News Archive
29/5/2014
Tax Freedom Day - Could We Be Celebrating Earlier?
Andy Zanelli, head of retirement planning, AXA Wealth, comments on calculations from the Adam Smith Institute that show the average UK tax payer will hand HMRC 148 days of their salary in tax payments. "For the first five months of the year the average British taxpayer works for the tax man and few of us want to pay more tax than we need to; could we be doing more to minimise the tax we pay? “There are some simple steps that we can all take to maximise the available tax breaks provided by the Government and mitigate our individual tax liability.29/5/2014
Nationwide Lives Up to Mutual Heritage and Delivers Benefits for Mortgage Customers
Nationwide's full year results, announced today, clearly demonstrate the Society's sustained support for the housing market, helping more people to achieve a home of their own: Gross mortgage lending up 31% to £28.1 billion, a market share of 14.9% of UK residential mortgage lending Net lending up 52% at £9.9 billion Helping members to buy a home In line with its responsible lending approach, the Society's support for first time buyers includes its own Save to Buy product enabling customers to access 95% LTV mortgages after saving for at least six months. More than 45,000 members are currently regularly saving in this scheme prior to applying for their first mortgage or moving up the property ladder.28/5/2014
Paperless committees boost Council's Carbon CLEVER commitment
The Highland Council's Carbon CLEVER commitment to achieve a carbon neutral Inverness in a low carbon Highlands by 2025 took another step in the right direction today (28 May 2014) with Members' approval to reduce the council’s reliance on paper reports at committees. Members of the Council’s Resources Committee approved a ‘Carbon Clever Committees’ initiative that will modernise the Council’s committees by reducing reliance on printed documents and providing access to electronic agendas and reports.
28/5/2014
Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd - Sale 28th May 2014
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (May, 28th) sold 110 store cattle, 15 breeding cattle and 49 OTM cattle. Bullocks (48) averaged 228.8p and sold to 260.9p per kg and £1,200 gross for a 460kg Limousin cross from Lower Sibster, Wick.27/5/2014
Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd - Sale 27 May 2014
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (May, 27th) sold 50 prime cattle. Prime bullocks (34) averaged 201.6p (-0.6p) and sold to 232p per kg and £1,487.40 gross.26/5/2014
Highland result of 2014 European Parliamentary Election count
There were 65,307votes cast in Highland in the five-yearly European Parliamentary Elections, a turnout of 36.3%. This included 20,204 postal votes.25/5/2014
Sir Richard Branson calls on Scottish Entrepreneurs to make the dreams for renewable energy a reality
Media and airline businessman Sir Richard Branson is calling on Scottish entrepreneurs to challenge what he describes as ‘the climate change sceptics’ with the facts about the changing environment. Sir Richard was speaking to delegates attending the 14th All Energy Conference and Exhibition in Aberdeen, Speaking live from his Caribbean island to Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) Director of Energy and Low Carbon, Calum Davidson, Sir Richard confirmed that he was once a sceptic on climate change but he was persuaded to think again by former American Vice President Al Gore and a range of scientists.
25/5/2014
Government to take £40 from everyone who loses their job
From this Autumn anyone who loses their job will receive £40 less as a result of government plans to make people wait for longer for any job support, according to a consultation published today (Friday) by the Social Security Advisory Committee (SSAC) – an official body that advises the Department of Work and Pensions on benefits issues. The TUC believes that the new policy will make newly unemployed people easy prey for loan sharks, with even the government admitting that the change may increase reliance on short-term loans.24/5/2014
Jacks Furniture Wick - Sale on Carpet and Vinyls
Sale 20% off all carpets and vinyl floorcoverings at Jacks. To make room for new stock we have a masive sale- 20%off all floorcoverings.
23/5/2014
Caithness and North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership - Update
Week Commencing 19th May 2014 Energy & Business Services: Two welcome pieces of news for the local economy this week. Firstly Subsea 7 has announced a major new £270 million contract to build a pipeline for Premier Oil to service its oil field east of Aberdeen.22/5/2014
200 Arrests and 1,000 offences detected in national doorstep crime campaign success
A national multi-agency doorstep crime operation, led by Police Scotland, has been a major success in preventing and beating the rogue traders and doorstep con men. Police and other agencies detected over 1,000 offences during the dates of operational activity, with over 200 individuals being subsequently arrested.22/5/2014
Dingwall & Highland Marts - Sale 22 May 2014
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts, (May, 22nd) sold 751 sheep of all classes. Lambs (195) sold to £105 gross for a Texel cross ewe hoggs from the dispersal of the flock at 5 Forss, Thurso.21/5/2014
Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd - Sale 21 May 2014
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (May, 21st) sold 75 pedigree and commercial Luing cattle at their sixth annual spring breeding sale sponsored by W & A Geddes and Harbro Ltd. Pedigree bulling heifers (40) averaged £1,311.18 and sold to 1600gns (£1,680.00) for a pair of 25 month old heifers from Messrs A L & A C McCall, Culmaily Farm, Golspie, to Messrs Tay & Torridon Estates, North Amulree, Dunkeld.21/5/2014
Council approves £600K for Care and Learning capital projects
Members of the Council’s Education, Adult and Children’s Services (ECAS) Committee have agreed to £600,000 funding towards two Care and Learning Service projects - a wireless installation project in Highland schools; and a housing development for adults with complex needs. An additional £550,000 for the second phase of a project to create wireless environments in all Highland schools by April 2015 was endorsed by Members.20/5/2014
"X" to mark the vote in Thursday’s Euro Elections
On Thursday (22 May 2014) polling stations across the Highlands will be open from 7am to 10 pm for people to cast their vote in the European Elections. Already more than 18,000 people have returned postal votes.20/5/2014
Highlands and Islands businesses set to make waves at the All Energy Conference and Exhibition
Innovation, expertise and experience – all the characteristics commonplace amongst over 60 businesses from the Highlands and Islands set to converge on All Energy in Aberdeen tomorrow, the renewable sector’s key exhibition and conference in Scotland. In conjunction with Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), these businesses will exhibit over the two day event in the HIenergy and Energy of Orkney pavilions, which once again, have the largest regional presence at the event.20/5/2014
Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd - Sale 20 May 2014
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (May, 20th) sold 65 prime cattle. Prime bullocks (39) averaged 202.2p (-4.9p) and sold to 235p per kg and £1,421.00 gross.19/5/2014
Date set for Council budget consultation in Caithness
A date has been set for a budget event being held in Caithness by The Highland Council to consult with the public over spending priorities between 2015 - 2019 during which time the Council has to find savings of an estimated £63 million. The forum is being held on Tuesday 27 May at 6:30pm in Wick Assembly Rooms.
19/5/2014
Call for More Research Into Pylons and Mobile Phones Dangers
IET Calls for More Rigour in Scientific Research to Put an End to Speculation Over Health Risks from Mobile Phones and Electricity Pylons. The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) is calling for research into the health effects of low-level exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMFs) from mobile phones and electricity pylons to be more robust.17/5/2014
