Local Authority News
6/9/2012
Highland Households Offered Free Home Insulation
A total of 20,000 households in the Highlands are being given the chance to take advantage of a free offer to keep their homes warmer this winter and cut their energy costs. Households in The Highland Council wards of Cromarty Firth, Tain and Easter Ross and Aird and Loch Ness received letters from The Highland Council this week outlining how they can apply for free loft and cavity wall insulation.6/9/2012
New Voice For Highland Youth
The Highlands has a new Youth Convener. John Erskine from Dingwall has this week taken up the unique role of Highland Youth Convener.
4/9/2012
Private Water Supplies - Five Times More Risk of Infection
Highland Council call for increased awareness of risks from private water supplies. The Highland Council has two thousand private water supplies which serve around seven thousand properties throughout the area.3/9/2012
Gaelic Bursary Scheme Worth £500 - £1000
Still time to apply for Highland Council and University of the Highlands and Islands Gaelic Bursary Scheme Students wishing to learn, or study through the medium of Gaelic at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig UHI and Lews Castle College UHI are being invited to apply for a Gaelic Bursary Scheme. The deadlines for applications submitted to Sabhal Mòr Ostaig is Friday 14 September, and to Lews Castle is Friday 21 September 2012.2/9/2012
Highland Council Budget Consultations in Wick and Durness
Two meetings in a series of 12 public consultation events on The Highland Council's budget for 2012 - 2017 are being held in: the Norseman Hotel, Wick on Tuesday 11 September; and Durness Village Hall on Thursday 13 September, both starting at 6:30pm. The meetings are joint arrangements of the Council's Ward Forums for Thurso, Wick and Landward Caithness Wards and the North, West and Central Sutherland Wards.31/8/2012
Conon Bridge Welcomes New Council House Tenants
Ten new Council homes in Conon Bridge are the latest to be completed by The Highland Council as part of a 202-house Highland-wide project supported by the Scottish Government. The new tenants at Marjorie Mackenzie Place were welcomed on Friday by Councillor Dave Fallows, Chairman of the Finance Housing and Resources Committee, and Ward Members for Dingwall and Seaforth Alister Mackinnon, Angela Maclean, Graham Mackenzie and Margaret Paterson.
30/8/2012
Thurso Engineering and Research Centres Opened By First Minister
First Minister Alex Salmond officially opened two new energy education hubs at The North Highland College UHI on Thursday 30th August 2012. The First Minister met with staff, students and trainees at the official opening of North Highland College UHI's new Engineering, Technology and Energy Centre (ETEC) and Centre for Energy and Environment (CfEE).
29/8/2012
Caithness Educational Grants
For many years there has been a trust in Caithness that makes awards to local people for educational purposes. Applications are straighforward and can be made to The area Education Culture and Sport manager.28/8/2012
Electric Cars Help Reduce Carbon Footprint In The Highlands
Public agencies in the Highlands are leading the way in reducing carbon emissions from travel by using electric cars and vans for business use. In addition, the electric vehicles are expected to generate significant savings in both running costs when compared to hiring a regular car.
28/8/2012
The Highland Council Backs An End To Tenants' Right To Buy
The Highland Council is to support an option being considered by the Scottish Government to end the right that Council house tenants have to buy their homes. The Council believes that ending the right to buy will help it meet the growing demand for affordable rented accommodation as housing waiting lists grow.26/8/2012
Launch of the Council's budget blog - should we shorten the school day?
The Highland Council has today (Monday) launched a budget blog on the home page of its web site: www.highland.gov.uk by asking the public if they think it is a good idea to save £3.2 million per year by shortening the school day of Primary 4 - 7 pupils by 30 minutes, bringing their day in line with Primary 1-3 pupils. Class hours for pupils in P 4-7 are currently 25 hours per week.21/8/2012
Council Invites Views On Guidance For Small Wind Turbines
The Highland Council has prepared planning guidance for Small-Scale Wind Turbine Proposals and is asking for people's views on it. From tomorrow (23rd August) the draft guidance is available to view on the website www.highland.gov.uk and in local Highland Council Libraries, Service Points and at Council Headquarters in Inverness.20/8/2012
Chair Appointed For Caithness And Sutherland Area Committee
Councillor Deirdre Mackay who represents the East Sutherland and Edderton Ward has unanimously been elected as Chairman of the Caithness and Sutherland Area Committee. The committee met yesterday (Monday 20 August) for the first time at The Highland Council's Drummuie Offices in Golspie.19/8/2012
Council Budget Consultation With The Public 2012
The Highland Council has today (Monday 20th august 2012) launched a three-month long public consultation to help bridge a projected budget gap of almost £30 million over the next two financial years. A series of Ward Forums as well as briefing events with business, voluntary and specialist groups are planned before 19 October to complement the views expressed by staff, trade unions and the Council's Citizen Panel of 2,300 residents.15/8/2012
Breakthrough In Delivery Charge Campaign
The Highland Council has made a breakthrough in its campaign to win a better deal for local consumers over delivery surcharges levied by internet companies. Since starting their investigations, Trading Standards officers have persuaded more than 20 internet trading companies to alter their trading practices to comply with the law.13/8/2012
Gold Medallists Sought For Blooming Road Verges
The Highland Council wants members of the public to let them know where the most flowery road verges are in their local area with a view of looking to change cutting regimes to maximise the variety of flowers growing there. Chairman of TEC Services Committee, Councillor Graham Phillips said: "Safety is of course of paramount importance on roads, so cutting regimes will only be altered when it is safe to do so.
13/8/2012
Change To Late Hours Catering Licence Legislation
Businesses in the Highlands are being advised to consider whether a forthcoming change to the licensing of late hours catering establishments will mean that they may now require a late hours catering licence. A licence is currently required if businesses provide `meals or refreshments' to the public between 11pm and 5am, the most common types of premises being fast food takeaways and 24 hour opening supermarkets.9/8/2012
Probationer Teachers Welcomed To The Highlands
Over 100 probationer teachers were welcomed to the Highlands today at an induction meeting held at Milton of Leys Primary School, Inverness by Councillor Alasdair Christie, Chairman of The Highland Council's Adult and Children's Services Committee. Hugh Fraser, Highland Council's Director of Education, Culture and Sport also welcomed the 103 probationers starting in the 2012/13 academic year.
7/8/2012
Back To School - Dates for 2012/13
Back to school: Primary pupils: Autumn term begins on 14th August Secondary pupils: Autumn term begins on 15th August Autumn Autumn term starts - 14 August 2012 (primary pupils) - 15 August 2012 (secondary pupils) Autumn term ends - 5 October 2012 Winter Winter term starts - 23 October 2012 (primary pupils) - 24 October 2012 (secondary pupils) Winter term ends - 20 December 2012 Spring Spring term starts - 7 January 2012 Mid term break - 11 to 15 February 2013 Spring term ends - 28 March 2013 Summer Summer term begins - 15 April 2013 Summer term ends - 28 June 2013 Public holidays Good Friday - 29 March 2013 Easter Monday - 1 April 2013 May Day - 6 May 2013 In-service days The first day back after summer - Monday 13 August 2012 (Primary and Secondary) The second day back after summer - Tuesday 14 August 2012 (Secondary only) The first day back after October break - Monday 22 October 2012 (Primary and Secondary) The second day back after October break - Tuesday 23 October 2012 (Secondary only) Three days following the February mid-term break - Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, 13, 14 and 15 February 2013 (Primary and Secondary).7/8/2012
