News Archive
21/12/2017
Funding Boost For Replacement Fish Market At Lerwick
Plans for a new fish market in Lerwick have taken another step forward with Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) approving funding of £586,879 to Lerwick Port Authority (LPA). LPA is leading on the £6.3m project to develop a modern fish market to support the sector across the islands and manage the growing demand for Shetland whitefish.20/12/2017
Employees compensated following change to recycling contract
Chief Executive of The Highland Council, Steve Barron said: "The Council is continuing to do all it can to support employees who lost their jobs following the change in contract for the processing of recycled waste. Evanton-based William Munro Construction laid off the staff after Highland Council transferred a recycling contract.20/12/2017
UNISON deliver 5000 'fair pay now' postcards to Scotland's health minister
Health union UNISON will deliver 5000 christmas cards to constituency MSPs demanding that the Scottish government pay up on NHS pay. Tom Waterson, chair of UNISON health committee said, "across Scotland NHS workers have been enthusiastic in their support for our campaign.19/12/2017
Democracy In Action
Electoral reform consultation launched. Voters in Scotland are being asked to have their say on how they choose their political representatives at Holyrood and in local government elections.18/12/2017
Food business fined for food safety rules after ignoring previous warning
The Highland Council has successfully prosecuted a food business after discovering unsafe hygiene practices in the transportation of food. An investigation by officers of the Council's Environmental Health Team discovered that N E Meats Ltd of Newcastle had been transporting and delivering foods from the North of England to the Highlands without any temperature control measures.16/12/2017
Record Investment In Health
Investment and reform of the health service will be prioritised, Finance Secretary Derek Mackay confirmed in his Draft Scottish Budget. Mr Mackay visited the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow to meet NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde staff and students in the teaching and learning centre, where he took part in a teaching session on cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR).16/12/2017
The Line Of The A9 Between Pitlochry And Killiecrankie
Locals and road users will get a chance to see the plans at public exhibitions in Pitlochry Town Hall on 17 and 18 January 2018. Cabinet Secretary for the Economy, Jobs and Fair Work, Keith Brown said:"Having recently published draft Orders for the Killiecrankie to Glen Garry project, we are now able to publish the draft Orders for the over 4 mile stretch between the popular tourist towns of Pitlochry and Killiecrankie.
16/12/2017
Innovations In Social Care
Publication of national plan to improve workforce planning New actions will be put in place to ensure people get the right care, in the right place, and at the right time - supporting them to live as independently as possible. The National Health and Social Care Workforce Plan sets out how the Scottish Government, COSLA, and social care partners will work together to develop new ways of recruiting nurses and care workers, and improve national and local workforce planning.16/12/2017
Scottish Budget: A brief review
This overview comes from the Fraser Of Allander Institute. This short blog provides a summary of key points from the Scottish budget on Thursday 14th December 2017.15/12/2017
Gills Bay Crossing Busiest Sea Route In Caithness
OFFICIAL FIGURES SHOW MORE PEOPLE AND CARS SAILED ACROSS THE PENTLAND FIRTH FROM CAITHNESS TO ORKNEY IN 2016 FROM GILLS BAY THAN ON ANY OTHER ROUTE. Official figures recently published by Scottish Government 'spending watchdog' body Audit Scotland show that the so-called 'short sea-route' from Gills Bay to St Margaret's Hope was the busiest seaway to Orkney across the Pentland Firth in 2016.
15/12/2017
Highland Council winter road condition and school closure report for Friday, 15 December 2017
Maps of the Council's gritting routes by priority and policy are available online at www.highland.gov.uk/gritting The information provided is a summary of reports from operational staff and is intended to give a general indication of typical conditions in each area at a point in time. It is not intended to imply that any individual route is entirely snow and ice free and drivers must be aware that conditions can change rapidly and make their own assessment of conditions for travelling.15/12/2017
Commission On Highland Democracy Report Launched
The Commission on Highland Democracy has this week launched its report at the meeting of The Highland Council. The Commission, which was supported in its work by The Highland Council, but is independent, has produced a comprehensive analysis of the state of democratic participation in Highland.
15/12/2017
Cyber security advice for the festive season
Police Scotland is reminding our communities to be on their guard, in both the actual and virtual worlds, against the risk of online fraud over the festive season. In the Highlands and Islands alone there has unfortunately been a number of incidents targetting individuals and businesses online with scams.
14/12/2017
Highland Council response to extreme weather
The Highland Council is reassuring people in the region that since Storm Caroline and the arrival of winter weather to the region, the Council's Community Services has been deploying all of its available resources to tackle the condition of Highland Council pavements and roads. The Council's gritting fleet includes 105 gritters, 42 footpath tractors and over 200 staff providing winter maintenance services.14/12/2017
Highland Council Indicates Severe Cuts In 2018/19 Budget
Budget update Council will today consider a potential budget gap of £33.5 million in the next financial year in 2018-19. It will take several days to achieve clarification of the precise settlement to The Highland Council following the Scottish Government's draft budget announcement.14/12/2017
Labour MSP Tackles First Minister About Extreme Weather And Rural Health
Highlands and Islands Labour MSP Rhoda Grant this afternoon tackled Nicola Sturgeon on the effects of extreme winter weather and access to health services in remote and rural areas. During First Minister's Questions in Holyrood, Mrs Grant asked what contingencies the Scottish Government had put in place to deal with the effects of extreme winter weather on rural and remote areas.14/12/2017
£16m Highland Innovation Boost
A new £16 million initiative is to be launched in the Highlands to boost innovation. The Northern Innovation Hub (NIH) will focus on four key industry sectors.14/12/2017
Highlands could trial Universal Basic Income scheme
Highland Council has agreed to explore the feasibility of introducing a Universal Basic Income in the Highlands. The idea could see a pilot project to replace benefits with a basic income from the state.14/12/2017
Changes To Scottish Income Tax Rates
More than two thirds of income taxpayers will pay less tax next year on their current income, Finance Secretary Derek Mackay has confirmed as he published proposals to reform income tax in Scotland. The Draft Budget 2018-19 proposes a progressive income tax policy which protects low earning taxpayers through the introduction of a new Starter Rate of tax.14/12/2017
