Progress continues to be made by The Highland Council to introduce 20 mph speed limits to over 100 sites in 2023. Chair of the Economy and Infrastructure Committee, Cllr Ken Gowans said: "Work is ongoing at pace to deliver this ambitious project which will benefit Highland communities.
Senior figures at Highland Council met on Monday 12 December 2022 with NatureScot CEO Francesca Osowska to underline its commitment to tackle the climate and ecological emergency and mark the official signing of the Edinburgh Declaration. Highland Council Leader, Cllr Raymond Bremner signed the declaration on behalf of the local authority following a recommendation by Members at the inaugural Climate Change Committee earlier this month.
Four major redesign projects are making progress as set out in a report to Council on 8 December 2022. The four projects which are priority areas for change and improvement are as follows: The Asset Management Project aims to reduce the Council's office estate, making operational cost savings, modernising the working environment, while reducing the Council’s energy use and carbon footprint.
The Highland Council has today (Wednesday 7 December 2022) announced a temporary festive schedule for the air services between Wick and Aberdeen. Agreed in partnership with the operator, Eastern Airways, and local stakeholders, the schedule will operate from 24 December 2022 to 7 January 2023.
The North Devon Gazette today reports the news that Donna Manson, Highland's chief executive as their new top manager. An internal message informing Devon County Council's staff of the appointment says: "Donna has a track record of improvement, best value and successful budget delivery, rebuilding substantial reserves and resilience within The Highland Council, while implementing significant investment projects." The chair of Highland Council, Bill Lobban, said: “Donna has done a tremendous job for The Highland Council in the most difficult and challenging of circumstances and I personally wish her well in taking up her new position with Devon County Council.” Currently paid a reported £159,000 a year for her current role, Ms Manson could be in line for a hefty pay rise for moving south after a report in July concluded a salary of “circa £200,000 would be required to attract and retain” Dr Norrey’s replacement..
The Chief Executive, Donna Manson, has been offered and has accepted the post of Chief Executive for Devon County Council. She will be leaving The Highland Council in February.
Members of The Highland Council's Redesign Board were given a progress report on plans for the Council to launch its in-house bus company on 4 January 2023. The Council has invested in 12 buses, including 6 double deckers to deliver passenger and school transport services at a lower cost than commercial contractors.
At Monday's meeting of the Highland Council’s Redesign Board (28 November 2022) members received an update on progress made with the Roads Improvement Project which is part of the Council’s Business Change programme. The Project’s purpose is to redesign the service and identify opportunities to improve the effective, efficient and sustainable delivery of all Engineering and Roads Operations, while aspiring to improve road condition across the Highlands.
A review of COVID Welfare Support Services by The Highland Council's Internal Audit Section has provided the audit opinion of ‘full assurance' of the work that was carried out by the Council supporting those in most need during the pandemic. Chair of the Audit and Scrutiny Committee Councillor Trish Robertson said: "This is an excellent result mainly for the people who received COVID welfare support but also for the staff in Highland Council’s Service Delivery Team.
Highland schools have made significant progress in improving their attainment outcomes for senior phase SQA results over the last 5 years. Education Chair, Cllr John Finlayson said: "We welcome the positive attainment outcomes covered in the report and further highlighted by the attainment presentation at committee.
Overspends are currently projected on housing repairs, homelessness, and other rent void loss, with the biggest emerging issue on housing repairs. Labour and material costs for housing repairs continue to be affected by rising inflation.
The UK's largest council by land mass, Highland Council, has chosen TechnologyOne to support its digital transformation. The council, which serves a third of the land area of Scotland, will implement TechnologyOne's solutions to streamline and automate its operations and gain access to real-time data for better decision making amid increasing inflationary pressures across the UK local government sector.
Members of the Economy and Infrastructure Committee on 10th November 2022 agreed a proposal for the creation and development of a transport assistance scheme for Ukrainian Displaced Persons. Chair of the Economy and Infrastructure Committee, Councillor Ken Gowans, said: "Today's agreement follows a successful motion to full Council in September 2022, which sought to investigate the feasibility and cost of offering a transport scheme to those now residing in Highland who have been affected by the crisis in Ukraine.".
At today's (Thursday 10 November 2022) Economy and Infrastructure Committee, Members were delighted to announce the return of the Highland Tourism Annual Conference 2022, which will return to the Kingsmill Hotel, Inverness on Tuesday 29 November 2022. In partnership, The Highland Council and VisitScotland will jointly host the event after a two year hiatus.
Community transport initiatives across the Highlands will have their grant funding extended for another year following a decision taken at today's meeting of the Economy and Infrastructure Committee. This will allow the groups to continue the important role their play in their local communities.
Highlighted by former councillor Nicola Sinclair now a reporter in her article in the web site for the Groat and Courier is the fact there are no decisions required by the Caithness Area committee. It may be a surprise that councillors could not come up with some topics for discussion rather than rely only on officials to make up the agenda with nothing on it so cancelling the meeting.
The Highland Council's Administration are keen to hear from residents and communities across Highland as they develop priorities for the new Council Programme. Members of the public are invited to view the draft priorities and respond to a survey at: https://forms.office.com/r/zF0pnxkMWq The survey is open until 11 November.
Members at this week's Climate Change Committee approved a new project which will undertake an energy performance assessment of Highland Council's property portfolio. The project will directly support and inform decisions with regards to achieving net zero, investment in buildings (to improve energy/Net Zero performance) and asset rationalisation options.
Highland Council members today agreed that the local authority will sign the Edinburgh Declaration and underline its commitment to tackling the climate and ecological emergency it announced in 2019. The decision to sign the declaration was made by members at today's inaugural meeting of the Climate Change Committee in Inverness.
Transport Scotland has invited Highland Council to be a pilot Local Authority for the National 20 mph Implementation Strategy. The Strategy seeks to introduce a consistency for 20 mph speed limits across the country with the aim of promoting road safety through simplifying speed limits for drivers, reducing perceptions of road danger, encouraging people to walk and wheel, and create more pleasant towns, villages and neighbourhoods by providing a more equitable environment for all road users.
