Local Authority News

Beware energy saving offers that demand upfront fees, but don’t be put off the Green Deal, says Trading Standards

Trading Standards officers with The Highland Council are warning consumers to be wary of paying upfront fees to companies claiming to be offering services connected with the Government’s “Green Deal” scheme.   Problems with one particular company have highlighted the dangers of upfront fees.  

River Ness Flood Alleviation Scheme (Phase 2 - Tidal Section)

Work will start at the end of April on the year-long second phase of the River Ness Flood Alleviation Scheme, Inverness.  The council has confirmed the award of the £9.3 million contract to McLaughlin and Harvey Ltd, the company that recently built the new ferry terminal extension at Sconser, Skye.  

Review of Recycling Centres in Highland

The Highland Council’s recycling team is reviewing the operation of its network of 21 recycling centres to encourage the public to make a bigger effort to separate waste that can be recycled from waste that cannot.   The Council wants to increase the amount of material recycled and at the same time reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill.  

Miller Academy Primary Gets £50,000 To Improve Access

Seven new projects totalling £800,000 of expenditure on repair and replacement works in seven Highland primary schools have been approved by members of The Highland Council’s Adult and Children’s Services Committee.   The new projects, which will be funded from the Council’s Education, Culture and Sport capital programme will be completed in the financial year 1 April 2014 – 31 March 2015.  

Supply teacher recruitment campaign reaps returns for Highland schools

The initial success of an advertising campaign to recruit supply teachers for Highland Council schools has resulted in the local authority running a second recruitment campaign.   Members of the Council’s Adult and Children’s Services committee were today (19 February) informed that a recruitment campaign using advertorials in local and national newspapers in December 2013 attracted expressions of interest from 52 teachers.  

Closer look at Census figures for Caithness and Sutherland

The demographics of Caithness and Sutherland were under the spotlight yesterday (Tuesday 11 February) when Members of the Area Committee took the opportunity to look in some detail at the results from the 2011 census.   Since 2001 the population of Caithness and Sutherland has grown by 3.3% with an increase in four out of six Wards, and at a local level in 34 out of 58 data zones.  

Land reform top of the agenda at Area Committee

The first item on yesterday's Caithness and Sutherland Area Committee was Land Reform with the meeting starting with a presentation by David Cameron, Convener of Community Land Scotland.   Members then took the opportunity to discuss in particular the overview of land reform issues in Sutherland.  

Results of Community Council interim elections

Six Highland community councils are able to continue operating following recent interim elections.   Nominations were invited from 21 January to 5 February 2014 for persons seeking election to Community Councils serving Caithness West; East Nairnshire; Inverlochy; Raigmore; Sinclairs Bay; and Wick In each case, the number of candidates nominated was less than the number of councillors to be returned, so no elections will take place, and the list of candidates for each community council are now declared to be elected as councillors.  

Council extends consultation period on amendments to public entertainment licensing

The Highland Licensing Committee has extended until Friday 21 March the period of consultation for proposed amendments and additions to activities requiring a public entertainment licence.   The original deadline was Friday 7 February but the Licensing Committee, meeting on Tuesday 4 February, agreed this should be extended following a number of representations received from outdoor activity providers and to allow time to obtain further information on the extent to which such activities are already regulated by other authorities/bodies.  

Population on the up in Skye, Ross and Cromarty

The demographics of Skye, Ross and Cromarty were under the spotlight today (Wednesday 5 February) as Members of the Area Committee took the opportunity to look in some detail at the results from the 2011 census.   The population of the Skye, Ross & Cromarty area has grown by 8.6% compared to the Highland average of 11.1%, with an increase in all six Council Wards, and at a local level in 65 out of 85 data zones.