News Archive
17/8/2014
New build council housing nearing completion at Ullapool
There are just a few months to go until fourteen new cottage flats start to be handed over to their new tenants and owners. The Highland Council and the Scottish Government has invested approximately £1.75m to transform a derelict site of a former hotel into affordable housing, enhancing local housing opportunities and be positive for the local environment.17/8/2014
Council to consider extending grass cutting contracts
Members of The Highland Council's Community Services Committee are to consider an update report on the Council's Grounds Maintenance Service Delivery which includes an extension to existing grass cutting contracts on Thursday 21 August 2014. A report to Committee will invite Members to: · note the grounds maintenance performance information for April to July 2014; · note the management action taken to address performance issues; · agree that a review of the supervision of grounds maintenance is undertaken; and · agree that the existing contractual arrangements for delivery of amenity grass cutting are extended for the 2015 season so that all contracts terminate at the same time.17/8/2014
3 in 4 UK Adults Shop Online and 54% Bank Online
New figures reveal that 74% of UK adults have bought goods or services online this year, compared to 53% in 2008*. In addition, 53% of adults bank online, but Ukash, the global online cash payment provider, is highlighting the risk of a section of society being excluded simply because they don't have credit or debit cards.15/8/2014
Referendum Agents appointed
Fifteen referendum agents have been appointed in the Highland area to act for the permitted participants in the Scottish Independence Referendum. The deadline for applications was 12 noon yesterday (Thursday 13 August) and the assigned referendum agents will be appointing both polling and counting agents for the Referendum which takes place on Thursday 18 September.15/8/2014
Council plea over Referendum fly-posting and road sign damage
The Highland Council is appealing to campaigners on both sides of the Scottish Independence Referendum and members of the public to heed the Council's Highland Referendum Poster Policy and not fall foul of the law. The public are being advised that only the 15 Referendum Agents registered for The Highland Council area are allowed to display referendum posters on verges and lighting columns under the Council's ownership and control.15/8/2014
Risks to currency, EU membership and public spending key to Referendum vote choice
According to new analysis, there is considerable public interest in the referendum campaign but almost seventy per cent (69.5%) of voters do not believe that either the Yes or No campaigns can predict the consequences of independence. Many voters, therefore, are relying on their own research and reaching their decision based on what they consider to be certain key risks, especially currency following a Yes vote, EU membership - whatever the outcome - and the prospects for government spending in the event of a No vote.15/8/2014
Economics of Scottish independence put under expert gaze
The economics of the independence referendum are put under the spotlight by a new book published today by the Scottish Economic Society and co-edited by University of Stirling economists. The book features contributions from a range of economists and covers a wide spectrum of economic issues that are central to the debate.15/8/2014
1 in 10 Travellers Has Taken the Wrong Currency on Holiday
1 in 10 holidaymakers confesses to currency confusion, with 14% of men admitting to having taken Euros to a non-Euro country, according to a new survey* of 1000 people by ICE - International Currency Exchange, the leading travel money provider. ICE is urging those jetting off abroad this summer to double-check the legal tender of their destination and not to assume that any European country will accept Euros.15/8/2014
Mortgage Arrears and Possessions Decline Again
Mortgage arrears and possessions continued to fall in the second quarter of 2014, according to data published today by the Council of Mortgage Lenders. The number of mortgages in arrears of 2.5% or more of the balance stood at 131,400 (1.18% of all mortgages) at the end of June, down from 138,200 (1.24%) three months earlier and 154,900 (1.38%) a year ago.15/8/2014
Automatic Enrolment Hits Four Million Landmark
Figures published yesterday (14 Aug 2014) by The Pensions Regulator show that more than four million workers have now been automatically enrolled into a workplace pension. The regulator's monthly declaration of compliance report shows that more than 21,000 employers have now completed their declaration of compliance (registration) informing the regulator how they have met their duties.15/8/2014
UK Wage Squeeze to Continue for Even Longer
Responding to today's (Wednesday) quarterly inflation report from the Bank of England, TUC General Secretary Frances O'Grady said:"It is hugely concerning to hear that the Bank has cut its forecast for wage growth in half. The economy's getting bigger but not better with Britain's pay squeeze now set to continue even longer.15/8/2014
Which? Calls for a National Savings Strategy
The new Which? report explores consumer behaviour and attitudes to saving in the UK and identifies that there are approximately 11.5 million people who struggle to save regularly, and a further 2.5 million who don't save but could afford to, who could be encouraged to save more. The Government recommends that households have at least three months' of essential expenditure to protect against sudden shocks to income or expenditure, yet four in ten (41%) people say they could not last three months without their main source of income.14/8/2014
Gin set to flow from new Caithness micro distillery
Work has now finished at the most northerly gin distillery on mainland Britain with the final piece of equipment - a new still called ‘Elizabeth' – installed in the new custom-built distillery at Dunnet, Caithness. Husband and wife team Martin and Claire Murray, the founders of Dunnet Bay Distillers have distilled and tested the first batches of Rock Rose gin and full production will be under way in time for the launch of the new micro distillery on the 21 August.
14/8/2014
Reviews of Police Scotland Standing Firearms Authority Announced
Two of the bodies responsible for oversight of policing in Scotland are today announcing a complementary programme of review and inquiry into the decision of Police Scotland to give a small number of firearms officers a standing authority to carry firearms. HM Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland (HMICS) is today publishing the full terms of reference for its planned assurance review to independently assess the current practices for the issue and carriage of firearms by armed response vehicle (ARV) crews under the standing authority.14/8/2014
1 in 8 Homes Struggling to Make Ends Meet According to our Latest MoneyMood Survey
A QUARTER OF A MILLION MORE HOUSEHOLDS STRUGGLING WITH FINANCES. Our latest MoneyMood Survey shows one in eight homes (12%) are struggling to make ends meet, up from one in nine last year.14/8/2014
Big Six Fall Out of Love With New Customers
- "Big Six" energy companies absent from top five best buy tables since February 14th 2014. - Size DOESN'T matter: smaller providers winning the energy price war as a result.14/8/2014
UK Labour Market, August 2014
Comparing the estimates for April to June 2014 with those for January to March 2014, employment continued to rise and unemployment continued to fall. These changes continue the general direction of movement over the past two years.14/8/2014
Council Area Leader Welcomes Review of Armed Police Policy
Caithness and Sutherland Area Leader Cllr Deirdre Mackay has welcomed the announcement of two reviews into the decision by Police Scotland to allow a number of its officers to carry handguns. It was announced that both the Scottish Police Authority (SPA) and the HM Inspectorate of Scotland (HMIS) will both hold reviews looking at different areas of the policy. The HMICS will assess the current practices for the issue and the carrying of firearms by armed response vehicle crews. It will aim to provide assurance that Police Scotland's approach is compliant with guidance, procedures and recognised best practice. SPA has announced that its review will consider the public impact of Police Scotland's decision around firearms deployment.13/8/2014
Licensing Board concern at poor compliance on refresher training
Members of The Highland Council's Licensing Board were today (12 August 2104) informed that a very large number of Personal Licence holders have still to notify the Board that they have undertaken refresher training which is required if they are to retain their Licence. As at 12 August, of 1,559 Personal Licences needing to be refreshed only 688 (44%) had notified the Board that they had completed their refresher training.13/8/2014
