Local Authority News
Plans to spend £33 million on new school projects in the Highlands were welcomed today by members of The Highland Council's Education, Culture and Sport (ECS) Committee. The unprecedented spending on seven major school building projects is underway or due for completion in either this financial year or during the first half of financial year 2012/13.
Highland Councillors this week welcomed the early boost to the county's tourist season provided by the first cruise ships to visit Scrabster in what will be its busiest season yet for visits by cruise ships. The visits of the Ocean Countess and the Quest attracted hundreds of passengers to key sites in the county, with The Highland Council-funded shuttle bus service between Scrabster and Thurso town centre in particularly heavy demand.
Highland Council and NHS Highland take lead on Fairtrade and Health Promoting Schools guidance Guidance on the sale of Fairtrade food items in Highlands Schools has been endorsed by members of the Council's Education, Culture and Sport Committee. The sale or provision of Fairtrade chocolate as part of pupil education about global trade was one of the drivers in the production of the guidance.
Highland Councillors have agreed in principle to build 750 new council houses over the next five years. Members of The Highland Council's Housing and Social Work Committee have agreed to submit a bid for a programme of 101 new build homes for 2011/12 under the Scottish Government's Innovation and Investment Fund.
The 242 households in Wick which receive their heat and hot water from Caithness Heat and Power (CHaP) have been told that attempts by The Highland Council to find a private operator to take over the district heating system have been unsuccessful and that the Council will now work with residents to reinstate domestic heating systems in their homes. In a letter hand delivered to their homes earlier today (Friday), CHaP Company Secretary, Michelle Morris, Assistant Chief Executive of The Highland Council, advised households that the Council and the directors of CHAP have been striving over a long period to find an operator from the private sector to take over the district heating system The Council was initially involved in discussions with a company called Clearpower.
Motorists in the Highlands are being alerted by The Highland Council that Monday 16 - Friday 20 May is National Walk to School Week and over 11,000 pupils at 89 primary schools throughout the region could create an increase of pedestrians around schools. Walk to School Week is a national campaign with a simple aim - to encourage all parents and children to make walking to school part of their daily routine.
Almost 2,500 Primary 7 pupils from Highland schools will be immersed in the challenging issues of community safety and crime prevention when they attend Safe Highlanders and Islanders events in Inverness and four satelite locations including Fort William, Portree, Lairg and Wick. The Inverness event will take place in Cameron Barracks between 11 and 20 May 2011.
An opportunity has arisen for people with an interest in community learning and leisure services in Highland communities to become involved as Directors of the board of High Life Highland and its trading subsidiary to deliver these services on behalf of The Highland Council. The Council has agreed to establish High Life Highland as a company limited by guarantee (with charitable status) with the Council as the sole member and with a wholly owned trading subsidiary.
The Highland Council's Adult Basic Education Co-ordinator for Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey is seeking volunteers to help locals with their learning. Mohamed Hamada, ABE Co-ordinator is looking for people who might be interested in becoming voluntary tutors.
Go ahead for health, education and social care integration project Members of The Highland Council and directors of NHS Highland have unanimously confirmed their intention to progress far-reaching plans to integrate health, education and social care services in the Highlands. The target date for implementation is April 2012, using a lead agency model that would see NHS Highland provide services for adult community care and the Council providing services for children.
Highland householders warned to be on guard against doorstep rogue itinerant traders. Trading Standard officers from The Highland Council are calling on residents to be on their guard against rogue itinerant traders calling door at their door.
Council remains vigilant in campaign to retain full coastguard and tug services. The Highland Council has assured rescue staff in the Western Isles of its total support for the retention of a 24 x 7 coastguard service in Stornoway and the emergency towing vessel that patrols the Minches from its Stornoway base.
A record number of Highland electors have applied to vote by post at the Scottish Parliamentary elections and the national referendum on the UK voting system on Thursday 5 May. A total of 25,137 electors across the three Highland constituencies of Caithness, Sutherland and Ross; Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch and Inverness and Nairn will be receiving their postal votes from tomorrow (Tuesday).
The Highland Council has submitted its latest Development Plan Scheme to Scottish Ministers. This document sets out the key pieces of work being undertaken by the Development Plans Team over the coming year, and sets out how people can get involved with these projects.
The Highland Council has prepared new planning guidance for wind energy developments and now wants to hear what the people of the Highlands, developers and interest groups think about it. The new guidance will be used in the consideration of planning applications for wind energy developments.
Sash and Case Window Repair Lime Pointing and Harling Stonemasonry Chimney Repairs Portland Cement Repairs The 1 day courses cost �125 each and funding is available towards course fees and travel costs from the Pulteneytown Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme (CARS), supported by Historic Scotland and the Highland Council. For further information contact the CARS project officer on 01955 602 199 or by e-mail bryony.robinson[AT]highland.gov.uk and leave a message giving your name and contact details.
Local lass Gail Ross won her council seat for Wick easily. Today at the count she came out way ahead after the various counts.
Highland Councillors have been assured that a �66 million ICT contract with Fujitsu is being robustly monitored to ensure that upgrades of computer and telephony equipment in Council offices and schools are delivered. Councillor Carolyn Wilson, Chairman of the Resources Committee, said she was satisfied that clear signs of improvement in performance were evident following recent high level meetings with Fujitsu representatives as well as through reports on local delivery.
With both the Scottish Parliament election and the national referendum on the UK Parliament's voting system taking place on Thursday 5 May, electors in the three Highland constituencies are being urged to ensure they are registered to vote before the deadline for receipt of applications of Friday 15 April. Voters are also reminded that the deadline for seeking a postal vote is 5 pm on Thursday 14 April.
Council asks Highland businesses and voluntary sector if they are prepared? 17,000 businesses and voluntary sector organisations are being urged this week to ensure that they have plans in place should their activities face a major crisis. Along with the annual billing of non-domestic rates, the Council is including a short information leaflet that asks people if they are prepared.