Local Authority News
12/9/2014
Highland Counting Officer and Police appeal for common sense in Referendum campaign.
The Highland Counting Officer for the Scottish Independence Referendum and Police Scotland have appealed for a common sense approach to Referendum campaigners in Highland following the appearance of two large items on the rock face of the former Ballachulish Quarry in Lochaber. The items which included a large Saltire flag assumed to have been installed overnight on Saturday 6 September and a ‘YES' poster on Monday 7 September were believed to have been placed there by a climber or climbers who drilled into the rock face and bolted the items to the rock.9/9/2014
Muirtown cold call control zone launched
Residents in the Highfield Avenue and Blarmore Avenue area of Inverness will begin to help tackle the problem of doorstep crime today (Monday 8 September). Muirtown Community Council have chosen the area to be a Cold Call Control Zone (CCCZ), an initiative facilitated by Highland Council Trading Standards and supported by Police Scotland that aims to educate and empower residents on how to deal with unwanted doorstep traders.8/9/2014
Praise for top apprentice plumber
The success of an apprentice plumber from Dornoch who won the Student of the Year 2013/2014 title for SVQ 3 Domestic Plumbing 2nd Year from Inverness College has been recognised by Highland Councillors. At the start of the recent Community Services Committee, members learned of Andrew Fraser's success and took the opportunity to congratulate him and pay tribute to the support and training given by council staff.
8/9/2014
Energy Innovation award for Council
The Highland Council's Energy and Sustainability team have won the best innovation prize at the annual Energy North Awards which were held in Inverness last week. The Council has embarked on a project entitled Carbon Saving Capital Works for Council Buildings and Properties, with a specific emphasis on biomass, and in doing so has become an innovative leader in the renewable energy and low carbon sector.
5/9/2014
Director of Education, Culture and Sport retires
Tributes have been paid to The Highland Council's Director of Education Culture and Sport, Hugh Fraser, who retires on 19 September after seven and a half years leading the council's frontline service. At the start of The Highland Council's meeting held today (Thursday 4 September) the Convenor of The Highland Council, Councillor Jimmy Gray and Councillor Alastair Christie, Convener of the Council’s Education, Children and Adult Services Committee praised Mr.
4/9/2014
Highland Council reports good progress against the Council Programme "Working together for the Highlands"
Highland Council can report being on target or having completed 96% of the 139 commitments outlined in the 5-year Council Programme "Working together for the Highlands 2012-17". Overall satisfaction with Council services during 2013-14 was 87%, the 2nd highest figure ever reported by our Citizen's Panel.1/9/2014
Radon works to Council properties - Highland Council Briefing
The Highland Council's Director of Education, Culture and Sport has updated school head teachers and local Council members on radon works in their areas. The following briefing was issued on Friday 28 August 2014.
30/8/2014
Council welcomes fourth edition "For Highland's Children"
Members of The Highland Council's Education, Children and Adult Services Committee have approved the final draft of an integrated children's services plan for the Council’s Care and Learning Service. The plan titled, "For Highland’s Children 4" (2014-2019) also incorporates as far as possible the contribution of children’s services delivered by NHS Highland.30/8/2014
Highland Council is a winner in the RoSPA Awards 2014
The Highland Council is among the winners in the RoSPA Occupational Health and Safety Awards 2014. The Council's silver award in the prestigious annual scheme run by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) will be presented during a ceremony at the Hilton Glasgow on September 17.29/8/2014
£200,000 funding for Highland Hospice refurbishment
Members of The Highlands Council's Resources Committee have pledged their support to The Highland Hospice's full refurbishment of Ness House and the new Netley Centre in Inverness by agreeing to contribute £200,000 of funding towards the total project cost of £6.500m. The money comes from the Council's Capital Discretionary Fund for 2014/15 and at the committee (Wednesday 27 August 2014) members also agreed a further £285K of funding from this Fund to support four more projects.29/8/2014
Children's Services in Caithness
Children's services in Highland are moving forward with the creation of Family Teams as part of the community services to children, young people and families. This means that most staff involved in providing services to children, such as social workers, health visitors and school nurses will all be part of the new Family Team.20/8/2014
Boost to employment opportunities in the Highlands
In the Highlands over the last 3 months 149 employment opportunities have been created through the Council's advisory and business support services. During a meeting of the Council's Planning, Development and Infrastructure Committee held today (Wednesday 20 August) members heard that 71 new businesses have been supported by Business Gateway to start up and a further 122 Highland businesses already serving local markets have accessed advice over the last quarter.20/8/2014
Chair of further education regional board for the Highlands and Islands takes up post
Dr Michael Foxley has taken up his post as chair of the University of the Highlands and Islands' new further education regional board. The Post-16 Education (Scotland) Act makes the University of the Highlands and Islands, through a further education regional board, accountable for all college and university-level education in the Highlands and Islands.
20/8/2014
Wind Farm at Glen Kyllachy near Tomatin Refused Planning Permission
On Tuesday 19 August 2014 members of The Highland Council's South Planning Applications Committee have refused to grant planning permission to RWE Innogy UK Limited for a 20 turbine wind farm at Glen Kyllachy near Tomatin. The motion, moved by Councillor Bill Lobban and seconded by Councillor Carolyn Caddick was that the application be refused on the grounds that it contravenes Policy 67 of the Highland Wide Local Development Plan in that the development will have a significant detrimental visual impact, both taken cumulatively with Farr Wind Farm and on its own, at areas of regional and local significance, notably, as viewed from the Slochd, Strathnairn, Loch Ashie, Abriachan , and consequently, the Great Glen Way.20/8/2014
Engagement with Europe - a priority for the Council
Over the last year The Highland Council gained approval of £634k of EU grant funding, drew down a further £1m of grants for existing projects, processed £4.33m of grants through its LEADER project and another £481,000 via the EFF Axis 4 Programme. In an annual report considered today (Wednesday 20 August 2014) at the Planning, Development and Infrastructure Committee, it was highlighted that the Council has also been successful, together with its partners, in making the case for control of €192 Transition Funds.17/8/2014
Work to start on latest radon testing programme in Highland
The Highland Council's Community Services have commissioned Public Health England (PHE) to test around 1,150 Council houses in Highland at the highest risk from radon gas. PHE is writing to 1,150 Council tenants in parts of Badenoch and Strathspey; Wester Ross Strathpeffer and Lochalsh; Caol and Mallaig; Landward Caithness; East Sutherland and Edderton; Dingwall and Seaforth; and Aird and Loch Ness Wards during the week commencing 18 August 2014.
17/8/2014
Council plea over Referendum fly-posting and road sign damage
The Highland Council is appealing to campaigners on both sides of the Scottish Independence Referendum and members of the public to heed the Council's Highland Referendum Poster Policy and not fall foul of the law. The public are being advised that only the 15 Referendum Agents registered for The Highland Council area are allowed to display referendum posters on verges and lighting columns under the Council's ownership and control.17/8/2014
New build council housing nearing completion at Ullapool
There are just a few months to go until fourteen new cottage flats start to be handed over to their new tenants and owners. The Highland Council and the Scottish Government has invested approximately £1.75m to transform a derelict site of a former hotel into affordable housing, enhancing local housing opportunities and be positive for the local environment.17/8/2014
Council to consider extending grass cutting contracts
Members of The Highland Council's Community Services Committee are to consider an update report on the Council's Grounds Maintenance Service Delivery which includes an extension to existing grass cutting contracts on Thursday 21 August 2014. A report to Committee will invite Members to: · note the grounds maintenance performance information for April to July 2014; · note the management action taken to address performance issues; · agree that a review of the supervision of grounds maintenance is undertaken; and · agree that the existing contractual arrangements for delivery of amenity grass cutting are extended for the 2015 season so that all contracts terminate at the same time.15/8/2014
