Local Authority News
6/8/2021
Water Scarcity - Council Supporting Users Of Private Water Supplies
The Environmental Health Team is advising users of private water supplies to take preventative steps to preserve their drinking water. There have been dry ground water and lower river levels reported in some areas of the Highlands, which may have an impact on some surface derived private water supplies.
2/8/2021
Soft Play Top-up Grants Paid By Highland Council
Indoor soft play centres across Highland have received top-up grants in recognition of the enhanced Covid-19 restrictions they have faced for much of the pandemic. Grants of between £3,500 and £5,000, totalling £29,500 have been paid out to eight indoor soft play centres, depending on the rateable value of their premises.28/7/2021
Deadline to apply for Garden waste permits draws near
The Highland Council's Garden Waste service for 2021/22 starts on Wednesday 1 September 2021 and customers have until Monday 2 August to order their permits to ensure delivery in time for the first collections of the new service year. The service will run to 31 August 2022, with a winter break in the months of December, January and February.
14/7/2021
Still Time To Apply To Vote In Highland Council By-elections - Wick and East Caithness and Inverness West
Polling will take place on Thursday 12 August to elect one of five candidates standing in The Highland Council's Wick and East Caithness ward and one of seven candidates standing in the Inverness West ward so voters are being reminded to make sure they are ready to make their vote count. The Local Government by-election has arisen in Wards 3 and 13 due to the resignations of Councillor Nicola Sinclair, one of 4 Councillors representing the Wick and East Caithness Ward, and Councillor Graham Ross, one of 3 members of the Inverness West Ward.14/7/2021
Music Tuition And Core Curriculum Fees Removed
No bills for families. Fees for children learning a musical instrument at school will be removed thanks to more than £7 million funding from the Scottish Government.1/7/2021
West Link Project In Inverness Completed As Torvean Swing Bridge Opens
The Highland Council and the contractor for the Inverness West Link Stage 2 Project RJ McLeod have confirmed that the new Torvean Swing Bridge will open to traffic during the afternoon of Thursday 1 July following the comprehensive testing and commissioning phase. The bridge has been opened as part of the commissioning process over the last few weeks to allow for systems to be fine tuned and painting work under and on the bridge to be carried out as well as training of the Scottish Canals staff on the use of the new bridge, which is now complete.
1/7/2021
Highland Council Seeks Staff To Help Delivery Key Infrastructure Projects
The Highland Council is looking to recruit some talented engineering staff to help deliver key infrastructure projects across the Highlands. Senior Engineer, Golspie Senior Engineer Alness Principal Engineer, Inverness Chair of the Economy and Infrastructure Committee, Councillor Trish Robertson said: "The Highland Council is very much focused on being ambitious, sustainable and connected.
1/7/2021
Notice Of Elections Published For Highland Council By-elections - Wick and East Caithness and Inverness West
Nomination packs for prospective candidates wishing to stand in both the Wick and East Caithness and the Inverness West ward by-elections are now available on The Highland Council's website The two vacancies have arisen as Councillor Nicola Sinclair, one of 4 Councillors representing the Wick and East Caithness ward and Councillor Graham Ross, one of 3 members for the Inverness West ward are both stepping down. The Returning Officer, Chief Executive of The Highland Council Donna Manson is encouraging people to put themselves forward as candidates.27/6/2021
Highland Council Agrees A Financial Plan
A financial plan which will invest a further £10M across a range of projects in phase 2 of the investment strategy for Health and Prosperity and £54M of capital investment in schools. The detailed designs and costings for the five schools identified for investment will be brought to Council in September for approval.24/6/2021
Response to recommendations on future of Education in Scotland
The Highland Council noted this week's announcement on the changes to the Scottish qualifications and assessment system following the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Organisation (OECD) report which backs Scotland's school curriculum in its independent review. Last year, the Scottish Government commissioned the OECD to carry out a review of Curriculum for Excellence (CfE).23/6/2021
Public Views Sought For Taxi Fare Review In Highland
The public is being asked for its views on proposals by The Highland Council to review the maximum level of charges for the hire of taxis or private hire cars fitted with taxi meters operating under licence of The Highland Council. The Council has a statutory duty in terms of Section 17 of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 to review its scales for the fares and other taxi related charges every 18 months.23/6/2021
Council Tax Reduction Supports Half A Million Scots
Scotland's Chief Statistician today released the latest Council Tax Reduction statistics. In March 2021, Scotland’s Council Tax Reduction scheme supported 496,580 households (compared to 469,370 in March 2020) and the total weekly income forgone by local authorities was £7.328 million (compared to £6.525 million in March 2020).23/6/2021
Council Tax Collection Statistics, 2020-21
Scotland's Chief Statistician today released the latest Council Tax Collection Statistics which provides Council Tax collection figures for Scottish local authorities, up to and including the financial year 2020-21. In 2020-21 for Scotland as whole the total amount of Council Tax billed (after Council Tax Reduction) was £2.675 billion.18/6/2021
Highland Council Submits Levelling Up And Community Renewal Fund Bids
The Highland Council has submitted bids to the UK Government's Levelling Up Fund and Community Renewal Fund totalling over £80 million. When the Chancellor set out details of the Levelling Up Fund in March 2021 the Council was advised that they could submit one transport bid and one bid for each of the three Westminster constituencies.16/6/2021
Wick and East Caithness ward bi-election to be held on 12th August
Two Highland Council by-elections to take place. Following the recent resignation of two Councillors, preparations are underway to hold by-elections in both the Inverness West ward and the Wick and East Caithness ward.
11/6/2021
Highland Council Launches #buildingourfuturehighland
The Highland Council today launches Building Our Future Highland - a campaign dedicated to keeping the public updated on the progress of works for the re-profiled capital programme's education, housing, and property projects across the region. Chair of the Housing and Property Committee, Cllr Ben Thompson said: "I would encourage anyone interested in the development of our housing, property and schools to utilise this new campaign and keep informed on the progress of works in Highland.11/6/2021
Final Proposal For Councillor And Ward Numbers For Highland Council Area Submitted To Scottish Ministers
Boundaries Scotland (external link) has submitted its final proposal for Councillor numbers and wards in the Highland Council Area to Scottish Ministers. The Islands (Scotland) Act 2018 required the Commission to review six councils containing inhabited islands - Argyll and Bute, Highland, North Ayrshire, Orkney, Shetland and Na h-Eileanan an Iar.8/6/2021
Additional financial support now available as part of the Taxi Driver and Operator Grant Scheme
Taxi and Private Hire Drivers and Taxi Operators are set to benefit from a new grant scheme, following an announcement from Scottish Government. If you are a licensed taxi or private hire driver who previously received support through the Taxi Driver and Private Hire Vehicle Driver Support Fund, and hold a current Driver Licence, you are eligible for an additional payment of £1,500.5/6/2021
Councillor Nicola Sinclair Standing Down From Highland Council
Councillor Nicola Sinclair will stand down as an independent councillor for East Caithness on 25th June 2021. She will take up a position as reporter for the Press and Journal returning to her former career as a journalist.
5/6/2021
