Local Authority News
24/2/2022
Highland Council To Agree 3 Per Cent Council Tax Rise - Offset for Bands A to D
Highland council hold their Special Meeting on 3 March 2022 to agree the 202223 budget. A Council Tax increase of 3 per cent has been agreed with the main parties so it looks like a foregone conclusion to pass.
24/2/2022
Blue Badge Petition
Members of The Highland Council's Communities and Place Committee have agreed to keep the £20 administration charge for the reapplication of a Blue Badge until such time as the Scottish Government reviews its policy on the Blue Badge Scheme which local authorities administer on its behalf. Under The Highland Council’s Petitions Procedure, Councillors considered a petition that had been lodged with the Council seeking to abolish the administration charge for the reapplication of a Blue Badge.24/2/2022
Response To Consultation On ‘National Litter And Flytipping Strategy'
Members of The Highland Council's Communities and Place Committee have endorsed a response to the Scottish Government's consultation on the National Litter and Flytipping Strategy. The response recognises the benefits that could be achieved by carrying out research to understand the influences on littering behaviour and supports a collaborative national anti-littering behaviour change campaign.24/2/2022
Actions For Attainment In Highland Schools
Collaborative engagement sessions are planned with Head Teachers to raise attainment and achievement in Highland primary schools. Education Chair, Cllr John Finlayson said: "Improving attainment and achievement is one of our priorities and while this is important, we must also recognise and celebrate the hard work that is currently being undertaken in our schools.24/2/2022
Ambitious Highland - My Future, My Success - plans for ambitious and sustained destinations for children and young people
Education Committee Members approved the Council's plan titled ‘My Future, My Success' which sets out the vision and plans for ambitious and sustained destinations for children and young people in Highland. Education Chair, Cllr John Finlayson said: "This ambitious plan will help to empower our young people to make the right decisions at the right time for their future.24/2/2022
Council Tax Proposal Will Increase Bills On Average By Only 77p Per Week
The Highland Council is proposing a below inflation council tax increase of 3% for 2022-23. The increase together with a range of efficiency and management savings will be required to close the budget gap of £34m.17/2/2022
New Applicant Wanted for Lease of Wick Caravan Site
As more visitors from the UK and abroad travel to enjoy holidays along the stunning Northern coast of the Highlands, an exciting business opportunity to tie in with the tourism boom has come up. The Highland Council is looking for someone to take on a new lease of Wick Caravan Park William and Tricia Miller who have run the site for the past 15 years will be retiring this year, so the Council is looking for a new operator to take over when the existing lease expires on the 28 May 2022.
15/2/2022
Council Leader welcomes Green Freeport Announcement
The Leader of The Highland Council, Cllr Margaret Davidson, has welcomed the announcement made that the UK and Scottish governments intend to establish two green freeports in Scotland. The Council is working with partners through the Opportunity Cromarty Firth (OCF) consortium to promote a range of projects that aim to reinforce and optimise Highland's ongoing contribution to climate action at the national and regional level.10/2/2022
Caithness projects to benefit from funding boost
Three Caithness projects are set to benefit in the latest round of Place-Based Investment Programme (PBIP) funding for 2021/22. The Scottish Government's Place-Based Investment Funding (PBIF) gave Highland Council £1,963,000 of ring-fenced money for 2021/22 and area distribution of the grant was agreed by Members of the Economy and Infrastructure Committee in September last year.10/2/2022
Committee Approves Prioritised Roads Capital Programme For Caithness
Members of the Caithness Committee have on Wednesday 9 February agreed a list of prioritised structural overlay/inlay works and surface dressing schemes that will be funded out of the Capital Budget allocation for 2022/23. The actual 2022/23 capital roads budget allocation for Caithness is still to be finalised but based on the previous financial year and analysis of road condition survey results it is expected to be similar to the 2021/22 budget which was £1,202,581.10/2/2022
Caithness Committee approves over £1m of capital investment for council housing
The Highland Council is to invest £1.074m into carrying out improvements to its housing stock in Caithness over the next 12 months. At today's meeting of the Caithness Committee (Wednesday 9 February) Councillors agreed a one-year Housing Revenue Account Capital Programme that will see £940,000 spent on mainstream projects to improve Caithness council homes over 2022/23.9/2/2022
Highland Council Leader Responds To Energy Cost Announcement
It was announced last week by Chancellor Rishi Sunak that financial support will be made available to help people cope with the increase in energy costs. Energy costs will increase further following the announcement by the energy regulator OFGEM that the energy price cap will rise in April 2022 to £1,971.9/2/2022
Bill On Candidacy Rights For Foreign Nationals In Scottish Council Elections
Legislation ensures compliance with UK treaties with some EU countries. New legislation has been published to ensure all nationals of Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal and Spain can stand as candidates in Scottish local government elections.9/2/2022
Caithness projects to benefit from Coastal Communities Fund
At today's meeting of the Caithness Committee (Wednesday 9 February) members agreed on two projects to receive support from their area allocation of the Highland Coastal Communities Fund. The Highland Coastal Communities Fund is a new fund designed to support economic regeneration and sustainable development around coastal areas in Highland.7/2/2022
Supporting communities redeveloping play area
The Highland Council has launched a new section of its website dedicated to upgrading play area provision across the Highlands. The Council currently has 306 equipped play areas spread across the region in rural and urban locations.4/2/2022
Committee Thanks Staff For Covid Grant Support Work - Check Funds Available
At a meeting (2 February) of The Highland Council's Economy and Infrastructure Committee the Chair, Cllr Trish Robertson took the opportunity to thank staff who have been working hard over the last two years to deliver a number of different Covid-19 business grants to Highland businesses. The Scottish Government provides the Council with dedicated grant money to enable it to deliver the various grant schemes on its behalf.3/2/2022
Thurso Community Development Trust Gets Share In £1.5 Million For Highland-wide Climate Movement To Reduce Waste
Community groups across the Highlands are coming together as part of a new climate movement to help reduce waste and tackle a throwaway culture. The Highland Community Waste Partnership, led by Keep Scotland Beautiful, is being made possible by a £1,498,568 award, announced today (Tue 25 January) by The National Lottery Community Fund.3/2/2022
Highland Council Committee Discusses Response To Draft National Planning Framework 4
Highland Councillors have today expressed concerns that the Scottish Government's new national planning strategy and policies could fall short on delivering regional priorities for Highland and in achieving Scotland’s transition to net zero. At the meeting of The Highland Council’s Economy and Infrastructure Committee on 2nd February 2022 members took the opportunity to discuss the Council’s emerging response to Scottish Government’s Draft National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4), currently out for consultation until 31 March 2022.2/2/2022
Wick's High Street Redesign Project A Step Closer
The Highland Council has been successful in applying to SUSTRANS for £150,000 from its Places for Everyone fund to allow it to take forward the community of Wick's vision to redesign the High Street. The project taps into the enthusiasm and determination to highlight the many positive reasons to live in and visit Caithness.
2/2/2022
