News Archive
19/12/2013
Council agrees tax freeze for 7th year in a row
The Highland Council has agreed to freeze the Council Tax for a seventh successive year and confirmed a budget of £563.697 million for 2014-15. The Council Tax bands are: Band A: £775.33; Band B: £904.56; Band C: £1,033.78; Band D: £1,163.00; Band E: £1,421.44; Band F: £1,679.89; Band G: £1,938.33; Band H: £2,326.00.19/12/2013
Council to challenge legislation on betting shop licensing laws
The Highland Council is to write to the UK Government seeking a change to licensing law to prevent over-provision of betting shops in a local community. Members unanimously supported a motion proposed by Councillor Richard Laird, Inverness Central, that the Council should make representations to the UK Government requesting that it amend the 2005 Gambling Act to re-introduce over-provision as grounds to refuse an application and to permit limits on the number and type of gaming machines permitted in a premises or area.19/12/2013
Council agrees amendments to service management teams
Detailed proposals to realign The Highland Council’s Service management teams into 5 directorates – from the existing 7 – achieving savings of £350,000 per year and delivering more customer-focused services were unanimously accepted at today’s Council meeting. The 5 Directorates will be: · Care and Learning · Finance · Corporate Development · Development and Infrastructure · Community Services The changes will be implemented in two phases.18/12/2013
Contractors - Time To Apply Or Renew Registration With Highland Council
Opportunities for local contractors to renew existing applications or apply for construction works with Highland Council. The Highland Council is currently in the process of renewing and reviewing its Contractors Framework agreement, which may be used by Services within the Council for selecting contractors to carry out construction works covering reactive day to day repairs, general maintenance works and minor projects up to the value of £50,000.17/12/2013
Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd - Sale 17th December 2013
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (December, 17th) sold 58 prime cattle. Prime bullocks (18) averaged 231.6p (-1.2p) and sold to 239p per kg thrice for a 625kg Limousin cross from Findon Mains, Culbokie, a 640kg Charolais cross from Udale, Poyntzfield, and a 675kg Limousin cross from Wester Craiglands, Fortrose, and £1,613.25 gross for a 675kg Limousin cross from Wester Craiglands.16/12/2013
Crackdown on Ross roadside adverts
In the run up to Christmas, The Highland Council’s Planning and Development Service is getting tough over the display of unauthorised posters and placards near the roadside in the Beauly, Muir of Ord, Dingwall, Tore and North Kessock areas as it deems them to be an eyesore and a serious hazard to road users. Similar action will take place in other parts of The Highland Council area during 2014.16/12/2013
REPEAL THE BEDROOM TAX SAYS SCOTTISH AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
In an interim report published today, Monday 16 December 2013, the Commons Scottish Affairs Committee calls on the Coalition Government to repeal the Bedroom Tax. While this is being considered, the Committee calls on the Government to suspend application of the Bedroom Tax for all those tenants to whom a reasonable alternative offer cannot be made.15/12/2013
Caithness and North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership - Update
Week Commencing 9th December 2013 Energy & Business Services: Partnership representatives held a business breakfast event in Aberdeen this week. HIE’s Roy Kirk and June Love, together with Stephen Sutherland (JGC Engineering Services), Willie Watt (Subsea 7) and Debbie Gray (North Highland College), met a group of business leaders to promote the area as an attractive place from which to do business.15/12/2013
Hydro Station Approved
Homes to benefit from hydro pump storage flexibility. Energy Minister, Fergus Ewing has today granted planning consent for a hydroelectric pumped storage generating station at Coire Glas, near Spean Bridge.
12/12/2013
Caithness Apprentice Scoops Top Civil Engineering Apprentice Award
Craig Harvey (21) from Wick in the Highlands, has been crowned Scotland’s top Civil Engineering Apprentice of 2013 at the annual SBATC Apprentice of the Year awards. The title was presented to Craig at a special ceremony held on Tuesday 10th December at the Scottish Parliament.
12/12/2013
Council asked to agree amendments to Service management teams
Detailed proposals to realign The Highland Council’s Service management teams into 5 directorates will be presented for approval to the full council meeting on Thursday (19 December). At its last meeting on 24 October, the Council agreed to reduce the number of Services from seven to five, delivering savings of £350,000 per year.12/12/2013
Payday loans cap
UK Government urged to act quickly to end ‘culture of exploitation’. Enterprise Minister Fergus Ewing today called on the UK Government to bring forward plans to introduce a cap on the cost of payday loans.12/12/2013
Council Tax freeze for 7th year in a row recommended as budget balances for 2014-15
The Highland Council is being asked next week to freeze the Council Tax for a seventh successive year and confirm a budget of £563.697 million for 2014-15. The Council Tax bands would remain: Band A: £775.33; Band B: £904.56; Band C: £1,033.78; Band D: £1,163.00; Band E: £1,421.44; Band F: £1,679.89; Band G: £1,938.33; Band H: £2,326.00.12/12/2013
Dingwall and Highland Marts Ltd - Sale 11th December 2013
DINGWALL, Dingwall and Highland Marts Ltd., (December, 11th) sold 109 weaned calves and store cattle, 57 adult head of breeding cattle and 78 OTM cattle. Bullocks (62) sold to 309.1p per kilo for a 220kg Limousin cross from 13 Inverbreakie Drive, Invergordon, and £1,040 gross for a 455kg Charolais cross from 16 Balvaird, Muir of Ord, and a 480kg Saler cross from Druminlochan, Feshiebridge.12/12/2013
Local Shetland man sentenced for dealing drugs
Police Scotland note the sentence issued today at Shetland Sherriff Court of Ralph Halcrow. He pled guilty to being concerned in the supply of heroin.11/12/2013
Give Surfing Lesson Vouchers This Christmas
Thurso Surf are offering gift vouchers this Christmas. If you knwo someone who would like to try a few lessons on surfing then get in touch with Thurso Surf on their web site, Facebook page or email.
11/12/2013
Council backs heavier fines for littering and fly-tipping
The Highland Council is fully backing plans by the Scottish Government to increase fixed penalties for littering and fly-tipping but wants to see more robust action taken against contractors who try to avoid landfill costs by dumping materials indiscriminately. It agrees that the penalty for littering should rise to £80 and the penalty for fly-tipping should increase to £200, penalties which are due to take effect from 1 April, next year.11/12/2013
Fisheries support package
Funding of over £5 million distributed. The fishing industry and harbours across Scotland have benefitted from the latest package of awards under the European Fisheries Fund (EFF) and the fisheries harbours emergency grant scheme.11/12/2013
Caithness Heat and Power follow up statutory report
The highland Council has received a copy of the Follow Up statutory report on Caithness Heat and Power prepared by Audit Scotland. This Follow Up statutory report is being considered by the Accounts Commission at its meeting on 12th December 2013.11/12/2013
