Local Authority News
6/11/2014
Extra blue bin recycling could save £70k
The addition of new materials to the blue bin will be introduced next year and could save around £70,000. A report on the first phase of a waste compositional analysis study, which was carried out on household kerbside collections in June 2014 in the Inner Moray Firth area, has been considered by the Community Services Committee.6/11/2014
Options for the Corran Ferry service to be further developed
The Community Services Committee today considered the implications of a report on the cost of running the Corran Ferry, which, despite fare increases, continues to run at a deficit. Under European State Aid tests, there is a real possibility that the public funding of the Corran Ferry service deficit may be viewed as State Aid.5/11/2014
Council seeks public opinion on development planning in Caithness and Sutherland
A major public consultation is now underway to help prepare a new 20 year Local Development Plan for the Caithness and Sutherland area, to be known as CaSPlan. The Main Issues Report was published on 30 October 2014 and it is the first formal stage of preparing the new CaSPlan.4/11/2014
New survey reveals 93% of Highland residents are happy with community life and services in the Highlands
A report on the latest results from a survey of the Citizen's Panel shows generally positive trends and improving satisfaction with most services in the Highlands. 93% say they rate quality of community life in the neighbourhood they live in as very or fairly good and almost 97% rate their locality as very or fairly safe.31/10/2014
More LED Street Lighting For Highland
Highland Council has agreed further investment in LED street lighting programme to cut carbon emissions and generate £35k per year. The Highland Council has agreed further investment in LED street lighting programme to cut carbon emissions, reduce energy consumption and generate savings of £35k per year.31/10/2014
Help prepare new development plan for Caithness and Sutherland's future
A major public consultation has now started to help prepare a new 20 year Local Development Plan for the Caithness and Sutherland area, to be known as CaSPlan. The Main Issues Report which has now been published is the first formal stage of preparing the new CaSPlan.31/10/2014
Highland Council calls on UK Government to reinstate adequate coastal protection
THE Highland Council is renewing its call upon the UK Government to reinstate adequate coastal protection measures for the Highlands and Islands. Leader of the Council, Drew Hendry raised the matter at the Convention of the Highlands and Islands earlier this week, and asked for the support of the full council, strategic partners and the Island Councils, in asking the UK Government to reinstate an Emergency Towing Vessel in the Minches without further delay and to commit to extending the lease for the Emergency Towing Vessel based in Kirkwall.28/10/2014
Highland Council launches phase two of Budget Consultation
The Highland Council has launched a consultation paper with detailed proposals for saving over £15 million towards a total budget cut of £64 million over the next five years. The Council has already achieved over £77.7m of cuts, including some through efficiency savings over the past 5 years.27/10/2014
Trading Standards and Citizens Advice tackle private car parking problems
The Highland Council's Trading Standards Officers are backing local Citizens Advice Bureaux in their campaign to ensure that Highland consumers get a fair deal over private car parking. Both agencies have seen an increase in consumer complaints about private parking in recent times, with a range of problems being encountered by motorists, as David MacKenzie, Team Leader at Highland Council Trading Standards explained: "Sometimes the problem is poor signage resulting in drivers being unaware of large penalty charges and the scale of such charges can also be controversial.27/10/2014
Councils join together to benefit from new network contract
Highland and Islands Councils have signed a multi-million pound contract on behalf of the Pathfinder North Partnership, led by The Highland Council, for the provision of Network Services starting in March 2016. The deal is part of the Scottish Wide Area Network (SWAN) Framework agreement awarded to CAPITA in February 2014 and has a potential value of around £33m (over 7 years) across the five Partners for whom it is expected to generate significant cost savings.
27/10/2014
New homes for the Highlands
Housing projects helping to support local construction sector and wider economy. Finance Secretary John Swinney has announced a deal to deliver new affordable homes for rent in Inverness, providing a boost to the local construction sector and wider economy.27/10/2014
Working together to benefit the Highlands and Islands
The Highlands and Islands Convention was welcomed to the Merkinch Community Centre in Inverness today (Monday) by Councillor Drew Hendry, Leader of the Highland Council, who stressed the importance of ensuring a highly skilled workforce that would contribute to the continuing economic growth of the Highlands and Islands. He also highlighted the need for partners to be working together to deliver good quality services to local communities and to sustain and enable those communities in the Highlands and Islands to flourish.22/10/2014
Caithness District Partnership Meeting Friday 31st October
The Caithness District Partnership next meets in Wick on Friday 31 October 2014 and the agenda will feature an update on the progress made in the implementation of a Family Team for Caithness. The meeting will also feature updates from Bob Silverwood, the NHS Area for Caithness and Sutherland the Manager.of Scottish Ambulance Service will also deliver a presentation on Public Access Defibrillators.21/10/2014
Highland Council Leadership backs calls for fairer electricity charges in Highlands and Islands
The Leadership of Highland Council has turned up the heat on OFGEM and called for action against unfair surcharges which make electricity costs higher for consumers in the Highlands and Islands. The Highland Council Administration is responding in support of action being taken by Comhairle nan Eilean Siar and will be writing to OFGEM to call for fairer energy charges in the Highlands and Islands.15/10/2014
Your right to know all about your car before purchase
If either of the statements, ‘I wish I'd been told about that before I bought my car’ or ‘the car salesman failed to tell me about this...’ sounds familiar - then read on. The Highland Council’s Trading Standards team is today launching an online Used Car Buying Survey in conjunction with Trading Standards authorities across the North of Scotland.8/10/2014
Radioactive Concrete Cargo Incident Near Wick
Council renews call for permanent reinstatement of ETVs. Leader of The Highland Council, Councillor Drew Hendry has renewed The Highland Council's call to permanently retain and reinstate previous levels of emergency towing vehicles (ETVs) covering the Minch and Northern Isles.8/10/2014
Personal Licence holders still to notify Board of training
Members of The Highland Council's Licensing Board were (October 7, 2014) informed that 811 Personal Licence holders have still to notify the Board that they have completed their refresher training. Personal Licence holders had until the 31 August to sit their training.7/10/2014
Buying cigarettes for children could cost you a packet 
A poster campaign to highlight the risks of buying cigarettes for children has been launched by the Trading Standards services in Highland and Argyll and Bute Councils, in partnership with NHS Highland. The campaign aims to increase awareness that it is unlawful for adults aged 18 or over, to knowingly buy or attempt to buy cigarettes, tobacco or cigarette papers for a person who is under the age of 18, this is known as a "proxy purchase".
7/10/2014
Councillor Praises Highland Residents For Recycling Figures
The Highland Council recycling rate has reached 45% pushing it up to number 11 in the rankings of the 32 Scottish Local Authorities according to new figures released by SEPA (Scottish Environmental Protection Agency) for 2013. Councillor Graham MacKenzie, Chair of the Council's Community Services Committee, said: "These latest figures are great news and testament to the commitment of Highland residents to recycling.
6/10/2014
