News Archive
24/1/2020
Inverness School roll capping for 2020-2021
Already in January the pressures on some Inverness schools are showing. The Highland Council is limiting school rolls for the 2020-21 academic session at Lochardil Primary School and Culloden Academy.
24/1/2020
Scots Landlords Face Ten Months Without Rental Income Under New System
Scottish landlords are now facing a ten-month legal delay to evict tenants who refuse to pay rent, new research has revealed. Official figures uncovered by Aberdein Considine show that the average eviction now takes over 300 days following a legal shake-up by the Scottish government.24/1/2020
Andy Wightman launches tool for reporting short-term lets
Scottish Green MSP Andy Wightman has launched an online tool which allows people to report short-term let properties operating in their community. The homesfirst.scot website includes a simple form which allows local residents to express concern where a whole property is no longer anyone's permanent home and instead used for short-term lets.
23/1/2020
Highland Council must change to ensure it is financially sustainable
Highland Council must make significant savings and change the way it delivers services to ensure it can live within its financial means. A report by the Accounts Commission, Scotland's local authority watchdog, says in recent years the council has had a poor record of delivering on savings.
23/1/2020
Council House Rents To Increase By 3% In Highland From April 2020
Highland councillors will be asked a the meeting on 29th January 2020 of the newly created Housing and Property committee to agree to increase council house rents by 3% for 2021. This would result in an increase in the average weekly council house rent from £75.38 to £77.64 (£2.26 per week).
23/1/2020
The NDA has launched its 2020 Stakeholder Survey
We're looking for your input to help shape future engagement. The on-line survey only takes 10-15 minutes to finish and gives stakeholders, with an interest in the NDA's decommissioning and clean-up mission, a chance to air their views on progress - and on how they can do things better.23/1/2020
MSP Condemns HIALs ATC Vanity Project
Beatrice Wishart LibDem MSP for Shetland and who took over after her predecessor Tavish Scott stood down introduced the debate today at the Scottish Parliament on The Proposed Centralisation of Air Traffic Control in the Highlands and Islands. That the Parliament notes the reported widespread concern in response to plans by Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd (HIAL) to centralise air traffic control (ATC) services in Inverness through the use of remote towers; acknowledges what it sees as the importance of ensuring that ATC services are modernised and remain fit for purpose.
23/1/2020
Notice Of Election Published For Highland Council By-election - Skye
The Notice of Election and nomination forms for the Eilean à Cheò Ward 10 by-election have been published today (Thursday 23 January) on The Highland Council's website. https://www.highland.gov.uk/info/799/elections_and_voting/395/local_government_by-elections The by-election is being held following the resignation of Ronald MacDonald (Independent) who was one of four Councillors representing Ward 10.23/1/2020
Will privatisation of the US postal service raise the price of parcels to America?
President Trump is expected to push for the privatisation of America's postal service this year, says the USA parcel delivery specialist ParcelHero. Can he get this done by the 2020 election, and will a privatised US postal service mean big changes for UK shippers to the USA? President Trump has set his sights on privatising the United States Postal Service (USPS) says ParcelHero, the UK-based specialist in USA parcel delivery.
22/1/2020
Dingwall and Highland Marts Ltd - Sale 22 January 2020
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (January 22nd) sold 914 store cattle, 23 adult head of breeding cattle 161 OTM cattle. Bullocks (527) averaged 231.6p and sold to 276.3p per kilo for a pair of 257kg Limousin crosses from Westburn, Thurso, and £1,280 gross for a 705kg Simmental cross from Glebe Farm, Kiltarlity. Heifers (384) averaged 216.9p and sold to 273.6p per kilo for a pen of 212kg Charolais crosses from Dunlichity Farm, Farr, and £1,240 gross for a 685kg Aberdeen Angus cross from 15 Balnadelson, Lairg.22/1/2020
City Deals Lack Measures Of Success
City deals have been positive for Scotland's economy, but the government does not have a plan to measure their overall long-term success, say public spending watchdogs. City Region and Growth Deals have enabled economic development projects across Scotland that may not otherwise have gone ahead and sparked increased collaboration between councils and their partners.
22/1/2020
Index Of Social And Economic Well-being Shows Scotland Dropping Down The Table
Scotland has experienced a fall of five places in the Index of Social and Economic Well-being (ISEW) of 32 OECD countries and a drop of 0.05 between 2006 and 2018. This is according to the latest report from Scottish Trends.
22/1/2020
Procrastination Is Costing UK Businesses £21 Billion a Year
New survey reveals the average UK worker spends 2 hours and 9 minutes each day procrastinating. If you often find yourself drifting off and wasting time at work, you're not alone.
22/1/2020
Refreshed Plan For Economic Growth
A new website which makes it easier for businesses to get information and support is one of the measures in a refreshed Economic Action Plan for Scotland. Findbusinesssupport.gov.scot contains hundreds of products, services and events from Scotland's enterprise and skills agencies, and will be further developed to host content from across Scotland's public sector.22/1/2020
Grazing - Monitoring Greenhouse Gas Emissions In Outdoor Cattle
New study to look at monitoring greenhouse gas emissions in outdoor cattle. Researchers are looking into more effective ways to monitor greenhouse gas emissions in grazing cattle.22/1/2020
Bankers ignore lessons of the past
A new book by Ray Perman - Rise and Fall of the City of Money - A Financial History of Edinburgh "The day the bankers went to prison". - See talk by Ray Perman on Youtube at the bottom of this page.
21/1/2020
Smaller Wind Farm For Drum Holliston Proposed
On 21st January 2020 members of the North Planning committee of Highland Council we presented with a Proposal of Application Notice (PAN) for wind farm at Drum Holliston, Caithness. No comments were made by councillors and the applicant will proceed to a full planning application.
21/1/2020
Pension changes coming for top earners
See Article HERE.21/1/2020
Brexit deal defeated in House of Lords for fifth time in two days
Article HERE.21/1/2020
