Local Authority News
17/5/2012
Top Three Elected At The Highland Council
The Highland Council has elected its three most senior members to lead a new Administration comprising members of the Scottish National Party, the Scottish Liberal Democrats and the Scottish Labour Party. Leader of the Council is Councillor Drew Hendry (SNP), one of four ward members for Aird and Loch Ness.
14/5/2012
Council To Run Garden Waste Campaign
The Highland Council is running a campaign to improve the quality of the garden waste collected at Recycling Centres and from the brown bin collection service. The garden waste collected by the Council is turned into compost and is mainly used by farmers as a soil conditioner; some is also used for landfill restoration.
14/5/2012
Consultation On Developer Contributions For Public Art
Public's views sought on new developer contributions guidance and public art strategy. Communities and developers are being invited to have their say in shaping a new approach to dealing with developer contributions and public art in new developments across Highland.13/5/2012
Wick Councillor Welcomes News Of South Road Works To Commence
Wick councillor Bill Fernie welcomed the news that Transerv will shortly start drainage and resurfacing works on the South Road in Wick. Wick councillors have been complaining about the delays for some time in getting this road up to a decent standard.8/5/2012
Council suspends operation of school wind turbines (09/05/12)
Following enquiries from councillors and members of the public, The Highland Council commissioned the Building Research Establishment, an independent organisation, to evaluate all wind turbine installations on or adjacent to school sites. Based on initial feedback from BRE, the Council has taken immediate action to temporarily suspend operations at all 16 school sites until the risks are fully assessed and any additional measures deemed necessary are undertaken.3/5/2012
Council Election Results
The results of The Highland Council elections resulted in the Independents securing 35 seats; Scottish National Party, 22, Liberal Democrat 15, and Labour 8. In Caithness the elected councillors are - Ward 2 - Thurso Donnie Mackay - Independent John S.1/5/2012
Duncraig Educational Trust Open For 2012 Applications
The Duncraig Educational Trust is open now for funding applications for grants up to £1000. Councillor Bill Fernie, chairman of the Education, Culture and Sport Committee of Highland Council who also sat on the group making the awards said," The Duncraig Trust has already helped with funding for a wide range of young people and in 2012 the emphasis will be on young folk looking to improve their performances towards the Commonwelath Games but this will not preclude other areas completely so it is well worth looking at the criteria to see if you qualify to apply." The Duncraig Educational Trust Scheme can offer financial assistance to young Highland people who can meet the essential criteria for the scheme.1/5/2012
Polling Day Looms in Council Elections
Polling takes place tomorrow (Thursday 3 May 2012) in elections to elect 80 councillors to serve on The Highland Council for the next five years. A total of 170 candidates are seeking election.
26/4/2012
Tactile devices available to help blind and partially sighted voters
Tactile devices are being provided at each of the 271 polling stations being used for The Highland Council Elections on Thursday 3 May to give blind and partially sighted people the chance to vote at a polling station. Presiding officers and polling clerks, who are on duty at the poling stations, are available to assist voters who request use of this provision.
19/4/2012
Reminder To Use Numbers On The Ballot Paper
Voters reminded to mark their Council Election ballot papers with numbers. Returning Officer Alistair Dodds (centre) is eager that voters use numbers and not a cross on their ballot papers at the forthcoming Council elections on 3 May.
14/4/2012
Registration And Postal Voting Deadlines For Council Elections Loom
Voters are reminded of the deadline for both registering to vote and applying to vote by post in the forthcoming Highland Council elections on 3 May. Applications for a postal vote must be received by 5 pm on Wednesday 18 April.11/4/2012
A Fairer Highland
The Highland Council has confirmed its ongoing commitment to advancing equality of opportunity and tackling discrimination by publishing its new plan, A Fairer Highland. The plan sets out arrangements for gathering information and developing outcomes that affect people on the basis of disability, race, gender reassignment, age, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation.9/4/2012
Tribute Paid To Retiring Councillors
Tribute has been paid to the 13 Highland Councillors who are retiring from local government. At the end of the final meeting of this five year Council cycle, Convener Sandy Park presented scrolls to 12 of the outgoing councillors.
9/4/2012
Business Incentives For Four New Areas
Finance Secretary John Swinney outlined the range of new business incentives that are available to encourage private investment in Scotland's four new Enterprise Areas, during a visit to the Port of Dundee this morning. Incentives and actions to stimulate investment include: business rate discounts worth up to £275,000 per business or enhanced capital allowances; new streamlined planning protocols across all sites; skills and training support; and an international marketing campaign to promote the sites.7/4/2012
Unanimous Support For Tug Reinstatement
Highland Councillors have unanimously supported a call for the reinstatement of the Emergency Towing Vessel, which until recently was based in the Minches, and for the successful conclusion of an agreement with the Oil and Gas Industry to provide ETV capability for the Northern Isles, fearing an environmental catastrophe if vital cover is not provided in the rural and exposed coastal waters. Council Leader Michael Foxley highlighted the importance of the tugs at the last full Highland Council meeting before the May elections, showing slides that highlighted the extent of a potential oil spill should previous groundings have led to a spillage.
7/4/2012
Rates Deferral Scheme for Scotland
Scottish companies are being reminded that they can spread the cost of the inflationary increase in business rates through the Scottish Government's rate deferral scheme for 2012-13. The scheme gives companies the flexibility to defer the uplift in their 2012-13 business rates bills over three years.7/4/2012
New Partnership For Out Of Hours Service
As of Tuesday 10 April 2012, The Highland Council's out of hours calls for emergencies relating to council housing repairs, property and homelessness, as well as roads, street lighting and environmental services will now be managed by Northern Constabulary working in partnership with The Highland Council. Calls will be dealt with by specialist staff from Northern Constabulary at the Force's Operations Centre, Old Perth Road in Inverness.7/4/2012
New Scheme To Protect Tenants' Millions
A compulsory scheme to safeguard millions of pounds in deposits paid by tenants renting properties in Scotland has been approved by Housing Minister Keith Brown. Annually, tenancy deposits amount to over £74 million in the majority of the 273,000 households that make up the private rented sector in Scotland.29/3/2012
170 Candidates to contest 22 Council multi-member wards
Full List Of Candidates on the Highland Council Web Site at http://www.highland.gov.uk/yourcouncil/elections/highlandcouncilelections/list%20ofcandidates2012.htm The elections for the 80 seats on The Highland Council, being held on Thursday 3 May, will involve 170 candidates contesting all of the 22 multi-member wards. The breakdown of candidates is as follows: - Independent, 49; Scottish National Party (SNP), 33; Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, 22; Scottish Liberal Democrats, 18; Scottish Labour Party, 17; Scottish Christian Party "Proclaiming Christ's Lordship, 9; Scottish Green Party, 4; UK Independence Party, 3; the Labour and Co-operative Party, 2; Scottish Liberal Democrat Focus Team, 2; Scottish Anti-Cuts Coalition, 2, All Scotland Pensioners Party, 1; No description,8.29/3/2012
