Local Authority News
17/1/2012
Changes to licencing of public entertainment events
The Highland Council is advising community groups, businesses, charities and anyone requiring a public entertainment licence that legislation changes come in to place from April 1st 2012. Currently, under the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982, a licence is only required where the public pay either to take part or to watch the entertainment.17/1/2012
Additional train service for Plockton High School pupils
ScotRail is to provide an additional early morning service to ensure that Plockton High pupils can get to school - free of charge - while the Stromeferry bypass remains closed. From Monday 23 January, an 06.20 Inverness-Kyle of Lochalsh service will transport the children to Plockton before 09.00.17/1/2012
£549K for Highland Communities
A scheme is to provide funding for projects that make a difference in local Scottish fishing communities, with up to £7.6 million to be shared out across 13 local authorities. £4.2 million is available under Axis 4 the European Fisheries Fund, which the councils involved need to co-finance in order to access.17/1/2012
Council welcomes designation of 3 Highland enterprise zones
The Highland Council has welcomed the Scottish Government's announcement today (17 January) that three locations in the Highlands are being designated as enterprise areas. These locations are Scrabster in Caithness, Nigg, in Easter Ross and the Inverness campus at Beechwood.17/1/2012
Chairmen appointed for new Planning Applications Committees
The Highland Council has appointed chairmen to its two new area Planning Applications Committees. Councillor David Chisholm, Dingwall and Seaforth, is Chairman of the North PAC, Vice-Chairman is Councillor Audrey Sinclair, Wester Ross, Strathpeffer and Lochalsh.14/1/2012
Highland schools and leisure facilities works brought forward
Members of The Highland Council's Education, Culture and Sport Committee have agreed to bring forward £1.038 million of Capital Funding Projects to help offset an estimated £3.6 million projected underspend in the current financial year 2011/12. Approved projects in the Capital Programme which are being brought forward include works at: · Kingussie High School, Culloden Academy, Inverness and Tain Craighill Primary School; · inspection of craft, design and technical equipment in Secondary Schools; · works at Dingwall Leisure Centre; and · the purchase of a disabled access mini-bus at Lochaber High School.13/1/2012
Pupils join Chairman to thank retiring prison worker
At the start of this week's Education, Culture and Sport Committee at Highland council in Inverness, two senior pupils from Millburn Academy joined the Chairman, Councillor Bill Fernie, to make a presentation to Mr Bob Macdougall from Inverness. Bob has just retired from his post at Inverness Prison following 32 years' service.
13/1/2012
New road lay out at Inverness
Motorists are being advised that work begins in Inverness on Monday (16 January 2012) to replace the existing traffic signals at the Harbour Road/Shore Street junction, which have reached the end of their useful life. The Highland Council is removing the traffic signals and replacing them with a mini roundabout.11/1/2012
Work starts on lifeline West Highland road contract
The Highland Council started work earlier this week on a notorious section of sub-standard lifeline road in Moidart - at Drynie Hill. During the contract, Monday through to Friday there will be a temporary road closure in place between 10am and 12:25pm and 1.10pm to 3:30 pm to safely carry out vital tree felling and blasting works.
11/1/2012
Do You Want to Stand In Crofting Commission Elections?
All the information to stand in the Crofting Commission Elections can be found at http://www.highland.gov.uk/yourcouncil/elections/croftingcommission/.11/1/2012
Ferries set for introduction at Strome on Monday
The Highland Council will introduce a car and a passenger ferry service between North and South Strome on Monday to combat the impact of the closure of the A 890 Lochcarron - Kyle/Plockton road due to the danger of rockfalls. The timetables for the two ferry services, which will have connecting buses, will be confirmed on Friday.11/1/2012
Rent Increase Pegged at 1.9%
For the second year in succession, The Highland Council is recommending a council house rent increase below the rate of inflation. The Housing and Social Work Committee is recommending an average increase of 1.9% which is 3.3% below inflation.10/1/2012
Train travel continues this week for Lochcarron pupils
Pupils from the Lochcarron area will continue to travel to Plockton High School by train for the rest of this week as their normal route - via the A890 Stromeferry By-pass - remains closed due the threat of rockfall. On Monday 9 January 2012 46 pupils from the Lochcarron area travelled to Plockton High School by train.6/1/2012
Strome Ferry By-pass
The Highland Council is working to secure the services of a car and a passenger ferry - along with feeder bus services - which it will introduce next week as an emergency measure in the wake of the ongoing closure of the A 890 Stromeferry By-pass between Lochcarron and Plockton/Kyle. The ferries are needed because the Council has been advised by consultants that the road must remain closed to traffic until works to make the rock face safe are completed, following landslides at a point 100 yards west of the Avalanche Shelter, as there is still a significant risk of further rock falls affecting the road.5/1/2012
First Crofting Commission Elections - Date Announced
First Crofting Commission elections begin as Minister names appointed members. The starting gun for the first ever crofting elections was fired today with the official publication of the Notice of Elections.4/1/2012
Highland Council and Fujitsu To Distribute 3500 Computers
An innovative project to recycle thousands of computers for use by communities and deserving children across the Scottish Highlands has been launched, in a festive season boost for many in the area. The huge initiative to renovate equipment for re-use instead of landfill is funded by technology company Fujitsu and The Highland Council.22/12/2011
Highland Wide Local Development Plan - Examination Report
The Highland Council has received the Report of Examination for the Highland wide Local Development Plan from the Scottish Government's Directorate for Planning and Environmental Appeals. The Highland wide Local Development Plan is the key planning document to guide development across Highland for the next ten years.19/12/2011
Policy to maximise Community Benefit approved
Highland Councillors have taken an important step towards securing significant local funding for communities across Highland from renewable energy developments. They have agreed the recommendations of their Community Benefit Working Group which will determine how future funds are allocated and set out how the Council will secure the highest level of benefit possible.19/12/2011
Councillors Back Introduction Of Minimum Pricing Of Alcohol
Highland Councillors Back Introduction Of Minimum Pricing Of Alcohol. Highland Councillors have voiced their unanimous support for the introduction of minimum pricing of alcohol as a means of tackling the growing incidence of alcohol misuse in the Highlands.16/12/2011
