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News Archive


22/8/2015
£5 million to improve learning environments
20 projects receive funding to create world class learning spaces.   Twenty projects across 19 local authorities have received funding to improve areas for learning in schools it was announced today by the Education Secretary.  
22/8/2015
Winter maintenance review to inform 2016/17 policy
Members of The Highland Council's Community Services Committee have considered a benchmarking exercise on the Council’s existing winter maintenance service which provided a comparison to six other neighbouring Scottish local authorities.   The benchmarking exercise was undertaken on the Council’s current winter maintenance policy for the financial year 2015/16 which was approved by the Council in December 2014.  
Council welcomes Attainment Scotland funding for Highland schools
Highland Council welcomes the announcement today by the First Minister that 5 local schools are going to receive additional funding as part of the Attainment Scotland Fund.   This second phase of the national initiative involves 57 schools across Scotland, and the five in Highland are - Merkinch and Bishop Eden (Inverness), Coulhill and Milton (East Ross) and South Wick (Caithness).  
19/8/2015
Nominations sought for by-election - Aird and Loch Ness
A by-election to elect a councillor to serve the Aird and Loch Ness (Ward 13) of The Highland Council will be held on Thursday 8 October 2015.   One councillor will be elected following the resignation of Councillor Drew Hendry after he was elected as an MP for the Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey Constituency at the recent UK Parliamentary General Election.  
18/8/2015
Contractor appointed for Inverness city centre junction improvements
The Highland Council is writing to residents and businesses in the city centre to advise them that they have awarded a £262k contract to Coffey Construction Ltd to carry out improvements to the Young Street / Huntly Street road junction, Inverness.   The letter explains that the proposed works will tie together the streetscaping of Ness Walk and Huntly Street across Ness Bridge, where a new Toucan crossing will be installed to provide safe, easy access across the bridge for pedestrians and cyclists.  
18/8/2015
Board agrees response to betting consultation
The Highland Licensing Board met last week to consider their response to the call for evidence on the UK and Scottish Governments' proposals on the devolution of powers relating to Fixed-Odds Betting Terminals (FOBTs).   The Board unanimously endorsed proposals for the Scottish Government to be given powers to regulate fixed odds betting machines which are currently controlled by the UK Government.  
17/8/2015
New online forms on Council's website
Highland Council residents can now apply for Council Tax discounts and exemptions and report change of circumstances online with the launch of new online forms on the Council's website.   The new forms allow customers to complete online rather than by paper when applying for council tax discounts/exemptions and to report changes that may impact on their council tax, housing benefit or council tax reduction.  
16/8/2015
New research casts light on ‘out of control' House of Lords
Statement from the Electoral Reform Society.   To read the full report [1] and a briefing with all the report's findings, see the link in the notes [2] The Electoral Reform Society will release a major new report on the House of Lords this Sunday - the first piece of research on Britain's upper chamber since the General Election.  
Nuclear Archive At WickThumbnail for article : Nuclear Archive At Wick
The PFR stone table with the inscription 'Out of Caithness to the World' will become the centre piece of the NDA Archive when it opens its doors in 2017.   Construction of the new facility has begun at Wick and was officially opened by David Flear, Dounreay Stakeholder Group chairman, when he cut the first turf at an opening ceremony in August.  
Caithness and North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership - Update
Week Commencing 10th August 2015 Tourism, Food & Drink There has been further excellent media coverage this week of the North Coast 500 route following triple cycling world record holder Mark Beaumont's amazing non-stop circumnavigation of the route.  We watched him flash past us in Thurso on Tuesday morning on his way to completing the journey in 38 hours! As recently reported the route has been voted one of the world's top six tourist drives.  
15/8/2015
Rules on applying for a new personal licence changed
The Highland Licensing Board is advising people who have had their personal licences revoked that rules have changed and they may now be able to reapply.   Since December 2014 The Highland Licensing Board has had to revoke a number of personal licences where the licence holder failed to comply with the mandatory refresher training requirements.  
15/8/2015
Leader of Highland Council meets with HMICS
LEADER of The Highland Council, Margaret Davidson met with Her Majesty's Inspector of Constabularys in Scotland (MHICS), Mr Derek Penman, today to discuss the Inverness Police Control Room.   She said: "I would like to thank Mr Penman for taking time to come to Inverness and listen to the concerns of the Highland Council.  
13/8/2015
Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd - First Lamb Sale - 12 August 2015
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (August, 12th) sold 12,971 store lambs at their annual district sale to average £50.31 (- £4.11 on the year).   Cheviot wedder lambs (5,865) averaged £48.33 (-£4.00) and sold to £58.00 gross from Heatherlea, Ardgay.  
10,000 Caithness homes and businesses have access to new broadband networksThumbnail for article : 10,000 Caithness homes and businesses have access to new broadband networks
New locations announced as three million UK superfast broadband milestone is reached.   More than 10,000 homes and businesses in Caithness can now access next generation fibre broadband through the Digital Scotland Superfast Broadband (DSSB) roll-out.  
Caithness Horizons Museum welcomes half a million visitors.Thumbnail for article : Caithness Horizons Museum welcomes half a million visitors.
Tuesday 11th August saw local group No Limits Caithness visit the Museum for a morning packed with Viking activities with Curator Joanne Howdle, or Thordis Eiríksdóttir as she is fondly known to local groups and schools.   The group helped the Museum to hit the half million visitors mark and to celebrate they were presented with a special cake made in the Museum's cafe.  
13/8/2015
Fantastic More PlasticThumbnail for article : Fantastic More Plastic
The Highland Council is introducing further new materials to the blue bin recycling service at the end of August.   Following on from the recent introduction of aerosols, envelopes and cardboard food and drink cartons, from Monday 31st August residents will also be able to recycle plastic pots, tubs and trays.  
13/8/2015
West Link given the green light to go ahead
Highland Council welcomes confirmation of the Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) by Scottish Ministers which will enable the West Link to go ahead.   The Highland Council has today been advised that Scottish Ministers have confirmed the Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) promoted in respect of the West Link road project.  
13/8/2015
Talks continue on future status of site
Discussions on the Glen Roy National Nature Reserve with Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) and Lochaber Geopark Association, which raises awareness of geology, are continuing.   The site was originally acquired in 1970 to protect it against proposed tree planting, as at the time Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) legislation was weaker than today.  
13/8/2015
HAPPY SCOTTISH RESIDENTS HAVE HIGHEST AMOUNTS OF SPARE CASH IN UK
The average monthly spare cash for households in Scotland is £454, far higher than the UK average of £381.   With an average monthly income of £1,989, people in Scotland have 23% (or £454) left as spare cash each month - the highest in the UK, ahead of Wales (£415) and 10% more than those living in the East Midlands, the highest in England, who have 22% or £395 spare cash left each month.  
13/8/2015
Still Time To Have Your Say on The Marine ConsultationThumbnail for article : Still Time To Have Your Say on The Marine Consultation
Have your say on Pilot Pentland Firth and Orkney Waters Marine Spatial Plan.   A consultation is being launched on a plan that will be used to guide development activity in the Pentland Firth and Orkney Waters.