Local Authority News
3/7/2013
Council Leader supports end of Right to Buy
The Highland Council Leader Councillor Drew Hendry has warmly welcomed the announcement by the Scottish Government that they are ending the right of Council house tenants to buy their Council homes. He said: “The Highland Council supported this proposal at the consultative stage, as we have welcomed previous changes that have restricted the Right to Buy.3/7/2013
Wick Harbour Takes A Big Step Forward With New Funding
Wick Harbour Authority's ambitious plans to attract new jobs to the area from the offshore wind industry have received a boost with the combined support of £450,000 from two partners in the Caithness & North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership (CNSRP). The Harbour Authority is positioning the port to attract business from the two large offshore wind developments in the Moray Firth, and is currently working on a multi-phase programme to ensure that its facilities meet the requirements of industry.
2/7/2013
Highland Council set to save £1M a year through biomass heating
Council Leads the Charge on Green Energy Provision. The Highland Council is demonstrating its commitment to providing cleaner, greener energy for its sites with the award of a 4 year, £1.2M per annum contract for the servicing, maintenance and repair of biomass installations including the supply of woodfuel.
2/7/2013
Charging for concessionary places on school transport - Starts August
The Highland Council is introducing charging for concessionary places on school transport from the start of the new school session on 20 August. This charge will apply where there are seats available on school transport contracts for pupils who do not qualify for free transport on the grounds of distance, road safety or additional support needs.1/7/2013
Roll out of Highland Food Hygiene Information Scheme
More consumers in Highland will now have a way to find out how well local food caterers and retailers are performing thanks to the complete roll-out of the Food Hygiene Information Scheme across the area. The Highland Council is one of the 32 Scottish local authorities taking part in the Scheme.30/6/2013
The Highland Council establishes three new area committees
The Highland Council is to create three new Area Committees to complement the two already operating successfully in Inverness and Caithness & Sutherland. The committees will cover Skye and Ross & Cromarty (23 members), Nairn and Badenoch & Strathspey (8 members) and Lochaber (7 members).27/6/2013
Peak time restrictions lifted on Kessock Bridge
Peak time restrictions are being lifted on the Kessock Bridge on Saturday 29th June, reopening all lanes to traffic during the day, as the first phase of the £13.2 million upgrade draws to a close. Balfour Beatty will continue work on the bridge during off peak hours and at night.
27/6/2013
New fund aims to deliver services at reduced cost
An extra £1 million is to be spent on roads maintenance in the Highlands in this financial year. The one-off injection has been allocated by the Council from its new £5 million Strategic Change and Development Fund to help improve the condition of the Council’s 4,217 mile regional roads network.24/6/2013
Marine consultation launched
The future of the Pentland Firth and Orkney Waters (PFOW) will be guided by the outcome of a joint consultation launched by Marine Scotland, Orkney Islands Council, The Highland Council and Heriot-Watt University. Two documents have been produced to support the development of a pilot Marine Spatial Plan that aims to balance the needs of all existing and future users of the PFOW.23/6/2013
Carbon CLEVER Highlands by 2025
An initiative to dramatically reduce carbon emissions in Inverness and the Highlands by 2025 is being proposed by The Highland Council’s Leadership. A report to be considered by the Council at its meeting on Thursday (27 June) asks the Council to sign up to a long term commitment to create a Carbon Neutral Inverness in a Low Carbon Highlands; branded as a Carbon CLEVER Highlands by 2025.20/6/2013
Highland Council appoints new Chief Executive
The Highland Council has appointed a new Chief Executive. He is Steve Barron, the Council’s Depute Chief Executive and Director of Housing and Property.
19/6/2013
Highland Council Announces 10 Year Capital Programme
Council’s new 10-year building programme will boost Highland construction industry. The Leadership of The Highland Council today (Thursday) unveiled ambitious and exciting long term plans that will boost the Highland economy, with spending of almost one billion pounds over the next 10 years.16/6/2013
The Inverness West Link road – Phase 2 of ground condition investigations
The Highland Council is advising the public that the second and final phase of ground condition investigations are under way in relation to the Inverness West Link road. Holequest Ltd, who carried out the bulk of the ground Investigation works for the first phase of the investigations, have returned for the second phase and this involves boreholes being installed in the River Ness at the proposed bridge pier locations.
10/6/2013
Domestic Biomass Supply Chain Drop in Day
Local shops and businesses across Highland are being encouraged to take advantage of a new retailing opportunity – bagged wood pellets for domestic biomass heating systems. The Highland Council is hosting an event in Inverness on Thursday 20 June to encourage an increase in the supply of domestic biomass fuel across the area.6/6/2013
Highland is bucking national trend in house building industry
The Highland Council’s Leader Councillor Drew Hendry says the Highlands is bucking the trend of declining house building in Scotland, with a very encouraging delivery of new homes throughout the region. Councillor Hendry was speaking in the wake of reports that the building of new homes in Scotland has hit a 65-year low caused by the recession in the construction industry over the past few years.5/6/2013
Council sponsors conference on land reform
The Highland Council is sponsoring the Community Land Scotland Conference to be held at Sabhal Mor Ostaig, Sleat, Skye, on Friday and Saturday (7 and 8 June). The keynote conference address will be delivered by the First Minister Alex Salmond, MSP.5/6/2013
Rent arrear increases follow introduction of bedroom tax
The introduction of the “bedroom tax” has resulted in an increase in arrears and the level of debt of tenants affected. Members of The Highland Council’s Finance Housing and Resources Committee were told that the number of tenants affected by the “bedroom tax” and in arrears had risen from 724 before it was introduced on 1 April to 1,144 on 18 May and the total of arrears had risen from £173,491 to £197,795 in the same period.4/6/2013
Shared scheme creates new apprentice chances
Highland Councillors are leading the way in Scotland in introducing a scheme which will help reverse the decline in apprenticeships. Members of the Finance Housing and Resources Committee have agreed to contribute £30,000 towards the establishment of a new company which will create a pool of construction apprentices, who will work with multiple contractors over the duration of their apprenticeships.26/5/2013
Council welcomes start of new cruise ship season in Caithness
Highland Council has welcomed a successful start to the 2013 cruise ship programme at Scrabster, following the visit on Friday 24th May 2013 of the Adonia, carrying nearly 700 passengers and over 350 crew. Councillor Roger Saxon said “We were delighted to see so many visitors enjoying the sunshine, and either visiting local attractions such as the Castle of Mey or taking advantage of the free shuttle buses between Scrabster and Thurso town centre.
22/5/2013
