The Highland Council and the NHS Highland Board have unanimously agreed to progress far-reaching plans to integrate health and social care services in the Highlands. Meeting jointly at Inverness today (Thursday), they agreed to develop a new model for integrated service delivery, which will further improve front line services, and help achieve better outcomes for the users of services.
In January 2011 The Highland Council is to start testing properties in the Highlands at highest risk from radon gas. A programme has been developed following the publication last year of new radon maps for Scotland produced by the Health Protection Agency (HPA).
The Consultation Report in relation to the proposal to build a new Wick High School on either the existing Wick High School playing field site or on Bignold Park, Wick, and to determine what community facilities should be included within the new school campus will be available from the 8th December 2010: This report can be accessed either • the Highland Council web-site via www.highland.gov.uk/schoolconsultations, or • hard copies will be available at Wick and Thurso Service Points and Wick and Thurso Libraries and the Area Education Culture and Sport Office, Rhind House, Wick. If you have any comments in relation to this Consultation Report please either e-mail them to: ecsadmin[AT]highland.gov.uk or alternatively forward in writing to Ron MacKenzie Head of Support Services Education Culture & Sport Highland Council Glenurquhart Road, INVERNESS IV3 5NX All comments received will be summarised and made available to Elected Members who will consider this Consultation Report at the Education Culture & Sport Committee on the 13th January 2011.
A joint meeting of the full membership of The Highland Council and the NHS Highland Board - the first of its kind - will be held next week to consider far-reaching plans to integrate health and social care services in the Highlands. Both organisations are committed to improving the quality and reducing the cost of services through the creation of new, simpler, organisational arrangements.
Cleaning staff responsible for looking after The Highland Council's Education, Culture and Sport service toilets are celebrating after scooping 6 national category awards, 4 major national awards and taking home the top UK Trophy for the best Local Authority Entries. The Loo of The Year UK Awards took place in Birmingham on Friday and the first results to be announced were the 2010 National Category Winners for Scotland.
Over the recent week of wintry weather, Community Service Teams have been clearing roads and paths across the Highlands to aid more vulnerable members of the community. More than 60 offenders have been working with The Highland Council Social Work staff to clear snow and grit paths and roads.
As part of the inspectorate's ongoing strategy for evaluating the educational provision of local authorities, a report has been issued on the inspection by HMIe of the quality of education at Pennyland Primary School. The report from the interim visit is based on the initial inspection report of October 2009 and describes the improvements that have been made since that original inspection.
BOWER PRIMARY 2.12.10 AM Bad weather CANISBAY PRIMARY 2.12.10 " Bad weather CASTLETOWN PRIMARY 2.12.10 " Bad weather CROSSROADS PRIMARY 2.12.10 " Bad weather DUNBEATH PRIMARY 2.12.10 " Bad weather HALKIRK PRIMARY 2.12.10 " Bad weather THURSO HIGH SCHOOL 2.12.10 School open, but no transport for pupils on side roads.
SCHOOL Date Time Closed Reason BOWER PRIMARY 1.12.10 AM Bad weather CANISBAY PRIMARY 1.12.10 " Bad weather CASTLETOWN PRIMARY 1.12.10 " Bad weather CROSSROADS PRIMARY 1.12.10 " Bad weather DUNBEATH PRIMARY HALKIRK PRIMARY 1.12.10 " Bad weather HILLHEAD PRIMARY KEISS PRIMARY 1.12.10 " Bad weather LYBSTER PRIMARY MILLER ACADEMY PRIMARY 1.12.10 " Bad weather MOUNT PLEASANT PRIMARY 1.12.10 " Bad weather NORTH WICK PRIMARY PENNYLAND PRIMARY 1.12.10 " Bad weather PULTENEYTOWN ACADEMY PRIMARY REAY PRIMARY 1.12.10 " Bad weather SOUTH WICK PRIMARY THRUMSTER PRIMARY 1.12.10 " Bad weather THURSO HIGH SCHOOL 1.12.10 School open to local & pupils on main roads only WATTEN PRIMARY 1.12.10 AM WICK HIGH SCHOOL 1.12.10 School open but no pupils on side roads MOUNT PLEASANT SPECIAL EDUC. UNIT, CASTLETOWN 1.12.10 AM CAITHNESS EARLY YEARS AUTISM CENTRE, WICK THURSO HIGH SCHOOL SPECIAL ED UNIT 1.12.10 AM .
School closures - 30th November 2010 Caithness 52. BOWER PRIMARY 53.
As forecasters predict snow this week in the Highlands, The Highland Council has published on its web site route maps setting out its snow clearing and gritting priorities for local roads. Eight leaflets outline the Council's route and footpath priorities and provide advice and contact numbers for motorists.
The Highland Council's Transport Environmental and Community Services Committee has agreed savings proposals for grounds maintenance. Earlier in the year, the Council agreed that a tender for routine grass cutting be issued to establish the potential level of savings to be gained from contracting out this area of service.
Plans for greater say in care services Robison announces new Self-directed Support strategy A new strategy to give people more control over how social care and support is provided to them was today (TUES 23rd November 2010) launched by Minister for Public Health Shona Robison. The Self-directed Support (SDS) strategy aims to ensure as many people as possible can choose how their funding for social care support is spent.
The Highland Council has welcomed the announcement by Highlands and Islands Enterprise to award Scrabster Harbour Trust £5 million to help develop the harbour as a key component of Scotland's renewable energy infrastructure. Convener Councillor Sandy Park said: "The news of the approval of £5m from HIE should be very welcome not just in the north but throughout the Highlands.
The Highland Council is launching the third and final phase of consultation on a major review of Community Councils. This seeks final comments on a proposed new Scheme for Community Councils, including a model constitution, standing orders and code of conduct for Community Councillors.
Twenty community transport schemes in the Highlands will continue to receive financial support, totalling almost £500,000, from The Highland Council in the next financial year Members of The Highland Council's Transport Environmental and Community Services Committee have agreed to extend grant support into 2011/12, providing that the community groups work with Council officials to identify combined efficiency savings of at least £15,000. Committee members were informed that one service, the Sound of Mull Passenger Ferry, which is jointly funded by Argyll and Bute Council, has seen a reduced level of usage and is currently receiving a subsidy of £49.96 per passenger from The Highland Council.
At the start of Planning, Environment and Development Committee of Highland Council last week, members were given an update on the latest developments surrounding the Council's efforts to unlock the potential of the Nigg Fabrication Yard. Committee Chairman, Councillor Ian Ross reported that he and the Convener have recently written to the landowners expressing concern that the opportunity to realise the undoubted potential of the site is rapidly closing and time is clearly of the essence.
Members of The Highland Council's Transport Environmental and Community Services Committee have agreed that the Council will write to Network Rail to press for improved safety measures at automatic open level crossings in the Highlands. The action follows an update to members on the report by the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) into the fatal accident at the Halkirk level crossing in September 2009.
Members of The Highland Council's Planning, Environment and Development Committee have agreed to allocate £134.4K to 19 community based path upgrading and improvement projects. The money comes from the first phase of the Highland Core Path Implementation Programme which is supported by the Council and LEADER.
Building on the success of the first Highland Tenant Conference held last year, 92 delegates from across the Highlands gathered in Inverness on Saturday for the 2010 event. Achievements of tenant and resident groups across the Highlands were showcased.
