News Archive
29/8/2015
Campaign to encourage young voters in Highland and Islands to register
A campaign which aims to encourage all 15-17 year olds who will be eligible to vote for the first time in the Scottish Parliament election scheduled for May 2016 to sign up and register has begun across Highland and Islands. The initiative is part of a wider campaign that has been launched nationally across Scotland by the Electoral Commission.29/8/2015
Caithness HVDC Switching Station - Consultation Events
www.ssepd.co.uk/CaithnessHVDC.
29/8/2015
Council to ask Inverness Leisure and High Life Highland to amalgamate
Members of The Highland Council's Education, Children and Adult Services Committee have agreed that the Council should invite the Chief Executives of Inverness Leisure and High Life Highland to work together to agree a process leading to the amalgamation of the two organisations. High Life Highland (HLH) delivers the Council's Public Service Obligations for: Adult Learning; Archives; Arts; Leisure Facilities; Libraries; Museums; Outdoor Education; Sport; and Youth Work across the Highland area through a Service Delivery Contract with the Council.27/8/2015
Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd - Sale 27 August 2015
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (August 27th) sold 10,103 store lambs at their annual sale including 456 on behalf of Lewis Livestock Producers (first sale). Cheviot wedder lambs (5,562) averaged £44.31 (-£3.26 on the year) and sold to £63.00 gross twice from Invereen, Tomatin, and Achterneed Farm, Strathpeffer.26/8/2015
Members seek reassurance that safeguards are in place for major projects
The Corporate Arrears Recovery System Project was to purchase a system which would allow the Council to link all its debtors' associated debts into one system. Funding for the project was approved in 2012, however the project was abandoned in October 2014 at a cost of £287,565.25/8/2015
New Improved Blue Bin Service Begins 
The Highland Council's new improved recycling service begins next week. From 31st August residents can also put plastic pots, tubs and trays (excluding black plastic) into the blue recycling bin - in addition to cardboard food & drink cartons, aerosols and envelopes which were added in earlier in the summer.
24/8/2015
Growing Pains - Running A Craft Business
Thursday 10 September, 12.45 -16.30 Caithness Horizons, Thurso (Please note that lunch is not provided, however you are welcome to have lunch at The Caithness Horizons Cafe prior to the event) Running a craft practice is addictive - there is always more to try, new ideas to explore and projects to develop. Growing your business allows you to confidently pursue these exciting new opportunities to strengthen your profile, expand your range of customers and generate healthy profits.
24/8/2015
Highland MSP Congratulates Far North Kitchen Firm
Highlands and Islands (Scottish Labour) MSP, David Stewart has congratulated Caithness kitchen manufacturer Ashley Ann following its announced expansion plans over the next two years, lodging a motion in the Scottish Parliament. The Caithness based firm, which has its manufacturing site in Wick, which alone employees over 100 people, has announced major plans to expand the site over the next two years with over £1million being invested in the factory.24/8/2015
Connect and innovate at the NDA Estate Supply Chain event
The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA), in association with the Site Licence Companies (SLCs), invite you to ‘connect and innovate' at their fifth annual event. Entry is free of charge to delegates and exhibitors.23/8/2015
Mini-ship Green Isle Begins Work In Pentland Firth
The most modern vessel in the Far North of Scotland's 'marine renewables' fleet is conducting debut operations in the Pentland Firth's Inner Sound this week. (commences 24.08.15).
23/8/2015
Caithness and North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership - Update
Week Commencing 17th August 2015. Energy & Business Services I was grateful for the chance to meet this week with members of Wick Harbour Authority board and Cavendish Nuclear secondee Shona Kirk to review schedules and progress with the development project that sits on the CNSRP Programme.22/8/2015
Hundreds of potholes repaired
Hundreds of potholes have been repaired in the first 6 months of this year. 1,437 potholes were repaired between January and June 2015.22/8/2015
Highland Council Leader calls for assurances on future Highland projects
The Highland Council is not impacted on any current projects by the "interruption" of EU funds to Scotland for 2007 -13 Programmes. The “interruption” relating to 2013 will have no bearing on claims submitted by the Council in 2014 or 2015 and Highland Council projects, audited in 2013, received a clean bill of health.22/8/2015
Funding boost for use of technology in learning
The Highland Council Care and Learning Service has been successful in securing £250,000 to support the development of the use of technology in learning. The bid, led by Louise Jones, ICT in Learning Manager was submitted to the Inspiring Learning Fund a Scottish Government fund developed by the Scottish Futures Trust.22/8/2015
Making things last
Scotland's Environment Secretary Richard Lochhead has today launched a consultation on creating a more circular economy in Scotland - where products and materials are kept in high value use for as long as possible. The consultation, which will run until the 30th October 2015, is the first step in preparing a circular economy strategy for Scotland - targeting significant potential benefits for the economy, through using resources more efficiently, creating new markets and improving resilience; for the environment, through cutting waste and carbon emissions; and for communities, with lower cost ways to access the goods we need.22/8/2015
State of the economy
Economic growth resilient despite challenges. The Scottish economy has seen its longest period of uninterrupted growth since 2001.22/8/2015
Scotland's Changing Population
National Records of Scotland (NRS) today publishes Scotland's Population 2014 - the Registrar General's Annual Review of Demographic Trends. Tim Ellis, the Registrar General of Scotland, said: ‘This is a time of substantial demographic change: the population is increasing and ageing.22/8/2015
Energy efficiency fund will help thousands
Cash for landlords to tackle fuel poverty in poorer homes. Almost 2,000 of Scotland's poorest households will benefit from a £5 million fund to make their homes cheaper to keep warm, Housing Minister Margaret Burgess said today.22/8/2015
£5 million to improve learning environments
20 projects receive funding to create world class learning spaces. Twenty projects across 19 local authorities have received funding to improve areas for learning in schools it was announced today by the Education Secretary.22/8/2015
