Local Authority News

Highland Council to Support Climate Week 2020

To mark Scotland's Climate Week for 2020, which runs from today until the 20th September, The Highland Council has organised a range of virtual events to share information and seek views from Highland residents and Council employees on climate related topics.   Whilst the circumstances for Climate Week 2020 are very different to previous years, it still provides an important opportunity for organisations and communities to celebrate and showcase what they are doing to tackle climate change.  

Council agrees urgent motion calling for local Covid-19 information sharing

Council today agreed an urgent motion by Cllrs Margaret Davidson, Andrew Jarvie, Alasdair Christie and Jimmy Gray with a call for more detailed local information sharing on Covid-19 for members in local government.   The motion is as follows: "Throughout the pandemic we have received information on national and Highland wide numbers infected with Covid 19.  

Councillors to debate rejection of Boundary Commission's proposed electoral changes for 2022

Highland Council members will debate rejecting electoral arrangement proposals put forward by the Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland at a meeting of The Highland Council later this week.   The Boundary Commission wrote to the Council's Chief Executive earlier this year with proposals for new electoral boundaries from 2022.  

New Blueprint Is The Menu For Change That Local Government Requires Says Cosla

COSLA has today (Monday 7th September 2020) launched a new Blueprint for Scottish Local Government.   The Blueprint will allow Local Government to build around an ambitious vision for Scotland's future - one based on the empowerment of people and communities.  

Car Park Signage In Caithness - The Rules From The Council

A number of signs have been put up in car parks across Caithness over the last few weeks.   These are statutory control of use orders and the Highland Council are required to put them up.  

Bold, New Thirty-year Vision For Highland

Highland Council today agreed a bold, new thirty-year vision for the future of Highland to promote through the Scottish Government's new National Planning Framework.   Known as the Highland Indicative Regional Spatial Strategy (IRSS for short), it sets out the Council's ideas for how the region can prosper in the period to 2050 and also support the delivery of national priorities and outcomes.  

Educators To Address Attainment Gap With Equity Week

 Education specialists from across the North-east, North and West of Scotland are to deliver a week-long series of digital professional learning events for teachers and practitioners from the end of September as part of a drive to increase awareness about child poverty in Scotland and the impact this has on learning.   Led by the Northern Alliance (Regional lmprovement Collaborative for the area's eight local authorities) in collaboration with Education Scotland, Promoting Equity Week will run from Monday 28 September.  

Highland Council receives encouraging response to promoted teacher recruitment campaign across Highland

The Highland Council is encouraged by the excellent response to the advertising campaign that took place during the first week of the school session for promoted teaching staff.   Strategic Chair of the Education and Learning Committee, Cllr John Finlayson, said: "I am delighted at the excellent response this campaign has produced, including over 13 applications being received for one Head Teacher post and over 20 for one Depute Head Teacher post.  

Highland Council Community and Places Committee Deficit Reduced But £4.84 Million Gap Means More Cuts May Be Required

Committee examines measures in place to manage revenue budget shortfall and thanks staff for their Covid-19 response.   At a meeting of the Communities and Place Committee on Wednesday 19th August 2020 councillors had the opportunity to review the arrangements being put in place by the service to manage a forecasted budget gap of £4.84m.  

Praise for Volunteers and Staff On Improving Burial Grounds in Caithness

Committee discusses capacity pressure for Council burial grounds and excellent work of Caithness volunteers flagged up.   The Highland Council is responsible for 268 burial grounds across the Highlands and a report discussed at the Communities and Place Committee on 19th August 2020 highlighted that 33 of the sites have an estimated capacity of less than 6 years.