News Archive
22/2/2018
Retailers have rights too! New small traders' returns guide
Retailers have rights too! ParcelHero introduces new small traders' returns guide. At least 200 specialist online stores don't expect to survive the massive growth in returns this year.22/2/2018
£3 Million For Language Learning
Schools will be allocated £3 million this year to support pupils learning additional languages, Employability Minister Jamie Hepburn has announced. A lack of language skills has been estimated to cost Scottish businesses hundreds of millions of pounds a year in lost exports.21/2/2018
Firm Appointed To Create Scotland's First Newton Room In Thurso
Young people in Caithness will be the first in Scotland to benefit from new Norwegian style learning centres. A network of ‘Newton rooms' in Norway and one in Denmark are used to inspire more young people into careers in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM).
21/2/2018
Businesses Take Action To Improve Productivity And Competitiveness
A survey of more than a thousand businesses in the Highlands and Islands has shown that almost all of them (95%) have taken action in the past 12 months to become more productive and competitive. This is according to the findings of the latest business panel survey published today (Wednesday 21 February) ) by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE).
21/2/2018
Graduated Driving Licence For New Drivers Closer
North MSP and Road Safety Campaigners eight year campaign for a form of Graduated Licence closer to being introduced. Highlands & Islands Regional MSP and Road Safety Campaigner, David Stewart, has welcomed news from the UK Government that they plan to seriously now consider introducing a form of Graduated Driving Licence later this year.
20/2/2018
Reporting fly tipping to be made easier
The Highland Council is set to make it easier for the public to report incidents of fly tipping and be advised when action is taken. As part of an evaluation of its street cleaning service an in-depth LEAN review of how the council deals with fly tipping has been carried out to look at ways of improving responsiveness and customer satisfaction.20/2/2018
City Region Deal funding for new homes across the Highlands
The Highland Council has agreed to use City-Region Deal funding to part fund new mid-market housing projects throughout the Highlands. The affordable housing projects will be developed by Albyn Housing Society and Highland Housing Alliance in Ullapool, Fort William, Alness, Inverness, Aviemore, Grantown, Drumnadrochit and Newtonmore and will deliver 61 new homes targeted at young people working in the area.20/2/2018
Scottish Tax Rates Being Set Today In The Budget Debate
See the BBC article for full details of the changes today. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-43115967.19/2/2018
Statement from Rhoda Grant MSP on details of Raigmore whistleblower - following CHAT's media releases at weekend
Labour MSP Rhoda Grant has spoken out over Caithness Health Action Team (CHAT) revelations over the past few days. "It appears that the health authority and the Scottish Government rode roughshod over the concerns of a whistle blower whose only interest was the safety of hospital patients," said Highlands and Islands Labour MSP Rhoda Grant.
15/2/2018
Highland Council has agreed a budget for 2018-19.
Highland Councillors agreed a council tax increase of 3% which will mean an increase of £35.93 per annum on a Band D property. Overall, the budget gap of £15,146 million has been met by a package of savings which includes increasing Council Tax income by £3.448 million, increasing income by £3,059 million, setting a target of £2,250 million to be saved through Redesign and reducing expenditure by £5.1 million.15/2/2018
A fair budget for the Highlands say Independent Councillors
Independent councillors have delivered a fair budget for the Highlands today. It's a fair budget that has limited the impact on council services, protected the provision of frontline education, and minimised the rent increase for council house tenants.15/2/2018
"Significant risks" to delivering early learning and childcare plan by 2020
There are "significant risks" surrounding the Scottish Government's ambition to double early learning and childcare hours by August 2020, say auditors. Councils are preparing to provide 1,140 funded hours for all 3 and 4-year-olds -- and eligible two year-olds -- to improve outcomes for children and to support parents to work, study or train.
14/2/2018
Caithness firm Ashley Ann set to expand
The biggest private sector employer in Wick in Caithness is to strengthen its presence in the area and create more jobs. Family run Ashley Ann Limited (AAL), which designs and manufactures kitchens, bedrooms and bathrooms, has secured a funding package of up to £190,000 from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE).
14/2/2018
Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd - Sale 14 February 2018
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (February, 14th) sold 574 store cattle, 6 adult head of breeding cattle. Bullocks (312) averaged 240.4p, (229.9p last year) and sold to 300.3p per kg twice for a 303kg a single Charolais cross and a pair Charolais crosses from Creagmhor, and £1,500 for a single 835kg Limousin cross from Ashley, North Kessock.14/2/2018
Highland Council Seek More Savings From Redesign of Services
Redesign is about the Council being more open-minded to new ways of delivering services, more commercially-minded to raise income to support services and jobs across the region and being more community-minded, listening locally and supporting more community-run services. The Highland Council is seeking to release over £2.2 million in savings this year through redesign projects.13/2/2018
Election For Dunnet and Canisbay Community Council
An election will take place for Dunnet and Canisbay Community Council on Wednesday 21 February 2018. The maximum permitted membership for the Community Council is 7 and as 8 nominations have been received, the 1349 electors in the community council area are being invited to cast their vote via a postal ballot.
13/2/2018
Budget proposals for protecting road maintenance in Highland
In recognition that roads are a high priority for communities in Highland the Administration at The Highland Council will be putting forward a budget on Thursday (15 February) that protects the budget for local roads. Chair of the Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee, Councillor Allan Henderson said: "We have nearly 7,000 kilometres of roads in the Highlands and this network is vital to our rural communities and lifeline services.13/2/2018
Nominations sought for Lochaber by-election
Nomination packs for prospective candidates for the Caol and Mallaig Ward by-election are now available from The Highland Council's website. The by-election is being held following the sad death of Councillor Billy MacLachlan who was one of three Councillors representing Ward 11.13/2/2018
Views sought on Shopfront Design Guide
The Highland Council is asking stakeholders and members of the public for feedback on new draft guidance aimed at ensuring high quality designs for traditional, replacement and new shopfronts. Not only does the draft Shopfront Design Guide: Planning Guidance provide advice to help promote good quality applications but it encourages developers and applicants to consider design at the earliest stage in their proposals.13/2/2018
