News Archive
12/9/2015
Inverness Members support Freedom of Highlands for Royal Regiment of Scotland
The Royal Regiment of Scotland will receive a warm welcome in Inverness on 15 October 2015 when granted the Freedom of the Highlands by The Highland Council. Members of the Council's City of Inverness and Area have agreed that £24,401 Inverness Common Good funding will be allocated towards the cost of arrangements required for the granting of Freedom status.12/9/2015
Highland Council Leader Welcomes Start of A9 Dualling
Councillor Margaret Davidson (Independent), Leader of the Highland Council today welcomed the commencement of work to start dualling the A9 which was formally launched today by Keith Brown MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure, Investment and Cities. This first phase of work is the five-mile long section between Kincraig and Dalraddy which is due to be completed by summer 2017.12/9/2015
Pesticides Disposal Scheme
Results of scheme published. Over 100 kilograms of Carbofuran and over 480 kilograms of Sodium Cyanide products were safely removed from Scotland's environment as part of the pesticides disposal scheme, Environment Minister Aileen McLeod announced today.12/9/2015
Civil Engineers make Business Pledge in Inverness
Leading trade body promotes Scottish Business Pledge to members. Business minister Fergus Ewing has attended a board meeting in Inverness to thank the Civil Engineering Contractors Association Scotland (CECA) on making the Scottish Business Pledge.9/9/2015
Your community needs you - Community Council Elections 2015
Nominations are invited from people seeking election to all Community Councils across Highland this autumn. This is your chance to help represent the views of your community to the Highland Council and other public agencies.
9/9/2015
Highland welcomes ‘stay of execution' for Police call centre
Highland Council Leader, Councillor Margaret Davidson has welcomed Justice Secretary Michael Matheson's announcement at Scottish Parliament this week of measures to strengthen policing in Scotland including a ‘stay of execution' for Police Scotland’s Inverness call centre. The Scottish Government has indicated that it will support the retention of staff in Aberdeen and Inverness for a period beyond 31 March 2016 to allow for an effective handover of operations to a combined North Area Control Room in Dundee.9/9/2015
Follow up seminar planned as North rail line problems continue
Board Members of HITRANS, the transport partnership for the Highlands and Islands, have expressed their concern at the continuing poor performance of rail services on the Far North Line between Inverness and Wick/Thurso - and will maintain pressure on Network Rail and ScotRail operators, Abellio to bring about early improvements which restore passenger confidence in the service. HITRANS held a seminar called Points North in March of this year to highlight the problems on the route and identify ways of improving journey times and reliability.8/9/2015
Highland Council responds to Syrian Refugee Crisis
A cross party meeting of Group Leaders from The Highland Council has today met to discuss Highland Council's initial response to the Syrian Refugee Crisis. The Group Leaders also met with Bylthswood representatives to hear of the work they are doing to support the Syrian Refugees.8/9/2015
Caithness and North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership - Update
Week Commencing 31st August 2015 Energy & Business Services As work continues to help ensure that the north is prepared to take advantage of the significant economic potential from offshore wind developments off the east coast of Caithness/ Sutherland, Beatrice Offshore Windfarm Ltd (BOWL) is holding a workshop in Wick next week with its engineering, procurement and construction contractors and CNSRP partner Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE). https://d.adroll.com/cm/r/outhttps://d.adroll.com/cm/b/outRepresentatives from each organisation will be on hand to provide an update on the latest project information and answer any questions on the day.8/9/2015
Innovative businesses urged to consider Life Sciences Pathfinder programme
Innovative businesses from across Scotland looking to explore the commercial potential of an idea before bringing it to market are being urged to consider the Pathfinder Accelerator programme, delivered by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE). Pathfinder is free and open to existing and start-up companies in the life science, technology and digital health sectors.8/9/2015
Five candidates contest by-election for Aird and Loch Ness
Five candidates are to contest the upcoming by-election to elect a councillor to represent the Aird and Loch Ness Ward of The Highland Council. The candidates are: • George Cruickshank, Scottish Conservative and Unionist • Jean Mary Elizabeth Davis - Scottish Liberal Democrats • Emma Ann Knox - Scottish National Party (SNP) • Zofia Fraser- Independent • Vikki Tania Trelfer - Scottish Green Party The by-election is being held on Thursday 8 October after Drew Hendry, one of four councillors for Ward 13, stepped down after he was elected as an MP for the Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey Constituency.8/9/2015
New housing supply increases for second consecutive year
The number of new homes in Scotland rose by 6% in the latest year, from 16,110 in 2013-14 to 17,149 in 2014-15, the second consecutive annual increase and the highest figure since 2010-11. This figure includes new build housing, conversions of existing buildings to housing use, and refurbishment of affordable housing dwellings.8/9/2015
Farm Debt Continues to Rise
Outstanding debt of Scottish farms increased four per cent over the past year, according to the latest National Statistics released by Scotland's Chief Statistician. A survey of the main banks and other lending institutions showed outstanding loans to Scottish farms rose by £73 million in the year to May 31, 2015.
7/9/2015
Strengthening local democracy across the Highlands - Caithness & Sutherland committee to be disbanded
The Highland Council has agreed to replace two Area Committees with four new Local Forums for community planning and local decision-making and scrutiny for Councillors and for local community planning if partners agree to take part. The two Area Committees covering Caithness and Sutherland and Nairn and Badenoch and Strathspey will be disbanded and established as four new separate local community planning forums.7/9/2015
Thinking of teaching? Still time to apply for DLITE training.
Postgraduate Diploma in Primary Education DLITE (Distance Learning ITE) People living in the Highlands who are thinking of a career change to Primary teaching are being urged by The Highland Council to consider a distance learning course (DLITE) with the University of Aberdeen. Training for the Postgraduate Diploma in Primary Education DLITE (Distance Learning ITE) starts on 23 January 2016 and the deadline for applications is 30 September 2015.
7/9/2015
Communities Called to ACTION for Green Transport Project
ACTION (Alternative Community Transport in Our Neighbourhood) Highland Highway is a proposal to install a network of rapid electric charging points in the Highlands, powered by local energy generation and incorporating energy storage. The project is in the first phase of a feasibility study which will involve: • Community consultation on the use and ownership of electric vehicles; • Identification of potential sites linked with energy use and journey aspirations; • Modelling and identifying the different technologies involved; and • Building a business model that will develop community, local authority and agency support.7/9/2015
SSE Open4Business Supply Chain Events in Wick and Elgin
Beatrice Offshore Wind Farm Ltd (BOWL). Elgin Event Date: Tuesday 8th September 2015 Time: 8.30am - 1pm Venue: Laichmoray Hotel, Elgin Wick Event Date: Wednesday 9th September 2015 Time: 8.30am - 1pm Venue: Mackays Hotel, Wick.7/9/2015
Preventative approach to poverty and debt
Members of The Highland Council Resources Committee have received a report on the current status of welfare reform and a number of anti-poverty initiatives being taken forward by the Council's Welfare Reform Working Group. These initiatives include money and welfare advice, school clothing grants, and assistance with Alternative Payment Requests for those with rent arrears.7/9/2015
RESTORING GENUINE LOCAL FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY SHOULD BE OUR AIM' SAYS THINK TANK
Reform Scotland cautions against replacing one-centrally set and controlled tax with another. Reform Scotland, the independent think tank, has released a research briefing on local taxation to coincide with its submissions to the Scottish Government / COSLA Commission on Local Tax Reform, and the Conservatives' Independent Commission for Competitive and Fair Taxation in Scotland.6/9/2015
