News Archive
11/1/2013
Extent of Highland December storm damage estimated at £2.555 million
Members of The Highland Council’s Transport, Environmental and Community Services Committee will hear next week that the extent of damage to Council harbour facilities and coastal defences during the 14/15 December 2012 storm is currently estimated at £2.555 million. In a report to the TEC Services Committee, members are advised of the extent of the damage to facilities at 24 locations including: Scrabster – East Gills; John O’Groats Harbour; Freswick Harbour; Ackergill Harbour; Keiss Harbour; Staxigoe Harbour; Victoria Street, Wick; Scalesburn, Wick; Service Bridge, Wick; Latheron Harbour; Dunbeath Harbour; Helmsdale Harbour; Brora Harbour; Golspie; Embo Harbour; Portmahomack and its harbour; Hilton; Balintore and its harbour; Shandwick; Rockfield; Rosemarkie; and Nairn.
11/1/2013
New Guidance For Assessing HMO Planning Applications
Highland Councillors are being invited to adopt revised guidance to help assess planning applications for Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) across the Highlands. Comments have been taken on board from a public consultation in late 2012, which included a debate on the options for Inverness City Centre at the Council’s City of Inverness and Area Committee.
11/1/2013
Colleges To Help Improve Job Prospects
Colleges will be able to support learners into employment in 2013/14 with a ring-fenced share of a £52 million fund to help people into jobs, following the announcement of the second tranche of the Employability Fund today. The Employability Fund, announced as part of the Scottish Budget, brings together a number of pre-existing training programmes to make life simpler for both providers and prospective trainees and better align training for all with local and regional needs.
11/1/2013
Huge Benefits Of Maximising Oil And Gas Recovery
Increasing the rate of successful oil and gas recovery in the North Sea by just 1 per cent would deliver £22 billion of extra tax revenue, Energy Minister Fergus Ewing will tell the Scottish Parliament today. Maximising the amount of oil and gas recovered from existing oil wells would have enormous benefits for the Scottish economy, increasing the level of tax, ensuring that this precious asset is available for future generations, and creating further opportunities for innovation and job creation in our world-leading oil and gas sector.
11/1/2013
Fishing Industry Lands New Apprentices
A new modern apprenticeship programme to give young people the opportunity to enter Scotland’s £500 million fishing industry has been launched. Developed alongside fishermen from across Scotland, the Modern Apprenticeship in Sea Fishing will offer young people aged 16 to 24 an entry route into a fishing career.
11/1/2013
Nitrates Action Programme Change
Rules designed to prevent nitrate pollution of the water environment, in designated areas of Scotland, have been revised. Following a consultation last year, the Scottish Government is amending its Action Programme for Nitrate Vulnerable Zones (NVZs).
10/1/2013
New Wick Council Telephone Numbers From Monday 21st January
The Wick Offices of Highland council at Market Square will close on Friday 18th January and reopen on Monday 21st January 2013 at Girnigoe Street, Wick. A new telephone system has been installed and new telephone numbers allocated - see the listing attached.
10/1/2013
Council Response To Pentland Firth Tidal Array Consultation
The Highland Council has decided to raise no objection to a consultation on proposals by MeyGen Limited to construct and operate a 86MW tidal array scheme in the inner sound of the Pentland Firth. The Council’s response to Marine Scotland reaffirms its support of renewable energy development in the Highlands and highlights the economic benefits that this can bring to the area.10/1/2013
Council Prepares For Wick Office Flit
The Highland Council is ready to move from its base in Market Place in Wick to temporary accommodation in nearby Girnigoe Street in preparation for the £8 million redevelopment of the Market Place site as modern Council office accommodation. Offices in Market Place, including the Service Point, will close on Friday 18 January at 3pm and relocate to Government Buildings, Girnigoe Street.9/1/2013
Initiative launched to boost digital skills in Highlands and Islands
A new package of business IT support for organisations and individuals across the Highlands and Islands is now available. Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), in partnership with Business Gateway and with support from the Scottish Government, have launched an IT engagement programme, offering online IT guides and group workshops.8/1/2013
Contract Opportunities Now Open At Highland Council - Deadline 29th January
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 £50,000.8/1/2013
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. The Highland Fisheries Local Action Group (FLAG) administers the £549,392 available to the Highland area.8/1/2013
Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd - Sale 8th January 2013
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (January, 8th) sold 58 prime cattle. Prime bullocks (25) averaged 208.1p (+0.2p) and sold to 216p per kg and £1,504.80 gross.8/1/2013
Scottish Water Consultation - Win Shopping Vouchers
Retail vouchers up for grabs as Scottish Water reminds customers to have say on future services. With the January sales well underway, customers who take part in a major consultation on the future of water and waste water services are in with a chance of winning shopping vouchers worth £100.
8/1/2013
Smart Exporter Roadshow - Wick
Learn more about exporting opportunities for your business at this free event. Caithness Chamber of Commerce has organised this event in Wick.
4/1/2013
McAllans Sale Now On
Get on down to Mcallans in Thurso or Wick for their great Sale.
4/1/2013
Wind Power Helps Drive New Hybrid Ferries
£20 million ferry deal saw world-first launched on Clyde - 17 December 2012. The first of two cutting edge ‘hybrid’ ferries, and the first of its kind in the world, was launched on the Clyde today by Deputy First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon.
4/1/2013
Wide Load Transports from 7th January 2013
"Commencing Monday 7 January 2013, Give Svaergods Transport Ltd will be transporting the component parts of eighteen wind turbines to a site at Rothes Cairn Uish wind farm, near Fogwatt, Moray. Most loads will leave from Inverness Harbour, however there will be some leaving from Invergordon Harbour.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.
2/1/2013
