Local Authority News
19/3/2015
New Archive Centre At Wick A Step Closer As Proposals Go To Council Planning Committee
The regeneration of Wick will be given another boost if the planning committee on 24th March 2015 as expected approve the building of a new Archive Centre for Nuclear records in the UK. The Highland council archive centre currently based at Wick library will also relocate to the new building where it will occupy a small part of it.
19/3/2015
Don't be duped by scam parcel postcards warns Highland Council Trading Standards
Highland Council Trading Standards are aware that Scam postcards are being delivered to residents' homes claiming that a parcel containing "jewellery" or valuables up to £50 is waiting for the homeowner. The message on the postcard states: "The office is attempting to reach you.
19/3/2015
Objections to Inverness West Link CPO resolved
The Highland Council understands that all four objectors to the Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) for the West Link project have now informed the Directorate of Planning and Environmental Appeals (DPEA) that they have withdrawn, which is a significant milestone towards confirmation of the CPO. The Council has been in discussions with all of the landowners and, in particular, those who had objected to the Compulsory Purchase Order for the West Link.18/3/2015
Landmark City-Region Deal gets approval
The Highland Council have joined with Highlands and Islands Enterprise, HITRANS, and the University of the Highlands and Islands to welcome the support announced today during the budget by making funding available to the Highlands for 2015-16 to deliver a City Deal for Inverness and the wider region. After the Government signed a City Deal for Glasgow and the Clyde Valley, alongside the Scottish Government and the Glasgow and Clyde Valley local authorities, they decided that there is merit in extending the City Deal model further in Scotland and Wales.18/3/2015
Trading Standards to host drop-in sessions for home maintenance and improvement businesses
Highland Council Trading Standards are to hold two drop-in sessions aimed at traders who conduct works on domestic properties. The sessions will take place on Friday 27th March from 2pm till 4pm and again on Wednesday 1st April from 9am till 11am.18/3/2015
Trading Standards and Police to host online Facebook chat event on rogue doorstep callers
Highland Council Trading Standards and Police Scotland Highland and Islands Division are to host a Facebook chat event on the topic of rogue traders who call at your door offering to carry out works on your home. The event will take place on Tuesday 24th March at 6pm.16/3/2015
Council consulting on its Onshore Wind Energy Guidance
Members of the public are being invited to take part in a consultation on the Council's Onshore Wind Energy Supplementary Guidance which, when approved, will be used in the consideration of planning applications for wind energy developments in the Highlands. New national planning policies published in June 2014 changed how Councils are required to plan for Onshore Wind Energy development and Highland Council are therefore in the process of reviewing their planning policies and guidance.
16/3/2015
Nominations sought for candidates wishing to stand in Nairn by-election
A by-election is being held in Nairn on Thursday 7 May to find a successor to Councillor Colin Macaulay (SNP) who has stepped down. Nomination papers are now available from The Highland Council Service Point in Nairn as well as from www.highland.gov.uk/yourcouncil/elections/ .13/3/2015
How Highland Council performs
The Highland Council members will consider ed a report on Thursday 12th March 2105 which sets out how Highland Council performs compared to other Local Authorities in Scotland. The benchmarking framework reports on how much councils spend on particular services, service performance and how satisfied people are with the major services provided by councils.12/3/2015
Council seeks views on new sites and issues suggested for CaSPlan
The Caithness and Sutherland Local Development Plan Main Issues Report (CaSPlan MIR) was published in October 2014 as a discussion document that set out initial ideas for what the plan needs to achieve for people and places in the area and the Council's initial preferences for where new development might be located. The consultation for the CaSPlan MIR finished on 6 February 2015.10/3/2015
Opportunity for taxi and private hire car operators to have their say
Taxi and private hire car operators (PHC) and drivers in Highland are being invited to meet with The Highland Council's Taxi/PHC Sub Group to provide Members with their views on a number of issues relating to the trade. There will also be an opportunity for the trade to raise any issue which they wish with the sub group.9/3/2015
Funding boost for Inverness Castle visitor attraction
A significant new city centre visitor attraction proposed for Inverness has received a major funding boost when Members of The Highland Council City of Inverness Area Committee approved £100k Inverness Common Good Funding. The project which will see two public viewing platforms providing a 360 degree vista from the North Tower of Inverness Castle; and development of shop and interpretation area is anticipated to attract over 25,000 visitors within its first year.
9/3/2015
Gaelic promotion role for Community Planning Board
During a meeting of the Partnership Board held in Inverness last week, the Highland Community Planning Partnership agreed to promote Gaelic in relevant areas of their work. Organisations including The Highland Council, NHS Highland, HIE, SNH, Police Scotland, Fire and Rescue Scotland, UHI, Highlife Highland and the Highland Third Sector Interface agreed to adopt a joined-up approach to Gaelic Strategic Planning and Development through the sharing of experience, skills and resources.9/3/2015
Funding Opportunity - Carbon CLEVER Community Grant Fund Now Open For Applications
Closing dates Deadlines for applications in the following areas are as follows: Skye, Ross & Cromarty - 24 June, 2015 Lochaber - 14 July, 2015 City of Inverness - 30 July, 2015 Caithness & Sutherland - 5 August, 2015 Nairn, Badenoch & Strathspey - 12 August 2015 Purpose The Carbon CLEVER Community Grant Fund has been established to help Highland communities reduce their own greenhouse gas emissions, take leadership on carbon reduction, engage with others, raise awareness of climate change issues and promote low carbon behaviour. Local projects will help achieve our Carbon CLEVER target of a carbon neutral Inverness in a low carbon Highlands by 2025.5/3/2015
Consultation on extended opening hours for special events
The Highland Licensing Board has launched a consultation on whether to introduce a supplementary policy statement on extended opening hours for special events of national and local significance. The aim of the supplementary policy statement, if introduced, would be to promote consistency of decision-making and to give advance notice to applicants of the Board's likely approach to determining applications.2/3/2015
Choice Based Lettings Caithness
Massive implications for people looking for Housing in Caithness. The way in which housing is allocated in Caithness has changed.
2/3/2015
The public are encouraged to take part in flood risk consultation
The first ever National consultation on the future management of flood risk in Scotland begins on the 2nd March 2015. For a period of 3 months, the draft ‘Flood Risk Management Strategy', and ‘Local Flood Risk Management Plan' for the Highland & Argyll Local Plan District will be available to view, and the public are invited to provide comment and influence the future of how flood risk management will be carried out over the next 6 year period.26/2/2015
Bronze COSLA Award for Highland Council Finance Service
Highland Council's Revenues and Business Support section in the Finance Service has won a Bronze COSLA (Convention of Scottish Local Authorities) award for their "Highland Helping Those in Need" project. COSLA Excellence Awards are held annually to reward and recognise projects and developments which establish excellent delivery of services to communities.26/2/2015
Highland Councillors agree to nominate 6 Digital Champions as part of Digital First Programme
SIX Digital Champions are to be nominated to assist with promoting the Digital First Programme and the availability of online services. Digital First Programme aims to greatly increase access to online services, enabling at least 40% of transactions to be carried out online by April 2017.25/2/2015
