Local Authority News
3/1/2013
Launch of Council Community Challenge Fund
In a move aimed at encouraging community empowerment, The Highland Council today (Thursday 3rd January2013) launched its new Community Challenge Fund, which will provide £1 million each year of recurring spending for community projects exploring new ways of delivering services at a local level. Community councils, community groups and establish social enterprises are invited to express their interest via a one-page form which is available from the home page of the Council’s web site: www.highland.gov.uk The Council is open to ideas on how groups could:- 1.
24/12/2012
Plea to Scottish Government for storm funding
The Highland Council’s Leader Councillor Drew Hendry has written to the Scottish Government seeking emergency financial assistance towards the cost of repairing damage caused to piers and harbours and coastal defences by recent exceptional storms. In a letter to Richard Lochhead, MSP, Cabinet Secretary, Rural Affairs and the Environment, Councillor Hendry says: “In Highland, the storm surge caused extensive damage along the eastern coastline between Wick and Nairn and our officials are currently carrying out detailed inspections to assess the nature and extent of the damage.21/12/2012
Contractor Appointed For Kessock Bridge Works 
Commuters urged to think ahead. A programme of essential repairs to the Kessock Bridge took a step forward today when Transport Scotland announced that Balfour Beatty Civil Engineering had been appointed to undertake the works.
21/12/2012
Watch out for phone scams! - From Trading Standards
Many people become the victims of fraudsters intent on conning them out of their cash. If you receive an unsolicited or unexpected telephone call, be on your guard as it may be a scam.21/12/2012
Planning The Future For Thurso and Wick
Wick and Thurso communities to get unique opportunity to plan their futures. Work on the new Caithness and Sutherland Local Development Plan will begin in early 2013.20/12/2012
Emergency Funding Considered For Councils After The Big Storm
Ministers will consider emergency financial assistance for local authorities to help deal with the costs of the storm damage last weekend. Aberdeenshire Council and The Moray Council have made representations to the Scottish Government to activate the Bellwin Scheme as a result of the severe storms over the weekend.
20/12/2012
Council Welcomes Nigg Jobs Announcement
The Leader of The Highland Council, Councillor Drew Hendry has welcomed today’s announcement that the Global Energy Group, owner of Nigg Energy Park, is launching a Highland-wide recruitment drive to find an additional 400 skilled personnel in a wide range of energy disciplines to support their existing labour force in the delivery of contract work. Councillor Hendry said: “The Council’s programme places the highest priority on sustainable economic growth and economic recovery.20/12/2012
Planning For Our Seas
A plan will be prepared next year to guide development activity in the Pentland Firth and Orkney Waters. The Government Directorate Marine Scotland, Orkney Islands Council and The Highland Council have set up a working group to take forward the project and are encouraging stakeholders to get involved in the development of the plan.20/12/2012
Highland Council Fast Track Plans To Repair Storm Damage
The Highland Council is putting plans in place to carry out essential repairs to it harbours and coast defence structures which were damaged by the storm surge last weekend (14/15 December 2012). The initial clear-up is completed and work is now ongoing to plan for the repair works which will be carried out by the Council’s directly employed staff and contractors.18/12/2012
17 Highland datazones in most deprived 15% in Scotland
The Highlands has 17 datazones ranked in the most deprived 15% in Scotland according to the Scottish Government’s latest release of the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD). SIMD has been designed to identify the most deprived areas across Scotland.18/12/2012
Board Confirms End Of Door Entry Policy
The Highland Licensing Board has confirmed its decision to abolish its door entry policy, which required customers at 13 night clubs across the Highlands to enter the premises by midnight. The Board took a policy decision to abolish its door entry policy at a meeting on 20 November on the basis that it had not been demonstrated that the policy continued to serve any of the 5 licensing objectives.18/12/2012
Recycling Arrangements Over Holiday Period
Recycling and refuse collection arrangements over the Christmas Holidays. With the 2012 festivities almost upon us, The Highland Council is advising households not to get snowed under with waste but to take advantage of all the recycling opportunities available over the Christmas holidays.
18/12/2012
Council Help And Advice For Private Landlords
Highland Council publishes help and advice for private landlords and letting agents. Private landlords are being given information about new laws and advice about what they need to do to meet their new duties in the latest edition of The Highland Council’s Landlord News published this week.17/12/2012
Council assesses storm damage to East Highlands
The Highland Council is taking stock of the damage to its eastern coastline following storm surges over the weekend which resulted in damage to existing coastal defences and a number of harbours. Staff from The Council’s Transport, Environmental and Community Services were been deployed throughout the week end to respond to local flooding issues and clean up the debris resulting from the storms.
9/12/2012
Fishing communities urged to apply for Axis 4 European Fisheries Funding
Highland fishing communities are encouraged to apply for assistance from the European Fisheries Fund. The fund aims to help develop communities where fishing is in decline by supporting measures to build skills and knowledge and increase the capacity of local fishing communities and business networks through innovation, collaboration and diversification.5/12/2012
Road To New University Starts in January
Contract awarded for Inverness Campus access. Work will start in the New Year on the widening of Culloden Road to provide a new access into the new Inverness Campus which Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) is developing at Beechwood.5/12/2012
Highland Council Winter Road Condition Reports
Road condition and gritting treatment reports by The Highland Council’s, Transport, Environmental and Community Services for the morning of Wednesday 5 December 2012 are as follows: Skye and Lochalsh 1 - 2" snow cover on ice, treating will be ongoing throughout the day. Posted: 05/12/2012 10:06 Lochaber Area All planned routes treated.
5/12/2012
More New Homes From Highland Council
Invergordon welcomes new Council house tenants. Ten new council homes in Invergordon are the latest to be completed by The Highland Council as part of a 257-house Highland-wide project supported by the Scottish Government.
4/12/2012
New Scheme to Tackle Litter at Schools In Highland
The Highland Council awarded £24,000 to trial new project to prevent littering in the Highlands. A new project led by The Highland Council to prevent littering around 10 secondary schools in the Highlands is set to take place thanks to funding awarded by Zero Waste Scotland, the Scottish Government-backed body set up to help Scotland reduce waste, recycle more, and use resources sustainably.1/12/2012
