The Fraser of Allender Institute blog on the Scottish budget. Scottish Budget date set for 6 February 2020.
The Institute for Fiscal Studies wil discuss the budget live on 11 March. Chancellor Sajid Javid is due to deliver his first Budget, the first of this parliament, and the first since Autumn 2018, on Wednesday 11 March.
The latest report form the Office of Budget Responsibility to December 2019. Borrowing has risen so far this year, but at a slower rate than anticipated in our restated March forecast.
Low income families provided with more than £3 million in one quarter to cover emergencies. The amount given in crisis grants to those most in need has increased by more than a third, latest figures show.
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (January, 28th) sold 36 prime cattle. Prime bullocks (5) averaged 208.6p (N/C) and sold to 223.0p per kg and £1,308.10 gross.
A £3.3 billion investment programme in Scotland's infrastructure has enabled more public buildings and new roads to be built. But the Scottish Government needs to be clearer about how and when they use privately financed contracts.
From the 3rd February 2020, The Highland Council will be introducing vehicle restrictions at Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRC). The following vehicles will not be permitted entry to HWRC with any waste: • Trailers with more than one axle or greater than 2.4 metres (8 feet) in length; • Vehicles with a gross vehicle weight of 3.5 tonnes or greater; • Tippers and flat-bed trucks of any weight; • Plant vehicles.
The very popular careers event, Caithness Jobs & How To Get Them, returns to Wick High School on Saturday 8th February 2020. The event will showcase a wide range of local employers and training providers to help you find the right path towards your future.
The first meeting of The Highland Council's new Housing and Property Committee will take place on Wednesday 29 January following a decision by members in December to approve the establishment of a new strategic committee structure. The first item on the agenda for members will be to confirm the role and remit of this newly established committee which will be chaired by Lochaber Councillor, Ben Thompson.
All members of the public are invited to attend this Scottish Government event on the draft Sectoral Marine Plan for Offshore Wind Energy and accompanying Sustainability Appraisal. A drop-in information session will be held between 1pm and 5.30pm, with a presentation and Q&A session to follow between 6.30pm and 8pm (with refreshments from 6pm).
Highland Council's Trading Standards team is reporting positive findings from the spray paint test purchase programme it recently carried out in Inverness. A total of 10 premises were test purchased and 9 shops rightly refused to sell spray paints to the underage test purchase volunteer.
New statistics released by the Chief Statistician show rising household wealth in recent years, while wealth inequality remained high. According to the latest data, households in Scotland had just over one trillion pounds in personal wealth in 2016-2018.
Already in January the pressures on some Inverness schools are showing. The Highland Council is limiting school rolls for the 2020-21 academic session at Lochardil Primary School and Culloden Academy.
Scottish landlords are now facing a ten-month legal delay to evict tenants who refuse to pay rent, new research has revealed. Official figures uncovered by Aberdein Considine show that the average eviction now takes over 300 days following a legal shake-up by the Scottish government.
Scottish Green MSP Andy Wightman has launched an online tool which allows people to report short-term let properties operating in their community. The homesfirst.scot website includes a simple form which allows local residents to express concern where a whole property is no longer anyone's permanent home and instead used for short-term lets.
Highland Council must make significant savings and change the way it delivers services to ensure it can live within its financial means. A report by the Accounts Commission, Scotland's local authority watchdog, says in recent years the council has had a poor record of delivering on savings.
Highland councillors will be asked a the meeting on 29th January 2020 of the newly created Housing and Property committee to agree to increase council house rents by 3% for 2021. This would result in an increase in the average weekly council house rent from £75.38 to £77.64 (£2.26 per week).
We're looking for your input to help shape future engagement. The on-line survey only takes 10-15 minutes to finish and gives stakeholders, with an interest in the NDA's decommissioning and clean-up mission, a chance to air their views on progress - and on how they can do things better.
Beatrice Wishart LibDem MSP for Shetland and who took over after her predecessor Tavish Scott stood down introduced the debate today at the Scottish Parliament on The Proposed Centralisation of Air Traffic Control in the Highlands and Islands. That the Parliament notes the reported widespread concern in response to plans by Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd (HIAL) to centralise air traffic control (ATC) services in Inverness through the use of remote towers; acknowledges what it sees as the importance of ensuring that ATC services are modernised and remain fit for purpose.
