Local Authority News
7/9/2011
Appointment of Depute Chief Executive 
The Highland Council has appointed a new Depute Chief Executive. He is Steve Barron, the Council's Director of Housing and Property.
30/8/2011
Caithness and NS Regeneration Partnership Latest Update
Week commencing 22nd August: Energy: Graeme Rankin of the NDA Competition team and Anna MacConnell, the NDA's Stakeholder Relations and Socio-Economic Manager, updated several local stakeholders on current position with the Dounreay PBO competition. It was good to have the timetable for the remainder of the competition process laid out clearly, with the preferred bidder announcement due in late November and share transfer from current to new PBO scheduled for the beginning of April 2012.28/8/2011
Old and New Doors Open Free This September 
Ever wondered what goes on behind closed doors? Every September, the national Doors Open Days offers free access to landmark buildings, private homes and usually private work spaces that the public never normally get a chance to see. The Highland programme is co-ordinated by The Highland Council and Inverness City Heritage Trust.
24/8/2011
Discovery of invasive crayfish in Lochaber
North American signal crayfish, a small lobster-like species that can have a devastating effect on native wildlife has been found in a pond in Ballachulish Quarry according to The Highland Council. Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) has confirmed the find.
24/8/2011
New Head of Planning and Building Standards
The Highland Council has appointed a new Head of Planning and Building Standards. He is Malcolm MacLeod, the Council's Development Plans Manager.
24/8/2011
Business Gateway Road Show Coming Soon
Business Gateway hits the road to inspire Highland entrepreneurs Entrepreneurs across the Highlands will be able to access free expert advice and connect with other local business owners this autumn when the Business Gateway and Enterprise Europe Scotland's Connect, Inspire and Grow roadshow comes to town. The roadshows will offer new and existing business owners the opportunity to share ideas, tips and concerns with other local entrepreneurs.21/8/2011
Warning On New Council Tax Phone Scam
Trading Standards Officers from The Highland Council are warning residents that a Council Tax scam may be operating in the region. The scam involves unsuspecting consumers receiving a phone call from an individual pretending to be from the Council or from the UK Treasury and offering a refund on their Council Tax.18/8/2011
Award Of Home Based Respite Contract
The Highland Council, working in partnership with NHS Highland, can announce that Carr Gomm Scotland has been contracted to provide home based respite services across most of the Highland Council area, with effect from October 2011. Carr Gomm Scotland is a charity and not for profit organisation, with a track record of delivering a person centred approach.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.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
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.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.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
Highland pupils again excel in SQA exams
Highland schools have again performed well in SQA results. At Higher level, 322 candidates passed 5 Highers, 47 of them with five straight A passes.1/8/2011
