Local Authority News

Council agrees amendments to service management teams

Detailed proposals to realign The Highland Council�s Service management teams into 5 directorates � from the existing 7 � achieving savings of �350,000 per year and delivering more customer-focused services were unanimously accepted at today�s Council meeting.   The 5 Directorates will be: � Care and Learning � Finance � Corporate Development � Development and Infrastructure � Community Services The changes will be implemented in two phases.  

Council asked to agree amendments to Service management teams

Detailed proposals to realign The Highland Council�s Service management teams into 5 directorates will be presented for approval to the full council meeting on Thursday (19 December).   At its last meeting on 24 October, the Council agreed to reduce the number of Services from seven to five, delivering savings of �350,000 per year.  

Council backs heavier fines for littering and fly-tipping

The Highland Council is fully backing plans by the Scottish Government to increase fixed penalties for littering and fly-tipping but wants to see more robust action taken against contractors who try to avoid landfill costs by dumping materials indiscriminately.   It agrees that the penalty for littering should rise to �80 and the penalty for fly-tipping should increase to �200, penalties which are due to take effect from 1 April, next year.  

Trading Standards warns local businesses to be wary of telephone cold callers

Trading Standards Officers at The Highland Council are reminding businesses to be wary of making donations to telephone cold-callers looking for contributions to seemingly good causes.   Reports have come in of Highland businesses being targeted by publishing firms seeking payments for educational publications in return for the business being named as a contributor.  

Talks continue to maintain parking controls in Highland communities

The Highland Council and Police Scotland are to work together to ensure parking management is maintained in the Highlands when the traffic warden service � currently provided by the police - ends.   Police Scotland have given notice of the completion of their phased withdrawal from the service from 3 February, next year.  

Landward Caithness by-election result

The by-election for a councillor to represent the Landward Caithness Ward (No 4) on The Highland Council has been won by Matthew Reiss, who will join the Independent Group on the Council Mr Reiss was one of five candidates who contested the vacancy, created by the resignation of Alex MacLeod.  He joins Councillors David Bremner (Independent), Willie Mackay (Independent) and Gillian Coghill (Independent) in representing the Landward Caithness Ward.  

Additional funding boost to Highland fishing communities

The Highland Fisheries Local Action Group (FLAG) has been successful in securing further funding to support coastal communities as part of the European Fisheries Fund Axis 4 programme.   There is now over �200,000 still available to assist projects which contribute to the sustainable development of fisheries areas around the Highlands.  

Caithness and Sutherland prepared for winter

�The North Highlands are ready for winter� was the message given at the Caithness and Sutherland Area Committee yesterday (18 November 2014) with staff, vehicles and a plentiful supply of salt in place to treat roads and footpaths over the coming winter months.   The Highland Council has increased its winter maintenance budget to �5.6 million this year and has introducing an improved service with 45,500 tonnes of salt in storage in readiness for winter.  

Work of local group to promote the North Highlands as a top tourism destination

At yesterday�s (Monday 18 November 2014) Caithness and Sutherland Area Committee, members heard about the work been done by the North Highland Initiative to develop tourism in the Area with Tom Campbell, Chief Executive outlining some of the exciting destination development projects planned over the next 12 months.   The North Highland Initiative (NHI) was launched in August 2005 to promote and develop the economy and to support the rural communities of the North Highlands bringing together the farming community, local businesses and the tourism industry to try to address some of the challenges facing rural communities in the far north of Scotland by creating a powerful regional identity for the area through marketing.  

New head teacher for Thurso High School

The Highland Council has appointed Mr Ken Murphy, to the post of Head Teacher of the 804-pupil Thurso High School.   Mr Murphy, who has been the Acting Head Teacher since August of this year, succeeds Dr Fiona Grant, who has reverted to a teaching post at the school.