Local Authority News
Highland Council's catering team are celebrating after the council renewed its Food for Life Served Here Bronze award for an incredible 14th time. The council, which first received the award for its primary school meals back in 2009, is now serving over 11,611 nutritious, sustainable and locally-sourced Food for Life meals in its 161 primary schools and 166 nurseries every day.
A strategy which proposes a two-stage approach towards the development of vibrant community hubs in partnership with High Life Highland and sportscotland was agreed at the Council's Education Committee. The report set out the principles for investment over the long-term and the next steps to develop individual plans for each of the Council's 29 associated school group (ASG) areas.
The Highland Council are inviting all tenants to have their say on the rent levels for the year ahead. We encourage everyone that lives in a council house to take this chance to have their say, the results of this will have a direct impact on the services we are able to deliver next year and in the future.
The Highland Council is inviting applications from groups and organisations to the ‘Communities and Place' strand of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF). £1 million of funding is available for capital and revenue projects, that will empower communities to build on their own strengths, support local needs, and deliver on the fund's main objective of ‘building pride in place and increasing life chances'.
Highland Council continues to explore external funding opportunities to help families in the region who experience disproportionately higher levels of fuel poverty than the rest of Scotland. External funding is targeted at households classed as fuel and extreme fuel poor and is available Highland-wide.
The Highland Council has announced the timetable to make a final attempt to reform the 30 Community Council elections that failed to form in September 2023. Community Councils are voluntary organisations that express the views and concerns of local people within their area across a wide range of issues from new buildings and roads to local services and facilities.
Suppliers working in the wedding market are being invited by Highland Registrars to a newly established Wedding Fair. The Highland Wedding Fair will take place on Sunday 4 February 2024 with public access from 11.00am - 3.00pm (suppliers will have access from 8:30am).
It was announced on Friday 1 December 2023 that Workhaus Projects has been awarded the contract to carry out the interpretation for the interior of the Inverness Castle Experience. Workhaus Projects will combine creativity, design, technology and craftsmanship to create a world-class visitor experience within the transformed castle building, bringing the vision of content designers Mather & Co to fruition.
Highland Council's Playpark Strategy and Action Plan for 2023-2033 was agreed and adopted by members of the Communities and Place Committee on 29 November 2023. Resource - The service has limited revenue budget for maintenance of £176,900 for all sites.
For the first time, The Highland Council's Employability Service is offering Paid Third Sector Placements to unemployed Highland residents. Funded by the Scottish Government through the No One Left Behind policy, this initiative proposes 6-month paid work experience placements hosted by charities and non-for-profit organisations.
Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth has announced £900,000 in new funding for staff to tackle poor behaviour and attendance in schools. The funding will be provided directly to local authorities to train support staff to respond to new challenges and develop behaviour management strategies in schools post COVID.
Members at today's (29 November 2023) Communities and Place Committee were updated on a series of Waste Projects and approved Highland Council's amended Household Waste Policy. An update was provided on the progress of the phased introduction of waste and recycling collection service changes, which is being funded through the Scottish Government Recycling Improvement Fund (RIF).
The information provided is a summary of reports from operational staff and is intended to give a general indication of typical conditions in each area at a point in time. It is not intended to imply that any individual route is entirely snow and ice free and drivers must be aware that conditions can change rapidly and make their own assessment of conditions for travelling.
An insightful presentation on the approach to maximise the achievements of young people was heard at the Council's Education Committee. Dr James Vance, Head Teacher at Culloden Academy, explained his school’s raising attainment strategy.
With a week to go until the Highland Community Council elections The Highland Council is reminding anyone who has not yet posted their ballot paper that there is still time to do so. Postal ballots for the ten contested community councils must be completed and returned by the deadline of 12 noon on Monday 27 November 2023.
The cost-of-living crisis has led to very tough times for many families in the Highlands and throughout Scotland. Rocketing food and energy prices have been very challenging for everyone, but especially for families on low incomes who already have money worries.
Highland Council's Employability Team say the local authority’s first Virtual Jobs Fair held last week was a great success. The event, which was held on Wednesday 15 November, targeted winter work opportunities on the Isle of Skye and Raasay, following the end of many seasonal roles to cover the busy visitor period.
The latest Highland Highlife report to the Highland council Education Committee on Thursday 23 November 2023 sets out the current financial position and actions taken to address many issues. Since its inception in 2011 Highland Highlife as a registered charity has saved the Highland council many millions of pounds.
The Education Committee of Highland Council will on Thursday 23 November 2023 discuss an updated strategy on Community, Sports And Leisure Facilities. This report proposes a two-stage approach to the development of vibrant community hubs in Highland communities incorporating community, sports, leisure, library, and other services as follows: i.
Highland Council's engagement with communities and staff will help to inform the budget proposals and consequent decisions which will be made in February 2024. This includes allocating resources to deliver the Council's strategic priorities and enable the best outcomes across the Highlands.