News Archive
4/6/2016
New Jetpatcher Set To Repair Potholes Faster On Highland Council Roads
The Vice Chair of Highland Council's Community Services Cllr Richard Greene and Badenoch and Strathspey Ward Member Cllr Jaci Douglas recently viewed a Jetpatcher in operation at Grantown on Spey. Following trials with neighbouring Local Authorities the Council's Community Services Committee in February this year, approved the purchase of a Jetpatcher with £150,000 from the capital programme.
4/6/2016
Caithness and North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership
Week Commencing 30th May 2016 Energy & Business Services: · A further contract announcement this week regarding the Beatrice Offshore Windfarm development off the Caithness coast. Scottish company Sgurr Energy have been awarded a three year construction monitoring contract.4/6/2016
Have you received your voting guide? - You can't miss it!
With the EU referendum fast approaching, The Highland Council is urging residents to make sure they are registered to vote by the 7 June deadline, and to check the Electoral Commission's voting guide for advice on how to take part. The referendum on the UK's membership of the European Union will take place on Thursday 23 June 2016.3/6/2016
Ministers meet oil industry leaders in Aberdeen
Outlining clear focus on creating a competitive business environment. Cabinet Secretary for the Economy Keith Brown will meet key figures in the oil and gas industry in Aberdeen today as the Scottish Government continues to press for more support for the sector.
3/6/2016
Scottish businesses meet economy team
Celebrating one year of the Scottish Business Pledge. The Scottish Government will "listen carefully to business and search for constructive ideas about how it can support economic growth," an audience of around 70 businesses has heard in Edinburgh on Thursday 2nd June 2016.
3/6/2016
Environment Secretary sets out priorities
Wildlife crime review, climate change and land reform action highlighted. A number of priorities to protect Scotland's natural environment have been outlined by the Environment Secretary Roseanna Cunningham.
3/6/2016
North Sea can have a bright future
Support package has improved resilience and supported workers. Cabinet Secretary for the Economy Keith Brown has restated the Scottish Government's commitment to the oil and gas industry on his first visit to Aberdeen since taking on the newly-created economy portfolio.3/6/2016
SgurrEnergy Wins Three Year Contract On Beatrice
SgurrEnergy has won a three-year construction monitoring contract for the 588MW Beatrice offshore wind farm in Scotland's outer Moray Firth. The deal will include regular monitoring of construction and installation, checking progress and confirming consistency with the final design, reviewing permits and environmental requirements and undertaking site visits.2/6/2016
Choice Based Lettings extended throughout Caithness
Anyone who wants to rent a council or housing association house in Thurso now has greater choice. This is because homes are now being allocated through ‘Choice Based Lettings'.2/6/2016
Councillor Bill Fernie welcomes Scotland Excels Living Wage boost
Local Wick Councillor Bill Fernie has welcomed Scotland's centre for procurement expertise for local government, gaining Living Wage accreditation. Scotland Excel's accreditation from the Living Wage Foundation affirms the organisation's commitment to leading by example on the issue of fair pay.
2/6/2016
2016 Ready Steady Work course - a few places left - FREE - Sign Up Now
If you will be in 4th, 5th or 6th year in 2016/17 and you are unsure what path to take when you leave school then this course may be for you. This course will provide you with the practical skills and information required to support your success in moving into employment.
2/6/2016
Public opinion to be sought on Approaching Inverness project
Three ‘demonstration' projects that will improve the visual impact of approach roads to Inverness and provide a sense of place for visitors, residents, businesses and investors have met the approval of Members of The Highland Council's City of Inverness Area Committee. A city gateway structure will be created for the approach to Clachnaharry on the Beauly-Inverness road; and the A82 Telford roundabout and A82 Longman central reservation will be improved in partnership with Transport Scotland.2/6/2016
New head of finance for North and West
NHS Highland has appointed Ros Philip to be its new head of finance for North and West Highland. As part of her role Ros will also be a member of the N&W unit senior leadership team, and will be based at Larachan House, Dingwall.
31/5/2016
Farm payments
Rural Economy Secretary pledges to put system on ‘even keel'. Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing has pledged to make resolving the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) payment problems his first and foremost priority.30/5/2016
26 Scottish councils join forces on digital transformation
A consortium of twenty-six local authorities in Scotland are joining forces to improve council services using digital technology. The Local Government Digital Transformation Board are set to recruit a chief digital officer and team who will be expected 'to shape and lead a programme of change to radically improve how local services work and how the councils serve citizens.' The consortium represents most of the 32 Scottish councils including Glasgow, Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire and Highland Council.30/5/2016
Rhoda Grant MSP Calls For Reassurances On Police Control Rooms
Highlands & Islands (Labour) MSP Rhoda Grant who last month again raised her continued concerns about the Police Control Room closures, after she learned that the procurement process for the new Police IT system had been withdrawn, has written once more to the Cabinet Secretary for Justice, Michael Matheson, asking for certain reassurances. Rhoda Grant said "I have continually called for a halt to be called to the closure of our North Control Rooms until such a time as everyone is as reasonable reassured as they can be, that a more efficient and effective system is being introduced which places the safety of the public at the top of the list.28/5/2016
Recommendations for councillor numbers and wards submitted to Scottish Ministers
Recommendations include.- Highland council Reduced by 6 councillors including 2 in Caithness. Caithness to go from 3 wards to 2 and from 10 councillors down to 8.27/5/2016
Subsea 7, Seaway Heavy Lifting Land £896 million Offshore Wind Contract
Subsea 7 has teamed up with Seaway Heavy Lifting on an engineering, procurement, construction and installation (EPCI) contract for wind farm turbine foundations and array cables to be installed at the 558MW Beatrice offshore wind farm located in the Outer Moray Firth, Scotland. The value of the contract is over £896 million, according to Seaway Heavy Lifting.
27/5/2016
Assembly of the new steel towers between Dounreay and Thurso South
Work to reinforce the overhead power line that forms the spine of the existing electricity transmission network in Caithness passed the half way mark this month (May 2016), with progress continuing apace in the good weather. The new 275 kilovolt line will link substations at Dounreay, Thurso and Spittal, where the underground and subsea cable to Moray is set to begin its 100 mile journey.
27/5/2016
