News Archive
28/8/2016
Driving our rural economy
Series of summits to discuss investment and actions. A series of summits to drive forward the rural economy; discuss investment and consider Scotland's role in the EU will be hosted by Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing.
26/8/2016
CAITHNESS-MORAY PROJECT POWERING A £640M BOOST TO THE ECONOMY
A study of the economic contribution made by the Caithness-Moray transmission project has found that it is supporting the equivalent of over 10,000 years of employment in the UK, around half of which are in Scotland. Economic modelling included within a report published today found that: - Of the £1.1 billion total investment, almost two thirds (£643.5m) will be spent with UK-based suppliers and contractors; - Over a quarter of a billion pounds (£265.5m) in Gross Value Added will be contributed to the Scottish economy; and - The project will support the equivalent of 10,971 years of employment in the UK, of which 4,975 are in Scotland.
26/8/2016
Leader welcomes delay in closure of Inverness Police Control Room
The Leader of the Council has welcomed the announcement by Police Scotland of their plan to delay the closure of the Inverness Control Room and transfer of command and control to Dundee until June 2017. Leader of The Highland Council, Cllr Margaret Davidson said: "The HMICS (Her Majesty's Inspector of Constabularies Scotland) Report set the bar high for standards of assurance and we need to have a guarantee that all these standards have been met before any changes can take place.26/8/2016
Caithness and North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership Update
Week commencing 22nd August 2016 Energy and Business Services: Good to see local and regional coverage this week of the new business created by two of the men affected by the closure of Enterprise Engineering Services Ltd's Caithness operation earlier this year. When the company's operation went into administration, Liam Sutherland and Stuart Anderson set up Envision Engineering & Design, employing three of their former EESL colleagues.26/8/2016
Highland Council To Join New Islands Strategic Group
All Scottish councils with responsibility for island communities involved. A new Islands Strategic Group will be created, bringing all six local authorities with responsibility for Scotland's 93 inhabited island communities together.26/8/2016
New education and research centre opened at UHI
A new centre in Inverness, was opened on Thursday 25 August by Deputy First Minister John Swinney, is to be a role model for collaboration between enterprise, education and research. The £13 million building on Inverness Campus is named An Lòchran, which is Gaelic for The Lamp/Lantern.
26/8/2016
A9 Scaling New Heights
Highland Primary School gets new playground facilities from A9 dualling. Once Alvie Primary School in Kincraig broke up for summer holidays, work started to revamp the playground in time for the new school year.26/8/2016
Free Eye Tests to Continue
Community review to build on successful decade of free eye examinations. Free eye examinations are to continue in Scotland, with a review of community optometry services to make further improvements, Health Secretary Shona Robison announced today.26/8/2016
Vision for fishing
Fisheries Secretary to "champion" industry. In his first speech to the fishing industry, Cabinet Secretary for Fisheries, Fergus Ewing sought to give assurance to the industry following the uncertainty created by Brexit.26/8/2016
Michael Russell to lead on UK Government engagement on Scotland's place in Europe
The First Minister has announced that the new Minister who will lead the Scottish Government's discussions with the UK Government on our future relationship with the EU will be Michael Russell. Subject to the approval of his appointment by the Scottish Parliament, Mr Russell - as Minister for UK Negotiations on Scotland's Place in Europe - will report directly to the First Minister and will focus on ensuring the best interests of Scotland are represented and protected in all Westminster EU negotiations.26/8/2016
Farming talks
Rural Secretary meets industry representatives. Rural Affairs and Connectivity Secretary Fergus Ewing met industry representatives on 25 August 2016 to hear directly views on Scotland's place in Europe and other issues of importance to the industry ahead of his Statement to Parliament in September.25/8/2016
Labour jumps on revenue fall - North Sea oil and gas revenue fell by 97% in the last year
New official figures confirm that being part of the UK means more money to spend on public services in the Highlands and Islands, said Rhoda Grant. The Highlands and Islands Labour MSP was responding to the SNP Government's publication of the annual GERS figures - Government Expenditure and Revenue Scotland.24/8/2016
Highland Council selects preferred bidder for ICT Contract
The Council's Resources Committee has agreed to select WIPRO Holdings UK Ltd as its Preferred Bidder for the future delivery of its ICT Core Services. However, the Council is still in a commercially confidential procurement process and an announcement of a formal award of contract will not be made until around 12 September following the required legal "standstill period".24/8/2016
Highland Council Agrees Funding For Three Projects
Funding applications totalling £558,000 from the Highland Council's Capital Discretionary Fund have been agreed by Resources Committee, for four local proposals in the Highlands. £18,000 was awarded to Evanton Community Trust towards the urgent repair and reinstatement of three local footpaths.24/8/2016
Business case for Regional Sports Hub submitted
A business case for the council's proposal for a regional sports hub has been submitted to the council's finance service. Councillors agreed in March 2015 to progress an ambitious Regional Sports Facility for the Highlands, which could include a significant contribution by Sportscotland to the project.23/8/2016
New business start-up for Thurso
Five new jobs have been created thanks to the establishment of a new business in Caithness and Sutherland's energy sector. Envision Engineering & Design Ltd (Envision) has been set up by directors Liam Sutherland and Stuart Anderson, both of whom are originally from Caithness.23/8/2016
New eBuilding Standards Portal
People submitting building standards applications to The Highland Council will benefit from a major new improvement to the Council's digital services that will be on offer from Wednesday 24 August. The eBuilding Standards Service will allow customers to submit all Building Standards applications to Highland Council electronically in the same way customers can already make planning applications electronically using ePlanning.20/8/2016
Caithness and North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership Update
Week commencing 15th August 2016 Energy and Business Services: As part of the programme to connect renewable power in Shetland to the National Grid, SSE Power Distribution Ltd this week carried out consultation events in Wick and Staxigoe relating to the company's latest plans for a switching station to be built on land between Wick John O' Groats Airport and Noss Head. The station would provide a connection by connecting to the High Voltage DC system that is currently being installed between Caithness and Moray.20/8/2016
HIE wins Carer Positive award
Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) has received an award for being recognised as a Carer Positive employer. The Carer Positive award is presented to employers in Scotland who demonstrate a working environment where carers are valued and supported.20/8/2016
