News Archive
29/12/2015
Highland Council Customer Services Team receive Customer Service Excellence Award
Highland Council customer services staff have been praised for achieving and retaining the externally assessed Customer Service Excellence Award since 2010. This standard is only awarded when an organisation is able to demonstrate to the Cabinet Office that they are "producing a first class customer service.28/12/2015
Ring out the old, bring in the new
Ring out the old, bring in the new - more than 100 Highlands and Islands towns and villages can access next generation broadband. As 2015 draws to a close 150,000 homes and businesses in the Highlands and Islands now have access to next generation broadband.24/12/2015
Road Improvements At A99 Latheron - Single Lane Closures Starting 25th January
TERM CONTRACT FOR MANAGEMENT AND MAINTENANCE OF THE SCOTTISH TRUNK ROAD NETWORK - NORTH WEST UNIT A99 LATHERON TO WICK SECTION STUDY - ROADSIDE SIGNING IMPROVEMENTS BEAR Scotland, on behalf of Transport Scotland, is proposing to carry out signing improvement works on the A99 Trunk Road from the A9 junction at Latheron to the A882 junction in Wick. It is proposed to carry out these signing improvement works to reduce the accident rate along the route.23/12/2015
Tasting Events to Continue On Board NorthLink Ferries
NorthLink Ferries is set to bring a series of events on board its services in 2016 following a successful Year of Food and Drink in 2015. The events will continue the Scottish Governments celebration of food and drink from 2015 by showcasing local Orkney and Shetland producers throughout next year at a series of on board tastings.
23/12/2015
MSP says not too late to stop Berriedale Braes inquiry
Labour MSP Rhoda Grant is disappointed that a public inquiry is to be held into the compulsory purchase of land for the Berriedale Braes improvement scheme due to one objection. The inquiry, scheduled for April 4 and 5 in Helmsdale Community Centre, and headed by reporter Frances McChlery, follows a pre-inquiry meeting held earlier this month in the same centre.23/12/2015
Renewables now largest electricity generator
49.7 per cent of gross electricity consumption came from renewable sources in 2014. Renewables are now the single largest contributor to electricity generation in Scotland at a record 38 per cent of total output - higher than both nuclear (33 per cent) and fossil fuels (28 per cent) for the first time, statistics published today have revealed.23/12/2015
Changes For Education Maintenance Allowances
Education Maintenance Allowance to support more students from low income families to continue their education. Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) is a weekly allowance of £30 per week, payable during term time, which supports 16 to 19 year olds from low-income families, to continue their education in a school or college.23/12/2015
Protecting children from second-hand smoke
Scottish Parliament passes Smoking in Cars Bill. MSPs have voted in favour of legislation to protect more children from the effects of second-hand smoke by prohibiting smoking in cars with children on board.22/12/2015
Dingwall and Highland Marts Ltd - Christmas Poultry Sale - 22 December 2015
Dingwall, Dingwall and Highland Marts Ltd., (December, 22nd) sold 171 lots of Christmas poultry. Oven ready turkey (134) averaged 218.8p per lb and sold to 400p per lb for a 10lb bird from Balnakyle Farm, Aberlour, and £53 gross for a 23lb bird from South Blachrie, Fyvie.22/12/2015
Dingwall and Highland Marts Ltd - Sale 22 December 2015
DINGWALL, Dingwall and Highland Marts Ltd., (December, 22nd) sold 58 prime cattle. Prime bullocks (24) averaged 193.7p (-0.3p) and sold to 211p per kg and £1,403.15 gross.22/12/2015
High Life Highland to take over Bught Nursery in Inverness
Next year High Life Highland will take over the running of the Bught Nursery in Inverness which is currently operated by The Highland Council. Savings in the Community Services budget were agreed by The Highland Council last December and this transfer will play a role in meeting the budget target for the service.22/12/2015
Highland Council housing rent consultation 2016/17
Every year Highland Council asks Housing tenants for their views on how their rent should be spent. It is important that our rents are affordable, but they also have to provide enough income to ensure that we can provide housing management and repairs and maintenance to houses, as well as covering other housing costs.19/12/2015
Staff At Highland Council To Be Offered Voluntary Redundancy or Cuts in Hours
Highland Council has sent out a communication to all staff with the the option of taking voluntary redundancy or working fewer hours in order to help it weather the cuts recently announced by the Scottish government. Some positions such as teachersof HGV drivers may not be able to take up the offer due to shortages or ring fencing by Scottish Government.18/12/2015
Caithness and North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership - Update
Week Commencing 14th December 2015 Energy and Business Services: Further movement in the tidal energy sector in Scotland this week, with the news that Atlantis Resources Ltd has reached an agreement with Scottish Power Renewables to purchase two of SPRs tidal projects in Scotland. The projects are a 10MW proposal for the Sound of Islay and a 100MW project at the Ness of Duncansby at the eastern end of the Pentland Firth.18/12/2015
ScottishPower Renewables joins forces with Atlantis Resources to establish the largest tidal stream portfolio in the UK
* The new deal will see 640MW of installed tidal power capacity by 2022 in Scotland alone. * Atlantis will deliver continuous, clean, and predictable supplies of tidal energy, at scale, to power homes and business throughout the UK.17/12/2015
Highland Council approves an additional £24.520 million for roads, bridges and piers
Highland Council has approved an additional £24.520 million for roads, bridges and piers to be included in the Capital Plan, together with an additional provision of £1.6 million for minor flood works. The 10-year plan, which will fund some £900 million of projects, will now form the basis of a future rolling programme of capital investment.16/12/2015
Dingwall and Highland Marts Ltd - Sale 15 December 2015
DINGWALL, Dingwall and Highland Marts Ltd., (December, 15th) sold 46 prime cattle. Prime bullocks (8) averaged 194.0p (-5.7p) and sold to 205p per kg and £1,415.70 gross.16/12/2015
Timber from the Flow Country - rail conference delegates hear of ambitious plans
Ambitious plans to transport timber from the Flow Country in remote North Sutherland to Inverness via rail instead of road could pave the way for other projects in rural communities throughout the UK, delegates were told at a rail stakeholder conference organised by HITRANS, the regional transport partnership for the Highlands and Islands. HITRANS is co-ordinating investigations into the feasibility of the proposal, called Branchliner, which would see a major new facility created at Kinbrace to freight the timber to southern markets via an expanded siding at Inverness railway station.
16/12/2015
No real change in fuel poverty in 2014
In 2014 the level of fuel poverty remained similar to the previous year: 34.9% or around 845,000 households were fuel poor and 9.5% were living in extreme fuel poverty. This compares to revised estimates of 35.8% or 860,000 fuel poor households in 2013, with 9.8% living in extreme fuel poverty[1].
16/12/2015
