News Archive
23/3/2010
Latest windfarm Footprint Map Available At SNH
A map showing the footprint of windfamrs in Scotland is available at Scottish Natural Heritage web site - http://www.snh.org.uk/strategy/renewable/sr-rt01.asp An update is added every six months. The site points out that the map may not always be up todate..23/3/2010
LAND REFORM SUCCESS OUTSTRIPS EXPECTATIONS
Creative approach to funding will reap long-term rewards Scotland's land reform legislation is ensuring the long-term sustainability of communities the length and breadth of the country. More than 60 communities bodies have submitted over 112 applications to purchase land and almost 80 applications have been approved since the Land Reform Bill was passed in 2004.23/3/2010
Council Offers Assurance On Care Homes
The Leader of The Highland Council's Administration has given a categorical assurance that the only work currently being carried out on the future of Council care homes is a review of the business case for building care homes at Burnside/Ach an Eas, Inverness, Muir of Ord, Fort William, Tain and Grantown. This work is scheduled to be completed by the end of this month and the aim is that a report is taken to the full council on 13 May.22/3/2010
£12 Million Wave And Tidal Energy Fund
'Waters' fund for wave and tidal deployment launched A new £12 million Scottish Government fund to support the deployment of wave and tidal energy devices has been unveiled. The Wave and Tidal Energy: Research, Development and Demonstration Support fund - to be known as WATERS - will support the testing of new wave and tidal prototypes in the seas around Scotland.16/3/2010
Pelamis Wave Power celebrates outcome of The Crown Estate's Announcement
Pelamis Wave Power Ltd (PWP), the Edinburgh based developers of the Pelamis wave energy converter, have been named as the technology supplier for three major offshore wave energy projects in the world's first seabed leasing round off the north coast of Scotland. The three Pelamis projects which were successfully awarded lease options from The Crown Estate in the UK's first marine energy leasing round include: - A 50MW offshore wave project with E.ON UK, off the west coast of the Orkney Islands, and - A 50MW offshore wave project with Scottish Power Renewables, also off the west coast of the Orkney Islands, and - A third 50MW wave farm site off the north coast of Sutherland being developed by PWP themselves.16/3/2010
Pentland Firth To Lead In Marine Energy Developments Announced Today
WORLD'S FIRST WAVE AND TIDAL ENERGY LEASING ROUND TO POWER UP TO THREE QUARTERS OF A MILLION HOMES Simultaeous Annoucments Made In Wick, Kirkwall and Edinburgh Today Tuesday16 March 2010 The Crown Estate has announced the names of the successful bidders for the world's first commercial wave and tidal leasing round, for ten sites in Scotland's Pentland Firth and Orkney waters. The 1.2 GW of installed capacity proposed by the wave and tidal energy developers for 2020, 600 MW each from wave and tidal, is four times the peak output of Dounreay power station.16/3/2010
Council Welcomes First Marine And Tidal Energy Lease Awards
The Highland Council has warmly welcomed the announcement today (Tuesday) that Caithness and North Sutherland is to benefit from the award of the first round of marine and tidal energy leases in the Pentland Firth. A council delegation was in Wick for the announcement of the leases, with a simultaneous announcement being made in Orkney.16/3/2010
Milestone Moment for Marine Energy Industry
Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) is primed and ready to support engagement between developers and local suppliers after The Crown Estate reveals at midday today (Tuesday, March 16) which companies have been granted leases to generate marine energy in the Pentland Firth and Orkney Waters. The successful bids have been selected by The Crown Estate from 42 applications put forward by 20 developers keen to install commercial scale energy generators in some of the most promising seabed sites in Europe.15/3/2010
Council Signs Major ICT Contract With Fujitsu
The Highland Council has now signed a major new contract with Fujitsu for Information Communication and Technology Services over the next five years. The £66 million contract will take effect from1 April.
14/3/2010
The Apprentice Day for Highland Youth Voice Members
Apprentice Day is running next Wednesday (17 March 2010) giving young people from all over the Highlands the chance to play the "Apprentice" by shadowing senior officials within The Highland Council and partner organisations, Northern Constabulary, Highland and Islands Fire and Rescue Service and NHS Highland. This year, the fifth year of the event, HM Prison Service and Cairngorms National Park Authority and two of the Highland Council's Children and Young People's Champions, Councillor Jaci Douglas and Councillor Linda Munro are also getting involved.14/3/2010
H & I's Contact Centres Lead the Way
Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) is extending a pilot programme which is successfully developing the leadership skills of contact centre staff across the region. Key employers like BT, with centres in Thurso, Alness and Fort William, Capgemini in Inverness and Nairn, TalkTalk in Stornoway, Intelenet UK in FortWilliam, HeroTSC in Aviemore, and Vertex in Dingwall and Forres have joined together with HIE to develop their team leaders.14/3/2010
Highland bids for Council House Building
Fifty five new homes could be built in the Highlands if The Highland Council is successful with a £1.65 million funding bid to the Scottish Government. Members of the Council's Housing and Social Work Committee have agreed that the Council will submit a bid to the Scottish Government for its third round of funding to support new council house building.14/3/2010
Public invited to have their say on Highland's Housing strategy
Members of The Highland Council's Housing and Social Work committee have welcomed the Council's Consultative Draft Local Housing Strategy for 2010 - 2015. At committee this week they agreed to a further and final consultation with stakeholders and the public over a six week period with a final update report and changes recommended to the strategy coming back to committee in May 2010.14/3/2010
Highland agencies launch latest plan For Highland's Children
'Giving every Highland child and young person the best possible start in life' is the aim of a plan which was launched today (Fri 12 March 2010) at the Highland Joint Committee on Children and Young People in Inverness. "For Highland's Children 3" was welcomed at the Joint Committee on Children and Young People which is jointly chaired by Highland Councillor Margaret Davidson and Pam Courcha, NHS Highland Board Member.FREE Business Gateway Workshops For New and Existing Businesses
Thinking of starting your own business in the next few months, or developing your existing business - then contact Jennifer Irvine, Regional Development Officer, Business Gateway, Caithness - on 01955 605360; mobile 07921758450 - or email jennifer.irvine[AT]highland-opportunity.com - to book a place on the following FREE workshops: Tuesday 6 April: Record Keeping - Mackays Hotel, Wick Wednesday 7 April: Marketing & Selling Skills - Mackays Hotel, Wick Thursday 15 & Friday 16 April: 2 Day Business Start-Up - Naver Business Centre, Thurso Thursday 27 & Friday 28 May: 2 Day Business Start-Up - Mackays Hotel, Wick Wednesday 23 June: Employment Law - Naver Business Centre, Thurso All courses times: 9.30am to 4pm.10/3/2010
Budding Film Makers Wanted 
With the build up and results of the annual Oscar ceremony very much in the news this week, young budding film makers in the Highlands are being given the chance to call "lights, cameras and action" with the launch of a new competition to come up with a short film to promote waste recycling. The Highland Council's Waste Aware Team are inviting 11-16 year olds to use their creativity, imagination and flair to come up with an original storyline for a short film on the theme of waste and recycling.
10/3/2010
INSULATE TO STOP ENERGY BILLS GOING THROUGH THE ROOF
Design duo lend support to Government's Go Greener campaign Householders were today urged to insulate their homes in insulation to save hundreds of pounds on heating bills and reduce our impact on the environment. As part of the latest phase of the Scottish Government's Go Greener campaign, Environment Minister Roseanna Cunningham was joined by interior design duo Colin and Justin to help make insulation the must-have home improvement for 2010.9/3/2010
COUNCIL CHIEF EXECUTIVES GIVE UP PAY INCREASE
Tom Aitchison, Chief Executive of the City of Edinburgh Council and Chair of the Association of Local Authority Chief Executives (ALACE) in Scotland and Councillor Michael Cook, COSLA's Human Resources Management Spokesperson, have today (Monday) announced that Council Chief Executives have agreed to forego a salary increase in 2010/11. In recognition of the colossal financial pressures facing public spending in Scotland, Scotland's 32 Council Chief Executives have joined Scotland's Council Leaders in not accepting a pay increase for the coming financial year.8/3/2010
Mod Information Available Now In Homeaid Store
Local support continues with the HomeAid outlet in Thurso making space available for a Mod Information point. The information point, which will be staffed by volunteers from the local organising committee, will be open 6 days per week from 10.30am to 4.30pm and will have merchandise on sale as well as providing leaflets and general information on Mod activities throughout the year.
6/3/2010
