News Archive
14/8/2011
Fresh Teaching Talent Welcome in the Highlands
Eighty probationer teachers who will be working in Highland schools in the new session were welcomed to the Highlands at their induction in Inverness by Councillor Bill Fernie, Chairman of The Highland Council's Education, Culture and Sport Committee, and Hugh Fraser, Highland Council's Director of Education, Culture and Sport. The new teachers will be starting work in schools across the Highlands on Tuesday 16th August 2011 when pupils return to school following their summer break.
14/8/2011
Public's views sought on new houses in multiple occupation guidance
Communities and developers are being invited to have their say in shaping a revised policy aimed at managing the provision of houses in multiple occupation in the Highlands. For nearly three years The Highland Council has had in place a policy to manage the concentration of houses in multiple occupation, which has been implemented through partnership working between council services across Highland.14/8/2011
Inverness - Edinburgh Rail Journey Times
Highlands & Islands Labour MSP, David Stewart, has pressed the Government to state when the improved reduction of 35 minutes in the rail journey time between Inverness and Edinburgh will come into effect. In responding Keith Brown MSP, Minister for Transport said " The project will be delivered in phases and provide incremental journey time reductions".13/8/2011
Got a Computer? - Want To Work From Home?
Homeworking Information Days for computer owners .
11/8/2011
New fund to fight flytipping invites local applications
A new £50,000 fund offering grants of between £500 and £10,000 has been launched by Zero Waste Scotland to help local communities tackle flytipping by providing them with cash to remove dumped waste and take steps to prevent future problems. Open to community groups, landowners and land managers who are experiencing persistent problems of flytipping, applications to the fund can be made at www.dumbdumpers.org/flytipping.11/8/2011
Rural Fuel Duty Consultation
Council responds to UK Government consultation on rural fuel duty The Highland Council is committed to campaign for fair and equitable fuel prices across the Highlands and Islands and yesterday (Thursday 11 August 2001) members of the TEC Services Committee approved a response to the UK Government's consultation on the Rural Fuel Duty Rebate Pilot Scheme. Chairman of the TEC Services Committee, Councillor John Laing said: "We strongly support the introduction of the scheme, however in our response we stress that it must be set up in such a way as to actively encourage local fuel retailers to participate.11/8/2011
Rights To Buy Council Houses Suspended Again
Council extends timescale of pressured area status on social rented housing Around 12,830 homes in the Highlands will be able to remain within social rented housing stock until at least 2020 due to a 5-year extension of the Highland's pressured area designation status. Tenants with a modernised right to buy entitlement living in communities covered by the pressured area designation will have their right to buy suspended for the maximum period of the 10 year designation.9/8/2011
Council Achieves Customer Service Excellence
The Highland Council has achieved a top national award for customer service. The Cabinet Office has awarded the Council the Customer Service Excellence standard in recognition the service it provides via face to face contact with the public at its network of 35 Service Points, via telephone its Service Centre in Alness and via the Registration Service.9/8/2011
Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd - Sale 9th August 2011
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (August 9th) sold 8262 store lambs at their annual district sale to average £54.82 (+£3.21 on the year). Cheviot wedder lambs (4,194) averaged £53.33 (+£2.51) and sold to £72 gross from Carnlaggie, Helmsdale.9/8/2011
Joint Antisocial Behaviour Strategy
Members of The Highland Council have this week welcomed the second Antisocial Behaviour Strategy for the Highlands covering the period 2011 to 2016. A report considered by the Council's Housing and Social Work Committee, following public consultation, outlined a joint Antisocial Behaviour Strategy prepared by The Highland Council and Northern Constabulary.9/8/2011
Young people urged to stand for Community Council elections
For the first time in the Highlands, 16 and 17 year olds will be able to seek election to their local Community Council. The change is a core feature of a new scheme for the establishment of Community Councils agreed by The Highland Council earlier this year.9/8/2011
Sheltered Housing In Wick
If you are a current council or Housing Association tenant and would be giving up one bedroom or more you may qualify for a payment through the Downsizing Policy. The payment will be calculated based on thenumber of bedrooms you will be giving u..
9/8/2011
Charities face £3 billion cuts
Charities in the UK are set to lose £2.8bn over the spending review period from 2011-2015, a new report suggests. By 2015-16, the sector will be losing £911m per year, according to the report, 'Counting the Cuts', by the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO), which analysed the Government's projected spending plans in detail.9/8/2011
Education Committee Oversees Huge Investment Programme
Councillor Bill Fernie, chairman of the Education, Culture and Sport Committee of Highland council said following the meeting of the committee on 9th August 2011 that he was pleased that many plans were now coming together across the Highlands. He said, "For some time there has been a steady build up of work and as can be seen in the Capital report presented to the committee for approval many projects long awaited by communites and schools are now progressing well".8/8/2011
Wick - Primary Schools Consultation
Statutory consultations on the provision of Primary Schools in Wick Caithness have been welcomed today (9 August 2011) by members of The Highland Council's Education, Culture and Sport Committee. Following a presentation on the Sustainable Schools Estate Review for Wick Primary Schools option appraisal by Caledonian Economics Limited to the ECS Committee members agreed that statutory consultations will be undertaken for two options.7/8/2011
Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd - Sale 8 August 2011
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (August, 8th) sold 52 prime cattle. Prime bullocks (16) averaged 194.6p (-3.2p) and sold to 205p per kg and £1,335.75 gross.4/8/2011
Free Solar Electricity
FREE SOLAR ELECTICITY FREE HOME SURVEY CALL 01847 890009 RDI Energy Solutions Ltd 2 Princes Street Thurso Caithness KW14 7BQ tel: 01847 890009 fax: 01847 891887.
3/8/2011
Wick Couple Scoop £200k on EuroMillions
Town Sees Second National Lottery Winner In Six Months An off shore mechanic from Wick and his wife are celebrating after winning £282,940.50 in the EuroMillions draw on Tuesday 7 June 2011 by matching all five main numbers and one lucky star. John Sutherland (41) and his wife Angela waited five weeks to validate their ticket as John departed on the day of the draw for his off shore job with Schlumberger.
3/8/2011
Education and Economic Boost For Wick
Major investment, totalling more than £57 million, is being planned for schools in Wick over the next five years. As well as the construction of a new community secondary school within the existing site of Wick High School, at an estimated cost of £37 million, the Council will consider commencing a Statutory Consultation on the possible replacement of the town's primary schools with two new purpose built facilities.3/8/2011
