News Archive
16/2/2010
End of an Era in Lybster
A major change in the social history of Lybster occurred on Saturday evening of 13th February 2010 with the closing of the doors on the business of D Munro-better known as the 'Cafe' or 'Eric's' Eric and Eileen are retiring after 46 years in the present shop. The business of D Munro was actually started by Eileen's Mum (Diane) and Dad (David Lloyd George - they were keen on politics in these days!) on 12th August 1954.
16/2/2010
Enhanced ePlanning goes live in the Highlands on Tuesday 23rd February
An enhanced online system enabling people to submit planning applications, appeals against decisions, and track progress of proposals in the Highlands goes live on Tuesday 23rd February. Applications will be processed electronically by a team of seven staff based at the Council's electronic processing centre in Inverness.16/2/2010
Local Residents To Be Presented With RNLI Honorary Awards
Six residents from the Highlands and Western Isles are to be presented with an Honorary Award by the RNLI in recognition of their outstanding support to the charity. Four are to receive a gold badge, the third highest honour bestowed by the charity upon fundraising volunteers.16/2/2010
Young People To Feature At Highland Environmental Conference
On Saturday 6 March 2010 The Highland Council will be hosting a conference in Inverness organised by the Highland Environmental Network (HEN) on the theme of encouraging young people to connect with the environment. Entitled "Making Green the new Black", the day long event will feature guest speakers and workshops and will look at creative ways to get young people involved with their environment.15/2/2010
Pentland Alliance Backs Apprentice Skills Project For Caithness
Pentland Alliance, the joint venture comprising AMEC, CH2M HILL and UKAEA/Babcock, is to sponsor an important apprentice skills programme for the Caithness region in the north of Scotland. The sponsorship was announced on Thursday, February 11th in Manchester at the National Skills Academy for Nuclear/Cogent Annual Skills Awards Dinner.
15/2/2010
National Skills Academy Nuclear Bursaries
Bursary Award - Fourth Round The National Skills Academy for Nuclear in partnership with the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) is rolling out a fourth round of their Bursary award scheme. The scheme is aimed at quality individuals on programmes of study relevant to the decommissioning sub sector of the nuclear industry and includes Foundation Degrees, Honours Degrees, Masters Degrees and Post graduate CPD qualifications.15/2/2010
Your Community Group Could Get Grants To Lower Heating Costs
Community and Renewable Energy Scheme CARES stands for Community and Renewable Energy Scheme and is the Scottish Government's rebranding of the previous Scottish Community and Householder Renewables Initiative (SCHRI) programme. Community Energy Scotland were awarded the contract to deliver CARES across the whole of Scotland on behalf of the Scottish Government for three years from May 2009.14/2/2010
Castletown Young Mothers Project Open Day Tuesday 16th February
A Young Mother's Project that was launched late last year in the Castletown area, is to hold an open morning in the Castletown Hotel on Tuesday 16th February. The event will run from 10:00 to 12:00 and is for all Young Mums in the Castletown and surrounding areas.14/2/2010
7000 Graduates to Get Job Market Head Start
Around 7000 graduates' career prospects have been given a boost, now that over fifty universities have taken up the Government's £13.6 million fund to provide internships in small businesses by the end of the year as part of the Backing Young Britain campaign to help young people into work. The graduate internship programme, which is being promoted by the Federation of Small Businesses, will support small businesses to take on - and get the best from - a graduate intern.13/2/2010
HIE Chief Executive To Take On Green Energy Role
Sandy Cumming CBE, Chief Executive of Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) for the past nine and a half years, plans to leave the organisation next month and take on a new, national role. Mr Cumming (57), is the Scottish Government's choice to help spearhead the development of renewable offshore energy across the public sector in Scotland.
13/2/2010
Highlands and Islands Enterprise To Cut Staff Numbers
HIE efficiency drive aims to put more resources towards priorities Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) is to reorganise its workforce to better deliver its role in supporting the region's economic and community development. The agency is to target greater resources towards a number of priority areas of work, while also running a voluntary severance scheme with the aim of reducing staff numbers and payroll costs overall.13/2/2010
Exciting New Leisure Development Planned For John O'Groats
Two prominent UK tourism businesses are joining forces to lead the way with a multi-million pound plan to revitalise one of Scotland's best known destinations, John O'Groats. Following public consultation and the production of a Masterplan, commissioned by Highlands and Island Enterprise (HIE), Heritage Great Britain has revised its development plans for the iconic landmark.12/2/2010
Dounreay Heritage - Have Your Say
Dounreay was the centre of the UK's fast reactor research and development programme from 1955 until 1994, and is now Scotland's largest nuclear clean-up and demolition project. By 2025, DSRL expects to have completed the decommissioning of the site.
12/2/2010
Dounreay News - February 2010
The latest edition of Dounreay News is available at http://www.dounreay.com/news-room/dounreay-news Always packed with photos of past events and current activities at the site..
12/2/2010
Support For Councils and Businesses
Package includes extra cash for road repairs and rate savings for 60 per cent of Scottish businesses Scottish councils are to receive a funding increase in 2010-11 to help protect frontline services despite the Westminster-imposed cut in the Scottish Budget. Finance Secretary John Swinney today confirmed a package of support for local government and business in Scotland which includes: * Total funding for councils in 2010-11 of almost 12 billion pounds * Confirmation that councils will continue to receive an increasing share of the total Scottish Budget * Five million pounds over and above the funding settlement to be shared among councils to repair damaged roads following severe cold snap * A drop in business rates for almost 60 per cent of Scottish firms, delivering average savings of more than 1,300 pounds annually * Help for councils to manage the costs of back claims for equal pay Mr Swinney said:"We recognise the very real challenges faced by councils and businesses in a challenging climate.11/2/2010
Council Tax frozen as Council sets £607 million budget for 2010-11
The Highland Council has confirmed a freeze on the Council Tax for a third year in succession. The tax for 2010-11 is: Band A: £775.33; Band B: £904.56; C: £1,033.78; Band D: £1,163; Band E: £1,421.44; Band F: £1,679.89; Band G: £1,938.33; Band H: £2,326 In setting the budget of £607.2 million for 2010-11, the Council has found savings of £12.1 million in 2010-11; identified further savings of £11 million in 2011-12 and 2012-13; and estimates that savings of £36 million still require to be found in 2011-12 and 2012-13.11/2/2010
Population projections for the Highlands
If the trends of recent years continue, the population of the Highlands is set to reach 257,965 by 2033, representing an increase of 18% (38,565) from the 2008 population of 219,400. This is a higher rate of population increase than given by the previous 2006-based projections.New Business Start Up Grant Scheme Launched In Highlands
A new grant scheme has been introduced in the Highlands to help new businesses with their start up costs. It is hoped that at least 120 businesses will benefit from a grant - which can be used, for example, to buy equipment or market the new business.10/2/2010
Highland Libraries launch High-CAT! 
Readers in the Highlands can now browse a new library catalogue system provided by The Highland Council. Talis Prism 3 known as High-CAT has been launched by the Council's Highland Libraries, the first local authority Library service in Scotland to provide the service.
10/2/2010
