Local Authority News
10/4/2013
Council amend rent arrears policy to assist tenants affected by Bedroom Tax
Highland Councillors have agreed to adopt a “sympathetic ” policy for those Council house tenants affected by the new Bedroom Tax, who unavoidably fall into rent arrears through the loss of housing benefit for under-occupying their homes. It is estimated that 2,200 Highland Council tenants (16%) are affected by the introduction of the Social Rented Sector Size Criteria Restriction (Bedroom Tax), which sees people who are under-occupying by one bedroom having their benefit reduced by 14% and those under-occupying by more than one room having their benefit reduced by 25%.10/4/2013
Councils face tighter squeeze in 2013
Councils face tougher challenges in the year ahead, particularly in dealing with budget pressures, says the Accounts Commission in its annual overview report published today. Pressures on resources and demands on services mean that councils may now have to consider decisions, which they had previously ruled out, to balance their budgets.9/4/2013
Planning Process begins for new Wick Schools and Community Facilities
The £50M project for two new Primary Schools, a new High School, and new Community Facilities, incorporating a replacement Library and swimming pool, due for completion for use in August 2015, takes another step forward this month. The planning process for major works includes a “Pre-Application Consultation” in which the proposals are shared with the public, so that comments at this stage can be considered by the architects before formal Planning Applications are submitted.9/4/2013
Landmark Agreement for Cromarty Port and Council
A landmark memorandum of understanding has been signed today joining in partnership the Highland Council and the Cromarty Firth Port Authority. This will further strengthen good working relationships and produce a blueprint for the future of the Cromarty Firth.
7/4/2013
Event To Prime Highland Firms For Investment
Small firms from across the Highlands will get the lowdown on how to tap into traditional and alternative sources of finance at an event in Inverness later this month. The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has joined forces with local business experts Highland Opportunity and their Business Gateway service plus MSP, Rhoda Grant, to host a special event -Accessing Business Finance - at the Inverness Caledonian Thistle Stadium on the 29 April.7/4/2013
Council raises no objections to Stronelairg Wind farm application
Members of The Highland Council’s South Planning Applications Committee have voted to raise no objections to an application by Scottish & Southern Energy Renewables to erect a wind farm at Stronelairg on the Garrogie Estate, subject to additional conditions on top of the amendments and conditions listed in the committee report. The vote was carried 11 votes to 3 after a site visit and debate today (Monday 8 April 2013).5/4/2013
Scottish Government Increases Planning Fees by 20 Percent
The Scottish Government has increased fees for planning applications by 20 per cent from 6 April 2013. This is the first increase in planning fees since 2010.5/4/2013
Council report good progress in contacting Council tenants about Welfare Reform changes
The Highland Council has provided information and advice to more than 600 Council house tenants affected by the reduction in their Housing Benefit due to the implementation of the Bedroom Tax. This new legislation from the UK Government, that came into effect from 1 April, means a deduction is being imposed on working age housing benefit claimants who live in council or housing association homes where it has been deemed that they are under occupying their home.4/4/2013
Exciting Plans For New Developments In Inverness
Exciting plans for the future development of the Torvean/Ness-side areas of Inverness, together with the timetable for proceeding with the £27.2 million Inverness West Link Road were revealed today (Friday 5th April 2013) by senior members of The Highland Council. Council Leader Drew Hendry was joined by Depute Leader David Alston, Convener Jimmy Gray, and Leader of the City of Inverness Area Committee Ian Brown and Planning and Development Chairman Thomas Prag in highlighting the huge potential to make Inverness a better connected city, provide much-needed affordable housing and create a recreational/sporting hub in the west of the city, the equal of any in Scotland.
28/3/2013
Four candidates contest Landward Caithness By-Election
Notice of Poll Four candidates will contest the forthcoming by-election to elect one councillor to serve The Highland Council’s Ward 4 – Landward Caithness. The candidates are: David Baron, Scottish Labour Party Gillian Coghill Hanna Miedema, Scottish National Party (SNP) Barbara Anne Watson, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party Candidate The by-election will be held on Thursday 2 May and voting will take place at 14 polling stations between 7.00 am – 10.00 pm.21/3/2013
Highland population growth spans the ages
The latest Census figures released by the National Register of Scotland, show that Highland’s population growth spans the age range. Highland’s population has risen by 23,000 between 2001 and 2011 to 232,000.21/3/2013
The Highland Council – Welfare Reform
New legislation from the UK government means that, from 1 April, a deduction will be imposed on housing benefit claimants in council or housing association homes with a spare room or rooms in their homes. The new rule is estimated to affect more than 2,200 council house tenants in Highland.19/3/2013
Highland Council raises no objections to off-shore Wind Farm proposal
The Highland Council has raised no objections to a consultation from the Scottish Government (Marine Scotland) regarding an application by Moray Offshore Renewables Ltd for the construction and operation of 3 offshore wind farms and associated electricity transmission works in the Outer Moray Firth. The application has been submitted under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989 so although The Highland Council is not the determining authority, it is an important consultee so today (Tuesday 19 March) Members sitting on the North Planning Applications Committee considered the proposals.15/3/2013
Council And Cromarty Port Authority To Sign Agreement
Memorandum of Understanding seeks to strengthen economy & bring new jobs in the Cromarty Firth. The Highland Council and the Cromarty Firth Port Authority are to sign a partnership agreement to promote co-operation and joint working, with the aim of creating good quality employment opportunities and facilitating the development of new and existing port facilities at Invergordon and in the Cromarty Firth.14/3/2013
Escorting Abnormal Loads over the A9 Kessock Bridge 
There is a regular flow of abnormal loads, northwards over the A9 Kessock Bridge, which in the main includes outsized assembly parts for a range of important development initiatives within the Highland area. It is important for the progress of the Highland economy that such loads are progressed without unnecessary delay.
14/3/2013
Council’s Commitment to Highland tourism industry
In recognising that tourism is the Highland’s biggest industry, members of the Council’s Planning Environment and Development Committee today agreed funding to VisitScotland of up to £270k in 2013/14. They also agreed that a further £80,000 be used to both deliver services directly by the Council’s tourism team and to provide discretionary funding to business or community groups undertaking tourism projects.
14/3/2013
Delivering Integrated Services In Highland
Highland Councillors have agreed a further enhancement of the model for the integration of health and care services across the authority. This involves the organisation of Allied Health Professional Services and Community Learning Disability Nurses, as well as some changes to the performance frameworks for both adult and children’s services.13/3/2013
Highland Council Leader Corrects GMB Union On Wrong Statements Re Employee Numbers
Leader explains Council job statistics. The Leader of The Highland Council Councillor Drew Hendry is to write to the GMB trade union to tell them they have got the wrong end of the stick over job statistics.12/3/2013
Landward Caithness by-election date confirmed
By-election - Ward 4 (Landward Caithness) Candidates wishing to stand at the by-election being held in The Highland Council’s Ward 4 – Landward Caithness – have until 4 pm on Thursday 28 March to complete their nomination. The by-election is being held on Thursday 2 May to find a successor to Councillor Robert Coghill (Independent) who, following medical advice, stepped down at the end of February.8/3/2013
