Local Authority News
20/6/2012
Administration launch Programme for The Highland Council over next five years
The Highland Council's Leadership today launched a "bold and ambitious" programme of priorities for action over the next five years. "Working together for the Highlands" is being presented to the next meeting of the Council on Thursday 28 June for confirmation as the Programme for The Highland Council.20/6/2012
New Care Partnership Group Formed In Caithness
Caithness District Partnership will meet for the first time on Tuesday 26 June, as part of new arrangements under the Integrating Care in the Highlands partnership between NHS Highland and The Highland Council. The new District Partnership, which will meet in public, will identify key local issues and priorities for children and adults in Caithness that can be better delivered through joint working between partners at local level, including NHS Highland, Highland Council, Voluntary and Independent providers and local communities.20/6/2012
Community Council nomination deadline
4 pm on Wednesday (27 June) is the deadline for candidates to return their election nomination forms for round 3 of the forthcoming Community Council elections, which involve those which are currently unformed. Nominations are invited from persons seeking election as members of Community Councils in Wards 2/4: Caithness West (10 members); Ward 11: Uig (8 members); Ward 12: Caol (9 members); Ward 15: Inverness Central (8 members); Ward 21: Aviemore and Vicinity (9 members); Laggan (8 members).19/6/2012
3 Wind Turbines For Community Group In Caithness Get Planning Permission
The north Planning committee of Highland council agreed on Tuesday 19th June 2012 to grant planning permission for construction of a Community Wind Farm at Rumster Forest with Three 900 kW Wind Turbines, with a Height to Hub of 50m and a Rotor Diameter of 50 m, Formation of Access Track and Erection of a Switchgear Building and Associated Cabling. The applicants were Latheron, Lybster and Clyth Community Development Company formed a few years ago following the set up of an Initiative at the Edge project.18/6/2012
Council Gets Tough On Waste Collection Payment Avoiders
Council targeting holiday homes that are avoiding payment for their waste collection services. Back in February this year, The Highland Council wrote to the owners of around 1,650 non-domestic rated (NDR) holiday home properties advising them of their legal obligations under the Environmental Protection Act and associated Duty of Care Regulations to have in place a waste collection contract for dealing with the waste generated from their businesses.13/6/2012
Zero Tolerance On Litter Campaign Continues
The Highland Council continues to run its 'zero tolerance' campaign on litter and Officers will again be making a targeted effort over the next fortnight. During the two week campaign people caught dropping litter will be issued with Fixed Penalty Notices throughout the Highland Area.
6/6/2012
Cabinet Secretary Addresses Highland Education Seminar
Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning, Michael Russell MSP was guest speaker at a "16+ Learning Choices Seminar" held, in the Highland Council's headquarters, Inverness today at which around 100 delegates attended. Delegates represented charities and the third sector, tourism, business and commerce, construction industries, energy and renewables and the public and education sectors.5/6/2012
Eradication of Invasive Crayfish in Ballachulish Quarry
The Highland Council has confirmed proposals for the eradication of North American signal crayfish in Ballachulish Quarry this summer. The site is currently owned by the Council and managed by the Planning and Development Service for public recreation.4/6/2012
Accommodation Providers Wanted
The Highland Council is looking for accommodation providers to come forward with rooms that can be used to provide temporary accommodation for homeless people. Approximately 1300 households approached The Highland Council last year as homeless.1/6/2012
Wildflower and Bumble Bee Verges In Caithness 
Last summer the Caithness Biodiversity Group supported by Highland Council TEC Services piloted a project to enhance the wildflower interest of a small selection of our roadside verges. The aim was to protect and encourage wildflower diversity and to increase the amount of pollen and nectar available to our insect life in particular to bees.
1/6/2012
Highland Schools And Communities Celebrate The Queen's Diamond Jubilee
Schools and local communities in the Highlands are celebrating the Queen's Diamond Jubilee in a variety of ways over this weekend and the rest of June. From the Castle of Mey in Caithness to Arisaig and Portree to Nairn, at tea parties, beach parties, and barbeques bunting will be flying throughout the Highlands.1/6/2012
Linda's new role as Champions' Co-ordinator and Children's Champion
The Highland Council has appointed Councillor Linda Munro from North West and Central Sutherland, to the new role of Champions' Co-ordinator and Children's Champion. The Council's Administration intends to appoint other champions - such as for carers and for older people - and Councillor Munro will have a co-ordinating role in promoting support for these important areas of work.30/5/2012
Technology Safety To The Fore For Parents and Young People
Multi-agency push to educate parents/carers and youngsters about using new technology safely. Multi-agency partners have joined forces to encourage young people to use new technology safely and responsibly.30/5/2012
Council Agree New Committee Structure and Office-bearers
The Highland Council has agreed a new committee structure and elected office-bearers. There will be four strategic committees, namely: Finance, Housing and Resources; Planning Environment and Development; Transport Environmental and Community Services and Adult and Children's Services.28/5/2012
Test Purchase Volunteers Sought
The Highland Council's Trading Standards are seeking young people to help them to check that businesses are not selling age-restricted products to those under the minimum age. Leaflets produced in association with NHS Highland are being sent out to all Highland Council secondary schools, encouraging young people aged between 15½ and 16½ years old to volunteer to visits shops in the Highlands and carry out test purchases of age-restricted products such as cigarettes, solvents, fireworks, DVD movies and games.28/5/2012
Attention Contractors - Highland Council Renewing Its Contractors Framework
The Highland Council is currently in the process of renewing its Contractors Framework agreement which will be used by Highland Council Services for selecting contractors to carry out all construction works up to the value of £50,000. The Contractors Frame work is changing from £25k to £50k This new agreement, which will commence on the 3rd September 2012, will in effect cover a three year programme of work but will be re-opened and re-advertised at six monthly intervals to provide the opportunity for new contractors to apply.25/5/2012
Taking The Highlands To Cannes
Twenty years of films locating in the Highlands being celebrated in Cannes. The Highlands of Scotland Film Commission, which is part of The Highland Council, is twenty years old, and to celebrate a brand new Highlands film app is being promoted in Cannes.
25/5/2012
New Committee Structure For Highland Council
The Highland Council will be asked at its next meeting on Thursday 31 May to agree a new committee structure and elect office-bearers. A motion from the Administration of SNP, Liberal Democrat and Labour Group members - to be moved by the Leader, Drew Hendry and Depute Leader David Alston - proposes the creation of four strategic committees, namely: Finance, Housing and Resources; Planning Environment and Development; Transport Environmental Community Services and Adult and Children's Services.22/5/2012
Highland High School Eco Heating Makes Money For Council
A High School in the Highlands is seeing significant reductions in its heating bills thanks to the installation of a renewable heating system by Scotland's leading biomass company. The biomass heating system at Lochaber High School in Fort William was installed by national biomass heat specialists HW Energy in March last year.20/5/2012
