/8/2014
Council welcomes fourth edition "For Highland's Children"
Members of The Highland Council's Education, Children and Adult Services Committee have approved the final draft of an integrated children's services plan for the Council’s Care and Learning Service. The plan titled, "For Highland’s Children 4" (2014-2019) also incorporates as far as possible the contribution of children’s services delivered by NHS Highland.30/8/2014
Highland Council is a winner in the RoSPA Awards 2014
The Highland Council is among the winners in the RoSPA Occupational Health and Safety Awards 2014. The Council's silver award in the prestigious annual scheme run by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) will be presented during a ceremony at the Hilton Glasgow on September 17.29/8/2014
