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News Archive


17/5/2018
Caithness area roads maintenance programme approved
Members of the Caithness Committee have on Wednesday 16th May 2018 approved the Council's 2018/19 structural maintenance programmes for roads in the area for the coming year which reflects both the strategic network and the importance attached to local roads by rural communities.   The revenue budget for road maintenance activities in Caithness for 18/19 is £1.214M of which £0.539M is allocated for winter maintenance with a further capital budget of £0.785M The Highland Council's allocation to areas for structural road maintenance is based on the results of the annual Scottish Road Maintenance Condition Survey, safety inspections, service inspections and input from local members.  
17/5/2018
Committee reaffirms commitment to providing affordable homesThumbnail for article : Committee reaffirms commitment to providing affordable homes
The Highland Council remains on track to deliver much-needed affordable homes across the Highlands as recent figures produced show all new home completions in Highland are on the up.   In its Strategic Housing Plan 2018-2023 the Council has a pledge to approve a minimum of 500 units each year of which 70% will be for affordable rent and 30% for low cost home ownership.  
13/5/2018
Fast-track Midwife Education
Nurses in the Highlands and Islands can become fully qualified midwives in just 20 months, through a new £500,000 pilot scheme.   The shortened midwifery programme will be available to local registered adult nurses, and those from further afield who wish to study at the University of Highlands and Islands and then work in the region.  
13/5/2018
Impact Of Welfare Cuts
Households renting in the private and social sector have been severely affected by UK Government welfare policies, a new report shows.   The Impact of UK Welfare Policy on Housing report highlights the negative effect of Universal Credit on both tenants and landlords, due to the major increase in rent arrears.  
13/5/2018
Promoting Scotland's Cultural Heritage
The Scottish Government has invited Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) to apply for European Regional Development Funding (ERDF) to establish a multi-million pound Challenge Fund to protect and promote the Highlands & Islands natural and cultural heritage assets.   The fund will support the sustainable development of the rich and varied natural and cultural assets in the Highlands & Islands, targeting the more rural parts of the region.  
10/5/2018
Audit Scotland Report confirms Council's direction of travel as it considers future budget strategy
The Highland Council has considered Audit Scotland's report on Local Government in Scotland, Challenges & Performance 2018.   Audit Scotland recognises that councils will continue to face difficult decisions with limited resources.  
10/5/2018
Redesign Fundamentally Changing The Way The Council Does Things
The work of the Redesign Board has been considered by Council today.   The Redesign Board is fundamentally changing the way the council does things.  
10/5/2018
Highland Council to lead the way in reducing waste plastic impact
The Highland Council has today agreed to lead the way in reducing the impact of plastic on our vast coastline.   Highland Council has a coastline of almost 4,500 km and is the local authority area with the longest coastline in the UK.  
10/5/2018
Highland Council Local Scrutiny Plan Considered
The annual Local Scrutiny Plan (LSP) 2018/19 for Highland Council was considered by Council today (10 May 2018).   The plan is based on a shared risk assessment undertaken by representatives of all the scrutiny bodies who engage with the council and shows no additional scrutiny is required of the Council during 2018/19.  
10/5/2018
Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Transformation Consultation
Highland Council has today (10 May) strongly welcomed proposals from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service which will transform the way the service operates across Scotland.   The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service are currently consulting on a range of proposals that will change the way they operate in communities across Highland.  
9/5/2018
Don't Let The Grass Grow Under Your Feet - 2018/19 Garden Waste PermitsThumbnail for article : Don't Let The Grass Grow Under Your Feet - 2018/19 Garden Waste Permits
Don't let the grass grow under your feet - order your 2018/19 garden waste permit by 3rd June.   Highland Council Garden Waste Permits are now available to order for the 2018/19 Permit Season.  
9/5/2018
Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd - Sale 9 May 2018
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (May, 9th) sold 545 store cattle.   Bullocks (288) averaged 241.4p and sold to 306.1p per kg for a 245kg Limousin cross from Brae, Strathoykel and £1,250 gross for a 555kg Limousin cross from Castlecraig, Nigg.  
8/5/2018
Reids Of Caithness Of Thurso Takes A Top Prize In Scottish Baker Of The Year 2018 CompetitionThumbnail for article : Reids Of Caithness Of Thurso Takes A Top Prize In Scottish Baker Of The Year 2018 Competition
Reids of Caithness of Thurso has taken a top prize in the 2018 Scottish Baker of the Year Awards.  Their prize was presented by Mich Turner MBE at a glittering ceremony hosted by Scottish Bakers, the association that supports and promotes the interests of Scottish bakers across the country.  
8/5/2018
Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd - Sale 8 May 2018
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (May, 8th) sold 30 prime cattle.   Prime Bullocks (6) averaged 226.1p (-3.9p) and sold to 246.0p per kg and £1,376.85 gross.  
8/5/2018
Community Links Fund
A fund, which supports the introduction of new walking and cycling infrastructure, will be more than doubled, Transport Minister Humza Yousaf has announced.   £36m will be available through the Community Links Fund in 2018/19, the highest amount since it was launched in 2010.  
7/5/2018
Additional Assurances On NHS Finances
Health Secretary Shona Robison has put in place additional scrutiny around NHS finances in Scotland.   The Scottish Government will provide monthly information on NHS Boards financial performance to the Scottish Parliament following the boards first submissions for this financial year, which are due in June.  
Survey Shows Optimism Remains High Among Highlands And Islands BusinessesThumbnail for article : Survey Shows Optimism Remains High Among Highlands And Islands Businesses
More than half (53%) of Highlands and Islands businesses plan to take on new staff in the coming year, and most plan to recruit them from within the region, new research has revealed.   Over 1,000 firms took part in the latest quarterly business panel survey carried out by Highlands and Islands Enterprise in February.  
2/5/2018
RSA Populus Survery Shows Extent Of Economic Insecurity Amongst Workers
RSA Scotland: quarterly national accounts show need to tackle modern economic insecurity.   Previously unpublished Scotland breakdown figures, from an RSA/Populus survey published in February on economic insecurity, reflect Scotland's household economic insecurity challenge as revealed in today's quarterly national accounts [see below].  
2/5/2018
Dingwall & Highland Marts - Sale 2 May 2018
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts, (May, 2nd) sold 613 sheep of all classes.   Lambs (284) sold to £84 gross for a pen of Cheviots from 6 Aird, Ardvasar.  
1/5/2018
Lidl's refusal to even engage in initial talks is very disappointing says USDAW
Usdaw, the trade union for Lidl staff, is continuing the long-running campaign for recognition with three further campaign days this week on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, at distribution centres across the UK in: Exeter (Devon), Enfield (North London), Wednesbury (West Midlands), Aycliffe (County Durham), Belvedere (South East London) and Runcorn (Cheshire).   Paddy Lillis - Usdaw's General Secretary Elect says: "Lidl has now responded to our reasonable requests for initial talks about recognising Usdaw as the union for Lidl staff, with a firm ‘thanks, but no thanks'.