Local Authority News
14/12/2011
More Community Councils Formed
Two elections confirmed as 16 more Community Councils formed. Elections will be held in two Highland Community Councils following a second round of elections and a further 14 Community Councils attracted sufficient nominations to reform.10/12/2011
More Community Councils Finally Get Formed
16 of the 19 CCs that had gone into abeyance will be able to continue. 12 Community Councils received sufficient nominations to form a Community Council ie they attracted half or more than their maximum entitlement (7-13).8/12/2011
Hi-Scot Credit Union say NO to High Cost Credit
HI-Scot Credit Union are launching a campaign across the Highlands and Islands so that people are more aware of the cost of borrowing. The warning follows a revelation that some High Street banks charge more than 800,000% APR for unauthorised overdrafts.7/12/2011
Council welcomes Scottish Government's infrastructure plans
The Highland Council has welcomed the Scottish Government's plans for substantial investment in Scotland's rail network; the dualling of road network between all of Scotland's cities, including the A 9 Perth - Inverness and the A96 Inverness - Aberdeen road; and the upgrading of the A 82 between Fort William and Crianlarich. The Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure and Capital Investment, Alex Neil, made the pledge as he published the Scottish Government's Infrastructure and Investment Plan, which details plans for up to £60 billion of spending right up until 2030.4/12/2011
Members welcome progress on Highland Council Gaelic Language Plan
Members of The Highland Council's Gaelic Committee have welcomed the progress on the implementation of the Council's first Gaelic Language Plan 2007 - 2011 and have urged members of the public to have their say on the production of the second Highland Council Gaelic Language Plan for 2012 - 2016. In May 2008, The Highland Council was the first organisation to gain Bòrd na Gàidhlig approval from its statutory Gaelic Language Plan.30/11/2011
Industrial Action update - impact on Council Services
ECS: All schools in Highland were closed to pupils. Information has been prominent on the home page of the Council's web site since Friday.29/11/2011
Social Media Dangers Education for Highland Kids
Highland children learn internet dangers of social media. An innovative project will see more than 10,000 Highland schoolchildren receive advice on protecting themselves against online stalkers over the next four years.23/11/2011
Council progresses on future Primary School provision in Wick
Progress on the future provision of Primary Schools in Wick has been outlined this week by The Highland Council. Earlier this month on 10 November, members of The Highland Council's Education, Culture and Sport Committee heard the outcomes of statutory consultations on the proposed amalgamation of Hillhead Primary School and North Primary School and the proposed amalgamation of Pulteneytown Academy Primary and South Primary School in Wick.23/11/2011
Inverness City West Link Road Consultation
Consultation begins on phase 2 of consultation on Inverness City West Link Road Project. Consultation begins today (Wednesday) to gauge public opinion on the eight options being considered by The Highland Council for the Inverness City Trunk Road Project - West Link, which will provide a new transport link from the Southern Distributor Road at Dores Road to the A82 trunk road via a fixed link across the River Ness and the Caledonian Canal.22/11/2011
Join the conversation on Planning for Integration
People in the Highlands are invited to find out more about, and have an opportunity to have their say on the development of Planning for Integration of health, education and social care services in the area provided by NHS Highland and The Highland Council. At three public meetings in Helmsdale (30 November), Inverness (1 December) and Fort William (7 December), Jan Baird, Planning for Integration, Transitions Director will explain how, from 1 April 2012, staff are being brought together into integrated teams to work with children and families and with people who use community care services.21/11/2011
Communities get 2nd chance to form a Community Council
The Highland Council has today (Monday) published on its web site: www.highland.gov.uk a notice of election seeking nomination of candidates to serve on the 19 Community Councils in the Highlands which were forced to disband from Wednesday 16 November as the result of not attracting sufficient nominations at the first time of calling. The deadline for nominations is 4 pm on Friday 9 December.[Training]
19/11/2011HIE Board Checks Out Wick's New Community Centre
As the final stages of work take place on the £3.8 million community centre for Wick, Highlands and Islands Enterprise's most senior staff have enjoyed a sneak preview. As part of a two day programme of meetings with ambitious Caithness and Sutherland businesses and social enterprises, the HIE Board visited the Pulteney Centre due to open in the new year and paid tribute to the achievements of the Pulteneytown People's Project (PPP).
16/11/2011
Lookout For Fake Goods and Web Sites
"Watch out for fake goods and bogus websites this Christmas" warns Highland Council Trading Standards. The Highland Council Trading Standards Service is warning consumers not to be duped into buying counterfeit sports clothes and equipment from bogus websites, as part of the National Consumer Week 2011 campaign entitled "Good Sports Don't Fake it".11/11/2011
School hostel manager is Council's Employee of the Year
Margaret Ann Beaton, who is responsible for the operation of The Highland Council's five school residences, has been chosen as the Council's Employee of the year. She received her prize at the Council's annual Quality Awards, held at the Town House, Inverness, on Thursday night.
11/11/2011
Highland Leader chosen as Scottish Local Politician of the Year
This year's award for Local Government Politician of the year, sponsored by Improvement Service and Robertson Group, was won by the Leader of The Highland Council, Councillor Michael Foxley, for his campaigning on issues such as the threat to coastguard stations and emergency tugs and for reform of the Crown Estate. Councillor Foxley received his award at a ceremony in Edinburgh, sponsored by the Herald newspaper.
11/11/2011
Additional Funding for Scottish Renewable Energy
The Chancellor and the Chief Secretary to the Treasury today visited Nigg on the Cromarty Firth, where they announced around £100 million of additional funding for Scottish renewable energy, including marine renewables. This announcement is additional to the existing budget and spending plans of the Scottish Government.11/11/2011
Digital event extends reach of Choices For Life message in schools
Hundreds of primary and secondary school pupils from the Highlands and Islands will this week take part in an online event designed to encourage young people to make positive decisions around substance misuse. Choices for Life online will be broadcast on Glow, Scotland's intranet for schools, on Monday 14 and Tuesday 15 November and will be available to over 2,600 primary and secondary schools across Scotland.11/11/2011
Launch of Internet delivery charges survey
In order to understand the extent of the problem of Internet delivery charges, The Highland Council's Trading Standards team are looking to gather evidence from Highland consumers and small businesses about any malpractice they have experienced and to trace and tackle those businesses that fall foul of internet trading law. They are launching a web survey from The Highland Council's web site: www.highland.gov.uk/deliverycharges to gauge the experiences of Highland consumers and small businesses about what often seems like excessive delivery charging for goods bought online.10/11/2011
Caithness Wards Discretionary Budget Awards
Caithness Members of The Highland Council have pledged to support this year's "DA DOONIE DAY" Viking Festival which will take place in Wick on Friday 25 November. The event, which is run by Thurso Rotary Club, will receive financial support of up to £3,000 from each of the three ward discretionary budgets to assist with the cost of staging the event.9/11/2011
